meatyrem
Well-Known Member
Then again. If they made a bonded version imo would be better.
140gr Berger Elite Hunter issue. Anyone experience this?
- Thread starter rjletraveler
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birddog 68
Well-Known Member
I don't think that speed was the problem.
I agree with this
I used Berger 140's from a 7-08 @ around 2750 fps for a few years and all deer were DRT from 50 to 250 yards. And then one day I took a frontal shot on a doe at about 70 yards and to my surprise she spun around and ran off. Barely any blood but followed her direction and found her much alive but unable to run. The bullet passed the whole way through and broke her back hip. It acted like a fmj with no expansion. I was unaware about the hollow point problem at the time and just switched back to the Nosler ballistic tip.
Same experience with this bullet in a 6.5 PRC with a MV of 3060fps. I shot three whitetail doe last year. All three were broadside and shot thru the front 1/3 of the rib cage (no shoulder). Shot distances were from 150yds to 450yds. All three had split diaphragms and stomachs accompanied with a nasty field dressing job. I have since moved to the 140 Hybrid Target for this season hoping that a little thicker jacket still does the job but eliminates the mess. I have shot Bergers for years in various sizes and weights. This bullet's terminal performance is not what I have grown accustomed to. For some reason, it appears to be a lot more explosive than any other Berger bullet I've shot. For what it's worth, the 140 Hyb Target achieved the same velocity and accuracy as the EH with zero changes to my original load.
LRNut
Well-Known Member
220 ELDX bullets do the same thing; I have shot 3 deer and one antelope with this bullet out of one of my 300 RUMs. One deer (150 yards) and antelope (325 yards) DRT. Last deer (410 yards) stumbled about 10 yards and died. The other deer (135 yards) ran 20 yards or so, but into thick cover.
What bothers me the most, and I don't see anyone addressing it, is the lack of a blood trail. If I hadn't found some lung material on a branch, I might have been convinced I missed the deer that ran 20 yards, although missing at 135 yards given I had a rest is a bit unrealistic.
I shot an antelope 155 yards away with a 300 gr Berger out of my .338 Edge. Complete pass through. Antelope ran 150 yards or so.
What bothers me the most, and I don't see anyone addressing it, is the lack of a blood trail. If I hadn't found some lung material on a branch, I might have been convinced I missed the deer that ran 20 yards, although missing at 135 yards given I had a rest is a bit unrealistic.
I shot an antelope 155 yards away with a 300 gr Berger out of my .338 Edge. Complete pass through. Antelope ran 150 yards or so.
Muledeerhuntingfreak
Well-Known Member
Just provide too me that is not for me. Have box of 284 that will go in the trash 🗑
meatyrem
Well-Known Member
Slow it down then?? Or go with a monolithic to save on blow up and pulverized internals.
horse killer
Well-Known Member
I have had nothing but great results using Berger bullets everything that was hit correctly was dead and in freezer. Hope more hunters dislike Bergers that will make them more available . Too each their own everyone have a great season
This is another reason why I have downsized and only hunt suppressed. I can watch the impact in the scope and hear the bullet hit the deer. I can tell if I hit the shoulder, the "pocket", or the guts, just like I can when bowhunting.
If you make 100% perfect shots you can kill bears with blowguns. There's literally videos of a guy doing it. If a blowgun dart performance is all you expect of a Berger bullet, you're the perfect customer.
The_Whitetail_kid
Well-Known Member
No issues with the Berger here… so far this season 4 big body whitetail (265#, 213#, 220#, 180#) have fallen to the 156 Berger out of a 6.5 PRC. None have made it out of sight. My cousin killed another big body whitetail with the 140 VLD's I had loaded in a 6.5x284, the deer ran about 10 yards. He weighed 240#. Not to mention a hog that folded in his tracks. All close shot distances, within 160 yards. Only had 2 exits out of all these kills but I'm not complaining, I didn't need them. Lots of internal damage but that's to be expected.
If I were to shoot a big bear or something else dangerous, I'd want the lungs and guts all mixed together after one shot. Based on these descriptions the Bergers sound like killing machines. A 300 grain 338 Berger sounds like big bear medicine. Maybe 2400-2600 fps. More than that might be too much up close.
As long as you don't blow up a bullet on a bone before it gets to the vitals
horse killer
Well-Known Member
I have seen burgers hitting elk at under 300 yards dead center sholder penetrating to off side. Dead on the spot. In the last 20+ years have not had a bad experience with them . Shooting 7 mm 28 nosler and 6.5 SAUM.
Doesn't seem like people are getting double shoulder penetration these days.... About a dozen testimonials on this thread about terminus inside the body and then....yours.
