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> Effect of Annealing Berger Target Bullets?
Effect of Annealing Berger Target Bullets?
@ 08:52 am (GMT) |
Simon CHave read the sections on annealing (Berger VLD hunting) bullets with considerable interest, I would be very interested to know whether anyone has any info. in relation to the following questions:1. After considerable experimentation, I have established the only bullet that shoots really accurately & consistently from my 300WSM is the Berger 185gr BT long range target bullet (#30418) at a MV of c.2900ft/s. The VLD bullets are not a practical choice because of mag length constraints. My question is how well do these target bullets perform as hunting bullets on medium game and whether, in particular, this would be improved significantly by the annealing process described? 2. On a related point, has anyone noticed a reduction in accuracy or change in POI as result of using annealed bullets in place of the un-annealed ones? |
Replies
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@ 08:32 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Effect of Annealing Berger Target Bullets?Hi Simon, there is little difference between the VLD hunting and target bullets. The form/shape differs but the jackety material and method of manufacture is the same.The difference between the VLD hunting and VLD target bullets is that in the morning, when the presses and copper are cold, the presses leave forming marks in ogives. The 'morning' projectiles are allocated as hunting bullets. In the past, the forming lines were enough to promote fragmentation of the bullet. However; after the jackets were toughened up, many hunters including myself have found that the forming marks of morning bullets are not sufficient for full fragmentation in a reliable manner across a wide range of game weights at varying velocities. The match bullet you are quoting is no different. The jacket is thick. Morning bullets will have forming marks (seen as almost microscopic longitudal stress lines in the ogive) while bullets made during the day will have only very faint marks. The trouble with my annealing method is that it is not 100% reliable. If the annealing is not severe enough, the process is pointless. Annealing also works best where the bullet weight is fairly light in comparison to game body weights and where the heat has really caused a serious color change. Best body weights for your load will be 90kg/200lb and heavier. There is no loss in accuracy or change in POI. If done correctly, annealing can be productive. The downside is that a lot of gas must be used to effect the color change I am recommending (costly), best to have three projectiles in a row absorbing the heat of the blow torch flame. If you want to try annealing, make sure you get a good color change. The projectile ogives should look very dark when you are done. You should see a lot of blue color and the forming marks in the ogive will become more pronounced. I also recomend that the pan of water is slightly shallower than in my video clip. Set the water level just below where the ogive begins, rather than at the start of the ogive. Other options you may like to consider are experimenting with the Speer BTSP bullets, the 180gr SST or perhaps experimenting with a Matrix bullet which from my tests so far, is proving to be as soft as the original VLD. I have extremely high hopes for the Matrix bullets. Of course, from what you are describing, COAL's may be a problem. It is also a pity you could not get the 178gr A-Max up and running. Below is a picture of an annealed Berger. Your bullets will need forming marks to be reliable and to benefit from the annealing process. You will see what I mean when you inspect bullets and if you trial annealing. Its the forming marks that will dictate whether your target bullet performs as well as an annealed 'morning' VLD. 
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@ 08:39 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Effect of Annealing Berger Target Bullets?Sorry, having trouble with my picasa image account again. Will try again later. |
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@ 10:35 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Effect of Annealing Berger Target Bullets?Got that photo inserted. The problem was at google picasa. Changed to photobucket, used the img code in the right hand menu, job done. |
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