Comments on: Berger’s New 6mm "Column" Bullet for Short-Range Benchrest

By: Tanner

Tanner — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:48:44 +0000

Roy,
That’s how I interpreted that article also. They tested 3 different core heights/lengths until one proved the most tunable between different rifles. This was a suggestion by my bullet die maker as well. I think he depicted what you’re describing as a “lead line”. Of course variations in individual core length could change that “lead line” measurement as well as cup thickness on the base of the bullet. So its definitely something to play around with as a hobbyist bullet maker.

By: AGN Jett

AGN Jett — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:43:44 +0000

Bryan Litz will CHANGE THE WORLD!!!

By: Roy

Roy — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:07:12 +0000

What a great article. As a custom bullet maker who sometimes manages to find time to make 155 gr Palma bullets on my set of Simonson carbide dies, I understand the steps and procedures of making custom bullets.The most critical step in the process is the core seating process and when it is done right, the core height in the jacket will always be the same unless a very light core was accidentally seated in which you would feel no resistance in the seating step and discard that bullet or if a overly heavy or long core was accidentally seated,it would more than likely “pop” the jacket in half from the extreme pressure. Thus, the core should be exactly the same in all of your bullets when using the same lot of lead and jackets.
What I think that Berger and Brian are achieving with the Column bullet is not a consistent core height in the jacket so much as it is adjusting core height to achieve a optimum center of gravity for the bullet given the design parameters of the bullet shape and length .

However, I could be wrong also.
Nonetheless, a very insightful read.

Roy

By: Jim Hardy

Jim Hardy — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:03:16 +0000

I find this a very interesting and informative read. In 2002, I commissioned Ferris Pindell to come up with a meplat closing die to recapture and uniform the BC lost from meplat trimming with the tool developed by David Tooley and Scott Fletcher.

Ferris worked night and day on the development of the die for almost a month. During the process, and my testing of the 300 grain MK’s, we found the core to come right up to the meplat on some bullets, and fall short on others — “out of balance” according to Ferris. So, he made me a mini-lathe to uniform the inside of the meplat, thin the inside of the meplat for easier pointing on the thick jackets, and uniform the cores. My informal testing at Hawks Ridge between 2002 and 2004 indicated that the bullets with the uniformed cores were more accurate and the vertical more repetitive on the bullets with uniformed cores — “columns” as Bryan calls them.

Berger has once again stepped to the forefront in providing the competitive shooter with a product that is well tested in the search for the ultimate in rifle accuracy. My hat is off to Bryan Litz and Berger — once again. They never stop producing a superior product because they never stop being students of the game.

Jim Hardy