6mm 87gr V-Max vs 6mm Berger 95gr VLD

[AlexF]

Hi, I've read that many long range varmint shooter use Berger 95gr VLD bullets for long range varminting but wanted to know if it can ricochet ?
Are the Berger 95gr VLD bullets exposive enough to kill humanely ?
Both Hornady V-Max and Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint are frangible and don't present a ricochet hazard.
Alex

 

[Jordan Smith]

The VLD's penetrate a few inches before expanding, so it really depends on the size of your target. If you're shooting at gophers, then I would assume the VLD would pass through before expanding on the terrain behind the critter. The V-Max and BT are more instantly explosive than the VLD, but the VLD does eventually fragment, it just takes a few inches of penetration before it detonates.

 

[TJW]

I had the same question when choosing a bullet for my 6mm Rem. I tried both, but the Berger 95gr VLD's are amazingly accurate but I have to single load them because of the OAL. As for expansion they disintegrate gopher, magpies, crows and pigeons (it looks like someone strapped C4 to them) and are deadly for coyotes. The VLD's make a very distinct sound when they impact gophers its kind of neat. I did take a deer with these bullets but I shot just below the head so I cannot comment on expansion on larger game. Ricochets can happen I suppose at longer ranges but are unlikely because the bullet is fairly fragile; I have only had ricochets on one occasion but I'm not sure if it was my rifle or my partners. They are as any bullet just pay attention to where your shooting.

An advantage of the Berger too is the high BC. I have shot these bullets out to 1100 yards with great accuracy. The accuracy of the V-max was good too, I only tried one powder but they shot in the .3's in my rifle. I use my 6mm 50/50 for target and varmint use so the Bergers were a better choice for me.

Just to note though I have a stock pile of the 95gr VLD's that were bought before Berger changed their line to have both target and hunting bullets. I believe now the bullets I use would go in their hunting class.