Disassembling the 115 Berger from Alex-A: Range Report

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  • RangerRick

    Disassembling the 115 Berger from Alex-A: Range Report

    Hi All,

    Finally got a chance to chrono some of the Hunting Economy Loads from Alexander Arms.

    I also pulled some bullets to see what was inside. Here's the data:

    The entire cartridge weighs 267.4 grains. It uses Hornady brass and silver primers which I assume are CCI 450's.

    The C.O.L. is 2.245 inches. The bullet itself is a hollow point, 1.205 inches long with a small boat tail. I pulled three and they were all exactly 115.0 grains.

    I don't have any other Berger bullets, so I can't say if this is the jacket from their 120 grain hollow point with a smaller chunk of lead.

    The case was filled to about half way up the shoulder. There was 30.1 grains of powder.

    The powder looked like a mix of two ball types. One had a grain size of AA2520 or AA 2460. The other balls were larger and a little flat.

    The fired case showed no pressure signs. The primers were nice and round and there was no cratering.

    I fired 40 rounds for this test. I have an adjustable gas block which is set for the 123 grain bullets I normally shoot. I fired groups of five, 8 magazines total. I had three failures to feed and two failures to lock the bolt back on an empty mag.

    That can be easily fixed by opening up the gas block a tad.

    I only had a short time to do this so I was rushed. I got about 1 inch groups at 100 yards as you can see from the pics below. I'm sure I could do better with more time to shoot.

    I was shooting a 20 inch Satern barrel with a 1 in 8.5 twist. The chrono data follows the pics.

    The chrono was 15 feet from the muzzle. Temperature was about 62, sunny, light winds, altitude 200 feet, humidity was about 55%.

    The muzzle velocity was about 20-25 feet per second higher than I get with my 123 grain hand loads, and about 50 feet per second faster than Alexander and Hornady factory 123 grain loads I've chrono'ed.

    Point of impact at 100 yards was about the same as my 123 grain loads. I didn't get a chance to shoot farther yet.








    String: 2
    Date: 11/1/2011
    Time: 4:53:03 PM
    Grains: 115
    Hi Vel: 2564
    Low Vel: 2515
    Ave Vel: 2537
    Ext Spread: 49
    Std Dev: 15
    Alex A 115 grain Berger HPBT
    Velocity
    2534
    2520
    2515
    2539
    2554
    2564
    2554
    2534
    2530
    2534


    String: 3
    Date: 11/1/2011
    Time: 5:02:30 PM
    Grains: 115
    Hi Vel: 2564
    Low Vel: 2525
    Ave Vel: 2548
    Ext Spread: 39
    Std Dev: 11
    Alex A 115 grain Berger HPBT
    Velocity
    2525
    2554
    2564
    2559
    2539
    2549
    2559
    2544
    2544
    2544
    Last edited by Guest; 11-02-2011, 05:06 AM. Reason: more typos

  • #2
    Great info, thanks for putting it all together and sharing it.

    Comment

    • BluntForceTrauma
      Administrator
      • Feb 2011
      • 3897

      #3
      Good report, thanks!

      John
      :: 6.5 GRENDEL Deer and Targets :: 6mmARC Targets and Varmints and Deer :: 22 ARC Varmints and Targets

      :: I Drank the Water :: Revelation 21:6 ::

      Comment

      • jwilson1985

        #4
        good write up...i wish i had the data to mix powder like all these guys do

        Comment

        • bwaites
          Moderator
          • Mar 2011
          • 4445

          #5
          It's a proprietary blend from St. Marks, I believe. St. Marks won't sell powder except to factories, so we can't get it.

          Burn rate is similar to the old 2520, if I remember right.

          Comment

          • rasp65
            Warrior
            • Mar 2011
            • 660

            #6
            Originally posted by bwaites View Post
            It's a proprietary blend from St. Marks, I believe. St. Marks won't sell powder except to factories, so we can't get it.

            Burn rate is similar to the old 2520, if I remember right.
            Bill According to the MSDS for Winchester ball powders they are all products of St. Marks Powder.

            Comment

            • bwaites
              Moderator
              • Mar 2011
              • 4445

              #7
              So are some of the Hodgdon/Hornady powders, like the Superperformance, and the Leverevolution.

              However, I should have been more specific. St. Marks won't sell their canister powders directly to the public. They will sell to other factories/distributors, who can market as they see fit.

              Comment


              • #8
                Thanks for the data

                Comment

                • RangerRick

                  #9
                  Originally posted by bwaites View Post
                  So are some of the Hodgdon/Hornady powders, like the Superperformance, and the Leverevolution.

                  However, I should have been more specific. St. Marks won't sell their canister powders directly to the public. They will sell to other factories/distributors, who can market as they see fit.

                  I seem to remember a Bill Alexander post on the old forum where he considered selling the powder, but the costs of the equipment to package and al the red tape involved in shipping made it not worth while.

                  RR

                  Comment

                  • bwaites
                    Moderator
                    • Mar 2011
                    • 4445

                    #10
                    Originally posted by RangerRick View Post
                    I seem to remember a Bill Alexander post on the old forum where he considered selling the powder, but the costs of the equipment to package and al the red tape involved in shipping made it not worth while.

                    RR
                    That in combination with the hassles of shipping HazMat.

                    Comment

                    • texasgrunt

                      #11
                      Anyone know the BC for this bullet?

                      Grunt

                      Comment

                      • BjornF16
                        Chieftain
                        • Jun 2011
                        • 1825

                        #12
                        Originally posted by texasgrunt View Post
                        Anyone know the BC for this bullet?

                        Grunt
                        I emailed Bryan Litz at Berger Bullets asking this question and rec'd no response (disappointing). I always get quick responses when emailing Walt Berger regarding load data.
                        LIFE member: NRA, TSRA, SAF, GOA
                        Defend the Constitution and our 2A Rights!

                        Comment

                        • Drifter
                          Chieftain
                          • Mar 2011
                          • 1662

                          #13
                          6.5mm 100gr Berger BC is .370.

                          6.5 120gr Berger BC is .453.

                          Thus, perhaps the 6.5mm 115gr BC might be in the neighborhood of .430. Just speculation on my part...
                          Drifter

                          Comment

                          • texasgrunt

                            #14
                            Is Bryan Litz book recommended for those interested in exterior ballistics?

                            Comment

                            • BjornF16
                              Chieftain
                              • Jun 2011
                              • 1825

                              #15
                              I have the book...it is good imho, with some good bullet data in the back.
                              LIFE member: NRA, TSRA, SAF, GOA
                              Defend the Constitution and our 2A Rights!

                              Comment

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