.284 180 Berger Hybrid tip opening

[Colin78]

What size is the opening on a .284 180 grain Berger Hybrid? And what is the best way to make sure it’s not plugged up?

I did a search and found posts for the .308 215's but not these.

Thanks.

Also new member question, I was wanting to start a conversation with Broz about Berger bullets but can’t figure out how and now wondering if I have to be a member so long before I can start conversations?

 

[FURMAN]

I do not clean my tips and never have. I do not subscribed to the theory of needing to. We have taken quite a few animals with pointed bullets with the tips essentially plugged on purpose and they appear to work even better. It seems as if the jacket is collapsing on the hollow area and coming apart in a spectacular fashion.

As far as the PMs it requires a certain number of posts.

 

[Colin78]

I do not clean my tips and never have. I do not subscribed to the theory of needing to. We have taken quite a few animals with pointed bullets with the tips essentially plugged on purpose and they appear to work even better. It seems as if the jacket is collapsing on the hollow area and coming apart in a spectacular fashion.

As far as the PMs it requires a certain number of posts.

Thanks for the reply. Wonder how many posts you have to have to start a conversation.

As for the tips, I have read a lot on other forums about people making sure there tips are cleaned out and since doing that have not had any fail to expand. Prior to doing that they would occasionally have a bullet pencil through causing very little damage. Yes obviously they recovered the animal in those cases but it was after long tracking jobs.

 

[FURMAN]

Thanks for the reply. Wonder how many posts you have to have to start a conversation.

As for the tips, I have read a lot on other forums about people making sure there tips are cleaned out and since doing that have not had any fail to expand. Prior to doing that they would occasionally have a bullet pencil through causing very little damage. Yes obviously they recovered the animal in those cases but it was after long tracking jobs.

Jeff drills his. Hopefully he will check in and help you with the bit he uses. I don't know how people come to the conclusion that it penciled through because the lead core almost always "pencils" through. It makes no difference to me but I don't and won't do it. If I had to drill tips I would look for a different bullet. I do not have any idea how many animals I have killed with Bergers and have never been disappointed. Some bullets work better than others but never disappointment.

 

[Spreedizzle]

I drill out mine with a .7mm, or .028 drill bit. This I use with a hand drill, or a jewelers drill. Hit up Amazon and you can find both for about $20.

 

[Gillettehunter]

You can just use a straight pin to make sure its open. After you do 3-4 it becomes readily apparent if the tip is plugged. The plugged tipped ones make great practice/sighter rounds if you don't drill them out. I've always followed @Broz's suggestion to make sure they are not plugged. Killed a lot of animals with them. They do a good job.
Bruce

 

[Broz]

What size is the opening on a .284 180 grain Berger Hybrid? And what is the best way to make sure it’s not plugged up?

I did a search and found posts for the .308 215's but not these.

Thanks.

Also new member question, I was wanting to start a conversation with Broz about Berger bullets but can’t figure out how and now wondering if I have to be a member so long before I can start conversations?

Yes, you need to be a member and settle in for a bit before you can private message or buy and sell.

For your 180's it should be the same size as the 215's which is .027". I just check them to be clear back to lead. I do not open the hole up, but I do clean out clogs or burs.

Get a drill type torch tip cleaner off amazon. They are cheap and usually include a .027" bit

 

[Colin78]

Yes, you need to be a member and settle in for a bit before you can private message or buy and sell.

For your 180's it should be the same size as the 215's which is .027". I just check them to be clear back to lead. I do not open the hole up, but I do clean out clogs or burs.

Get a drill type torch tip cleaner off amazon. They are cheap and usually include a .027" bit

Gotcha. Thanks. You seem the be the Berger guru. Have you ever heard of a Berger bullet exploding on impact (before reaching the vitals) at close range by someone that checks the tips?

 

[Broz]

Gotcha. Thanks. You seem the be the Berger guru. Have you ever heard of a Berger bullet exploding on impact (before reaching the vitals) at close range by someone that checks the tips?

Only in very high velocity rounds with real fast twist rates and lighter bullets that are shot from 3 or 4 groove barrels. But its harder to make a Berger do it. The Hornady's (ELD-X, ELD-M, And A-Tips) are way easier to get to do it. I don't think you would be able to tear a 180 Berger up unless you were over 3300 fps MV with a 3 or 4 groove and 7 twist.

 

[Colin78]

Only in very high velocity rounds with real fast twist rates and lighter bullets that are shot from 3 or 4 groove barrels. But its harder to make a Berger do it. The Hornady's (ELD-X, ELD-M, And A-Tips) are way easier to get to do it. I don't think you would be able to tear a 180 Berger up unless you were over 3300 fps MV with a 3 or 4 groove and 7 twist.

I will be sending them from a 20” 7 SAUM so I won’t be anywhere near that speed. Running a ladder test tomorrow and expecting to be somewhere around 2850 to 2900.

 

[Colin78]

Only in very high velocity rounds with real fast twist rates and lighter bullets that are shot from 3 or 4 groove barrels. But its harder to make a Berger do it. The Hornady's (ELD-X, ELD-M, And A-Tips) are way easier to get to do it. I don't think you would be able to tear a 180 Berger up unless you were over 3300 fps MV with a 3 or 4 groove and 7 twist.

One other question for you, I don’t have a VLD seating stem for this caliber yet and I’m getting very faint marks on the top of my bullets when seating them. Have you seen or heard of this causing issues?

 

[Broz]

One other question for you, I don’t have a VLD seating stem for this caliber yet and I’m getting very faint marks on the top of my bullets when seating them. Have you seen or heard of this causing issues?

You can put the seating plug in a drill or lathe and polish it. That will help, but it sounds to me like you are running a lot of neck tension.

 

[FURMAN]

I see the marks with .003 or more which a lot of cartridges like. The best way to get rid of it is to polish the seating stem with a lapping compound and a bullet like Jeff suggested.

 

[Colin78]

You can put the seating plug in a drill or lathe and polish it. That will help, but it sounds to me like you are running a lot of neck tension.

There is actually only .0015 neck tension. I wouldn’t want to go any lighter.

 

[FURMAN]

There is actually only .0015 neck tension. I wouldn’t want to go any lighter.

Are you going off a bushing size or checking with a pin gage? Just going off bushing size will not give you the tension as the bushings are not very accurate. In any case I would polish the seater.

 

[Colin78]

Are you going off a bushing size or checking with a pin gage? Just going off bushing size will not give you the tension as the bushings are not very accurate. In any case I would polish the seater.

I am measuring the outside of the case back before and after seating the bullet.