load testing bergers

im using the vld bullet. I have not loaded any with them on the lands yet. i will be load testing again when its another nice day, its been terrible windy here.
 
Testing on lands is ok. Just make sure you are not already at a real high pressure load. The pressure will increase as you crowd the lands. I would not hunt with a load that touches the lands. Back off a few thousandths.

Hear it's windy up there a lot. In Texas, sun and heat is a problem. I only work up loads in stable air. Usually the first hour of light, overcast stable air days, and sometimes last hour of day. Sun that creates mirage or unstable air is bad for refining a load.

Don't know how you intend to use gun. But for long range, i test loads at 200 yds. The bullet is usually "flying" by then. Also, test loads within your scopes ability to allow you to "aim small".
 
I have been able to find a good load with the VLD jumping them. My 708 with the 140 VLD Hunting I am jumping them .080 and grouping in the 4s
 
I have been able to find a good load with the VLD jumping them. My 708 with the 140 VLD Hunting I am jumping them .080 and grouping in the 4s

Is that a factory gun, i just bought a tikka t3 7-08 for my wife and was going to try the 140 vld but was wondering about mag length and probally wont be able to seat them out if needed.
 
Is that a factory gun, i just bought a tikka t3 7-08 for my wife and was going to try the 140 vld but was wondering about mag length and probally wont be able to seat them out if needed.
No it's a custom gun. I am pretty sure that if your gun will shoot a particular bullet you can find a load close to the lands and a load with a jump with the same bullet. Powder charge and primers may be different.
 
I have two 708s, they were built with different reamers and they both shoot the VLDs very well with a .080 jump. Berger recommends loads with a .010 jam, .040 jump, .080 jump and .120 jump to try with the VLDs for the best accuracy.
 
Looks like you are following Eric Stecker's (Bergers) guidelines. Good choice. Curious to see your results.
 
reporting back on some load testing the 168 bergers. This is what i tryed first and wasn't to happy with it. Haven't tried and seating depths yet these were all at .010 off the lands and using H1000. So ordered some bushings and trying that and maybe seating depths and neck tension will help.
 
then today i thought i would try some H4831sc cause i have about a 1/3 of a pound left and give it a try. I didn't do anything different with reloading just trimmed and vld chamfered charged and seated bullet. .010 off the lands. I just pull this load from some reading on some other 7wsm and gave it a try. My ES is not very good and want to get my velocity up a little more.
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Glad to see that H4831sc has shown promise to work with! It won't light the chrono up, but sure seems to please in the accuracy dept.
If you're wanting all the speed you can muster, RL-22 is your friend. Bet ya see another 150fps from '22. Just be prepared for dealing with a margin of temp. instability...
 
i shot this yesterday with H1000 and think i pulled that second shot. But loaded some up and going to try them out at 300-600-1000 and see how it goes

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Want to encourage you to keep pursuing more accuracy. You have very good group, but can likely achieve even better. Shift to 200 yards, if your optics allow precise aiming, and tweak loads to achieve the same group size. If achieved, you will have a great gun! I bet you can.
Attached pics are 200 and 800 from same gun. My windage on the 800 yard group was bad...but you see the group potential if you work a bit more on your loads. (also apologize: can't figure out how to keep pics from rotating 90deg in this ap.)
photo 1.jpg

photo 2.jpg
 
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