52 gr Berger Match Varmint vs. Target

S

shelton573

Active member
Worked on some loads with my 22-250 using the 52 gr Berger varmint match. I intended to buy the target version a while back but apparently clicked the wrong one when I ordered them. They shoot great out of my 14 twist but I wanted the better BC and the toughness for the target bullet. Has anyone had experience with the Match Varmint on coyotes? Should I order the target version and work a load with it instead? I don't save fur but I do want to make sure they don't splash real bad before I start using them. And I know I know, shot placement is key, I am just curious about if they will work well or not. Thanks!
 
I shot 10 or 12 many years ago with them. All drt, was shooting a rem adl 22-250 that had a very long throat (found that much later). I had a hard time getting them to shoot consistent group's. I have had a new barrel for 10 years, thinking about trying them again. Hard to leave the Nosler 55 gr ballistic tip, especially with how accurate they are over 300 yards.
 
I currently have them .002 off the lands and it seems to like to shoot around .5"-.75" with a mid range load of Varget (right around 3650-3700 fps IIRC). I would prefer to shoot the target version but want to use the varmint bullets up first. Just wanted to make sure they would actually put a coyote down. The V-max has worked good for me for a while now so I am assume the berger will be about the same. Maybe they will get me through this coyote season and then switch to the target for next year.
 
I've been shooting coyotes with the Berger 52 grain MV's for several years now both out of my 22-250's and my 220 Swift. I actually found that in my rifles the MV's shoot more accurately than the target bullets.

As far as performance goes the first couple of years I was using them I was shooting a reduced load and found the bullet to be deadly. On many animals the bullet didn't exit yet put the animal right down. Then I sold my Kimber 84M Classic and got an old Sako Forester. I decided to load the Bergers to max velocity. Over the past couple of years I've been working on a box of the max loads and they absolutely destroy a coyote. Overkill would be an understatement. When it comes time to reload for hunting I will go back to the reduced load.

I've found the Bergers to be the most accurate bullet in my Swift, my 22-250's and my 223 AI.

A friend once told me that he switched to the target bullet because the MV was too frangible
 
I was going to try to work the load up to max but I think I will just keep them where they are at try them this year. 3700ish is plenty fast I would think. If I really want to destroy a coyote I will skin the ol 270 on them lol. Thanks for the info!
 
Shelton573 I was starting the Berger varmint at 3600,same as the Speer 52 gr hp(which for shots under 300 yards is a great fur saver)
 
Thanks for the info! I rarely shoot farther than 200. Every now and again we have to poke out there at them but I think with the typical shots we take I should be fine.
 
I'd have to look at my records but I use IMR 4320 and the 52 gr Berger MV. I accidentally reversed a couple of numbers and wound up loading a couple of grains under max. To my surprise the load was very accurate. Since this is the internet you can take this for what it's worth to you but my Kimber 84M Classic had a 22 inch barrel and I was concerned about the shorter barrel not giving me the velocity I was looking for. I discovered that my fears were unfounded.

I was calling in eastern Oregon and was sitting up on a lava outcropping overlooking a huge dry lake. I figured a coyote would come from my left or right but after I started calling I saw dust being kicked up on the dry lake a good 1/2 mile away. I thought it might be an antelope but I cranked up my scope to 12 power to look. It was a coyote on a dead run coming to the call.

It stopped a ways out and just stood there looking at the area where I was sitting. Finally it started moving to my left to attempt getting to my downwind which would've been difficult but I was afraid I would lose my chance so I decided to attempt a shot. My scope was a 4-12 with a long range crosshair so I put the top dot on the coyote's back and fired. The coyote disappeared and I thought I had a good chance of picking it up since I didn't see it leave. I continued calling and a few minutes later a coyote came in from my left and stood watching the caller about 20 yards in front of me. I killed the second coyote then went to get my truck. I loaded the one coyote in the truck and then drove out to find the other one which I did. On the next trip over I'd bought myself a Leupold range finder and lasered the shot at about 422 yards. I was dumbfounded. It's still the longest shot I've ever intentionally made and I've been calling a lot of years.

I have complete confidence in the Berger bullets. They're accurate and dependable.
 
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