Anyone Tried the Berger Hybrid for Hunting Yet?

[Ledd Slinger]

Yeah ive actually just started load testing with the 105gr Target VLDs. I might just use those for hunting since they have a thicker jacket to aid penetration. Always had good luck with 6.5mm 140gr target VLDs on animals

 

[waterfwlr]

Shot a few prairie dogs with them last month out of my 6-284. I was actually surprised at the damage they did. Granted they were going 3500 fps but still didn't expect that.

 

[/VH]

All this discussion on the Hybrid and VLD I need to share a BAD experience a couple weeks ago with a 105 VLD. I shoot a 6.5 X55 Sweed and a 6.5X284. have shot many deer with the 140 VLD's and never had a bad experience but the shot placement was always good. Had a young man on my place a few weeks ago and he used my 6 XC with 105 VLD Hunting round. I watched him shoot a 3 year old Axis buck @ 110 yards and I thought he missed. We couldn't believe it. Saw the buck next day and realized he was hit. but looked like he'd be OK, minor damage. Saw him again 2 1/2 months later he was not doing good. Grabbed a rifle the next day and found him dead, died that night. The bullet hit the upper part of the shoulder and looked like a 22 rifle had made the shot didn't even break the shoulder blade. I was really surprised the 105 VLD @ 3100 FPS did so little damage. Just exploded and made a small hole the size of a pencil. Really going to reconsider using the 6 XC again on deer without a Partition bullet.

rcol317,

Thanks for that info. Could you tell how much the small pencil hole penetrated? Maybe it was too nasty to investigate but I'm wondering if you could tell if it made it through the shoulder, at all.

Thanks.

 

[rcol317]

It appears I need to apologize for offending some members by sharing a surprising observation I experienced with 105 VLD's. Received a PM from an offended member claimed I'm a liar and have no knowledge or experience. He felt I'm a liar and just claiming a bunch of BS to get responses. Please accept my apology, that was not my intent. Let me make a couple things clear.
1st. Those on this forum that know me would laugh at the question of my experience. 2nd I have no agenda against the 6 XC or Berger VLD's. Probably taken as many trophies as most with the bullet. 3rd I do not have a reputation of lying, never saw the point.
Having said that I was sharing a true story from surprise by the experience. I was curious if this was a fluke experience or if anyone else had seen it happen before. To the question of penetration, the bullet hit the shoulder blade and stopped.
I've appreciated this forum and all I've learned from the other members. I'll be more careful in the future on what I post. Oh and by the way, I'm going to keep shooting my 6 XC's, if you read some of my other posts you'll see it's one of my favorite.s Good shooting Rick

 

[/VH]

It appears I need to apologize for offending some members by sharing a surprising observation I experienced with 105 VLD's. Received a PM from an offended member claimed I'm a liar and have no knowledge or experience. He felt I'm a liar and just claiming a bunch of BS to get responses. Please accept my apology, that was not my intent. Let me make a couple things clear.
1st. Those on this forum that know me would laugh at the question of my experience. 2nd I have no agenda against the 6 XC or Berger VLD's. Probably taken as many trophies as most with the bullet. 3rd I do not have a reputation of lying, never saw the point.
Having said that I was sharing a true story from surprise by the experience. I was curious if this was a fluke experience or if anyone else had seen it happen before. To the question of penetration, the bullet hit the shoulder blade and stopped.
I've appreciated this forum and all I've learned from the other members. I'll be more careful in the future on what I post. Oh and by the way, I'm going to keep shooting my 6 XC's, if you read some of my other posts you'll see it's one of my favorite.s Good shooting Rick

Thanks Rick, I appreciate the info.

 

[Lucky]

Leddslinger,
We don't recommend our target bullets to be used as hunting bullets for some of the results stated previously. The thicker jacket of the target bullets does affect its performance on game by leaving a small wound channel or at worst a pass through shot. Having said that however we have had positive feedback on our .30 caliber 215 target hybrids in the 300 Win Mag on Elk, Mule deer and antelope but have not yet tested it ourselves to confirm its performance on game and label it as a Target/Hunting bullet. Our new 6.5 130 grain AR Tactical/ Hunting Hybrid in the 6.5x55 MAY be a good way to go instead of the 105 in the 6XC . It is made to work at magazine length like our Classic Hunter bullets . You will need a 1-10" twist minimum twist rate for this round. 1-8.9" would be optimum. Hope this helps!

Hey Barefooter, i had posted a query re the 130 AR Tactical in 6.5 wondering how it would perform on deer sized game earlier. It sounds as if you think it would expand and do the job. I am limited to 2.800" COAL so pretty excited about the AR 130gr bullet if it will provide clean kills with well placed shot

 

[ab_bentley]

Hey Barefooter, i had posted a query re the 130 AR Tactical in 6.5 wondering how it would perform on deer sized game earlier. It sounds as if you think it would expand and do the job. I am limited to 2.800" COAL so pretty excited about the AR 130gr bullet if it will provide clean kills with well placed shot

A pm might be better as this thread is a year old.