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Berger Bullets

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dezmick View Drop Down
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    Posted: March/17/2011 at 23:44
I have had alot of people tell me that Berger makes a really good bullet, so i figured that i would buy some .284 168 grain vld for hunting to reload for my 7mm WSM to use for elk, but i have also heard and even read on the Midway USA web site that once loaded they will not fit in most factory magazines, can anyone tell me if i was to seat them so my coal was 2.860 if i would be able to get them to shoot good for me. and maybe even let me know how good of a bullet these are compared to others. Thanks

Edited by dezmick - March/17/2011 at 23:45
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sakomato View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sakomato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 03:11
IMO similar to the Nosler Ballistic Tip in performance.  Don't hit bone especially on an elk.  Will blow up inside and no exit so tracking can be difficult.  Ruins lots of meat.  But accurate and can be seated way off the lands if you find the right sweet spot.
 
I would think the 160 gr Nosler Accubond would be better and just as accurate.  If you can find accuracy a Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Swift A-Frame, Hornady Interbond or Swift Scirrocco would give unfailing performance.  Also the monometals like the Barnes TTSX would give good penetration, go through bone and better chances of an exit with little meat damage, could aim for the shoulder bone and take out an Elk's front legs (less tracking).  The TTSX's are easy to get to shoot good.  Have heard the Nosler E-Tip monometal can be tough to get right and get accuracy.
 
I have shot my Elk with Swift A-Frames and Barnes TSX's.  Little meat damage and no sick feeling of losing a magnificent animal.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 06:40
dezmick,
Load the bergers to your factory mag length and give them a try. If they don't shot then you can start moving them out a little at a time. I betting you will get them to work at factory mag length. I use berger in alot of rifles and they work great. I have hit bone,no bone all animals are dead... Keep us posted
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 06:44
+1, an elk is a substantial animal and requires a fairly stout bullet.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 07:24

Berger hunting bullets are more than capable of giving you match grade accuacy and exceptional game performance as well.  Try a box, you won't regret it

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 08:19
I would say that the Berger VLD Hunting bullets have been extremely reliable performers on game including elk.  They do lose a bigger percentage of their weight than other "hard" designs, but only after penetrating through several inches of the animal.  They absolutely do not "explode" like a nosler ballistic tip ... at least, not in the same, shallow penetrating way.

I have seen several bull elk taken with Berger VLD Hunting bullets, and the performance was similar.  They penetrate through whatever they encounter, and then expand substantially.  The penetration goes through bone, muscle, whatever.

I personally killed my 2010 bull with a 185 Berger VLD hunting and had a satisfying high shoulder hit that dropped the bull.  Necropsy showed the bullet penetrated the scapula, and turned the lungs to soup.  The damage to the vitals was impressive, and meat loss, even with the shoulder shot, was minimal.  In fact, less than a typical accubond wound.

The Bergers are a quality bullet.  I have also killed bulls with Barnes TSX and Nosler Accubond with success.  My rifle shoots the Bergers the best, and they have a high BC.

I am confident in the terminal performance of Berger VLD Hunting.  The construction of this bullet is different than the standard VLD, and the standard VLD is not recommended for hunting.
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 08:26
they cant perform much different from the sierra pro hunters i use.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 09:19
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

they cant perform much different from the sierra pro hunters i use.
 
Oh but they do pyro, A VLD hunting or target exspands inside rather than on contact. all the game I have take with Bergers have been mush on the inside. very small entry hole and a desent sized exit hole. now with all the other bullets I have tested have has a bigger entrance hole and poked thru vitals.and a big exit.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 09:24
Originally posted by Bigdaddy0381 Bigdaddy0381 wrote:

Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

they cant perform much different from the sierra pro hunters i use.
 
Oh but they do pyro, A VLD hunting or target exspands inside rather than on contact. all the game I have take with Bergers have been mush on the inside. very small entry hole and a desent sized exit hole. now with all the other bullets I have tested have has a bigger entrance hole and poked thru vitals.and a big exit.

i will pose, this question to you then, at what point did the bullet fail in the death of the animal??Big Grin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 09:28
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

Originally posted by Bigdaddy0381 Bigdaddy0381 wrote:

Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

they cant perform much different from the sierra pro hunters i use.
 
Oh but they do pyro, A VLD hunting or target exspands inside rather than on contact. all the game I have take with Bergers have been mush on the inside. very small entry hole and a desent sized exit hole. now with all the other bullets I have tested have has a bigger entrance hole and poked thru vitals.and a big exit.

i will pose, this question to you then, at what point did the bullet fail in the death of the animal??Big Grin
 
It didn't but thats not what I was saying. I was saying the bullets work in a different manner.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 09:30
i know that bd, im just being a smart ass.Laugh kinda like saying a magnum keels stuff "extra dead"Big Grin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 09:33
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

i know that bd, im just being a smart ass.Laugh kinda like saying a magnum keels stuff "extra dead"Big Grin
 
I know,
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 09:48
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

i know that bd, im just being a smart ass.Laugh kinda like saying a magnum keels stuff "extra dead"Big Grin
Doesnt' it?Bucky
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 13:16
Consistent and reliable performance on 200 animals:

http://www.bergerbullets.com/Information/Barsness Article.pdf

I am admittedly a Barsness fan, but this article is especially well done.
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2011 at 15:18
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2011/03/tangent-vs-secant-vs-hybrid-ogive-bryan-litz-explains/ - explains some of the issues related to Berger bullets. Typically, because VLDs have secant ogives, they sit long in the cartridge (and shoot well when seated just off the lands). As the article explains, tangent ogives are more forgiving when they hit the rifling. But the tradeoff is less ballistic efficiency. Berger is working on some new hybrid ogive bullets that might combine the best of both worlds, although there will be some loss of BC.
 
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009/03/berger-tips-for-loading-vld-bullets/ has some tips for loading around magazine length.
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