For about a dozen years, I have been using both the Berger HVLD's and now discontinued JLK VLD's, both with very similar construction and performance with the J4 jacket design. Being primarily a deer hunter(whitetail and Mulies), hunting out west where shots can be 150-1000+ yards, with my average distance of 450 yards for about 50 deer taken. I've run these bullets out of a 6.5x284 Norma at velocities of 2975-3025FPS. At ranges of 300 yards and less, expansion is rapid with a high degree of internal destruction. Because if the high sectional density, there is complete penetration on broadside chest shots with the deer DRT. Performance on game is reminiscent of my hunting with a 270 loaded with 130gr Power Points/Core-Loks. Chest/lung shots were the order of the day. As the range increases, the bullet will begin to perform like most conventional bullets displaying varying degrees of mushrooming when terminal velocities maintain 1800FPS/1000FPE which s roughly 1000 yards with my rifles. Well over 70% of the deer shot at the longer ranges have been DRT with the balance generally dead within 50 yards it so. Of late, I have been trying the Berger 156 EOL's at 2950-3000FPS. On deer sized game out to 1000 yards, the difference in performance is difficult to discern compared to the 140's, however my sample size is small. I think the greatest advantage of the 156 would be if larger game(ie. elk) were on the venue, or if the 1000 yard, 1000FPE performance were to be extended another 150-200 yards on deer sized game. For now, I still like the 140 VLD's largely due to the consistently reliable sub .5MOA accuracy and consistent terminal performance that is maintained for as far as I will take a shot….IMO.
