6.5x284 bullet choice for deer

[ImBIllT]

I can’t believe you don’t like the Bergers. The five mule deer I’ve killed with them dropped like a sack of potatoes and the elk didn’t last long. They’ve outperformed any other bullet I’ve ever shot. The mule deer were taken at ranges from about 100yds out to 380yds, and the elk at 670yds. The first mule deer was with a .308 using 185’s and the rest of the animals were with a .260AAR using 130VLDs at 3400fps, 140VLDs at 3300fps and 140 Elite Hunters at 3175fps(finally a really accurate load). Only one mule deer and the elk were hit in bone. The rest were pure lung shots. On the mule deer hit in the shoulder, very little meat was lost. The bullet made it through the blade before blowing up. The elk was hit in the guts, but didn’t go anywhere. The follow up shot took out the ball joint where the shoulder blade meets the humorous. It blew up a lot of meat and the lungs. Only the elk took a step. The rest stayed right where they were shot. I’ve never had another bullet anchor a deer with a pure lung hit. I’ve also hit a running hog in the guts with a 185VLD from a .308 that did within seconds without going anywhere. I’ve never seen gutshot performance like that. Unlike most rapidly expanding bullets they really do get 3-5” in before “going off” and when they do “go off” it’s to an extent that is unlike any other bullet. I don’t recommend it, but I bet you could shoot a deer in the ham and have it bleed out in under 30 seconds without it going anywhere.

I’ve used Balistic Tip, Solid Bases, and Accubonds in rifles from a .243 to a .30-06 and some hot rods in between and deer have always run at least a little ways unless I hit more than lungs.

I know Berger had a few issues early on, but they seem to have them worked out. My results have me reluctant to even consider another bullet.

 

[ImBIllT]

I've shot a lot of them from day one and by far they are the easiest mono to tune, probably the most forgiving bullet I've shot actually. They are the only mono bullet I will still load for hunting, the are extremely lethal and they pay a lot of attention to propper twist rates and put up an honest BC.
Killed a few things with the 110 in the 6.5 and everything was dead fast due to the damage they are designed to do but you also see the shank of the bullet getting massive penetration and wrecking along the way.
They are the ONLY mono bullet that when I did testing with them on multiple elk I could not get them to deflect or stop on an elk shoulder, they also cause excellent wound channels through a soft hit through the slats, I've tested monos for multiple companies and the Hammers are hands down the best.

I’ve heard other excellent reports about Hammers.

 

[alinwa]

I can report a 33 nosler shooting accubonds is the most devastating deer gun ive ever had Next to a 375 h&h under 150yd. Shot one At 275yd right behind the shoulder quartering away. Jellied the intestines where you couldnt tell a lung from heart, broke both legs and spine and bloodshot The neck halfway to the skull. Had about a 4” exit wound.

I just had my bar reset this last week.....

I had a guy last year took some deer and antelope with the blown out 338 Lapua and 300 grain OTM's...... took 'em apart, literally, in chunks..... at yardages where a typical 300 Win Mag is down to 30 Carbine energy level,


BUT


I've got a couple 375 CheyTac's here in the shop and the guy showed me results on a cow elk. Kill was at over 1400yds and it still looked like it got caught on the train tracks, amazing.

 

[nakneker]

I’m a Berger fan. However I just came off a mule deer hunt in Alberta. I used the outfitters rifle to avoid customs, my wife did too. He was using the 143 grain ELD-X Hornadys. His rifle gets a lot of use, a 6.5-284. He was bragging up the performance saying he hadn’t seen a bullet do what the ELD-X has done, he loves them. My wife shot her buck at 204 broadside, it didn’t take a step, just dropped with a high behind the shoulder shot. I shot mine at 540 through the heart quartering away. It took a couple steps and was done. Considering he is in on 30+ plus kills a year I give his opinion some weight. Will I stop using Bergers? No. But I may try that bullet, it was impressive.

 

[flintcreek6412]

If you want DRT, learn to use the high shoulder shot. Top of the lungs gone and broken spine. Drop like a 10 ton dump truck landed on top of them. Dead before they even hit the ground.

I've been doing it with Berger bullets ever since they first hit the market many years ago. Works every time. Literally witnessed deer dropping in the scope before the rifle even recoiled. The 201" B&C mule deer in my profile pic being one of them.

Thank you. I was wondering how long it would take someone to point out the best shot placement period.