Berger vld hunting or hybrid?

[Vol1975]

Always had consistent performance with VLD hunting and EOL and classic. The classic seem to be the most frangible. Most shot have been 200-500 yards. Shot a big bear at 140 yards with 250 gr elite hunters out of 338 run, bullet broke both front shoulders.

Only Berger I have seen that didn't have good performance on game was a hybrid out of 7mm, can't remember the grain. Bullet didn't expand at all nose bent and bullet tumbled upon entry, was fatal but needed a follow up. Think it was 500-600 yards, I wasn't the shooter just saw the results. We don't use them any more for hunting. the hunting bullets are just as accurate and have been very consistent with myself and hunting buddies. We have 50-75 kills with Berger's from deer, elk, bears and Oryx.

Awesome
Have u seen a sweet spot in how far off the lands that these VLD bullets like. What I've read about is close to the lands the better for these bullets.
Thanks

 

[Rick Richard]

Awesome
Have u seen a sweet spot in how far off the lands that these VLD bullets like. What I've read about is close to the lands the better for these bullets.
Thanks

Not necessarily true. Some barrels like them close, but others like them somewhat off the lands. I have several rifles that like them somewhere about .030 off and only one that likes them .010. I recommend the Berger method of finding the sweet spot for those who are going to shoot the Bergers. Good luck!

 

[Plinker147]

Most of of my guns have shot them .020 off. A few were between .020 and .050

 

[stx]

Not necessarily true. Some barrels like them close, but others like them somewhat off the lands. I have several rifles that like them somewhere about .030 off and only one that likes them .010. I recommend the Berger method of finding the sweet spot for those who are going to shoot the Bergers. Good luck!

I agree! I have them shooting from .010 to .070

 

[MASH]

Yes most of my rifles like .020 jump and I have one at .040 I usually start at .020 since that has been a good bet in the past.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Shot elk from 60ish to 882 with 180 Hybrids from a 7RM @ 2996fps MV.
Shot tons of other big game with various Hybrids/HVLDs as well.

6mm 105 Hyb
.257 115 HVLD
6.5mm 130 OTM, 140 Hyb, 140 HVLD (can't wait to test the 156 Elite on deer this fall)
.270 140 HVLD, 150 HVLD
7mm 175 Elite, 180 Hyb
.308 215 Hyb, 230 Hyb

 

[MASH]

Shot elk from 60ish to 882 with 180 Hybrids from a 7RM @ 2996fps MV.
Shot tons of other big game with various Hybrids/HVLDs as well.

6mm 105 Hyb
.257 115 HVLD
6.5mm 130 OTM, 140 Hyb, 140 HVLD (can't wait to test the 156 Elite on deer this fall)
.270 140 HVLD, 150 HVLD
7mm 175 Elite, 180 Hyb
.308 215 Hyb, 230 Hyb

Me too on the 156, I drew a Coues Deer tag for down south here in Az. The cow elk in my avatar was taken with a 140 HVLD out my 26 Nosler, 470yds. It was bang, flop. No tracking involved.

 

[Maxxis31]

I'm shooting 168gr regular VLD's out of a 280AI. The rifles killed deer at 20 yards and 80 yards, elk at 20-300 yards all had great results.

I've got the best accuracy .010 off the lands.

 

[Hoss50]

Either will work.

I have 1st hand seen or taken a cow elk with 115gr HVLD from a 257 weatherby, and 2 mule deer and 2 cow elk with 135gr Classic hunters from a 6.5x55. I also saw the aftermath of 168gr HVLD from a 300 win mag on a cow elk. Every shot that was placed correctly was a kill shot.

If you are chasing bulls and plan to shoot shoulders though get a tougher bullet. Bergers fragment when the get inside. For me its boiler room shots only for Bergers. Put them in the boiler room and they get it done in my experience.

 

[KurtB]

Son just shot a bull in the shoulder with a 140 vld. Busted the shoulder and found the opposite side hide. All depends on impact speed I think. Couple of pics of recovered bullet.



I'd like to try those 135 Classic Hunters. They shoot great in my daughter's 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I recovered the 105 Hyb from my 6CM @ 3105 from a 445 yard shot on my pronghorn this year. Bullet broke onside leg, a rib, and was recovered under the offside skin. Almost made it out. Mushroomed perfectly, retaining about 50%.

My older daughter just shot her cow elk with my 7RM w. 180 Hyb @ 2996fps at 105 yards a week ago. Hard quartering on, shot was high front of shoulder, bullet was found under offside skin, back of ribs. Mostly jacket and about 40gr of lead, 79gr total weight retention.

 

[KurtB]

I'm gonna guess no tracking was required on your daughter's cow lol.

 

[HUNTER-1]

Another vote for hybrids. Killed my bull a few days ago with the 215 hybrids at 656 yds. with excellent results

 

[livetohunt]

Shot a cow Saturday at 470 yards. DRT after a bit of kicking. Running 215 hybrids in my 300 win mag at 2925 fps. They are .04" off the lands.

I switched from the 210 VLD's. I've ran the VLD's in 7 other guns I've loaded for. Every single one I jammed them .01" into the lands and all shot under .75" MOA in factory rifles without ever having to play with seating depth. Easiest bullets ever to load for.