Accuracy of 40gr Bergers vs 35gr Bergers

[Prdtrgttr]

I've got a Remington 700 SPS, I've replaced the trigger with a Timney, bedded the stock(which I should really throw out and replace), and floated the barrel. Using both 40gr Vmaxes and 40gr Bergers, I've had fairly inconsistent groups. Once I get below 26.6grs of H4895, I can group around an inch. Anything "hotter" and the groups really open up. Is it the heavier bullets in this gun perhaps. I really wanted to stay with these heavier bullets because of their higher BC's. How likely is it that the lighter bullets, such as the 35gr Bergers, will be much more accurate?

[Outlaws]

Some rifles don't like heavy bullets.

[Lee C.]

Prdtrgttr, Don't give up on the 40gr bullets yet. I've got the 12fv savage that i have about 800 rounds through now and 750 were shot just doing test to see what happens to my accuracy. Useing the 35 and 40gr bergers and h4895 powder. One thing for sure is my gun has two sweet spots for good groups. one at the lower end of the powder charge and one at the higher side about 3/4 the way to the max charge. I found that my savage likes a bullet seating oal at 2.264. And now i have the 40gr bullet shooting better than the 35gr one. I guess what i'm really trying to say is don't give up on them yet if thats what you want to shoot. Maybe your gun would shoot better with a different powder or primer. It is almost endless the things you can try for better accuracy if you want to stick the time in to it. So take your time and have fun with it and good luck.

[Drew Jaeger]

I really wanted to stay with these heavier bullets because of their higher BC's. How likely is it that the lighter bullets, such as the 35gr Bergers, will be much more accurate?

Have you considered trying a box of Sierra 39gr BlitzKings? They have a high BC of 0.287. My VSSF II tack drives the 39gr BK with 26.6grs H4895 (labelled AR2206H here).

[Sidewinderwa]

I 2nd the 39 grain Sierra Blitzkings. Several people have reported that they had problems with the 40gr VMax but would shoot the 39gr BKs great. That is all I shoot out of mine.

[The N.U.B.]

I'll 3rd the statement on the 39 SBK's. I shoot the 35 and 40gn. Bergers through an XR-100 and a Kimber Provarmint with pretty good success, but can't get the Noslers or the heavier V-Maxs to group for beans.

The 39gn. SBK is just the thing for Prairie Dogs. It seems to have a little bigger splat factor than the 40gn. Berger.

Give it a go, and try all above with Benchmark. I have tried all Hodgdon powders and RE-10X and Vhit N-140, and have had the most success with Benchmark. (hint: start around 24.5 and work up to about 26.0)

Scott

[Prdtrgttr]

I don't mind to try the Blitzkings, however, I want this gun for shooting coyotes, and the 40gr Bergers have been very fur friendly. What are the Blitzkings like? Are they a good fur bullet?

[Gube]

I would say that the blitz kings are not the best choice for yotes as they are to frangible.
Your best bet for fur would be the bergers or the 45 gr hornady sp.
For the 40 bergers best accuracy was with 25.5 gr of H-4895 and 24.5 gr of RL10X
For the 35 bergers I use 25.5 gr of RL10X. I could not get H-4895 to group well enough with the 35 bergers. I may try it again as initial tests were just after I bought my first 204.
I do have a bunch of 45 gr sp's to test with H-4895 and RL10X. They may just have to wait until bow season is done. The factory 45's were very accurate out of both of my 204's.

[Prdtrgttr]

Thanks for the reply Gube... Isn't 26 the minimum load for 40gr bullets in front of H4895? I notice that you are using 25.5? What velocities are they recording? What's your grouping like with that load?
Thanks!

[Glen]

FWIW---I've never shot a coyote with the 39gr BK's but I have shot a bunch of groundhogs with them from 25yds out to 338yds. They rarely exit or tear them up. The most damage I've gotten with them is when I shot a groundhog in the mouth. Wrecked him real good!! I don't know if this is of any value but it has been my observations. HTH

[Gube]

Prdtrgttr

Hornady lists the minimum for a 40 gr bullet with H-4895 at 24.5 gr at approx 3400 fps
At 25.5 gr I am guessing I would be just a tad under 3600 fps.
I do not have a chrono to verify (X-mas wish list)
Accuracy with that load with 5 shot groups is basically a little bug hole. (all holes touching in a clover leaf). I did go up to 27.5 gr and groups weren't to bad, but not as tight as the load at 25.5.
These test loads were done early after I bought my first 204. With yote season coming up soon I will be doing more testing with both of my 204's. Things may have changed now that I have approx a 1000 rounds through my VLP. My BTVSS has not had any bergers through it yet.

[Prdtrgttr]

Thanks again Gube, I thought the min was 26! I could get my gun to shoot around 1", with 26.3 - 26.5grs of H4895-and as I increased in powder, so did the group size, I am going to head into my gun room shortly and load some around that 25.5 mark. I'll keep you posted,
Thanks!

[Hawkeye Joe]

None of my Savages like the 40 Bergs either. The last time I tried them I shot 8 inch groups at 100 yards . Here are two 300 yard targets shot today with the 35's

[Prdtrgttr]

I received some 35gr Bergers, and am extremely excited about the results. You can see the difference 2 grains of powder makes. I am using H4895, the powder ranges are 26grs, 27gr, and 28grs. The COL is 2.267

[WrzWaldo]

Prdtrgttr,

Looks like you may have hit the magic number with that 26 grain load!