6.5 Berger bullets for elk?

[Texas]

I'm looking for feedback from people who have shot elk with any of the Berger 6.5 bullets. I currently have several 6.5-284s and shoot the 130 hunting VLD for deer with great results. I have an elk trip this fall and want to develop a new load with the 140s as that seems like a better bullet for elk. Has anyone tried the hybrids or hunting VLDS on elk?

 

[CharlieNC]

140 hunting vld loaded up for my 6.5x47 cow elk hunt, running 2900fps. 78th

 

[Alex Wheeler]

A friend who has tested them seems to like the 140 hunting vld, but reports the 140 hybrid is not a consistent performer.

 

[wvlongshot]

I'm running the 140 hunting vlds, about 3200 out of a 6.5 wsm. Done a lot of testing prior to using them on my elk trip last yr. One shot=dead elk at farther distance than I care to mention. Great performance, and more apparent damage than my buddy's 30 cal 190 gr hunting berger from 300 ultra. It's what I'm taking back this year.

 

[wvlongshot]

I will stress that both animals were broad side, relaxed, and neither bullet encountered any bone other than ribs.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Use a barnes triple shock

 

[L.Sherm]

2 bulls at 598 and 568 yds both dropped in there tracks one shot 140 vld at 3180 6.5 wsm.

 

[6xcshooter]

either the 130 or 140 berger hunting is good just put a hole in its lungs or heart it will work . got to to put bullet in the right place with any bullet to work, except maybe a .50 cal then you can shoot it in the as s and drive his body into a tree and break it's neck

 

[Changeling]

Use a barnes triple shock

Of the bullets mentioned, Dusty you are absolutely right, that's the only bullet in the conversation that has good penetration qualities!

Texas, if you are going to have a guide, you should give him a call and tell him what you plan on using relative to bullet and rifle.
Not that I doubt the caliber/rifle, just the bullet opinions.

 

[JRS]

Use a hunting bullet designed for hunting. The original thin jacketed Berger bullets were designed for shooting targets, and are now referred to as hunting bullets.

Hunting bullets for meat.

Target bullets for paper.

 

[hogpatrol]

Thin skinned game, Berger if you don't want to track them. Old tech spitzers and solids if you like tracking. Rhino, hippo, elephant, lion, crocs, use the Barnes.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I never figured out how a target bullet came into being a hunting bullet. It seems i just woke up one day and a customer told me he planned on using them. I said are you sure? He said theyre hunting bullets now. I said what changed? He didnt know. So brought me some and sure enough- same as target bullets. Oh well. Ive seen barnes in action on hogs, deer, pronghorns, even a moose and bear in newfoundland. Ill keep ethically killin with em.

 

[NWnewguy]

I remember reading a long explanation on the Berger hunting bullets somewhere and as I recall, the heavier jacket versions are the ones they are selling as hunting bullets. The article went on to talk about weight retention and so forth, but in the grand scheme of things, an Elk isn't a real tough critter to begin with. If you put the bullet where it's supposed to go, it will drop without much looking for it afterwards.

 

[JRS]

I remember reading a long explanation on the Berger hunting bullets somewhere and as I recall, the heavier jacket versions are the ones they are selling as hunting bullets. The article went on to talk about weight retention and so forth, but in the grand scheme of things, an Elk isn't a real tough critter to begin with. If you put the bullet where it's supposed to go, it will drop without much looking for it afterwards.

Berger increased the thickness of the jackets for their target bullets due to a number of them coming apart before reaching the target. The original target bullets and jackets weren't discarded. They were repackaged and called hunting bullets. I have a few boxes of the original Berger bullets that Walt Berger was hand swaging. If one doesn't mind digging out shrapnel from the meat, or have an animal jump up in front of you 50 yards away and the bullet punch through like sticking the animal with an icepick, take your chances.

www.bergerbullets.com/history-of-the-match-grade-berger-hunting-vld/

 

[FN in MT]

Add me to the list of those confused with WHY anyone would not use a hunting specific slug on a big game animal?

Unsure of the OP's situation but spending a ton of money on a guided hunt then at the moment of truth using a less than optimal slug. when one can use any of a number of dedicated hunting bullets none of which cost more than a DOLLAR? I just don't get it.

Elk hunting costs me $17 for a tag, my gas to drive 7-8 miles and I shoot a cow or spike in my neighbors irrigated hay fields. And I use what I feel are the best tools in my box for the job, right down to the bullets. Wh anyone else would not do the same puzzles me.

 

[CharlieNC]

Berbers have a great hunting reputation as you find with a little research. The only debate is centered around the anatomy of killing and which form you prefer.

 

[Jtate]

The short answer is do not worry about it. The Berger's will work fine, I don't care what they call them, target, hunting or plinking bullets.The proof is in the field. The most important thing is shot placement. I have killed close to 75 big game animals. I have used everything from matchkings to triple shocks, at ranges from 50 yards to 600 yards. From Kudo to Coues deer. For the type hunting I like the best, spot and stalk were I am very selective about what I shoot at and what shots I take, I vote hands down for cup and core bullets, you will get far more bang flops, short trails with a lot of blood. When you take a shot at much more than 250 yards, it all looks very different from the place you shot from to the place you thought the game was standing when you shot, after you get over there to look for your down animal.I want them anchored. Some of the hardest heads to find after the shot, I shot with triple shocks, the animals just sort of shrug it off and trot away they don't know they are dead on their feet, very little reaction. The only big game animal I have lost in the last 20 years was a big kudo bull in the eastern cape, we were still hunting though some very thick bush hand glassing as we went, we spot this nice bull feeding in a tiny clearing about 20 yards square, put the range finder on him 220 to about 225 yards get the sticks set up put the cross-hairs on him and a the last second I think this stuff is really thick I better drop him I move the cross-hairs to the shoulder thinking I will break it and drop him, let the shot go, hear a loud impact echo back to us and the bull disappears never to be seen again. 30 06 shooting 180 grain Triple shocks. I wish to this day I shot him with a 243 and a cheap bullet though the lungs, he would be hanging on the wall. Jon

 

[hogpatrol]

The short answer is do not worry about it. The Berger's will work fine, I don't care what they call them, target, hunting or plinking bullets.The proof is in the field. The most important thing is shot placement. I have killed close to 75 big game animals. I have used everything from matchkings to triple shocks, at ranges from 50 yards to 600 yards. From Kudo to Coues deer. For the type hunting I like the best, spot and stalk were I am very selective about what I shoot at and what shots I take, I vote hands down for cup and core bullets, you will get far more bang flops, short trails with a lot of blood. When you take a shot at much more than 250 yards, it all looks very different from the place you shot from to the place you thought the game was standing when you shot, after you get over there to look for your down animal.I want them anchored. Some of the hardest heads to find after the shot, I shot with triple shocks, the animals just sort of shrug it off and trot away they don't know they are dead on their feet, very little reaction. The only big game animal I have lost in the last 20 years was a big kudo bull in the eastern cape, we were still hunting though some very thick bush hand glassing as we went, we spot this nice bull feeding in a tiny clearing about 20 yards square, put the range finder on him 220 to about 225 yards get the sticks set up put the cross-hairs on him and a the last second I think this stuff is really thick I better drop him I move the cross-hairs to the shoulder thinking I will break it and drop him, let the shot go, hear a loud impact echo back to us and the bull disappears never to be seen again. 30 06 shooting 180 grain Triple shocks. I wish to this day I shot him with a 243 and a cheap bullet though the lungs, he would be hanging on the wall. Jon

Did you hit a tree or something in between. That's a hell of trophy to take to bed. On another note, PHs I've worked with love the Barnes solids for DG. Plains game, they're partial to the Swift A-Frames. They're traditionalists and haven't seen much of the Bergers.

 

[CJ6]

Swift A Frames, TBBCs, Nos Part, Woodleigh Weld Cores, All dependable stoppers

 

[dennisinaz]

I guide elk hunts and see anywhere from 5-8 elk killed in a year. I have taken a score myself. I have seen untold number of other head of big game taken with orange box Bergers. Here are my thoughts and observations:

The Bergers are extremely effective if they make it into the chest cavity. They are extremely accurate and have about the highest BC of any mainstream bullet. I use them and have several friends and clients who use the- some to exclusion of anything else. Recently a couple have switched to the ABLR but found out quickly that the published BC is is a hoax. Back to Bergers. I have seen way too many clean kills with them to think they are not the real deal. The sharp meplat allows them generous penetration before they come apart. They are typically long for caliber and penetrate well enough anyway.

The heavier jacket VLDs (yellow box) are not nearly as dependable on game. I am careful about using them. The 180 Hybrids in 7mm seem to work just fine on game.

Now, this is all based on the assumption that you hunting the way I do most of my hunting and guiding. Glassing an animal up, making a stalk and setting up for what is typically a long range shot by most definitions.

When I hunt bears with anything smaller than 30 caliber, I use more conventional bullets. I have less confidence in them for hunting in situations where things are unknown; stalking in brush, varmint calling bears, bugling in early rifle elk etc.

The 140 VLDs in the Orange box will work wonderfully on elk as long as you don't shoot one in the ***, guts or whatever. A Barnes will likely penetrate through the paunch better should you make this mistake. I can't get them to shoot worth a hoot so I don't use them.

I am using 140 Accubonds for bear hunting as in addition to long shots, I have to dig them out of the brush too often. The 130 and 140 ABs have never let me down but they do not kill as dramatically as the VLD.