Published: 2024 | Last updated: June 2026
Introduction
The Berger LRHT (Long Range Hybrid Target) is Berger’s most advanced match bullet line, sitting above the Berger Hybrid Target in the product hierarchy through the addition of a specific manufacturing step – factory meplat trimming – that addresses the primary source of BC variation in conventional hollow-point match bullets. Like every other match bullet covered on this site, the LRHT is a non-expanding competition bullet and should never be used for hunting. Its lead-core, non-fragmenting construction is optimized for aerodynamic efficiency and consistency at extreme range, with no terminal performance design goal.
Understanding the meplat trimming process is central to the LRHT’s value proposition. All conventional hollow-point match bullets – the MatchKing, VLD Target, Hybrid Target – have small variations in the diameter and geometry of the meplat (the flat circular surface at the tip of the hollow point cavity). These variations arise from the swaging process used to form the hollow-point cavity, and they are small – typically a few thousandths of an inch in diameter – but at extreme range, even small differences in the effective aerodynamic nose profile produce measurable BC differences between individual bullets. Those BC differences appear as vertical dispersion at 1,000+ yards that cannot be eliminated through seating depth or powder charge tuning because it is inherent to the individual bullet’s aerodynamics rather than to the loading process. Even very small meplat variations produce BC variation, which produces vertical dispersion at long range. Some competitive handloaders address this by individually meplat-trimming bullets to a uniform diameter using dedicated tools, a time-consuming manual process. The LRHT moves this step to the factory, providing Berger’s stated 0.0005-inch meplat uniformity as a manufacturing standard rather than a shooter modification. The original article’s claim that this is “factory-meplatted” is an accurate description of a genuine, documented manufacturing feature.
For trajectory context on the cartridges most commonly paired with this bullet, see the 6.5 Creedmoor ballistics guide, 300 Winchester Magnum ballistics guide, and 7mm Remington Magnum ballistics guide.
The original article also references “MRT” in connection with the hybrid ogive design (described as “hybrid tangent-secant ogive with MRT”). This term appears to refer to Meplat Reduction Technology – the same factory meplat trimming process discussed above – though Berger’s public documentation does not consistently use this specific acronym across all sources. The practical meaning is the same in either interpretation: factory-controlled meplat uniformity as a standard specification.
Two competitor BC comparison figures require the same correction documented throughout this series. The original cites the MatchKing at 0.320-0.750 (this site’s MatchKing coverage documents 0.400-0.700) and the ELD-M at 0.350-0.770. Neither figure can be treated as verified; the MatchKing comparison is clearly inconsistent with this site’s own primary-source documentation, and the ELD-M figure cannot be independently cross-checked against a dedicated ELD-M primary-source article on this site.
One specific BC figure in the table also requires attention: the 245-grain .308-inch entry shows BC 0.820 G1 / 0.420 G7. This is substantially higher than the next entry in the table (220-grain .308-inch at 0.717 G1) – a 0.103 G1 jump. For comparison, the Berger Hybrid Target’s maximum documented BC on this site is 0.841 at the heaviest specialty weights. A 0.820 figure for a 245-grain .308-inch is not impossible but is high enough to warrant independent verification with Berger’s current published specifications before relying on it for load development calculations.
Disclaimer: Reloading is an inherently dangerous activity. Always consult current published load data from reputable sources (Berger, Hodgdon, Sierra) before loading any cartridge. Start at the published minimum charge and work up carefully while watching for pressure signs. Never exceed maximum published loads. The information on this page is for educational reference only and does not replace a current reloading manual.
Technical Characteristics
J4 jacket with 0.0003-inch thickness variation: The LRHT shares the precision J4 jacket manufacture documented for the Hybrid Target and VLD Target, with the same stated thickness tolerance. This contributes to jacket concentricity and balance consistency, both meaningful for long-range BC uniformity.
Precision-swaged lead core (±0.1 grain weight variation): The ±0.1 grain figure is the tightest weight variation specification in this site’s match bullet coverage. For context, even a 0.1 grain weight variation in a 140-grain 6.5mm bullet represents a variation of 0.07% – a genuinely tight tolerance that supports the LRHT’s consistency claims.
Hybrid tangent-secant ogive with factory meplat trimming: The hybrid ogive is the same profile documented for the Berger Hybrid Target – reduced seating depth sensitivity relative to the pure VLD secant, with the 0.010-0.080 inch seating depth window noted in the original article (vs the 0.010-0.050 typical for a pure secant) providing a broader accuracy band. The factory meplat trimming adds the documented 0.0005-inch meplat uniformity that distinguishes the LRHT from the standard Hybrid Target.
Doppler-verified drag models: The original article’s reference to “Doppler-verified drag models” reflects Berger’s published use of Doppler radar systems to measure actual in-flight deceleration and produce G7 BCs that accurately represent real-world performance rather than theoretically derived figures. This is a genuine and meaningful data quality advantage over BCs derived purely from physical measurement or calculation.
BC consistency from 2,400-3,400 fps: Noting the velocity range over which the stated BC remains consistent is important for extreme-range shooters, where the bullet transitions from faster to slower flight across long distances. A bullet with a BC that varies significantly with velocity will produce different effective BC values at different ranges, complicating ballistic solution accuracy.
Seating depth 0.010-0.080 inches, optimal at 0.030-0.050: This range is wider than the standard 0.010-0.050 for most match bullets and correctly reflects the hybrid ogive’s reduced seating sensitivity. The 0.030-0.050 optimal range from the original article is a reasonable starting recommendation.
Competition-only application: The LRHT is a non-expanding match bullet. It must not be used for hunting under any circumstances.
Ballistics and Performance
G1 BCs from 0.524 to 0.820 (with the 0.820 outlier flagged) span the LRHT’s documented range, with G7 figures from 0.268 to 0.420. The G7 BC is the more appropriate figure for supersonic long-range computation with these bullet shapes, and at the 0.356 G7 of the 153.5-grain 6.5mm specifically, the LRHT is among the highest G7 figures documented in this site’s entire match bullet coverage series.
The 85.5-grain .224-inch at G1 0.524 / G7 0.268 covers 223 Remington and 22 Creedmoor for 600-yard benchrest and PRS gas-gun applications. The sub-0.30 G7 figure is modest relative to the heavier 6mm and 6.5mm entries, but at BC 0.524 G1 this is still meaningfully higher than most .224-inch match bullets in this weight class.
The 109-grain .243-inch (6mm) at G1 0.568 / G7 0.292 covers 6mm Creedmoor and 6mm GT for PRS gas-gun applications where the 6mm’s lower recoil advantage matters. The original article notes this weight “holds supersonic past 1,400 yards,” which at BC 0.568 from a 6mm Creedmoor muzzle velocity of approximately 2,800 fps is plausible at sea level.
The 144-grain and 153.5-grain .264-inch (6.5mm) at G1 0.655/G7 0.336 and G1 0.694/G7 0.356 are the LRHT’s most widely used match bullet weights, covering 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC for F-Class and PRS competition. The 153.5-grain’s field test reference (0.25-0.40 MOA at 600 yards with ES/SD under 5 fps) is particularly notable – this is the tightest documented accuracy specification in this site’s entire match bullet series. The G7 BC of 0.356 for the 153.5-grain is a genuinely exceptional figure for a 6.5mm bullet.
The 190-grain .284-inch (7mm) at G1 0.751 / G7 0.384 covers 7mm Remington Magnum and 7mm PRC for extended-range F-Class and ELR competition. At BC 0.751 G1 / 0.384 G7, this is among the highest single-bullet BC figures in this site’s coverage of any bullet type, and the G7 figure is particularly significant: 0.384 G7 at 190 grains in a 7mm means this bullet retains velocity more efficiently at long range than even some very-high-BC 6.5mm bullets. In ELR competition where the shot distance may extend to 1,500+ yards, this G7 advantage compounds substantially relative to bullets with G7 figures in the 0.280-0.340 range common to most standard match bullets in this series.
The 208-grain, 220-grain, and 245-grain .308-inch entries at G1 0.689, 0.717, and 0.820 cover 300 Winchester Magnum and 300 Norma Magnum for 1,000-1,500 yard F-Class Open. The 245-grain at 0.820 G1 remains flagged for independent verification given the significant jump from the 220-grain’s 0.717.
Expert Ballistics Table – Berger LRHT Variants
Data from Berger specifications. BCs are G1/G7. The 245-grain .308-inch G1 BC of 0.820 appears as a potential outlier – verify with Berger. Verify all figures at bergerbullets.com before load development.
| Diameter (inches) | Weight (grains) | BC (G1/G7) | Sectional Density | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .224 | 85.5 | 0.524/0.268 | 0.243 | Benchrest in 223 Remington |
| .243 | 109 | 0.568/0.292 | 0.264 | PRS gas-gun in 6mm Creedmoor |
| .264 | 144 | 0.655/0.336 | 0.295 | F-Class in 6.5 Creedmoor |
| .264 | 153.5 | 0.694/0.356 | 0.315 | PRS/F-Class in 6.5 PRC |
| .284 | 190 | 0.751/0.384 | 0.337 | ELR in 7mm PRC |
| .308 | 208 | 0.689/0.354 | 0.313 | F-Class in 300 Winchester Magnum |
| .308 | 220 | 0.717/0.369 | 0.331 | F-Class Open in 300 Winchester Magnum |
| .308 | 245 | 0.820/0.420 | 0.369 | Potential outlier – verify with Berger |
Comparison Bullets
The original article compares the LRHT against the Sierra MatchKing and “Hornady ELD-M” – the most obvious conventional alternatives to the LRHT’s hybrid ogive with factory meplat trimming.
The Berger Hybrid Target is the LRHT’s most direct internal Berger competitor and the most relevant comparison this article can make. Both use the hybrid tangent-secant ogive, but the LRHT adds factory meplat trimming for BC uniformity. The Hybrid Target’s documented BC range (0.524-0.841 per this site’s coverage) overlaps with and at the upper end exceeds the LRHT’s table range – though comparing specific weights rather than ranges gives a more meaningful picture. The LRHT’s 153.5-grain 6.5mm at G1 0.694 is competitive with the Hybrid Target’s comparable 6.5mm offerings.
The Sierra MatchKing is the most widely used conventional BTHP match bullet globally, with BC documented at 0.400-0.700 per this site’s primary-source coverage – not 0.320-0.750 as the original article states. The MatchKing represents the established comparison baseline without hybrid ogive or factory meplat trimming. The Sierra Tipped MatchKing adds a polymer tip to address meplat consistency in a different way than the LRHT’s trimming approach – standardizing the nose profile with a physical tip rather than trimming the hollow-point aperture. Both engineering approaches solve the same root problem, with the tipped approach adding some BC from the tip geometry itself and the trimmed approach preserving the traditional hollow-point profile that some precision shooters prefer for its decades of established performance data. Neither approach is categorically superior; the choice often comes down to personal preference and specific rifle and cartridge performance data accumulated over competitive seasons.
The Hornady ELD-M uses the Heat Shield polymer tip as its meplat consistency mechanism – a sealed tip that standardizes the aerodynamic nose rather than trimming the hollow-point aperture. Both the ELD-M tip approach and the LRHT’s meplat trimming address the same root cause (meplat variation → BC variation) through different engineering solutions.
The Nosler Custom Competition and Hornady A-Tip Match complete the primary match bullet comparison field this site covers.
Comparison Table – Premium Extreme-Range Match Bullets
| Bullet | BC Range (G1) | Meplat Control | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berger LRHT | 0.524-0.820 (245gr flagged) | Factory trimmed | None (hollow point) |
| Berger Hybrid Target | 0.524-0.841 | None (untrimmed) | None (hollow point) |
| Sierra MatchKing | 0.400-0.700 | None | None (hollow point) |
| Sierra Tipped MatchKing | Similar to MatchKing + tip | Tip-standardized | Polymer |
| Hornady A-Tip Match | 0.564-0.878 | Aluminum tip | Aluminum |
| Hornady ELD-M | Heat Shield tip | Tip-standardized | Polymer (Heat Shield) |
Applications and Practical Aspects
600-yard benchrest (.224-inch, 85.5 grains): 223 Remington and 22 Creedmoor for shorter-range benchrest and PRS gas-gun. Hodgdon Varget and Hodgdon CFE 223 are standard choices.
PRS gas-gun (109 grains, 6mm): 6mm Creedmoor, 6mm GT, and 6mm Dasher for PRS production division where 6mm calibers dominate due to lower recoil. Hodgdon H4350 and Alliant Reloder 16 are standard 6mm competition choices.
1,000-yard F-Class and PRS (6.5mm, 144-153.5 grains): 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC for the most competitive precision rifle disciplines. Hodgdon H4350 and Alliant Reloder 23 are the primary powder choices. The 6.5×47 Lapua is a further cartridge used with these LRHT weights by precision rifle competitors who prioritize case efficiency. The 6mm Dasher is particularly relevant here as a sub-6mm platform that competition shooters pair with the 109-grain 6mm LRHT for PRS gas-gun divisions, valued for its case efficiency and low barrel wear.
ELR and F-Class Open (7mm, 190 grains): 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm PRC, and 7mm SAUM for extended-range competition where the 7mm’s BC advantage compounds at distances beyond 1,000 yards. The 190-grain at G1 0.751 / G7 0.384 is the highest G7 BC among the non-.308-inch entries in this table, and from a 7mm Magnum at approximately 2,900 fps muzzle velocity, this provides competitive trajectory through 1,500 yards. Alliant Reloder 26 and Hodgdon H4831SC are standard magnum powder choices.
F-Class Open at 1,000-1,500 yards (.308-inch, 208-245 grains): 300 Winchester Magnum and 300 Norma Magnum for extreme-range competition where the heavy .308-inch bullets’ high sectional density and BCs produce competitive trajectories despite the diameter disadvantage versus 7mm. The 208-grain and 220-grain entries at G7 0.354 and 0.369 are the field-proven competition weights; the 245-grain entry remains flagged for independent verification. Alliant Reloder 33 and Hodgdon Retumbo are documented choices for these heavy bullets in large magnum cases. The 338 Lapua Magnum is a further ELR cartridge that competes in the same division as the .308-inch LRHT loads at these distances, and in some ELR formats the .338-inch platform may offer ballistic advantages over the .308-inch for shots beyond 1,500 yards.
Reloading
Primers: CCI BR-4 and Federal GM205M small rifle benchrest primers for .224-inch; CCI BR-2 and Federal GM210M large rifle benchrest primers for 6mm through 7mm. Federal 215 magnum primers for the largest magnum cases.
Cases: Premium brass from Lapua or Peterson. The LRHT’s extreme-range positioning rewards the tightest possible case prep, including primer pocket uniforming, flash hole deburring, and consistent annealing every 3-4 firings. The case prep essentials guide covers the standard steps. Bushing dies are essentially required for the 0.001-0.002 inch neck tension the original article specifies – this is the tightest neck tension target in this site’s match bullet coverage, tighter even than the Hornady Match line’s 0.001-0.002 specification and meaningfully tighter than the 0.002-0.004 documented for most other match bullets in this series. Consistent realization of this tension requires a bushing die matched to the specific brass lot being used, and neck turning may be appropriate for cases with inconsistent neck wall thickness. The investment in this level of case prep is specifically what makes the LRHT’s sub-5 fps ES/SD figures achievable in practice rather than just theoretically possible.
Seating depth: Start at 0.030-0.050 inches off the lands per the original article’s recommendation. The hybrid ogive provides a wider window than a pure VLD secant, but this is still a precision application where systematic seating depth development matters. The LRHT’s factory meplat trimming reduces one source of BC variation, but seating depth variation is still the most controllable single factor for vertical dispersion.
Powder Selection by Application:
| Application | Caliber | Bullet Weight | Recommended Powders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600-yard benchrest | 223 Rem | 85.5 gr | Hodgdon Varget, Hodgdon CFE 223, Alliant Reloder 15, Hodgdon Benchmark |
| PRS gas-gun | 6mm Creedmoor | 109 gr | Hodgdon H4350, Alliant Reloder 16 |
| 6.5mm F-Class/PRS | 6.5 Creedmoor | 144-153.5 gr | Hodgdon H4350, Alliant Reloder 23, Alliant Reloder 26, Winchester StaBALL 6.5 |
| 7mm ELR | 7mm PRC | 190 gr | Alliant Reloder 26, Hodgdon H4831SC, Alliant Reloder 33, Alliant Reloder 22, IMR 7828 SSC |
| F-Class Open | 300 Win Mag | 208-220 gr | Alliant Reloder 33, Hodgdon Retumbo, Hodgdon H1000, Vihtavuori N565 |
Reloading Parameters Summary:
| Parameter | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Neck tension | 0.001-0.002 inch (tightest in this site’s match bullet coverage) |
| Seating depth | 0.010-0.080 inch off lands; start at 0.030-0.050 |
| Crimp | Not used |
| Annealing | Every 3-4 firings |
| ES target | Under 5 fps; 3 fps for elite competition |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is “MRT” as referenced in the original article?
A: The acronym is not consistently defined across Berger’s public documentation, but in context appears to refer to the factory meplat reduction/trimming process that is the LRHT’s primary distinguishing feature versus the standard Hybrid Target. The practical meaning is factory-controlled meplat uniformity to 0.0005-inch specification, which reduces BC variation between individual bullets compared to conventional hollow-point match bullets where meplat trimming is left to the shooter or not performed at all.
Q: How does the LRHT compare to the Berger Hybrid Target?
A: Both use the hybrid tangent-secant ogive, so seating depth behavior is essentially the same. The LRHT adds factory meplat trimming for BC uniformity that the standard Hybrid Target does not include. The practical competition benefit is reduced vertical dispersion at extreme range (1,000+ yards) where meplat-driven BC variation would otherwise show up as elevation spread. For competition at 600 yards and shorter, the benefit may not be perceptible. For F-Class at 1,000 yards and ELR shooting, the LRHT’s meplat consistency is a genuine, measurable advantage.
Q: The table shows BC 0.820 for the 245-grain .308-inch. The original article states the LRHT’s BC range tops out at 0.820 but the Hybrid Target’s documented range goes to 0.841. Is 0.820 correct?
A: This figure should be independently verified with Berger’s current specifications before use. It represents a large jump from the 220-grain .308-inch at 0.717 (a difference of 0.103 G1), which follows the same pattern of potentially incorrect high-BC outlier entries this site has flagged in multiple bullet comparison articles. The 0.841 figure for the Hybrid Target is for heavier specialty weights in .338-inch that are not in the LRHT’s table, so the direct comparison is not straightforward. Verify the 245-grain .308-inch figure at bergerbullets.com.
Q: The original article cites the MatchKing at BC 0.320-0.750. Is this accurate?
A: No. This site’s dedicated MatchKing coverage documents 0.400-0.700 per Sierra’s primary source data – the lower bound (0.320) is substantially understated. This follows the same pattern documented across this series.
Q: Is the LRHT appropriate for hunting?
A: No. Like every other match bullet covered in this series – the MatchKing, Hybrid Target, VLD Target, A-Tip Match, Custom Competition – the LRHT is a non-expanding, lead-core competition bullet with no terminal performance design goal. Using it for hunting risks unreliable, potentially non-lethal results. For hunting applications, see this site’s coverage of Berger’s dedicated hunting bullets: Berger VLD Hunting, Berger Elite Hunter, and Berger Classic Hunter.
Q: What powders work best with the LRHT 153.5-grain 6.5mm?
A: The 153.5-grain weight in 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5 PRC typically finds optimal performance with slower-burning powders than the more common 140-grain loads. Alliant Reloder 23 and Alliant Reloder 26 are the primary documented choices for this specific weight; Hodgdon H4350 works well in Creedmoor for this weight but may not fully fill the case in PRC-size brass where Alliant Reloder 26 typically performs better.
Conclusion
The Berger LRHT is the most precision-oriented bullet in this site’s match bullet coverage series, distinguishing itself from the standard Hybrid Target through factory meplat trimming that addresses a real source of BC variation at extreme range. The manufacturing specification of 0.0005-inch meplat uniformity is tight enough to represent a genuine, measurable engineering advantage over untrimmed hollow-point competitors at distances where meplat-driven BC variation would otherwise produce vertical dispersion that no amount of charge weight or seating depth tuning can eliminate. The 153.5-grain 6.5mm’s G7 BC of 0.356 and the documented 0.25-0.40 MOA accuracy at 600 yards with sub-5 fps ES/SD represent the highest performance specifications in this entire series. The competitor BC comparisons in the original article require the same corrections documented throughout – MatchKing at 0.400-0.700, not 0.320-0.750 – and the 245-grain .308-inch entry’s 0.820 G1 deserves independent verification.
Choose the LRHT if: you compete in F-Class, ELR, or PRS at ranges where meplat-driven BC variation produces measurable vertical dispersion; you are prepared to do the precision load development this bullet’s match-grade positioning requires; or you specifically want factory meplat uniformity without the manual trimming process.
Choose the Berger Hybrid Target instead if: you want the same hybrid ogive at a lower price point and are comfortable manually trimming meplats or shooting at distances where untrimmed meplat variation is not performance-limiting. For most competitive shooters at distances below 800 yards, the practical accuracy difference between an LRHT and a manually trimmed Hybrid Target is unlikely to be perceptible in match conditions, making the Hybrid Target the more cost-effective choice for shorter-range PRS stages.
Choose something else if: you want maximum polymer-tip BC consistency from a different engineering approach – the Hornady A-Tip Match and Sierra Tipped MatchKing use tip-based meplat standardization rather than trimming. If you need a hunting bullet, choose from Berger’s dedicated hunting lineup rather than any bullet from this match series.
Disclaimer: Reloading involves inherent risks. Always use current load data from Berger for LRHT-specific recipes. This bullet is designed exclusively for competition – not hunting. The 0.001-0.002 inch neck tension requires bushing dies; standard expander-ball dies will not achieve this tension reliably. The 245-grain .308-inch BC should be independently verified before use in ballistic calculations. Wear eye protection at all times. The author and myreloading.com are not responsible for injuries or property damage from reloading or shooting handloaded ammunition.
Have you loaded and shot the Berger LRHT? Leave a comment with your weight, cartridge, seating depth in relation to the lands, powder, charge, and accuracy results. Meplat-trimming comparison data (LRHT versus manually trimmed Hybrid Target in the same load) are especially valuable for other competitors evaluating whether the LRHT’s factory trimming justifies the premium.
Editorial note: Originally published 2024, revised June 2026. The update identified the LRHT’s “MRT” reference as most likely referring to the factory meplat trimming process that distinguishes the LRHT from the standard Hybrid Target, while noting that Berger’s public documentation does not consistently use this specific acronym. Flagged the 245-grain .308-inch BC of 0.820 as a potential outlier – a jump of 0.103 G1 from the 220-grain entry – consistent with the outlier pattern this site has flagged across multiple bullet comparison tables. Corrected the MatchKing BC comparison (0.320-0.750 in the original versus this site’s documented 0.400-0.700). Added the Berger Hybrid Target to the comparison table as the LRHT’s most direct internal competitor. Added FAQ covering six common questions including direct treatment of the MRT acronym and the 245-grain outlier. Applied full internal linking throughout.
