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140gr Berger Elite Hunter issue. Anyone experience this?

R

rjletraveler

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Feb 23, 2021
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Idaho
140gr Berger elite hunter out of a 6.5prc. Hunting Cow elk but also had an either sex mule deer tag. Shot a doe at 110 yards. Perfectly through the ribs. Dropped like a stone. When I opened her up the entire internal cavity had been scrambled. Bullet came apart and the concussion combined with bullet fragments tore through the diaphragm. Gut material, plant bits and the like had sucked out the exit hole. I found gut material forced into the meat along the spine. Exit wound was the size of a quarter. Has anyone experienced this? Bullet was right behind the shoulders right through the middle. Scared to use these again if they do anything similar. Appreciate any thoughts. thanks
 
IMG_5073.jpeg
 
That is pretty much how a Berger works. I have never had a Berger exit any animal. Just killed a couple of deer and the insides were exactly as you described.
I switched to Nosler Accubonds as I know they make a pass through and destroy everything in between but does not destroy meat as bad as Berger but then again, dead is dead!
 
Outdrmn said:
View attachment 611046
Click to expand...
No, don't know if I've ever seen hydrostatic shock, especially from a Berger bullet. The last two elk took two and the next one three shots to put them down. I have experienced better bullet performance with Barnes bullets. To me now Berger's aren't worth the money. The Hammer is better than Berger, but Barnes is still tough to beat. Going to try some new ones from North Fork (Sweeden) this fall. Hydrostatic shock? Really? Believe in the boogie man too?
 
Different caliber but same result with a 22-250 on coyotes. 55 grain Berger exploded on contact, fragments found at impact spot in field. Half dollar size exit, dogs all ran at least a few hundred yards before dropping. More than one of them taking another shot to finish them off. Made a switch years ago because of it and haven't looked back. Just never had a good experience other than punching paper with them unfortunately. They killed yes but not how I liked to see so it's definitely just an opinion.
 
rjletraveler said:
140gr Berger elite hunter out of a 6.5prc. Hunting Cow elk but also had an either sex mule deer tag. Shot a doe at 110 yards. Perfectly through the ribs. Dropped like a stone. When I opened her up the entire internal cavity had been scrambled. Bullet came apart and the concussion combined with bullet fragments tore through the diaphragm. Gut material, plant bits and the like had sucked out the exit hole. I found gut material forced into the meat along the spine. Exit wound was the size of a quarter. Has anyone experienced this? Bullet was right behind the shoulders right through the middle. Scared to use these again if they do anything similar. Appreciate any thoughts. thanks
Click to expand...
Performed as designed.
 
rjletraveler said:
140gr Berger elite hunter out of a 6.5prc. Hunting Cow elk but also had an either sex mule deer tag. Shot a doe at 110 yards. Perfectly through the ribs. Dropped like a stone. When I opened her up the entire internal cavity had been scrambled. Bullet came apart and the concussion combined with bullet fragments tore through the diaphragm. Gut material, plant bits and the like had sucked out the exit hole. I found gut material forced into the meat along the spine. Exit wound was the size of a quarter. Has anyone experienced this? Bullet was right behind the shoulders right through the middle. Scared to use these again if they do anything similar. Appreciate any thoughts. thanks
Click to expand...
Yes same thing here! I used the VLD's out of my 6.5-300 weatherby, Shot a cow elk the same occurred. We call them Berger Bombs we all stopped using them! Shoot great but total destruction!
 
rjletraveler said:
140gr Berger elite hunter out of a 6.5prc. Hunting Cow elk but also had an either sex mule deer tag. Shot a doe at 110 yards. Perfectly through the ribs. Dropped like a stone. When I opened her up the entire internal cavity had been scrambled. Bullet came apart and the concussion combined with bullet fragments tore through the diaphragm. Gut material, plant bits and the like had sucked out the exit hole. I found gut material forced into the meat along the spine. Exit wound was the size of a quarter. Has anyone experienced this? Bullet was right behind the shoulders right through the middle. Scared to use these again if they do anything similar. Appreciate any thoughts. thanks
Click to expand...
Berger bullets are fragmenting bullets on impact by design.



I had long used Nosler and Hornady bullets (I still do, though) before transitioning to Berger bullets as my go-to bullets in 2003. One of the things I like about Berger bullets is that they do not have to have an exit wound to be effective. I no longer worry about pass-throughs or bullet weight retention. Also, it reduces the risk of shooting what is behind the target.

I am not here to convince you that Berger bullets are magic bullets because there is no such thing despite any claims, and you should use them. Pick the bullet that is best suited for your hunting needs. As with anything else, we all have different personal preferences and experiences. I am a sucker for trying different types of bullets from various manufacturers, but Berger has served me well for a couple of decades now and still going strong.

Be advised that you will receive some off-topic opinions hijacking your thread.

Good luck, and have a happy and safe hunt.

ADDED: For what it is worth.

 
Last edited:
rjletraveler said:
140gr Berger elite hunter out of a 6.5prc. Hunting Cow elk but also had an either sex mule deer tag. Shot a doe at 110 yards. Perfectly through the ribs. Dropped like a stone. When I opened her up the entire internal cavity had been scrambled. Bullet came apart and the concussion combined with bullet fragments tore through the diaphragm. Gut material, plant bits and the like had sucked out the exit hole. I found gut material forced into the meat along the spine. Exit wound was the size of a quarter. Has anyone experienced this? Bullet was right behind the shoulders right through the middle. Scared to use these again if they do anything similar. Appreciate any thoughts. thanks
Click to expand...
Sounds like the bullet performed phenomenally well. My biggest worry with a bullet is if it doesn't do enough damage.
 

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