Berger tactical bullets on big game

[wvlongshot]

Is anyone using the Berger tactical, tan box bullets on big game? Mainly in 338 cal. 300gr & 30 cal. 230gr.
These things sure are hard on steel targets compared to the match bullet.

 

[sa1000]

I use the 300gr OTM out of my 338 edge on deer at longer ranges or when it's real windy.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Have used the 175gr OTM out off my 30.06 and the 185 OTM out off 300WM on some game, bullet seem to hold together better than the VLD and Hybirds. Never recovered a bullet from a animal but always had a nice size exit hole

 

[Rem06]

Is anyone using the Berger tactical, tan box bullets on big game? Mainly in 338 cal. 300gr & 30 cal. 230gr.
These things sure are hard on steel targets compared to the match bullet.

I am this year, i'm not worried as I used many other berger bullets with great results in the past.
I should have much better info in a few weeks...
230OTM 300NM

 

[RonAKA]

Is anyone using the Berger tactical, tan box bullets on big game? Mainly in 338 cal. 300gr & 30 cal. 230gr.
These things sure are hard on steel targets compared to the match bullet.

Probably not the best idea. Berger make their hunting bullets with thinner jackets so they will expand after penetration. The Target and Tactical use heavier jackets that will not explode under high spin in a hot barrel. They are not likely to expand enough for hunting.

 

[jsthntn247]

I'm hoping to try the 130 AR hybrid on some hogs this weekend.

 

[RonAKA]

Is anyone using the Berger tactical, tan box bullets on big game? Mainly in 338 cal. 300gr & 30 cal. 230gr.

If long distance performance is what you are after, you can get just as good or better in the Hunting series.

The .338 300 grain Tactical has a Form Factor of 0.891. The .338 250 grain Elite Hunter, has the same 0.891 Form Factor.

The .308 cal 230 grain Tactical has a Form Factor of 0.953. The .308 cal 180 grain Elite Hunter has a lower Form Factor at 0.919.

 

[wvlongshot]

I'm trying to find something not as fragile as the hunting lineup of Berger. They have done exactly what designed to do. Expand at long range. I'm just looking for a happy medium.
Thanks for the replys

 

[waterdog]

I'm hoping to try the 130 AR hybrid on some hogs this weekend.

Tell us how the 130 grain AR Hybrid does on the hogs.

 

[Rem06]

Probably not the best idea. Berger make their hunting bullets with thinner jackets so they will expand after penetration. The Target and Tactical use heavier jackets that will not explode under high spin in a hot barrel. They are not likely to expand enough for hunting.

really? sounds like you have zero experience with Berger bullets on game. Berger hunting bullets are bombs and typically come out in 3 holes after dumping everything it has to offer. having a bit tougher jacket is a good thing in my opinion. do you really believe it has anything to do with not exploding under high spin in 30 and 338 cal?
in a hot bbl ,,,,hunting?

and you think the 180 is better than the 230 at long range based on form factor? good grief?

 

[minnesotamulisha]

I used the 130 AR Hybrids in my 6.5x47 this year on a whitetail buck. The bullet went all the way through and took off the top half of the heart in the process. He made it fifteen yards before ending up a crumpled mess. I was hoping the bullet would have remained in the carcass, but no such luck.

 

[Rem06]

I used the 130 AR Hybrids in my 6.5x47 this year on a whitetail buck. The bullet went all the way through and took off the top half of the heart in the process. He made it fifteen yards before ending up a crumpled mess. I was hoping the bullet would have remained in the carcass, but no such luck.

how far was the shot? fifteen yards ending up un a crumpled mess, but hoped bullet would have remained in the carcass? why? sounds perfect!

I know of a lot of whitetails and elk shot with Hybrids with excellent results. but like I stated above, I have 230OTMs in 300NM for this season and I am not the least bit worried but I shall see first hand.

 

[minnesotamulisha]

Shot him at just under 100 yards. I was hoping to see what the bullet did on impact.

 

[RonAKA]

really? sounds like you have zero experience with Berger bullets on game. Berger hunting bullets are bombs and typically come out in 3 holes after dumping everything it has to offer. having a bit tougher jacket is a good thing in my opinion. do you really believe it has anything to do with not exploding under high spin in 30 and 338 cal?
in a hot bbl ,,,,hunting?

and you think the 180 is better than the 230 at long range based on form factor? good grief?

No, I have not used Berger bullets for hunting. I do agree with the Berger philosophy of rapid expansion and ideally no bullet exit.

Berger from what I can see makes jackets in two thicknesses. The thin ones are used for hunting bullets, and the thick ones are used for target & tactical bullets.

Yes, I do believe Form Factor is significant when considering long distance performance. The critical factor is how much energy do you have at the distance you shoot at. Sorry but I can't be bothered to figure that out based on BC etc, but Form Factor is a quick and dirty way of getting there. Bullet energy is what counts, not bullet weight.

 

[Rem06]

No, I have not used Berger bullets for hunting. I do agree with the Berger philosophy of rapid expansion and ideally no bullet exit.

Berger from what I can see makes jackets in two thicknesses. The thin ones are used for hunting bullets, and the thick ones are used for target & tactical bullets.

Yes, I do believe Form Factor is significant when considering long distance performance. The critical factor is how much energy do you have at the distance you shoot at. Sorry but I can't be bothered to figure that out based on BC etc, but Form Factor is a quick and dirty way of getting there. Bullet energy is what counts, not bullet weight.

Bullet energy is what counts, not bullet weight? and no, I have not used berger bullets for hunting. Hmmm....

may want to re read that section? bullet weight certainly is a huge factor in delivering down range energy. does momentum ring a bell? Matuna's formula?

 

[d.id]

My wife uses the 338 300grain "tactical" tan box exclusively in our 338 edge. Kills on dear and elk from 60 to 968 yards. Probably 15+ kills without EVER letting us down!

 

[RonAKA]

Bullet energy is what counts, not bullet weight? and no, I have not used berger bullets for hunting. Hmmm....

may want to re read that section? bullet weight certainly is a huge factor in delivering down range energy. does momentum ring a bell? Matuna's formula?

Sorry, but it is all about energy, not just velocity, or weight, or momentum. That is why you do not want the bullet to exit. You want it to deliver all the energy, not waste it by retaining energy in exited bullet.

 

[d.id]

My opinion: foot pounds, impact velocity,full penatration,etc,etc........all academic. A bullet in the heart or head trumps all. A bullet threw the lungs means it will be over in a few steps.......If you can hit where you intend to,you can kill it.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Sorry, but it is all about energy, not just velocity, or weight, or momentum. That is why you do not want the bullet to exit. You want it to deliver all the energy, not waste it by retaining energy in exited bullet.

Just how I like them. I have no need to have energy dumped in the sand behind the animal, I don't feel like tracking animals anyway and the Bergers generally drop them where they stand or very close to it. I have used Berger OTM, VLD, standard BT and Hybrids (the big once!) on most plains game animal here in S Africa and as long as I can find and afford Bergers thats all ill shoot at paper, steel and game, bullet availability plays a big part over here but generally ill have the Hybrids and VLDs loaded up. The OTM is definitely a tougher bullet than the VLD but they work just fine on game. With smaller calibers especially for light game I prefer the VLDs and than for the bigger game around here with bigger bones the big Hybrids are just the "bomb"

 

[PAshooter20BR]

kinetic energy is only one piece of the puzzle. If you spend your time reviewing bullets kinetic energy to deem if cartridges and their bullets are acceptable you will end up on the wrong path. Muzzle velocity, Kinetic energy, Bullet BC and the bullet's mass all play a significant role. If you run a few numbers, you could see that a 7mm 195 Berger and a 30
Cal 230 OTM can have within 75 ft lbs of kinetic energy at 1000 yards picking the right hotrod cartridges.Some people would argue that the two cartridges are equal in their ability to kill. Not likely. Your bullets with 35 extra grains of mass will hit way harder. Momentum is mass*velocity. I recommend Bryan Litz book. I used to think big 7mm could run with a big 30 but those days are gone. Remember, if a bullet with better ballistic coefficient can be shot accurately it will increase you point of aim hit probability. Bullet construction discussion will not be needed.
I have only shot deer with 140 vld and they work fine. Kills have been 70 to 390 yards. Never a complaint.
There are a few guys on long range hunting that have kill tons of elk with heavy bergers both vld and OTM. I think his farthest kill was on a cow elk at 1600 yards.
I don't think you will have any regrets with the bergers you listed.