Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting .257 135 Bergers

Last year, I took my old .280 Rem and had it re-chambered to a 1:7.5 twist 25-06 for my son’s HS graduation present. I was basically building it for the 131 Ace Blackjacks…which sold out the instant I found a decent load of course. I’ve been trying to get some for about a year now, but no dice.

I was very pleased to see Berger announce the 135 Long Range Hybrid Target bullets,…as well as the 133 Elite Hunters.

The 133s aren’t out yet, but I recently managed to get my hands on some of the new, 135s. Loaded some up last night and headed out to the desert this morning.

55 grains of Retumbo printed me several groups just over a half inch. No signs of pressure at all. Didn’t have chronograph with me, but assuming they follow similar data as the 131 Ace BJs, the 135 Bergers should be clocking right at 3,000.

Anyway, just wanted to share my experiences with this new bullet given there was so little data out on them thus far. I’m excited to see Berger pushing the .257 boundaries a bit.

Dave

Thinking about rebarreling a Vanguard to 25 Souper fast twist. Hopefully the supply chain will get better soon to do so.
GreggH

Hammer bullets are in stock now , Hammer bullets shoot excellent and are copper so should be an excellent game bullet too. i just ordered some more 128 gr. 25 caliber bullets and i can shoot some real nice groups with hammer bullet. i am also rebarreling a Weatherby mark 5 with a Brux barrel ,7 1/2 twist , 25 caliber , contour #4 , 28 inch and will be chambered to a 257 Weatherby mag. and i plan on using the Hammer 128 gr. bullets to hunt with, hoping i get close too 3400 fps ? also xmas 2020 i rebarreled my daughters custom FN Mauser too a 257 Roberts brux barrel ,7 1/2 twist , feel the 7 1/2 twist is the better twist for a 25 caliber.

i have 131 gr. B.J. bullets , 128 gr. Hammer bullets and the new hot bullet 135 Bergers all shoot fine .

I just got a box . I will be trying them in my 1:7.5 twist 25-06 Ackley improved. It has a new benchmark barrel. That said I think my barrel/chamber is problematic. 52 gr of imr 7828sc produced 3050 fps with the 131 ace. Sticky extraction and totally flat primers. Remember this is a 25-06 Ackley improved case. That said I sat them at 3.400 coal... maybe two close to the lands and it increased pressure. Anyway...we will see if something is wrong.......

A friend and I were just discussing the Berger 135s

I can’t imagine why you’d use a 25 caliber bullet that takes a 7.5 twist for long range when Berger makes this, and it takes the standard 1-9”
Twist for a 7mm, and the G1 and G7 BCs are noticeably higher?

https://bergerbullets.com/product/7-mm-190-grain-long-range-hybrid-target/

They require a 1:8.

The Berger 190s?

Berger thinks they require 1-9” or faster according to the link I provided.

Because I have a 25-06. Well, my son does anyway. If BC is what you’re chasing, there are a couple of better offerings to be had from Hornady than the Berger even. I was simply looking for the best quarter bore bullet I could find.

And while some manufacturers do twist 1:9 (or faster) for for 7mms, the vast majority of factory offerings (by a goodly margin) are slower than that..Remington, Win, Tikka, Ruger, etc..

I get your point that given twist and BC the 190 is a pretty terrific offering, but Berger offers more than the one bullet for a reason. Not everyone wants to shoot a 7mm.

Dave

Recoil.

If all you're chasing is BC, might as well shoot a 50 BMG.

[quote=David_Walter]A friend and I were just discussing the Berger 135s

I can’t imagine why you’d use a 25 caliber bullet that takes a 7.5 twist for long range when Berger makes this, and it takes the standard 1-9”
Twist for a 7mm, and the G1 and G7 BCs are noticeably higher?


RECOIL i will 2nd that ! > i own a custom 338 Lapua made for long range elk hunting for me , i own a few 7 Mags too , but my 25 caliber rifles are way more fun to shoot with much less recoil , matter fact the 257 Roberts is what i supply the family with for deer season , recoil is so much less and still kills deer easy . as i get older recoil is no longer enjoyable to feel pain and with age wisdom comes.

Exactly! For a day to day shooter, I'd much rather be sitting behind a 25-06 launching 130's than a 7mm launching 190's. The 06' will kill anything I'd be hunting, just as quick as any 7mm launching 190's.

here are 3 bullet sizes all 3 sizes are target Berger bullets apples and oranges comparison - 6mm cal. 115 gr. g7 is .289 , 25 cal. 135 gr. g7 is .334 , 7 mm 190 gr. g7 is .384 here`s a question for the ballistic big recoil cartridge guys = tell me why the record at 1,000 yards is by a 6BR 115 gr. bullets that has very little recoil ,with lower g7 ? i have been to these 1000 yard bench matches the big recoil boomers never win much .