Meplats. Left to right: BJD-HBC, Lapua Scenar, Berger 155.5gn FULLBORE, Sierra Palma MK. The Sierra is factory ‘pointed’ hence its small size
the market. It is longer than either Sierra Palma MK, pretty well the same as the 155.5gn Berger but shorter than the Scenar.
It has a relatively short boat-tail section but a full- diameter mid or bearing-surface length that is exceeded only by that of the Lapua bullet. Also, as with the Scenar, it has an aggressive secant curve ogive and sharp nose to bearing surface junction which might make it trickier to tune than the Berger or Sierras with their tangent ogive forms.
Measuring its full body diameter, I got consistent readings a little over 0.3080 inches and a couple of hundreds of a thou. larger than the Berger or Lapua models but pretty well in line with those of the Palma MatchKing. In overall dimensions and form, it’s closest to the Lapua Scenar, so if that bullet shoots well for you, the BJD-HBC should do so too.
It has a large meplat diameter but this can be rectified by ‘pointing’ of course. Checking 25 examples pulled from the box at random, weights were within a 154.3-154.8gn range but with more than half weighing in at exactly 154.6gn. Lengths were all within a 10 thou. range and bearing-surface lengths, measured with callipers and two Hornady L-N-L .30-cal bullet comparator inserts in Sinclair comparator bodies were really close at 0.4305 – 0.4330 inches, 17 of the 25 measuring 0.431 inches.
I wouldn’t bother measuring, weighing and batching these bullets even for 1000 yard F/ TR shooting with these tolerances, just pointing them for another 3% or thereabouts extra BC value. The HBCs are not as ‘pretty’ as most commercial bullets, having a duller, slightly abraded looking finish. I reckon this is because Berger, Lapua, Sierra etc. bullets are tumbled in a polishing medium after manufacture to give them a smooth shiny look but any difference here is cosmetic not functional.
Favourite Load
For range tests in my Barnard / Eliseo tubegun with its 30 inch 1-10 twist Broughton barrel, I used a favourite recipe for this weight bullet: ‘roomy’ 160gn Norma brass, CCI-200 primer and initially six, four-round batches of Vihtavuori N150 rising from 45.5gn to 47.0gn in small steps.
COAL wise, I set them up 0.020 inches out of the rifling and prepared to try them again seated into the lands if this didn’t work but there was no problem as it turned out. This gave a smallest group of 0.2 inches and an overall average of 0.42 inches off the bench at 100 yard.
The top charge of 47gn with its 0.3 inch group was chosen for an upcoming 500 yard match at Diggle. I should stress that this was in the very ‘roomy’ 1980s vintage Norma brass and the load should be reduced by 1-1.5gn in Lapua cases.
Target Shooter
7
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