Anyone Tried the Berger Hybrid for Hunting Yet?

[Ledd Slinger]

I have a new 6XC that I recently built and am thinking I might let my 10 year old boy use it for hunting over his custom 6.5x55 since the XC rifle is lighter in weight and recoil will be a bit less. He will only be hunting deer. Mule deer bucks specifically unless a nice whitetail buck happens to cross paths with us.

I have a bunch of Berger Target VLDs and one box of 108s, but also have a box of 500 - 105gr Hybrids. Im pretty sure the Target VLDs will work because I have had success with them on big game in 6.5mm (140gr). Wondering if the Hybrids are another option? Anyone shoot anything with the Hybrids yet? Thanks

 

[savagedasher]

We had a small game shoot Saturday 17 shooters the Hibrid's got small group and score. my 11 year old Grandson got small group and down on for hi score. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.
We have shot a few hogs I wasn't impress. when they hit bone they were fine. Larry

 

[Ledd Slinger]

We had a small game shoot Saturday 17 shooters the Hibrid's got small group and score. my 11 year old Grandson got small group and down on for hi score. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.
We have shot a few hogs I wasn't impress. when they hit bone they were fine. Larry

Congrats to your grandson! Thats awesome

Are you saying the "hogs" were fine after they were hit when the bullet connected with bone? Or the bullets were fine?

 

[savagedasher]

When the hit bone they worked the other area they never expanded enough to do the job. Deer don't have much heart so they could be ok. I have seen a hog take a 375 HH lung shot and run. Larry

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Thanks for the clarification Larry

 

[Gabe22BR]

I use 6mm Hybrids, on deer around here. No problems yet.

 

[Sniper338]

Ive shot deer with the target vlds... but only head shots.. they DO NOT expand. 6.5 cal hole in 6.5 cal hole out same with 22-250 tiny hole in tiny hole out... i would NOT use these for shooting an animal anywhere but the head..

Berger hunting vlds are good to go... working with hybrids now...

 

[Eric Leonard]

if you must use Bergers the 95 Classic Hunter worked well for my wife on deer last year,,the 105 VLD Hunting orange box should work also but not tried them yet,,myself I would use the Hornady 100 gr BTSP IL or the 100 Sierra GKBTSP which I have killed numerous deer with with no problems,,

 

[xdeano]

I've shot coyotes with some 105grn hybrids and wasn't impressed. They just penciled through. Which is fine for fur hunters, but if they don't drop in their tracks or very close to where they're shot, i'm not a fan. I'd rather shoot the hunting vlds and not worry about it. I'd give up a little bc for a little expansion. Plus most guys aren't even going to see the difference in BC anyhow.

Deano

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I've shot coyotes with some 105grn hybrids and wasn't impressed. They just penciled through. Which is fine for fur hunters, but if they don't drop in their tracks or very close to where they're shot, i'm not a fan. I'd rather shoot the hunting vlds and not worry about it. I'd give up a little bc for a little expansion. Plus most guys aren't even going to see the difference in BC anyhow.

Deano

BC wasn't a concern because they are pretty close. Just that I have a 500 count box and was wondering if I could use them for something else besides target shooting. Mostly wondering about terminal performance with them.

I know the Hunting VLD's work very well because I have around 16 animals under my belt that have fallen to Berger bullets in 6.5mm and 338. Might just pick up some hunting VLDs or see if someone on here wants to do some trading for my Target VLDs.

 

[alf]

I'd rather shoot the hunting vlds and not worry about it. I'd give up a little bc for a little expansion. Plus most guys aren't even going to see the difference in BC anyhow.

Exactly.......

I did a test a while back comparing 105 VLD's, the same lot pointed, and pointed 105 Hybrids at 600 yards, two groups with each, and the point of impact was identical for all three.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I'd rather shoot the hunting vlds and not worry about it. I'd give up a little bc for a little expansion. Plus most guys aren't even going to see the difference in BC anyhow.

Exactly.......

I did a test a while back comparing 105 VLD's, the same lot pointed, and pointed 105 Hybrids at 600 yards, two groups with each, and the point of impact was identical for all three.

Again, not concerned about BC difference. I am well aware that there will be nearly zero difference in trajectory from the .532 BC of the Hunting VLD vs the .547 BC of the Hybrid. Looking for input regarding performance when impacting flesh and bone on big game animals. Thanks

 

[barefooter56]

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!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

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!

Thank you. My son's 6.5x55 has a 1 in 8" twist so no problem there. I have a bunch of 130gr and 140gr 6.5mm Hunting VLD's so would probably use those if we opt to go with that rifle. I plan on getting him to shoot the 6XC in a few weeks after I develop a load for it to see if he likes the weight/handling and recoil better. Just trying to do some preemptive investigations on the bullets I have in my stock to use in the 6XC should that be his choice.

 

[barefooter56]

Leddslinger,
Sounds like you are good to go! Please let us know if we can be of help in the future with any questions you may have on our bullets!

 

[walley2960]

Our new 6.5 130 grain AR Tactical/ Hunting Hybrid

I had not heard that this is a hunting bullet. Just looking to confirm. It would be great to hear that it is.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I haven't done this, but a buddy of mine wanted to try some 115 Dtac's in his .243 AI. I sent him some, he trimmed the meplat down a bit, not sure how much. Then he built a load and proceeded to harvest some nice Deer in Tennessee. He sent me pictures, those Dtac's opened those Deer up.... I would expect you could do the same with a Hybrid.

 

[jsthntn247]

215 Hybrids are Thor's hammer. They have a big hollow nose cavity that opens up.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

215 Hybrids are Thor's hammer. They have a big hollow nose cavity that opens up.

The results I've read about 30 Cal hybrids is what prompted me to post this thread. Unfortunately the 215gr hybrid may be a little bit tight in my 6XC bore ;D

Perhaps trimming the meplat as Dgd6mm proposed is a way to get proper expansion with the 105gr 6mm hybrid. I might play with that a bit. Maybe shoot 5 hybrid bullets into milk jugs unmodified, then shoot 5 with meplats trimmed to where the hollow point is wider and compare them.

 

[barefooter56]

walley2960,
The Berger 6.5 130 grain hybrid OTM tactical bullet can be used for hunting.
Leddslinger,
Uniforming (trimming) the MEPLAT on the 6mm 105 hybrids MAY not help because of the thicker jacket . Our bullets do not function like standard hollow point hunting bullets. Our bullets are designed to penetrate 2-5 inches then the nose are of the bullet "slumps over" and then comes off forming shrapnel that shreds the vitals causing tremendous hydro-static shock to the animal and usually instant incapacitation and death. This is all due to the thinner jackets of the hunting bullets. HOWEVER, we are getting reports on some of our larger caliber hybrids like the .30 caliber 215 target hybrid and 230 grain OTM working with great success on game such as Elk, Mule Deer and even antelope in the western states. These bullets do leave a smaller wound channel than the hunting bullets and MAY pass through the game. We have not heard anything on the 6mm 105 hybrid working on game like the 215 and 230 grain bullets. The "milk jug" test MAY not be enough. You may want to find the recipe for ballistic gelatin and test with that instead. Please let us know the results you get with either hunting or gelatin tests.
You all have a great weekend!