Berger Hunting VLD's

[noharleyyet]

185 gr. .308 and 180 gr. .284 in particular

... twist in the 300's I'm planning on loading for is 11"....recommended is 12"

.... .284 RUM is 9 1/4" with recommend of 9"

Thoughts re: accuracy and on-game performance...warts and all please

 

[dustinf]

My bear dropped in it's tracks when hit with the 168 VLD. 120 yard shot out of my 7mm WSM.

Not sure what my twist rate is.

 

[cowboy]

185 gr. .308 and 180 gr. .284 in particular

... twist in the 300's I'm planning on loading for is 11"....recommended is 12"

.... .284 RUM is 9 1/4" with recommend of 9"

Thoughts re: accuracy and on-game performance...warts and all please

The 185's in an 11 twist 300 - you'll be good to go.
The 180 gr in a 9-1/4 twist - you're on border line but would bet you are going to be OK. A lot will depend at what elevation you are at and how hard you push them.

Are these barrels of yours factory or custom?

The standard berger hunting VLD has a reputation of being a little finicky on OAL to get max accuracy, probably a little worse on some factory barrels. Berger has come out with their hybrid version on their hunting bullets and as of right now are calling them something like their hunting classic. You give up a little on the BC but they are very easy to get OAL max accuracy.

Been around a lot of rifles/shooters using the bergers and in my opinion they are at the top of the chain in accuracy. You will be hard pressed to find a commercially made bullet with higher BC than berger.

As far as performance on game - they are complexly different from most other hunting bullets. I call them a short penetration fragmenting bullet. They will penetrate only so far and then they release 100% of their energy. This is not to be misconstrued with an explosive type bullet that releases it's energy upon impact. If you want to drive a bullet clear through and have a blood trail on both sides, don't use berger. If you want the animal to take 100% of that bullets energy then berger is the way to go..

If you decide to try them I can go into as minute of details as you would like - feel free to holler.

I started reloading 40 plus years ago and started off using the standard hornady, Speer, and Sierra. Shot nosler partitions for many years/animals. Then got on a Barnes X kick - that didn't take long to see the light. I now shoot pretty much exclusively bergers and see no reason for change in the near future.

 

[Lawnboy]

Where's Crittergitter? He shoots the 180's and has many dead ones because of them.

 

[noharleyyet]

Factory barrels. Sako 300 Win Mag and Rem 7 Ultra. Thanks for the detailed comments.

 

[fishing4sanity]

Between my sons and I, we've tested quite a lot of Berger VLD's in several rifles. Accuracy is very good, overall the most accurate bullet we've used. They seem to do best loaded very close to the lands. I've seen them in use on elk, deer and antelope, all of which were one shot kills. I was concerned on one elk which still died within 50 yards of where it was shot, but the entry hole was very large (behind the shoulder in the ribs) and the bullet tuned to shrapnel. The bullet is a highly frangible bullet, but the entry hole just made me feel the bullet had started to fragment too soon. I've heard guys claim they've had the bullet basically explode on impact without the necessary penetration. I'll keep using them because they have worked for us and they are very accurate, but I do have some concerns about their penetration before fragmenting and we keep testing other bullets hoping to match the VLD's accuracy. Sorry I don't have a more definitive answer.

 

[cowboy]

Factory barrels. Sako 300 Win Mag and Rem 7 Ultra. Thanks for the detailed comments.

If I had a 300 win mag I would suggest you look very close at the berger 215 gr hybrid. From an energy and wind bucking capability there is none better. I know of a number of elk taken in the 1000-1200 yd range with that set up.

With the 7 ultra the 180 would be my first choice but there would be very little difference if you went to the 168 gr.

I use the .284 168 gr here in Montana on everything.

 

[cowboy]

I was concerned on one elk which still died within 50 yards of where it was shot, but the entry hole was very large (behind the shoulder in the ribs) and the bullet tuned to shrapnel. The bullet is a highly frangible bullet, but the entry hole just made me feel the bullet had started to fragment too soon. I've heard guys claim they've had the bullet basically explode on impact without the necessary penetration. .

Was this by chance at close range and higher velocity In a smaller grain bullet for the caliber? Any chance you could possible have nipped a tree limb on the way in?

I have never personally had this experience but know of a number of keyboard computer anti-berger commadoes that claim they have had bergers pencil through like an FMJ.

I about burned up two barrels testing these bullets and can't get them to do either of the above.

I have been over enough gut piles that I believe any bullet from any manufacturer will at some time have some weird unexplainable results. Most of the time we put the blame onto the bullet and I'm not so sure that it is always the case.

 

[fishing4sanity]

Cowboy, the elk wasn't ranged because it was one of those situations where everything took place quickly, roughly 180 yards with a 180 gr & 7mmRemMag, with an open lane to the elk. I'm not anti Berger at all, their accuracy has always been impressive, just had concerns about the bullet in that one event even though the elk was a one shot kill.

 

[havgunwilltravel]

I've been behind the trigger on a few kills using the bergers and have no complaints.
A good keen mate of mine probably hunts 130 days a year, shoots more game animals each year
then what the average Aussie does in a decade and he uses bergers in everything he owns right
up to his 338 rum, that's good enough for me.

I will say I'm yet to place one between the back legs of a big sambar stag moving away and that will be interesting when it happens.

 

[Muleyfanatic]

I use them and like them a lot. Out of a factory barrel I would definitely be looking at the hybrids.

 

[noharleyyet]

By hybrids, do you mean the hunting or the classic?

 

[1_pointer]

By hybrids, do you mean the hunting or the classic?

The label 'Classic" denotes the hybrids.

 

[noharleyyet]

Thanks pointer, have the ' match hunting's' ordered...will try them out first.

 

[MtnWest]

Not certain but don't the RUM's have a bunch of freebore like Weatherby's? The hybrid/classic or whatever they label them with the tangent ogive instead of the secant "should" be better with the jump depending on how far you can seat them out.

Never used any myself.

 

[wyoming556]

I've had nothing but good luck with them on deer and antelope. The 210's out of my 30-378 will blow through an antelope and usually leaves a piece about the size of a grapefruit missing from the far shoulder. Great for dropping them in their tracks but they do cost you some meat.
Also had good luck with the 140's out of my 6.5-.284 but they are not as devastating.

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

I shoot both the 185 VLD and the 98 gr VLD out of my .300rum and 243win....they both shoot great and have dumped game with both. My bear didn't go far and my elk went straight down. My wife shot her deer with the 243 with them and have no complains.