Berger Hunting VLD vs Classic Hunter

[Lone Hunter]

I have used the 30 cal 168 classic hunters on elk, deer and antelope. Elk was in some timber about 75 yards out, lung shot and dropped him fast. Deer was 250 yards out, heart shot and dropped. Antelope was a fluke. Was ready for a long shot but stalked within a little over 100 yards, hit lungs, he went 50 yards and dropped. Probably too close for that thin skinned game and that large bullet is my guess to why he went that far.

All said, I have had great and ethical sucess with the classic hunter.

JCUtah, What cartridge were you using? I am considering using 168 Classic Hunters in my .308 win. Only thing is where I'm hunting now I will not be shooting over 200 yds tops. Mostly out to 75 yds. Kinda hard to justify the price over standard bullets but I like Bergers for their accuracy.

 

[JCUtah]

JCUtah, What cartridge were you using? I am considering using 168 Classic Hunters in my .308 win. Only thing is where I'm hunting now I will not be shooting over 200 yds tops. Mostly out to 75 yds. Kinda hard to justify the price over standard bullets but I like Bergers for their accuracy.

A 308 winchester. I understand the price comment. I'm not sure what the price difference is. But the confidence I have with the accuracy and bullet design to kill is worth it for me. Peace of mind I guess. You will find the 168 classic hunters easy to load.

 

[Mark Casias]

To the elk being shot five times at 40yrdsandstaying around he was probably dead on his feet I shoot 185 cl out of my 300win they group better then vlds about 3100.im getting to exit hole 4in apart from ibex to elk.i like 2 holes exit and a animal drt being a outfitter I've seen about every bullet and caliber hit elk from 243 to 338 with the right bullet they all work good but the bergers put more game down in there tracks out of all I've seen

 

[hogpatrol]

To the elk being shot five times at 40yrdsandstaying around he was probably dead on his feet I shoot 185 cl out of my 300win they group better then vlds about 3100.im getting to exit hole 4in apart from ibex to elk.i like 2 holes exit and a animal drt being a outfitter I've seen about every bullet and caliber hit elk from 243 to 338 with the right bullet they all work good but the bergers put more game down in there tracks out of all I've seen

Old thread but agree on the Bergers. I made believers out of more than one PH in Africa when they started seeing their "tough", "thick skin", two shots needed animals dropping in their tracks at distances very few shoot any bullet. I told them I'm not in to blood trails and tracking.

 

[Mark Casias]

Old thread but agree on the Bergers. I made believers out of more than one PH in Africa when they started seeing their "tough", "thick skin", two shots needed animals dropping in their tracks at distances very few shoot any bullet. I told them I'm not in to blood trails and tracking.

I hear you they made me a believer. I'm going to try the new 135 in 6.5 swed do you know anything about them

 

[nakneker]

I left an impression in South Africa with Bergers. The outfitter wasn’t going to let me use them but I agreed to pay him for any animal lost, standard policy but I had to make a point out of it. By the time I left his two guides were believers. Same thing here in Arizona, seen a ton of Elk have the Berger experience, very effective. I still like partitions, Corelokts, Hornady SSTs, but when I can I shoot Bergers.

Except for my 220swift. 60 grain partitions our of a swift make for a deadly deer/antelope rifle with very little kick. My seven kids used that combo to deadly effect growing up.

 

[Mark Casias]

I left an impression in South Africa with Bergers. The outfitter wasn’t going to let me use them but I agreed to pay him for any animal lost, standard policy but I had to make a point out of it. By the time I left his two guides were believers. Same thing here in Arizona, seen a ton of Elk have the Berger experience, very effective. I still like partitions, Corelokts, Hornady SSTs, but when I can I shoot Bergers.

Except for my 220swift. 60 grain partitions our of a swift make for a deadly deer/antelope rifle with very little kick. My seven kids used that combo to deadly effect growing up.

Great load I have a swift in a number 1 love it.i like those bullets to,but in my long range guns that will shoot bergers it's hard to beat the bc. Sst and noz are good barns are hard to beat at mid range.under 500 yrds my 11 year old daughter shoots 120 barns in a7.08 and smokes everything she shoots.

 

[hogpatrol]

I hear you they made me a believer. I'm going to try the new 135 in 6.5 swed do you know anything about them

I shot the 130s HVLDs in a 6.5x47, 6.5x.284 and a 26 Nosler on wildebeest (both), springbok, waterbuck, zebra, red hartebeest, impala and warthog. Haven't had any experience with the 135s. I have to admit, the 130s in the Nosler were too much for the springboks.

 

[NeedForSpeed]

I use 168 gr Classic Hunters in my AR10 for night hunting hogs. They leave my barrel at about 2500 fps. If I do my part they are all one shot kills DRT with massive damage and an exit hole. Most shots are under 100 yds but Ive shot them at 200-250 and they worked!

 

[Jtate]

Based on my experience Classic Hunters need a impact speed of + 1800 fps in order to function properly, Berger will tell you the same if you ask them. This controls you effective max range.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I used the 7mms 150 classic for the first time last fall. Very easy to work up a 3000 muzzle velocity out of my 7Saum that would hold .5 moa out to 300 yards. I don't feel I would need to shoot further than that elk hunting. I shot a cow elk with the classic at 146 yards, drt broadside double lung, cutting aorta off heart. No offside ribcage penetration. She literally fell straight down on her belly, rolling onto her side. No leg movement, no tail or head/neck movement. 4 hunts 4 elk all inside 200 yards.

 

[Hydenseek]

Now that Berger has become corporatized there are other Bullets that will perform at their price point. I have shot a lot of them, have a lot of them left but when they’re gone so am I.