Berger vld hunting bullets

[huntinfool87]

I'm just starting to reload my own ammo. I like shooting long distance and I'm going to try some Berger vld bullets in my 280.,6.5x55. And my 257wby. The idea of using a hollow point for hunting scares me. Does anybody have any experience with them? If so what was the damage to the game? What do you think about them? I'll just be hunting whitetail deer in Nebraska.

 

[GooseGestapo]

You need to research them before committing to them.
I've used the 115gr Hunting VLD in the .257cal. I used them in both a .257Roberts and a .257wby. I've never shot game with the .257mag, but did kill several with the .257Roberts.

Performance was as advertised. Bullets traveled about 2" and then for lack of a better description, exploded. Then, the base of the bullet still in the jacket, exited.
Actually, performance was as good or better than what I've seen from Nosler partitions.
I'm not a "fanboy" of the Nosler's. They are good, but not up to the hype. I've gotten just as good of performance from "good ole" Speer's, Hornady's, and Sierra's. Especially the Hornady Interloks and Remington CoreLokts.

The last deer I shot last year, I took with a 70gr Berger VLD from my Mossberg MVP. (20" light fluted barrel .223/5.56). Range was whopping 25yds. Foward raking behind the shoulder heart shot. Deer was "trotting" and flinched at shot and bolted for another 25yds and dropped. Exit wound was 2"x3". Heart, part of left lung were blown out the exit wound.
Load was 25.0gr of RL15, Fed Mil Spec case, Win SRP, bullet seated to fit magazine. Shoot about 5/8" groups (5shots). Accuracy wasted at 25yds !

No complaints from me except for high cost of bullets. Just know that they have fairly explosive expansion, and may not give the penetration that some seem to expect. I'm perfectly happy with Hornady "Blems" at 1/4 the price....

 

[Grumulkin]

I used them on 4 pronghorns and 3 deer before there was a distinction made between regular and hunting VLDs. No complaints about performance.

 

[sage5907]

I've been shooting the Berger hybrid hunting bullets and they seem to shoot good. I've been letting them go head to head with Sierra Gameking boattails and up to now I can't say they shoot any better than the Sierra's. The hybrid is supposed to be less sensitive to seating depth. I think the Berger bullets would be good in your 280 and 6.5 but I would be a little skeptical about using them in the 257 Weatherby. I do some taxidermy work and if you accidently shoot a deer in the neck your taxidermist may have one heck of a sewing job. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't blow up near the surface at 257 Weatherby velocities. A friend shot a deer with a VLD last year with a 300 Win Mag and the skin on the far side looked like it had been shot with a shotgun. Many small holes.

 

[Glockula]

I shot two white tails with Berger VLD's last year. Both were in .308 win with 168 grain bullets and IMR 4064. The first was right at 200 yards. A small 8 point that I hit slightly too far back in the rib cage. the bullet spun lattertaly after nicking a rib. Produced a sizable exit wound but the deer ran 75 to 100 yards until piling up.

The second was a large doe that I shot very close, Like 35 to 50 yards. The bullet broke both front legs(almost a high shoulder shot) and got into the chest cavity, DRT. I am pretty much sold on the Berger VLD hunting projectile because it is also accurate at distance.

 

[Bobson]

Some of the most widely appreciated hunting bullets are hollow points, including the Sierra Gameking and Barnes' TSX.

I don't know about the VLD specifically, but I wouldn't be concerned about the HP itself, despite the lack of tradition behind it.

 

[jmr40]

Technically not a hollow point. The tiny opening in the nose is just part of the manufacturing process. Many hunters started using the target bullet with surprising results. The only difference between the target and hunting bullet is a slightly thinner jacket at the nose to give better expansion in game. I've loaded some and shot them at the range, but not at game yet.

By all accounts they work as advertised if put in the vitals. They are not a good choice for shooting big stuff in the butt and hoping for penetration to the vitals.

I really don't think price is bad. They are about $50/100 bullets. About $30/100 bullets is about as cheap as I can find and all other premiums are about $30/50 bullets.

If I were planning on longer range shots I think they would be a excellent choice as long as the shooter picks shots carefully. They expand well even at slower speeds at long ranges and still work well at close range.

 

[Savage99]

The Berger VLD bullets have become a favorite of mine. This custom 30-06 shoots the 155 gr VLD.

Here is a buck taken with one shot at 280 yds.

 

[huntinfool87]

How much blood shot did you have?

 

[Savage99]

 

[GooseGestapo]

Nice rifle Savage99!
Looks a lot like my custom M98 Mauser in .257Robt. Also a lot like my MkX in .270 with the Leupold scope. We have similar tastes in rifles.

 

[huntinfool87]

I have a custom k98 in 280 and a custom swede mauser in 6.5x55

 

[Savage99]

Thank you G.G. for the compliment. Yes that's my favorite hunting rifle. I have a collection of old M70's including the one I ordered new in 1957.

That 30-06 has a DWM action, Dakota safety, octagon barrel, custom stock. It's very accurate.

 

[RAT807]

You need to be aware of the twist rate of your barrel using VLD type bullets. For the 6.5, you need 1 in 8 twist for 130 and 140 grain bullets. .284 will be 1 in 10 or faster for 168 gr bullets.

 

[Savage99]

I shot this favorite today and it put two Berger 155 VLD's into .877" at 200 yds!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The idea of using a hollow point for hunting scares me. Does anybody have any experience with them? If so what was the damage to the game? What do you think about them? I'll just be hunting whitetail deer in Nebraska.

Don't let it scare you.
If the bullet is designed for hunting purposes, it will be fine. There is a big difference in a BTHP bullet that is designed for target shooting and one that is designed for hunting.

Take Sierra bullets for instance. Their Matchkings are basically FMJs with a hollow point. Their Gamekings are not. They are designed for hunting and I can attest that they work extremely well. The 165 grain GK BTHP are my go to in .30-06 and the 85 grain GK BTHP is my go to in .243 Win. Very good performance on whitetails from both. Never a failure.
Now if you hit bone it will make a mess. I hit a doe high up on the shoulder and it destroyed the shoulder. Hit it behind the shoulder and you'll be fine. Like Art always says on here, "Don't shoot em in the eating part."

I have only heard good things about the Berger VLDs. I don't expect you'll have any trouble using them for deer.

 

[Savage99]

This is how the hollow point Berger VLD bullet performs on deer.

Quote: The idea of using a hollow point for hunting scares me. Does anybody have any experience with them? If so what was the damage to the game? What do you think about them? I'll just be hunting whitetail deer in Nebraska.

 

[dubbleA]

I use the 140gr hunting VLD in several of my .264" rifles.

This hog took one in the boiler room from just over 400yds from my 20" 6.5x55. It was a pfffffft flop.

Berger was found under the off side skin.

 

[huntinfool87]

Well I'm going to try it. I'm going to use my 257wby with 115 gr8. Berger vld