I was a big match king, game king guy forever until the bergers started becoming readily available around here. I was more than happy with what the sierras were doing for me but when the opportunity arose to apply more energy flatter trajectory and less wind drift at long range I jumped all over it. I shot them side by side in a 308, 270, 250 savage and a 260 ackley. The bergers provided night and day differences at 800 yards as far as wind drift and trajectory and has proved to be absolutely devastating on game. Call it mania if you want but they are consistently better performers for me and why I use them. In regards to your friend not shooting his new gun this year because he couldn't get some bergers is a little fanatical but to each his own.