Just in-case you have not found out for yourself, let me save you some heart ache. Spoke to the guys at Berger about hunting with the 190gr VLD and was told no problem they were made for long range hunting. I have spent a few months at the rifle range dialing in my .300 win mag with 190grain berger bullets. Had no problem hitting 700 meter targets all day long , so distance wasn't an issue. Went hunting last weekend and it was great, Deer every where, So we set up on a herd at 550 yards to drop my first deer no problem, picked a nice one standing broad side put the round though the shoulder perfect shot, didn't drop it instantly but it did go down. lined up on another one next to it right through the ribs dead center it ran thirty yards and dropped. We sat and watched for 5 mins no movement, they were down. Got up to where they were shot, there's only one, and no sign of the other. The first deer the bullet had gone in through the right shoulder and exited out through the top of the rear hip on the same side, the bullet some how turned 90 degs in side the chest cavity never touching the ribs on the other side. I have never seen this before. Deer number two, at the impact site, lots of blood, to where it went down, and then nothing, not a speck of blood not a drop it was like some one threw it in a truck a took off. We searched for hours zig zagging everywhere it was gone, We replayed video and it was most definently a kill shot. It was just gone. Next day, last chance to fill my tag 5 mins left before hunting was over, Spot a yearling 123 yards another perfect broad side shot through the shoulder this thing ran like I missed it for 50 yards before dropping. Hole threw the front shoulder came out in three pieces between the ribs on the other side absolutley No shocking power at all, Zero. So guys if you want to keep what you kill I would strongly use something else. To you people at Berger, I will keep using your bullets for poking holes in paper they do that well, but they will never see a hunting trip from me again.
Don't Hunt with Berger bullets
- Thread starter deadshot
- Start date
Because Berger has been promoting thier bullets as good for deer hunting.
Or in the field experience and dead animals on the ground is another good indication! Never tried them myself but know a couple very accomplished hunters whoes opinion's I trust that have......I wouldn't hesitate to give them a try based on their experience........
Sorry to hear they didn't work for you deadshot....sucks when you lose trust in a bullet that accurate.
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Maybe I'm old school, but I still believe that there is a demarcation between "Target" bullets and "Game" bullets. It's all very good and fine to have hair-splitting accuracy, but the final say when shooting game should be performance on said game. If you have to give up ½moa in the process, so be it. Fact is, we have many Game bullets available today that are astoundingly accurate. Why take a chance on a bullet of which the primary purpose is to punch paper, when in the final analysis, it may fail to perform? Regards, Eagleye.
- Location
- Virden, MB
I shot 4 deer with 130gr VLD's out of my 6.5x47 and had no issues out to 400yds. ALL my deer dropped just fine with good placement. All mine exited just fine also. I'll be using them in the future.....
It isn't a good idea to make blanket opinions over two confirmed examples made by one batch of bullets. Everyone else that has used them I know has been impressed.
It isn't a good idea to make blanket opinions over two confirmed examples made by one batch of bullets. Everyone else that has used them I know has been impressed.
- Location
- Rimbey, ab
I could be wrong but in my past experience, when you shoot a deer in the shoulder there is shoulder bones and I have found bullets to be unpredictable when you hit bone, at least mine have been that way. therefore i don't shoot the deer in the front shoulder, rather I hit them right behind and have no problem with hitting a rib. The bullet usually passed straight through.
In short I believe no matter what bullet you use when hitting a shoulder bone with any kind of bullet you will have a mess.
kelly
In short I believe no matter what bullet you use when hitting a shoulder bone with any kind of bullet you will have a mess.
kelly
Actually, it's a favourite of mine if you want a DRT....it can be hard on meat though but for goats and sheep and other critters that love nasty places, it's a great choice if you don't want them making tracks.
Thank you Sheep hunter for that bit, and its exactly what I am getting at. We were in some nasty coulies and I did not want it to run to the bottom or in to another one where we would be draging for two hours. What I have found, was that yes, the Bergers do kill, never said they didn't. They just don't have any shocking power. I have seen deer hit in the leg and were stopped right there and puked with other types of hunting rounds. Thats the shocking power I was hoping for with these, but they don't deliver.
x2...love that high shoulder shot to anchor game.....
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
Thanks for the thread deadshot. I've watched the Berger video a few times and talked to one local hunter who swears by Bergers, and also seen very positive posts on this site about them (for hunting now...), but as they are pretty new in the hunting arena, we need all the feedback we can get.
I've loaded up thirty rounds of 210gr Berger VLD match for my P17 (30-06), and I'm not turning back now, I'll hunt with them. I am glad that people are posting what they find in the field - not just the nicey, nicey bang-flop stories. Whenever I get out and shoot something I'll report back as well; whatever the results.
One thing that I was thinking though, after checking out Berger's web site, is that I was not going to do any shoulder shots (I agree they are great for hammering game to the ground right there, though) with by Berger rounds - boiler shots only. I'll save heavy bone shots for my FailSafe's or my medium magnums.
I've loaded up thirty rounds of 210gr Berger VLD match for my P17 (30-06), and I'm not turning back now, I'll hunt with them. I am glad that people are posting what they find in the field - not just the nicey, nicey bang-flop stories. Whenever I get out and shoot something I'll report back as well; whatever the results.
One thing that I was thinking though, after checking out Berger's web site, is that I was not going to do any shoulder shots (I agree they are great for hammering game to the ground right there, though) with by Berger rounds - boiler shots only. I'll save heavy bone shots for my FailSafe's or my medium magnums.
Well Said
AMEN.
I had loads made up for my 243 Win with 105 A-Max bullets for whitetails and something told me I better use a bullet that will stand up MUCH better.
Thus the 100gr Nosler Partition are what my loads are now.
My 30-06, I use 165gr Nosler Partitions exclusively for hunting. I want a bullet that WILL HOLD together.
AMEN.
I had loads made up for my 243 Win with 105 A-Max bullets for whitetails and something told me I better use a bullet that will stand up MUCH better.
Thus the 100gr Nosler Partition are what my loads are now.
My 30-06, I use 165gr Nosler Partitions exclusively for hunting. I want a bullet that WILL HOLD together.
I have seen this a few times with Ballistic Tips.
I just wanna say "why?" when I hear stories like this. This is the first I have heard of problems with Berger but I have also heard of guys loading Sierras and hunting with them, then being upset with performance.
That is where my "why?" comes in, when there are tried, tested and true hunting bullets out there like Nosler Partition, and Accu-bond. I have loaded both of these in my 30-06 and when they hit something the bullet stays together and the animal dies in a quick and humane way. I also have them shooting sub MOA at 100. What more can you ask?
Ry-guy
That is where my "why?" comes in, when there are tried, tested and true hunting bullets out there like Nosler Partition, and Accu-bond. I have loaded both of these in my 30-06 and when they hit something the bullet stays together and the animal dies in a quick and humane way. I also have them shooting sub MOA at 100. What more can you ask?
Ry-guy
