Berger VLD vs Hybrid vs Hunting

[RAG]

Trying to wrap my head around the differences, particularly as they pertain to jacket thickness and expansion, as I plan to shoot 6x47L and 25x47L a little at prairie dogs next season.

As I understand, the VLD hunting uses the J4 jacket, which is thinner than jacket used in standard VLD. But it also seems like the Hybrid uses same (thinner) J4 jacket and thus should offer up similar expansion? Also/but hybrid design lends itself to being more jump tolerant, which can have advantages for "oal-restrictive" mag-fed setups, right?? And jump tolerant Hybrid might also offer advantage for varmint use where you might shoot 200-400 rounds on a trip without re-tuning?

Hybrid seems to have become a lot more popular?

Thanks!

 

[RAG]

Will also note that I plan to open up the meplat just a little, and/or give the Tubb nosering cutter a try (if it comes out at reasonable price). Maybe try ELD-X too.

 

[BoilerUP]

Elite Hunter bullets have BCs and jump tolerance similar to Hybrids, but are designed to dump energy vs. a tipped match bullet possibly penciling through with minimal fragmentation or tumbling.

That said...any bullet placed properly will do the job.

 

[std7mag]

From my understanding, the Hunting VLD were Walt Berger's original target bullet.
Some F-Class shooters were having issues with fliers at the end of a string. Thought was the jacket/core separating due to heat in the chamber.
Hence the Target bullets got a thicker jacket.

I'm not sure how Berger's Varmint bullets perform.
The Hunting VLDs perform exactly as advertized. Penetrate 1-3" then come apart.
MASSIVE internal damage!
Bullet sized entry hole, jacket under offside hide of deer.

Don't think it's going to penetrate through the shoulder of deer or larger animal though.
Put it in the ribs, and it's a done deal!

 

[RAG]

Right, so

Elite Hunter bullets have BCs and jump tolerance similar to Hybrids, but are designed to dump energy vs. a tipped match bullet possibly penciling through with minimal fragmentation or tumbling.

That said...any bullet placed properly will do the job.

So we're thinking the Elite Hunters have thin J4 jacket, but with jump tolerant Hybrid Ogive?

And how about Hybrid target...those use a thin J4 too?

I am wanting to make sure I'm using bullet with thin jacket for rapid expansion on little critters...and I plan to open up meplat just a little to get that party started quicker...but im trying to determine if the Hybrid Target will expand as well as VLD Hunter given jackets used.

 

[BoilerUP]

6 mm 108 Grain Elite Hunter Rifle Bullet

Berger's 6mm 108 Grain Elite Hunter was designed for shooters that want to utilize extremely flat shooting 6mm cartridges, like the 6mm Creedmoor or 6 PRC, to take animals at longer ranges than traditional hunting Rifle Bullets. The heavier weight and optimized hybrid ogive design allow for the...

bergerbullets.com

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

This is an Awesome "shooting", Bullet, ( .2's / .3's / 4's on, a "bad", Day ) in my 1-7.5 Twist, 24" bbl'd, 6 XC with, 41.3 Grains of, StaBall 6.5 seated about, .060 "off" the Lands, getting around, 2,980 - 3,000 FPS with, this, .559 BC Bullet.
I Have NOT Tested it, on Big Game,.. YET ! As am using my .270 WSM with, 140 gr. Berger, Classic Hunt's, this year for, an Elk Tag that, I drew.
But, I would NOT, hesitate to use it on, a Deer or, Antelope to about,.. 500- 600 yards.
In MY Family,.. we use,.. Hunting VLD's, Classic Hunt's and Elite Hunter, Berger's, ONLY, on Big Game !
Call, the Berger Tech's, IF, in doubt about, your Bullet,.. "Choice".

 

[std7mag]

As i mentioned, there use to be a Varmint bullet at one time.
Not sure if Berger is still making them.

Honestly, i'd go to a BlitzKing, or V-MAX before messing with the meplat on a Berger.

 

[RAG]

As i mentioned, there use to be a Varmint bullet at one time.
Not sure if Berger is still making them.

Honestly, i'd go to a BlitzKing, or V-MAX before messing with the meplat on a Berger.

Yeah, already have all that covered with a variety of cartridges. Im going for the .54 and .64 G1 BC of the 6mm and 25cal berger VLD/Hybrid...even if I do reduce BC by .02 by opening them up a little.

 

[std7mag]

Wait.....
You have 25 caliber Bergers??!!!

 

[Adam in WI]

Wait.....
You have 25 caliber Bergers??!!!

Ken, if I knew you was looking for some I'd have sold them to you. I just sold 393 of the 115s to a member who placed a wtb ad three weeks ago...

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

I have hunted with all of them and from my experience the VLD (hunting or not) is the "softest" than Hybrid and then the Hunters. For me the Hybrid is the best all round bullet and I would have to say the VLD would be your best bet on Varmint. The OTM/Tactical line is very hard

 

[RAG]

Wait.....
You have 25 caliber Bergers??!!!

Yes. 135 Hybrids. Waiting for reamer to come in, so I won't be testing till Spring

 

[RAG]

Opened one up just a little, making jacket paper thin at leading edge. I expect this should start expansion faster, and hopefully only drags the .65BC down to about .63 or thereabouts. I have a couple different micro bit/drill sets. I recall I used .049 bit for this. I anticipate, after experimenting, I'll open some up just a little (for mid-to-longer shots), and some a lot more (for the close ones).

 

[RAG]

Opened bullet, on right again, has slightly reduced length, and sure reduced BC, but can't imagine it's significant for hunting/varminting. I'll soon target test to estimate BC by shooting at 800 yards, and then will test different modifications on PDogs next year, observing frangibility of thinning out leading/outside edge with file vs opening op meplat.

In the end, it sounds like I should be equally well off

 

[Alex Wheeler]

More than likely your going to pencil hole varmints with bullets like that. They just are too small to get those bullets to expand. We use varmint bullets which have very thin jackets, large hollow points or plastic tips and are driven at very high speed to get expansion on varmint sized game.

 

[RAG]

You are right...I do as well . Just looking for a better alternative in high winds...I have to travel for my varmint shooting, so if it's 20mph in the afternoon, I'm still shooting.

...and I'm not expecting grenade effect...a little cartwheel action will do!

 

[RAG]

By all accounts (that I can find) , the 105 Amax was explosive on little vermin. But the BC is/was only .49 G1. Something like the Berg 105 VLD hunting, which uses thin J4 jacket, is closer to .545 G1. I'd have to surmise the HP could be opened up quite large before BC fell under .5 G1.

Or the Hybrid 135 25cal at .64G1....im expecting that could be opened up, significantly, and maintain a G1 of .6 or higher. Well, I will find out for myself and report back in the Spring.

 

[Breakshunter]

I am betting they all pencil thru. 20 cal 35gr pencil thru on me, I can hit them in he chest and watch them run to the hole, they penetrate about 2 inches and come apart, works awesome on coyotes but not prairie dogs. If you want explosive impacts use a plastic tipped bullet. I use 70 blitz kings and 87v max for this purpose. I shoot a lot of burgers in 6 and 6.5 but there are better prairie dog bullets.