Berger Hunting Bullets?

[M14AMU]

Hey guys

Talk to me about Berger hunting bullets! I made my own .30 caliber bullets for shooting competition for many years and just from visual inspection of the Berger bullets classified as 'hunting bullets'.....these appear nothing other than plain lead-cored jacketed HP bullets; basically the same as a target type bullet! So...I'm wondering if the 'hunting bullets' are bonded type?? What say you??

Thanks!

 

[mattdienes]

Berger has two different tyoes of VLD bullets-one is the target-"reccomended for target use only"it has a thicker jacket:the other VLD is still a awseome target bullet but has a thinner jacket that makes it suitable for hunting,and let me tell ya they HAMMER deer.They are both lead core slugs not bonded.

 

[15Tango]

See this thread: http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3752064.0.html

Berger construction isn't what most hunters would deem to be suitable for hunting, However, the things are devastating.

Wayne

 

[M14AMU]

Berger has two different tyoes of VLD bullets-one is the target-"reccomended for target use only"it has a thicker jacket:the other VLD is still a awseome target bullet but has a thinner jacket that makes it suitable for hunting,and let me tell ya they HAMMER deer.They are both lead core slugs not bonded.

Mattdienes

Is it possible that you've got the bullets mixed up?? Seems like the 'hunting bullet' should have the thicker jacket!!

??????

 

[TheBlueEyedBear]

I'm think'n the Berger VLDs work pretty good. This is my friend Leo Anderson posing with the 'Goat' he shot at 1200 yards with a 7mm, 180gr Berger VLD from his 7/270.
Yep, I'm voteing YES for the Berger VLD in the field.

 

[TonyR]

Isn't Leo Anderson is pretty handy with a 6mm Dasher as well?

 

[TheBlueEyedBear]

Yes he is!! Leo has set several 1K yd records and even had one taken away because somebody forgot to weigh his gun.
Leo is also the nicest guy I have met in the shooting sport and one of the nicest guys PERIOD. When I first decided to take up this sport Leo, who I met at my gunsmith's shop, just blew me away by sharing his knowledge so freely. I have met many people who get to this station in their sport and all of a sudden they are above it all. NOT Leo. This is a one great asset to the shooting community.

 

[archerross]

Berger has two different tyoes of VLD bullets-one is the target-"reccomended for target use only"it has a thicker jacket:the other VLD is still a awseome target bullet but has a thinner jacket that makes it suitable for hunting,and let me tell ya they HAMMER deer.They are both lead core slugs not bonded.

Mattdienes

Is it possible that you've got the bullets mixed up?? Seems like the 'hunting bullet' should have the thicker jacket!!

??????

Mattdienes has it right. In my exchanges with Walt Berger, he explained to me that the "target" bullet has a thicker jacket so that it can withstand the more rigorous punishment of competition shooting. As I understand it, that means higher pressures, temperatures, and velocities.

 

[M14AMU]

Berger has two different tyoes of VLD bullets-one is the target-"reccomended for target use only"it has a thicker jacket:the other VLD is still a awseome target bullet but has a thinner jacket that makes it suitable for hunting,and let me tell ya they HAMMER deer.They are both lead core slugs not bonded.

Mattdienes

Is it possible that you've got the bullets mixed up?? Seems like the 'hunting bullet' should have the thicker jacket!!

??????

Mattdienes has it right. In my exchanges with Walt Berger, he explained to me that the "target" bullet has a thicker jacket so that it can withstand the more rigorous punishment of competition shooting. As I understand it, that means higher pressures, temperatures, and velocities.

Hmmmm.....well then...I'll select the 'target bullet' for my hunting then!! Too my knowledge...after using many thousands of J-4 jackets building my own target bullets for several years....I've never known J-4 to make 'thicker' jackets! I still have several thousand jackets on hand and I can guarantee that the wall thickness and base thickness are still what's being used today!!

 

[twoodard]

the thick jacket my not perform like the thin jacket on game. not as consistently anyway.

 

[bozo699]

Yes he is!! Leo has set several 1K yd records and even had one taken away because somebody forgot to weigh his gun.
Leo is also the nicest guy I have met in the shooting sport and one of the nicest guys PERIOD. When I first decided to take up this sport Leo, who I met at my gunsmith's shop, just blew me away by sharing his knowledge so freely. I have met many people who get to this station in their sport and all of a sudden they are above it all. NOT Leo. This is a one great asset to the shooting community.

TheBlueEyedBear,
I second all your remarks about Leo, I shot beside him @ the deep creek range this year, He helped put the event on, I was totally green and Leo and Tom M, Mr.Capehart among others were a big help. He was trying to keep the shoot going ,compete, and help people like me @ the same time and doing a great job of it. If you were there BlueEyedBear you probably helped me and others to, Thanks
Wayne.

 

[Mudcat]

Do NOT use the thick jacket target bullets on game. They can work, just about any bullet can, but not reliably. Yes, I have killed deer with them, but those are the ones that take a step or three. All of the deer I have killed with the hunting VLDs (all of the ones in the last several years save 2 I killed with target BT versions) have dropped in their tracks....right there, no tracking, nothing. The thin jacket VLDs are like little grenades going off...they arent bonded and they dont hold together...cause thats why the perform so well. I have never seen anything like it with any other hunting bullet I have ever used. Speaking of which, I probably need to sell a bunch of old hunting bullets here soon cause I wont be using them.

 

[drags]

Matt, what berger bullets do you like for long range hunting in the 300WSM and 300WBY Mag?
Drags

 

[cfvickers]

Here is a typical exit wound on a 120lbs Doe at 80 yards with a 6.5mm 140gr. VLD Hunting, impact velocity was around 2900fps, she dropped DRT on the spot and bled out completely in seconds. Amazing on deer. Shot one with my .300 win mag as well and a 168 VLD and results were comparable.

 

[zcrackshot]

Hunting VLD's DO have THINNER jackets. The "new" target VLD's have THICKER jackets. However, to the best of my understanding the "old" target VLD's are the exact same as the current hunting VLD's. You may have some of the older J4 jackets that used to be used to make what is now the current hunting VLD. I would call Walt or anyone at Berger Bullets and ask them if what you have will work. They're great people with superb customer service.