Windy PD hunting in MT

[Milo 2.0]

I shot a pdog at 330 yards, 6.5x47, 136gr scenar l, hit just above the bread basket, I could see red, he ran down the hole. Dtac will most likely be traveling faster, but I envision the same results.

 

[JRS]

V-Max and Berger HVLD

 

[JRS]

 

[dkhunt14]

View attachment 1030830

I bet these were all fired into something designed to stop the bullets, like ballistic gel. Matt

 

[JRS]

I bet these were all fired into something designed to stop the bullets, like ballistic gel. Matt

Ballistic Gelatin. That's how the pieces were recovered. A picture says ten thousand words.

 

[dkhunt14]

Not all match bullets are built as tough as you think. Most are pretty soft. FYI a lead bullet can bounce just as easy.

The Sierra match bullets have tougher thicker jackets. This is from cutting them apart and measuring them. Also saw guys try to kill groundhogs. They pass through and they crawl away. Matt

 

[dkhunt14]

I suppose this means we should stop hunting with the Berger Hunting VLD line of bullets After all, they are the original Berger Match Bullet

The original Berger bullet (yellow box back then) is the same bullet in the new orange box. They were not true match bullets but match grade. When they made the new target bullet the jackets were made thicker to stop the bullets from blowing up and not making it to the target. Matt

 

[JRS]

The HVLD is the original Berger Match Grade Bullet (a true target bullet) that was used for decades, (match grade now referred to as target bullet) without blowing up. IIRC, the only caliber some claimed to have problems with was the 6.5. After the testing by Eric Stecker, they decided to increase the jacket thickness slightly, although the so-called blow-up was most likely caused by certain tight bore barrels and improper twist rates. Some of those barrels were "bullet wreckers". Those original Berger bullets set just as many records as the modern version has, and possibly even more. The original version also killed many animals, and continues to do so

Berger now has 4 "grades" (level/quality) of bullets. Varmint, Hunting, Target and Tactical. For something as small as a prairie dog, a varmint grade bullet is going to produce much more acceptable results, and is much less expensive.

 

[people]

Not driving a vehicle also ensures you don't get in an automotive accident. Can't trip and fall on your face if you don't walk too. Lol

Nobody ever said ricochets don't occur at all with varmint bullets. Just saying a varmint bullet has a LOT less chance of skipping off the ground than the 115gr DTAC the OP is suggesting for use. Having a choice, I would recommend he stick with a varmint bullet and learn the wind hold. Still gonna have to make wind calls with a heavy target bullet. If you don't know the right wind call to make, you won't hit anything with ANY bullet

yup exactly what I said.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Ballistic Gelatin. That's how the pieces were recovered. A picture says ten thousand words.

I'm lost on how a bullet recovered from 16" of gelatin relates to a thin skinned pdog?
This post was about whether to switch to a bullet that would make it to the target in wind, compared to one giving the desired explosive effects that varmint bullets give.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Oh all eyes on safety . Maybe I'll just stick with 95gr TMK .

Not sure how the ricochet's came into play, doubt you're shooting into the backside of a shopping mall. Any pdog town I've fired is in the middle of nowhere.
Yes, we are responsible for every bullet that comes out of our barrels, shoot accordingly.

 

[Tommie]

No possibility of new readers? The subject of safety never goes out of date although the information seldom changes. Take an active part in running a large range that is open to the public seven days a week and you may get a better picture of the need for repetition of safety information.

I do not disagree at all with your point. My point is that the issue invariably attracts two camps with 180 degree opinions. Lots of anecdotal accounts of either amazingly quick kills or tragic failures. A new or inexperienced member will walk away knowing no more than before they read yet another lengthy thread (with likely “heated” discussion) regarding target bullets for hunting.

For the record, I completely agree with your experienced opinion that target bullets are designed to shoot targets.

 

[BoydAllen]

I do not disagree at all with your point. My point is that the issue invariably attracts two camps with 180 degree opinions. Lots of anecdotal accounts of either amazingly quick kills or tragic failures. A new or inexperienced member will walk away knowing no more than before they read yet another lengthy thread (with likely “heated” discussion) regarding target bullets for hunting.

For the record, I completely agree with your experienced opinion that target bullets are designed to shoot targets.

Actually, that was not what I was attempting to convey. My point was enSee Translationtirely about the likelihood of ricochets, not expansion characteristics on game. As a matter of fact, a friend took all of his African non-dangerous game with one shot kills using a 7mmWSM and 175 SMKs. Evidently he is quite satisfied with their performance. I think that what has happened is that the old percentage of weight retained, diameter of mushroom model may have been eclipsed for some game applications. Shooters have found that as long as the bullet makes it inside that having it come apart rather than do a solid job of killing the ground behind the animal can work just fine,again... for selected applications.

 

[Ironworker]

I can judge the wind. I think I'll be shooting 95gr TMK and also 87gr Vmax in MT .

 

[people]

Not sure how the ricochet's came into play, doubt you're shooting into the backside of a shopping mall. Any pdog town I've fired is in the middle of nowhere.
Yes, we are responsible for every bullet that comes out of our barrels, shoot accordingly.

You might be very surprised where the best PD towns are. One of the best ones I have ever shot at is literally next to a town. The way the land is setup really means a person is taking risk with every shot unless you are shooting SW. As long as we don't shoot at the city the rest of the directions are ok as long as you hold for cars.

I would love to know how many rounds I have shot on this land. I bet it has to be 80K+. It is very moist there due to the city and lay out so getting a couple birth cycles is very common. No matter how hard I shot at this town all we ever did was make room for the young ones. I could go on and on about this town.

Most of the towns that are here in ND yes they are off in an area where it is safe to shoot what ever you wanted with little care to where your bullets end up. Today it is surprising how many houses have sprung up due to the oil. Places where you could not see a house now dozens are. It would be ok if they were all lumped together but they are spread out.

 

[Milo 2.0]

You might be very surprised where the best PD towns are. One of the best ones I have ever shot at is literally next to a town. The way the land is setup really means a person is taking risk with every shot unless you are shooting SW. As long as we don't shoot at the city the rest of the directions are ok as long as you hold for cars.

I would love to know how many rounds I have shot on this land. I bet it has to be 80K+. It is very moist there due to the city and lay out so getting a couple birth cycles is very common. No matter how hard I shot at this town all we ever did was make room for the young ones. I could go on and on about this town.

Most of the towns that are here in ND yes they are off in an area where it is safe to shoot what ever you wanted with little care to where your bullets end up. Today it is surprising how many houses have sprung up due to the oil. Places where you could not see a house now dozens are. It would be ok if they were all lumped together but they are spread out.

Is all you did here is reiterate my statement that we are responsible for every bullet that leaves our barrels. You can fire or not.
I've seen and done some dumbass stuff in my day, now at 60, I tend to think things over more, lol, somedays.

 

[people]

Is all you did here is reiterate my statement that we are responsible for every bullet that leaves our barrels. You can fire or not.
I've seen and done some dumbass stuff in my day, now at 60, I tend to think things over more, lol, somedays.

It is what I have also stated many times in this very thread. The PD stuff many just think they are in the middle of no where. Not really the case at all.

 

[people]

Not sure how the ricochet's came into play,

It started in the second post.

 

[Milo 2.0]

It is what I have also stated many times in this very thread. The PD stuff many just think they are in the middle of no where. Not really the case at all.

When did ND become a PD mecca? I spent my first 19 yrs there and Teddy's park only place I ever saw one.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

When did ND become a PD mecca? I spent my first 19 yrs there and Teddy's park only place I ever saw one.

Yeah there's not a ton of PD towns in ND. I spent 4 years there in the oilfield and found a few decent PD towns. Plus they get shot up so much, they go down pretty quick. Lot better and dumber dogs in Wyoming and south eastern Montana. Gotta buy a license to shoot them in ND too.