270 Win - Berger 170gr EOL vs Matrix 165gr VLD plus freebies!
Note to Rokslide Members. To make this post extra interesting, Berger and Rokslide have teamed up to giveaway two 25ct packages of the 170gr EOL .277 bullets. To enter, all you need to do is post questions or comments on this thread. If you don’t have anything to say but want to be entered anyway, just post a comment “count me in”. Robby will draw from the names of everyone who posted. It’s fine to post multiple times but your name will only be counted once in the drawing. You have 7 days to enter.
I want to thank Rokslide and Berger for letting me test out (donating) the new 170gr EOL, my main goal was to see IF it would stabilize in my 1:10 twist barrel, 1:8 is recommended by Berger. The Matrix bullet was my next bullet of choice that I purchased myself and is known to stabilize in a 1:10 twist barrel.
Now I'm not an expert by any means, I use a very simplistic approach to reloading in that I only use my press to either Full Length size or Neck size my cases. LE Wilson bullet seating dies have become my tool of choice and produce very very consistent results.
The rifle I'm using for this test is a Forbes 24B in 270 Win. Both bullets were loaded with the same exact components:
Powder - Alliant RL26
Brass - Winchester
Primer - Winchester Standard Large Rifle
Both bullets were loaded .02 off the lands which was way past fitting in my mag box, this was used for initial load development as there is very little information out there for max loads. I'm not going to post my actual loads but I will say I think Robby was nervous at first when I showed him my initial testing. To test I used the Audette Ladder method as I had a limited quantity of Bergers and time to figure out a load. Also Berger has come out with load data for various powders and the 170 EOL, if it isn't on their website just send them an email asking nicely for it.
My max range for testing was 300 yards, I'm not a long range hunter but do want my setup to have a punch and am a fan of heavier bullets with decent BC, both of these bullets would make me comfortable to my 600 yard limit. I was afraid I would be limited to 150gr bullets with the 270 but Berger and Matrix both stepped up and provided a bullet outside the norm but would they stabilize in the factory ER Shaw barrel on my Forbes?
In my initial testing I did have stability problems with the Berger at my lower powder charges when ladder testing but they seemed to stabilize when I hit about the middle charge. The Matrix seemed to stabilize at the lower charges. What I found though is that the Berger really has me smiling
. The Matrix is also a good choice and I think I could improve upon it but as you will see the Berger 5 shot group just edged out the Matrix.
Berger 170gr EOL 5 shot group test at 300 yards.
Matrix 165gr VLD 5 shot group at 300 yards, not sure what happened with the flyer to the right.
Now I know Robby is cussing me out now by not using inch grid targets but I'm cheap and have tons of the NRA targets and 3" orange circles. I didn't take an additional picture with reference on the Matrix but since I'm really liking what I'm seeing with the Berger, I plan to buy a box shortly so I can continue to see if I can shrink this down, I did add a few reference items for group sizing.
Oh and my Forbes has a 24" barrel and below are the avg velocities from my magneto speed.
Berger - avg 5 shots 2897 ft/s.
Matrix - avg 5 shots 2883 ft/s
The Matrix did have a tad stouter powder charge but I do believe the smaller bearing surface of the Berger is what made it have the better overall avg velocity. In my testing my max charge for both the Berger and Matrix only showed very slight signs of primer flattening and no other signs but I didn't load to the max. I'll do more testing and post up what I find but I want to find a true max and see if I can get some more speed out of this.
Based on my Ballistics calculator, the Shooter app, at 660 yards the Berger 170gr EOL has a velocity of 2232 ft/s and an energy of 1881 ft/lbs.
Berger with a quarter and calipers.
Also one last note, I'm shooting at less then 1000ft above sea level, so stability will only improve with altitude. Results may very but I highly recommend giving both of these bullets a try and see if you have similar results.
Note to Rokslide Members. To make this post extra interesting, Berger and Rokslide have teamed up to giveaway two 25ct packages of the 170gr EOL .277 bullets. To enter, all you need to do is post questions or comments on this thread. If you don’t have anything to say but want to be entered anyway, just post a comment “count me in”. Robby will draw from the names of everyone who posted. It’s fine to post multiple times but your name will only be counted once in the drawing. You have 7 days to enter.
I want to thank Rokslide and Berger for letting me test out (donating) the new 170gr EOL, my main goal was to see IF it would stabilize in my 1:10 twist barrel, 1:8 is recommended by Berger. The Matrix bullet was my next bullet of choice that I purchased myself and is known to stabilize in a 1:10 twist barrel.
Now I'm not an expert by any means, I use a very simplistic approach to reloading in that I only use my press to either Full Length size or Neck size my cases. LE Wilson bullet seating dies have become my tool of choice and produce very very consistent results.
The rifle I'm using for this test is a Forbes 24B in 270 Win. Both bullets were loaded with the same exact components:
Powder - Alliant RL26
Brass - Winchester
Primer - Winchester Standard Large Rifle
Both bullets were loaded .02 off the lands which was way past fitting in my mag box, this was used for initial load development as there is very little information out there for max loads. I'm not going to post my actual loads but I will say I think Robby was nervous at first when I showed him my initial testing. To test I used the Audette Ladder method as I had a limited quantity of Bergers and time to figure out a load. Also Berger has come out with load data for various powders and the 170 EOL, if it isn't on their website just send them an email asking nicely for it.
My max range for testing was 300 yards, I'm not a long range hunter but do want my setup to have a punch and am a fan of heavier bullets with decent BC, both of these bullets would make me comfortable to my 600 yard limit. I was afraid I would be limited to 150gr bullets with the 270 but Berger and Matrix both stepped up and provided a bullet outside the norm but would they stabilize in the factory ER Shaw barrel on my Forbes?
In my initial testing I did have stability problems with the Berger at my lower powder charges when ladder testing but they seemed to stabilize when I hit about the middle charge. The Matrix seemed to stabilize at the lower charges. What I found though is that the Berger really has me smiling
. The Matrix is also a good choice and I think I could improve upon it but as you will see the Berger 5 shot group just edged out the Matrix.Berger 170gr EOL 5 shot group test at 300 yards.
Matrix 165gr VLD 5 shot group at 300 yards, not sure what happened with the flyer to the right.
Now I know Robby is cussing me out now by not using inch grid targets but I'm cheap and have tons of the NRA targets and 3" orange circles
. I didn't take an additional picture with reference on the Matrix but since I'm really liking what I'm seeing with the Berger, I plan to buy a box shortly so I can continue to see if I can shrink this down, I did add a few reference items for group sizing.Oh and my Forbes has a 24" barrel and below are the avg velocities from my magneto speed.
Berger - avg 5 shots 2897 ft/s.
Matrix - avg 5 shots 2883 ft/s
The Matrix did have a tad stouter powder charge but I do believe the smaller bearing surface of the Berger is what made it have the better overall avg velocity. In my testing my max charge for both the Berger and Matrix only showed very slight signs of primer flattening and no other signs but I didn't load to the max. I'll do more testing and post up what I find but I want to find a true max and see if I can get some more speed out of this.
Based on my Ballistics calculator, the Shooter app, at 660 yards the Berger 170gr EOL has a velocity of 2232 ft/s and an energy of 1881 ft/lbs.
Berger with a quarter and calipers.
Also one last note, I'm shooting at less then 1000ft above sea level, so stability will only improve with altitude. Results may very but I highly recommend giving both of these bullets a try and see if you have similar results.
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