Game-Changer: Berger 7mm 195gr Bullet with 0.755 G1 BC
You’ve heard the rumors of a new ultra-high BC 7mm bullet from Berger. Well the rumors are true. Berger is now shipping test samples of its new 195-grain 7mm Elite Hunter Bullet, part # 28550. This bullet boasts jaw-droping 0.755 G1 and 0.387 G7 Ballistic Coefficients. Those are stunningly high numbers. Compare that to 0.674 G1 and 0.345 G7 BCs for the previous BC king amoung 7mm projectiles, Berger’s own 180 gr Match Hybrid Target.
We’re certain the “orange box” 195gr Elite Hunter will soon see use by F-Open competitors. This ultra-high BC projectile could be a “game-changer” in long-range shooting when used in cartridges such as the 7mm RSAUM, 7mm WSM and even bigger 7mm magnums. Recommended barrel twist rate is 1:8.3″, with a stated “minimum” twist of 1:9″.
We ran some numbers through the JBM Ballistics program*, comparing the new 195-grainer with Berger’s popular 180gr Hybrid. The results were eye-opening. The projected drop is significantly less. Most importantly, this new 195gr bullet moves a LOT less in the wind at 1000 yards. This should translate into higher scores for F-Class shooters — that wide ‘9’ shot may stay in the ’10’ ring. In fact, based on the JBM trajectory calculation, with a 10 mph 90° crosswind, the 195gr bullet will have over SEVEN INCHES less wind drift at 1000 yards than the 180-grainer (46.0″ vs. 53.1″). That’s a big deal, a very big deal…
| Comparative Ballistics 195gr vs. 180gr Berger 7mm Bullets (10 mph 90° Crosswind) | |
| Berger 7mm 195gr Elite Hunter 2950 fps | Berger 7mm 180gr Hybrid Target 2950 fps |
| Drop at 800 yards: 135.5″ Windage at 800 yards: 28.0″ |
Drop at 800 yards: 140.9″ Windage at 800 yards: 32.2″ |
| Drop at 1000 yards: 237.9″ Windage at 1000 yards: 46.0″ |
Drop at 1000 yards: 250.0″ Windage at 1000 yards: 53.1″ |
| Drop at 1200 yards: 380.1″ Windage at 1200 yards: 69.6″ |
Drop at 1200 yards: 404.2″ Windage at 1200 yards: 81.2″ |
* Variables were set to 55.4° F, 1000′ elevation, standard Atmosphere at Altitude, 2950 fps muzzle velocity. You can use JBM Ballistics to compare at different MVs.
UPDATE from Berger
After we broke this story, Berger Bullets wanted to clarify some points. Berger explained:
“This bullet is in the testing phase and has not been officially launched. We sent this bullet out for some public testing to make sure that we had positive feedback before we moved forward with an official launch.
We want to see how it performs in multiple rifles and different chamberings.
This bullet was made for hunting purposes, we realize there are shooters who would like to take these out for target shooting, like F-Class. However, we are not certain how they will perform. If things are successful we would like to eventually launch a target version.”
The information on the label you have pictured on your article has been updated.
Twist Rates
Minimum: 1:9″
Optimum: 1:8.3″Ballistic Coefficients
G7 BC: .387
G1 BC: .754
How to Get Berger’s 195gr Elite Hunter Bullets
These bullets are so new you won’t find them on the Berger Bullets website yet. As Berger explained above, these bullets are still in a final testing phase. Most of the early production runs have been sent out for testing purposes. If you have specific questions, you can send an email to Berger via this CONTACT PAGE. Otherwise you can phone Berger, Mon-Fri, at 714-441-7200. Please try the email option first.
The Extreme Store is listing the Berger 195gr 7mm Elite Hunter Bullet at $62.00 per 100 bullets, not including shipping.
Bullet boxes photo courtesy Ryan Pierce, PiercisionRifles.comSimilar Posts:
- Berger’s New 6mm 105gr Hybrid Bullet — Ballistics Revealed
- Berger Updates Bullet BC Data and Recommended Twist Rates
- New 7mm 184gr F-Open Hybrid Target Bullet from Berger
- New Berger .30-Cal Hybrids Released — 6mm Hybrid in Testing
- Berger Adds 215gr and 230gr Hybrids to .30 Caliber Bullet Line
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Tags: .284, 195, 195gr, 7mm, 7mm WSM, Berger Bullets, Bryan Litz, Elite Hunter, RSAUM
A barrel launching these beasts at 2950fps isn’t going to last very long when used for F-Open.
Launching a near 200 grain Berger 7mm 195gr Elite Hunter at 2950 fps will be quite a boomer through a 20 shot string. Will be interesting to see how it plays out. F-class shooters re-barrel again!!
You need to reduce velocity for the heavier bullet. Otherwise pressure will be increased. It’s like comparing a different cartridges with different bullets.
Editor: The only way to compare “apples to apples”, from a ballistics standpoint, is to use the same MV for the two bullets. To achieve 2950 FPS with the 195-grainer it may take a longer barrel, or a bigger cartridge. But we wanted to start with a velocity that is viable with the 180gr Hybrid and the short magnums.
I will stick with 180’s.. that extra 7″ is great IF the shooter can control it, a bad wind call of 1/2 mph will change that 7″ fast. That”s a lot of kick for 20 rounds .
I think less recoil and 180 bergers will still be more effective .
Adjust the MV for 195 vs 180 bullets and then add real numbers.
I wish they would skip the 7 and go to 6.5 mm bullet release.
Whats the bullet length? I have a 7mm08AI in a 9T and wouldn’t mind trying these. Be interesting to see the MV in a 284 and how much the difference between the 180gr and 195gr.
What MV do people expect from the 284 with 195gr?
Comparing “apples to apples” is all well and good, but I can do that by looking at the BC and saying, the higher BC is going to shoot inside the lower one. You did however quantify how much it will shoot inside for a given velocity. Now, assuming I am shooting a 7mm RSAUM with the 180, am I going to really be able to realize all that BC going to the 195? I;m sure the heavier bullet will have the advantage eventually, but how far do I have to shoot it to realize the advantage, and at say 1000 yards, what will the real advantage in wind drift be?
Editor: We have to wait for field tests to see how fast these can be pushed compared to the 180s in current cartridges/throats. These are so new we don’t have empirical tests with different powders. But there is a significant increase in BC with only a 15gr difference in mass.
Would think going to a 195 from a 180 velocity’s should be pretty close, the 195 certainty has a huge BC advantage.
I ran the following numbers on the Sierra program.
10 mph wind at 3 o`clock
180 grain @ 2950 5 minutes drift
195 grain @ 2800 4.7 minutes drift
At 2950 the 195 has a more significant advantage with 4.3 minutes of drift. Although id think 2800 may be a more realistic number for the 195 versus the 180.
My conclusion, no big difference I can see. At .62 cents a piece they press the price envelope as well.
Editor: Guy — First, we can’t assume that these can only be pushed at 2800. Also, I know folks will likely find a way to reach 2950. If it will take a bigger cartridge, or longer throat, they will find a way. We’ve seen that competitors learn how to run the big bullets in the velocity sweet spot. Witness what is being done with the big 30s in the 300 WSM.
A potential game changer here that will challenge a lot of shooters’ preconceptions about what is possible. Looking forward to the field tests but my Boo Boo barrel has been looking forward to trying these for a long while (think 3050fps for the 180s).
I agree, They will get max velocity out of them. The big 30s is a good example. But it seems the faster the 195 goes the 180 can always be pushed faster so I have a hard time making a side by side velocity comparison. I would think there would be 100 fps between the two, at least.
Why are you guys looking for 2950 fps? The .300 wsm performs well at 2850
Ray, I’m guessing they are using 2950 because that is about where the 180’s are. I keep hearing about people changing calibers and barrels and throats to push this bullet faster, but for some less wealthy people (me) I have one rifle and I have to shoot what I brung, or sell and start over. For those more well healed, there will be cannons built that will shoot it as fast as you want.
With a 7 short mag. your going to be more in the 2800fps range. Your not going to get the same velocity with same case and powder as the 180s with out pressure going up! No way around it.
My twist calc’s on the 195’s is coming in at 1-8.52 as a min. at 2800fps. I would run a 1-8.5 or faster twist to shoot the 195’s.
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
Thats why I used 2800 fps for the 195 and 2950 for the 180 when I ran the numbers above.
I run a 28nosler with a 28″ lilja 8 twist barrel and 3.6 oal. Im currently getting 3320fps with a 180g berger. So id hope for 3200fps with the 195g once released. Cant wait to get hold of some!!!
This would be awesome in a 7RUM pushed at 3100 or so. I shot some of the Alco 195’s in my 26″ factory 7RM and saw 2,850 fps without pressure, those bullets have a gigantic bearing surface and the Bergers typically do not. I didn’t think of F-Class when I saw the BC, but immediately thought about a bullet that would allow a 7RUM/STW/Dakota to compete with a .338 LM with way less recoil and muzzle blast. This might have more of an appeal to the ELR crowd.
Final Thoughts
We are excited about these bullets and confident that they will be successful. However, there are a couple of very important things to keep in mind. This bullet is currently being made ONLY in our Elite Hunter configuration. It is made using our thinner jacket to produce the best possible terminal performance. If these bullets are successful, then our plan is to also produce a Target version with a thicker jacket. We know that many shooters are excited to try these bullets in target competitions. Our hunting bullets are held to the same tolerances as our target bullets, but do have a thinner jacket (read HERE for more information). They are not target bullets, which are built to withstand the speeds and pressures that our target shooters demand. So if you plan to use these in your target rifles, please test them thoroughly BEFORE you go to a major competition.
We will be very interested in hearing from those who received bullets from our first run. The future of this bullet will depend on their results.
http://www.bergerbullets.com/7mm-195gr-eol-elite-hunter-testing/
Shooting these bullets for the first time in groups intermittently, along with180 hybrids through a 1-8 twist barrel in .284 Win, they hit in exactly the same place with 56.0 grains of RE 25, as 180 hybrids did with 54.0 grains of 4831sc. I did not chronograph them but logic dictates that they were close to the same velocity, if they maintained exactly the same POI. This is not a hot load in my rifle judging by the brass, but the powder is somewhat compressed. What’s more is that they group tight, just like retipped 180s. My early thought is they are excellent. A game changer.
“Final Thoughts
We are excited about these bullets and confident that they will be successful. However, there are a couple of very important things to keep in mind. This bullet is currently being made ONLY in our Elite Hunter configuration. It is made using our thinner jacket to produce the best possible terminal performance. If these bullets are successful, then our plan is to also produce a Target version with a thicker jacket. We know that many shooters are excited to try these bullets in target competitions. Our hunting bullets are held to the same tolerances as our target bullets, but do have a thinner jacket (read HERE for more information). They are not target bullets, which are built to withstand the speeds and pressures that our target shooters demand. So if you plan to use these in your target rifles, please test them thoroughly BEFORE you go to a major competition.
We will be very interested in hearing from those who received bullets from our first run. The future of this bullet will depend on their results.”
Wow. They seem really concerned about jacket thickness. In the literary world, we call that “foreshadowing”.
Meant to say above that those identical points of impact were at 100 yards. With club match testing now at 600, the 195’s strike about 6 inches higher, and they deflect less. If you alternate shots between in the same rifle with these and 180’s at 600 yards, with a constant scope hold on center and consistent cross wind, you will form two very distinct groups with no overlap, and the 195’s will hit higher and significantly closer to the bull. I can’t think of a real world test that is more reliable. And interestingly the 195’s with RE 25 heat the barrel less than 180’s with less 4831sc.