“If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing it right” – Walt Berger
On September 19, 2021, the precision rifle shooting community lost an icon and legend. Walt Berger left the range at 92 years old (he would have been 93 this November). He continued to shoot competitively into his last few months.
Walt founded Berger Bullets and was one of the leading pioneers in precision bullet making. He examined every facet of bullet making from flatness of punches, surface finish, radical designs, jacket quality, and much more, he literally left no stone unturned.
I started to write this as a pure mini-life story of Walt, but the legacy of a man isn’t where he was born, his birthdate, his siblings, etc. His legacy is how he positively impacted others along the way and what he left that will remain, even after most of us who knew him are gone, too.
Walt's relentless pursuit of bullet manufacturing impacted each of us in the shooting industry, whether we shoot “Walt’s bullets” or some other brand. He left the precision rifle shooting world with better projectiles to chase the endless and impossible game of perfection.
Like many others I first met Walt at a benchrest match (sometime in 1991; that was 30 years ago - he had already been making bullets for 37 years)/ He was inducted into the Benchrest Hall of Fame in 1982, and served many roles in the National Benchrest Shooter’s Association (NBRSA) including director and President for several terms. Walt was also one of the shooters driving the reality of having a World Benchrest Championship.
Walt was constantly mentoring many of us, although he wouldn’t have called it that. He was constantly asking us questions about what we were doing, why we were doing it and challenging us with tough arguments. He was doing it to make us better at whatever we were trying to accomplish.
I recall many phone conversations we had over the years when I was President/Co-Owner of Sinclair International, Walt’s first dealer. I vividly remember a series of arguments over moly coating "back in the day." We finally sectioned a barrel so we could get a closer look. I sent those barrels to Walt. I didn’t win the argument, but realized he had pushed me far enough that the student was able to occasionally argue back to the teacher.
His second wife Eunice was an important part of the success of Berger Bullets. A fierce competitor, Eunice ultimately won the coveted SuperShoot in benchrest shooting. She had a huge impact on growing the business. Both had won gold medals in International World Championships. Walt lost Eunice in 2004 to a brain tumor having lost his first wife of 39 years, Mary, to cancer.
Little did I know that I would eventually have the honor of working alongside Walt.
Years after we both had sold our companies, Walt and I ended up together with the team at Capstone Precision Group (aka Berger Bullets and Ammunition) for a one-year term to help them transition back to the Phoenix area (where Walt grew the company). I loved working with the Berger team, so much I continued on for three years. My business card may have read “President” and Walt’s may have read “Technician” but I knew I was still listening and learning from a master bullet maker.
Over those three years I watched Walt continue to help customers with questions and continue to coach others to do it right. He offered each of us insights into what he had tried along his journey.
Those that had met and knew Walt were amazed at his toughness. Even at the last SHOT Show he worked, Walt refused to sit down, and energetically talked to others, continuing to help them.
Walt always put the customer first, and went to great lengths to answer their questions in person, over the phone or through emails.
One of my fondest moments was standing on the upper catwalk above a 50,000 square- foot bullet manufacturing facility alongside Walt and his grandson, David Hamilton (the Berger Plant Manager). Walt looked at it in amazement, still humble about how his efforts making bullets in a spare bedroom in their house had grown into this state-of-the-art facility. Like David, I realize we would be letting Walt down if we didn’t continue to pursue perfection.
Walt continued to shoot until his last days. I last shot with him during the 2019 NBRSA Nationals at the Ben Avery Range on the north side of Phoenix.
Walt, David and I shot on adjacent benches so we could help Walt move his gear (okay, David did all the hard work). He was still shooting small groups and continuing to teach us along the way. I watched his interaction with fellow shooters and realized how all of us had greatly benefited from his persistent pursuit of accuracy. I knew his legacy would live on; one of helping thousands of shooters that would continue to strive to do their best.
Walt, we honor you and celebrate your life.
— Bill Gravatt