A-Tips, terminal performance on big game

[Starlite]

Some times people think the faster the better...

Agreed. Was a load development for a young fella at our club. He wanted to use the VMAX. I suggested a different bullet weight and or different powder. 107gr SMK Pill worked well though.

 

[Starlite]

If anyone believes in FBI grade ballistic gel testing ( which I do ) there is a YouTuber with the Handel of "simple minded fella" who has done some extensive testing on all matter of bullets and calibers. Really interesting results and some know ones too.

 

[hunterbob]

Agreed. Was a load development for a young fella at our club. He wanted to use the VMAX. I suggested a different bullet weight and or different powder. 107gr SMK Pill worked well though.

I use the 110 gr Vmax exclusively for predators. I have anchored a lot of them...shoots a clover at 100 yds,,, penetrates well and fraggs inside.. Took a hog through the ears with it at 350 yds....Any bullet that i have, which shoots a clover, is plenty good enough. They can even be a target bullet. As long as its accurate it can be placed for the kill shot....There are some variables with large game though.. I wouldn't use the 110 on deer, but the 125 SST an Sierra 125 , will be the one or , 168 SST. These are the ones i had been using since the 60's..and reloading too..

You have to remember hunter ethics and that means bring enough gun for what you hunt. If you want a long distance bragging shot, go for it. Also ask your self if you are capable of taking the animal at a long distance, or wounding it ?
There are some excellent shooters out there, but remember, if i'm below you and you shoot over my head at something on another ridge ,, well the crap is going to hit the fan on you...We had a young hunter that thought he knew everything and he got kicked off our lease because of shooting , missing, wounded two animals , No follow up shot where he had the time. too. .We couldn't recover a couple of them, and many times he shot for nothing and had us all hunt for a wounded animal..
. He was a fine young fellow too.. anyhow one hunter in my group excelled in shooting deer, and he never lost a deer, because of a bad shot, but this young man decided he wanted to show everyone he was the best (never practiced long shots) So he shot at a deer out 400 yds and wacked it across the back with a 270... Wounded it and we had to track and chase it . Back legs was paralyzed....He bragged and was elated that he hit; and it was the furthest shot,,,He wasn't thinking about the animal... He was told to stay off the lease,...
It was the third time for something like that.. Know your limitations and be ethical on your kills...
Mentors won't put up with nonsense.

 

[Patton243]

Regardless, still a match, not hunting bullet. Berger hunting bullets are superior.

Oh look another Berger bullet supporter. IMO, I think they're the most overrated bullet on the market and they're over priced if you ask me. Not to mention you really have to get the seating depth down correct for them to shoot accurately which is annoying compared to other bullets. I've also had Berger bullets pinhole through game and the animal ran off with me not getting them. That's a fact the last sentence.

 

[hunterbob]

Oh look another Berger bullet supporter. IMO, I think they're the most overrated bullet on the market and they're over priced if you ask me. Not to mention you really have to get the seating depth down correct for them to shoot accurately which is annoying compared to other bullets. I've also had Berger bullets pinhole through game and the animal ran off with me not getting them. That's a fact the last sentence.

I agree, over rated ,, ' I don't use them, period ...lol

 

[cjl2010]

Oh look another Berger bullet supporter. IMO, I think they're the most overrated bullet on the market and they're over priced if you ask me. Not to mention you really have to get the seating depth down correct for them to shoot accurately which is annoying compared to other bullets. I've also had Berger bullets pinhole through game and the animal ran off with me not getting them. That's a fact the last sentence.

How do you know what the bullet did if you never recovered the animal? Can it be a fact if you have no supporting evidence?

 

[codyadams]

How do you know what the bullet did if you never recovered the animal? Can it be a fact if you have no supporting evidence?

This is very true. If you don't have the animal, you can't say what the bullet did. And that's a fact that last sentence.

People talk about Berger fan boys, honestly the ones crying and moaning the loudest seem to be the ones that don't like Bergers, complaining that other people use them. Give it a rest people. Some like them, some don't. I use Bergers, Accubonds, ABLR's, Hammers, Badlands Bulldozers, Hornady eld-x's, sierra game kings, you name it. Some bullets are better suited for certain purposes, there isn't really a one does all perfectly bullet. People in general on this forum need to stop throwing a fit any time someone likes a bullet that another one doesn't. Honestly People, give it a rest. No one cares.

 

[Patton243]

How do you know what the bullet did if you never recovered the animal? Can it be a fact if you have no supporting evidence?

I don't need to recover the animal. I had a spotter with me, varmint hunting, and he saw multiple hits on targets. They were shaken up, and then run off back to their hole. Literally no blood trail each one. That's enough evidence for me. This happened multiple times using Berger bullets. And the animals were hit because you could see the impact. Not to mention the fur was knocked off of them too. Oh and one more thing... even on their site it states their bullets sometimes don't expand right away. THERE own words. I think I covered what I needed to say on that matter.

 

[xsn10s]

It's entirely possible you either had poor hits or your spotter was mistaken on your hits. Besides varmint hunting is not big game hunting. Here's a picture of Berger 22 cal 55gr Match Target bullets out of a 22-250 at 583 yards.

 

[Patton243]

It's entirely possible you either had poor hits or your spotter was mistaken on your hits. Besides varmint hunting is not big game hunting. Here's a picture of Berger 22 cal 55gr Match Target bullets out of a 22-250 at 583 yards.

Doubtful. Read this article: Makes my point even more.

Pics of Berger Bullets NOT Performing????

Here is a picture of a 7mm mag 180gr. VLD .659bc bullet that i shot a cow elk with at 626 yards. THIS IS A HUNTING VLD BULLET (NOT TARGET) THAT CAME OUT OF THE ORANGE BOX. I have never bought a target Berger bullet so there is no question that it is a hunting VLD. The bullet was found under the...

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[xsn10s]

The key is understanding bullet construction and matching it to the job. Then factor in operating speeds and impact speeds. If you make marginal hits at that distance then maybe get closer.

 

[xsn10s]

Doubtful. Read this article: Makes my point even more.

Look at my pic, proves my point lol.

 

[Patton243]

The key is understanding bullet construction and matching it to the job. Then factor in operating speeds and impact speeds. If you make marginal hits at that distance then maybe get closer.

See now you're just rambling off... I didn't even tell you the distances I was shooting at. The shots where the bullets were failing were under 200 yards. And the speeds were where they should be. You're talking to someone who's been varmint hunting for 15+ years, so I'm pretty sure I have a general idea on what I'm doing. These Berger bullets were listed as "varmint bullets." I'm done arguing with you. Have a nice day. Read the article like I said.

 

[xsn10s]

Well maybe you can't hit things at 200 yards. Maybe you should read the "thread". Broz even chimed in on the red flags.