Experiences with Berger VLD hunting bullets

[rebel]

Hey guys. I am asking for real world experiences on whitetails - the good, the bad and the ugly.
The rifle is a Remington action 6 BR with a Krieger 1/8 and it shoots the 105 VLD Hunters in the .2ish range on average and .1andsome on a good day.

I'm in western NC and our average buck here is about 140 - 150 lbs.
I have always favored a high shoulder shot, never had a deer run at all with that shot. DRT

I have a bit of concern with how they are designed and that particular shot.
Again, real world experiences - not supposition, descriptions from Berger, ect.

I love the way the bullets shoot, how do they perform? I know this question has sort of been asked, because I have searched, but I am gearing this a bit toward best shot placement using this bullet.
Thanks in advance for any information provided.

 

[284winner]

On whitetails, that Berger HVLD will perform very well. Now very well has a wide range of definition here on the forum. If your number one goal is anchoring the animal(DRT), then it will work well. If it's to save as much tender venison as possible, maybe it's not the bullet. You'll need to decide. The Berger's are famous for fragmenting while impact velocities are quite fast. At longer ranges when the bullet slows to under 2k fps, not so much in my experience. I use many of the vlds for hunting when my shot will be on the longish side. Under 500 yards and the Interbond, SBT, Partition or any of the popular bonded type bullets fit my preference. Accuracy on deer size game is good in the bonded type bullets for game out to 500. The secant ogive bullets tend to have much better all around performance at longer ranges and still anchor deer quickly. My 243 using the vld did nicely on 175 lb whitetails. No exits typically and alot of destruction.

 

[rebel]

Thanks. I have shot deer with a variety of bullets over the past 30 years. Last year I used the eldx 143 in a 260 AI with great results. 160-170 yards. Hilly here and wooded. Most shots tend to be 200 or less. I have shot a few 95 gr Nosler
BT's that held 1/2 inch at 100. So I have a backup plan. I have heard great things and awful things depending on the experience. Shoulders tend to be ground into burger for me so that's a consideration I'll weigh.

 

[Frankr]

I have shot 6 white tails with a 105 HVLD out of my 6XC at 3,150 FPS MV. two at 200 yards, fell in their tracks.
One at 500 yards fell in it's tracks. Another one 410 yards fell in it's tracks. One at 420 Yards fell in it's tracks. One at 40 yards ran 30 40 feet. My buddy shot one with my XC at 500 Yards in the guts it went about 50 yards. My buddy's girl friend shot one at 610 Yards with a 105 HVLD out of his 243 3,000 FPS MV and it went around 20 feet. I have shot a few with a 6.5 140 and a 270 150 HVLD's ..same results. But I feel the 3,150 FPS is a good killing speed..Maybe not up close but the further you go he speed helps. So with the 6BR you will want to limit your range to where the bullet falls below 2,000 FPS..SO they say and I think there is some truth in that from what I have seen.
All of mine had exited even at 500 yards and did not do any more damage than any other expanding bullet.
My buddy's girl friends shot at 610 did not exit and did very little damage,enough to get the job done but maybe on the too slow side of working well.

 

[rebel]

I have shot 6 white tails with a 105 HVLD out of my 6XC at 3,150 FPS MV. two at 200 yards, fell in their tracks.
One at 500 yards fell in it's tracks. Another one 410 yards fell in it's tracks. One at 420 Yards fell in it's tracks. One at 40 yards ran 30 40 feet. My buddy shot one with my XC at 500 Yards in the guts it went about 50 yards. My buddy's girl friend shot one at 610 Yards with a 105 HVLD out of his 243 3,000 FPS MV and it went around 20 feet. I have shot a few with a 6.5 140 and a 270 150 HVLD's ..same results. But I feel the 3,150 FPS is a good killing speed..Maybe not up close but the further you go he speed helps. So with the 6BR you will want to limit your range to where the bullet falls below 2,000 FPS..SO they say and I think there is some truth in that from what I have seen.
All of mine had exited even at 500 yards and did not do any more damage than any other expanding bullet.
My buddy's girl friends shot at 610 did not exit and did very little damage,enough to get the job done but maybe on the too slow side of working well.

Much appreciated.

 

[long40shot]

I shot a nice whitetail buck in the neck at 90yds with the 115 hvld out of my 243, it dropped and never twitched.

 

[284winner]

The ELD-X is a better design for staying together. Good ballistics and good accuracy as well. I personally have much more experience with the berger bullets coming apart shedding huge percentages of its self into shards and turning everything in its path into jelly. Had two 95 grain 243 bullets enter ribs and do very little damage. No blood outside the animals and found them within 50 yards. No blood trail either. 105s never exited after entering shoulder but the deer always drop right there. No complaints from me however on the bullet damage as I prefer one shot drop on the spot result. I will do some work with the ELD-X in the 6.5-284 and 284 this fall on game. Lots of guys stay clear of the match design bullets for game. Hard to argue with the end result.

 

[rebel]

The deer I shot last season with a 143 ELDX dropped and never kicked. I think it's a great hunting bullet.
From what you guys are saying, I should prepare the grinder for the shoulders should I choose to use Berger -
that's fine by me. It doesn't cross the 2000 fps mark til about 600 so no problem in my terrain.

 

[284winner]

The deer I shot last season with a 143 ELDX dropped and never kicked. I think it's a great hunting bullet.
From what you guys are saying, I should prepare the grinder for the shoulders should I choose to use Berger -
that's fine by me. It doesn't cross the 2000 fps mark til about 600 so no problem in my terrain.

Again, if your that guy that wants the end result to be a dead deer at where he was shot, the berger is a great choice. You may many times have hamburger and considerable damage to the impact site. As FJIM says he's had good success with very low or no excessive damage. All experiences are different. Mine are probably 80/20. Eight out of ten deer are rototilled where the bullet hits internally. I'll try that 143 eldx this year. Good luck.

 

[Frankr]

well I witnessed two shots at over 500 yards do not remember exact range. My buddy's 73 year old dad shooting the 162 ELD X bullet out of a 7MAG they fell in their tracks. He also shot one or two well under 100 yards I was not there to see them but they said they went right down. I have the 145 ELD X loaded in my 270 I am going to try it this season just for fun. I am also going to try the 103 ELD X in my 6XC which may be a great bullet in that 6BR...So far the only complaint with the ELD X bullets are they do not shoot as well as the Bergers's or even as good as the old Hornady Interlocks which have shot groups as well as most match bullets and have killed as good or better than any bullet.So the ELD X's do not shoot as well as the Bergers I had to fight with them to get them to shoot in my 270 and few guys have settled for a little bigger group on paper BUT we have found they have hit everything we have shot at in the field. I hate to give up the BC and I know the performance of the 6 105 HVLD but I will try the 103 ELD X this season well because it will make it more interesting and will give me a reason to drag myself out the.

 

[Frankr]

Rebel All the deer I shot with the 105 HVLD did not have any more damage than if shot with Ballistic tip or SST type bullet. One small white tail doe hit right on the shoulder bone at 410 yards it did break that shoulder and exited out the other side looked normal to me. they all exited and I did not see anymore damage than with anything else. I shot one with a 270 150 and my buddy has shot maybe five with a 270 150 and seems normal they have all exited. Now one from a buddy's 300 RUM I think it was the 180-185 ? at a unreal speed like 3,500 FPS shot at 60 yards it did not exit ran 80 yards and everything was jello from where it hit the inside was nothing left in it and there was no bullet left to find. Hard to believe that a 180 something from a 300 mag did not exit at 60 yards but it did not and sometimes no matter what and where you hit them they run. dead on their feet.

 

[284winner]

well I witnessed two shots at over 500 yards do not remember exact range. My buddy's 73 year old dad shooting the 162 ELD X bullet out of a 7MAG they fell in their tracks. He also shot one or two well under 100 yards I was not there to see them but they said they went right down. I have the 145 ELD X loaded in my 270 I am going to try it this season just for fun. I am also going to try the 103 ELD X in my 6XC which may be a great bullet in that 6BR...So far the only complaint with the ELD X bullets are they do not shoot as well as the Bergers's or even as good as the old Hornady Interlocks which have shot groups as well as most match bullets and have killed as good or better than any bullet.So the ELD X's do not shoot as well as the Bergers I had to fight with them to get them to shoot in my 270 and few guys have settled for a little bigger group on paper BUT we have found they have hit everything we have shot at in the field. I hate to give up the BC and I know the performance of the 6 105 HVLD but I will try the 103 ELD X this season well because it will make it more interesting and will give me a reason to drag myself out the.

Trying that 145 eldx myself this year. Plan on using it in my BAR 270. Auto loader, so only guessing accuracy will be marginal beyond 200 yards so only plan on 200 or less.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Agreed. Berger bullets do NOT create more meat damage than any other non-bonded core, fragmenting bullet. They are DESIGNED to penetrate 4"- 6" then open up violently.

Tho in my experience, meat damage has never been an issue with Berger. Like FJIM said, they dont create any extra damage than anything else. Actually quite a bit less than bullets like the Accubond and Ballistic Tip in my experience.

I have killed well over 20 animals using the 140gr vld in a 6.5 and I have almost always had an exit, but the vitals looked like a hand grenade went off in there. Very small entry hole, and exit never bigger than a silver dollar. Little to no meat damage surrounding the entry and exit holes. Meaning no blood shot meat. Ranges from 80 yards to 655.

Killed 3 animals with the 338 250gr Berger EH. Same results. Awesome explosiveness internally, but nothing excessive on meat damage. Ranges from 265 yards to 408.

I have the 105gr Bergers loaded in a 6XC and will be expecting the same results again this fall.

 

[JRS]

Agreed. Berger bullets do NOT create more meat damage than any other non-bonded core, fragmenting bullet. They are DESIGNED to penetrate 4"- 6" then open up violently.

Tho in my experience, meat damage has never been an issue with Berger. Like FJIM said, they dont create any extra damage than anything else. Actually quite a bit less than bullets like the Accubond and Ballistic Tip in my experience.

I have killed well over 20 animals using the 140gr vld in a 6.5 and I have almost always had an exit, but the vitals looked like a hand grenade went off in there. Very small entry hole, and exit never bigger than a silver dollar. Little to no meat damage surrounding the entry and exit holes. Meaning no blood shot meat. Ranges from 80 yards to 655.

Killed 3 animals with the 338 250gr Berger EH. Same results. Awesome explosiveness internally, but nothing excessive on meat damage. Ranges from 265 yards to 408.

I have the 105gr Bergers loaded in a 6XC and will be expecting the same results again this fall.

They are not "designed" to penetrate anything. They simply work The HVLD is the original Berger Match bullet that was made on the thinner jacket.

 

[284winner]

Agreed. Berger bullets do NOT create more meat damage than any other non-bonded core, fragmenting bullet. They are DESIGNED to penetrate 4"- 6" then open up violently.

Tho in my experience, meat damage has never been an issue with Berger. Like FJIM said, they dont create any extra damage than anything else. Actually quite a bit less than bullets like the Accubond and Ballistic Tip in my experience.

I have killed well over 20 animals using the 140gr vld in a 6.5 and I have almost always had an exit, but the vitals looked like a hand grenade went off in there. Very small entry hole, and exit never bigger than a silver dollar. Little to no meat damage surrounding the entry and exit holes. Meaning no blood shot meat. Ranges from 80 yards to 655.

Killed 3 animals with the 338 250gr Berger EH. Same results. Awesome explosiveness internally, but nothing excessive on meat damage. Ranges from 265 yards to 408.

I have the 105gr Bergers loaded in a 6XC and will be expecting the same results again this fall.

Accubond is a bonded bullet as the partition so stays together. As I say everyone's experience is different BUT one thing that is the same is the bullet and it's design. They are designed to enter 2-3 inches and come apart like shrapnel in several pieces. As it expands sheds 40-85% of its weight into surrounding tissue and in turn causing a massive wound cavity several inches long, stopping the animal instantly. That's bergers design description and one I find happens in most cases when I kill with them. Again experiences vary and not all are identical. One thing I have noticed is the slower impact speeds cause the bullet to stay together better, killing with less damage. I use match bullets on deer like Amax, Matchking and Senars and find results very close. Explosive at higher velocities than slower. Mimicking the Ballistic tip, Vmax type bullets. I think going heavier on berger bullets(depending on game size) if possible makes sense. Only because of the shedding weight as it moves thru the animal. On big game( elk, moose, bigger bears) the heavier bullet needs to make it into the vitals and heavier bones and hide are more of an obstacle. This I cannot say thru experience but seems to make good sense. Nosler partitions are what I typically use on bigger game animals. Shoot straight

 

[CTK]

I used Accubonds for the first 10 years of my whitetail hunting. I always shot them behind the shoulder. Every single one of them ran 50 or so yards. Most of the time there was not a blood trail that was readily apparent. I changed to Ballistic Tips and HVLD's. I now get approximately the same interior damage with a 2" exit hole. Deer do not run more than a few yards so far.

 

[Sniper338]

My wife shoots a 6br with 105 berger vlds for hunting. Works well. I shot one with it this past season. I tend to shoot head and neck shots though at anything under 200 yards just cuz I am too lazy to track a deer, rather it be dead before it hits the ground. They work good. I shoot bergers in everything.

 

[CTK]

Accubond is a bonded bullet as the partition so stays together. As I say everyone's experience is different BUT one thing that is the same is the bullet and it's design. They are designed to enter 2-3 inches and come apart like shrapnel in several pieces. As it expands sheds 40-85% of its weight into surrounding tissue and in turn causing a massive wound cavity several inches long, stopping the animal instantly. That's bergers design description and one I find happens in most cases when I kill with them. Again experiences vary and not all are identical. One thing I have noticed is the slower impact speeds cause the bullet to stay together better, killing with less damage. I use match bullets on deer like Amax, Matchking and Senars and find results very close. Explosive at higher velocities than slower. Mimicking the Ballistic tip, Vmax type bullets. I think going heavier on berger bullets(depending on game size) if possible makes sense. Only because of the shedding weight as it moves thru the animal. On big game( elk, moose, bigger bears) the heavier bullet needs to make it into the vitals and heavier bones and hide are more of an obstacle. This I cannot say thru experience but seems to make good sense. Nosler partitions are what I typically use on bigger game animals. Shoot straight

I get it that a fast expanding or fragmenting bullet can kill a bear or moose. What I do not understand is why anyone would choose one for this type game when there are better choices out there.

 

[JRS]

From Berger Bullets:

"The story of the Berger Hunting VLD is a story of discovery rather than design".

My 25 caliber BIB bullets perform in the same fashion on animals. They are made on the original J4 jackets.

 

[284winner]

I get it that a fast expanding or fragmenting bullet can kill a bear or moose. What I do not understand is why anyone would choose one for this type game when there are better choices out there.

I think the biggest reason is due to many shots that are taken with those bullets being very long. We don't tend to use partitions or flat base bonded bullets for those type of shots. The match bullets hit where you aim. We all know that's more important than anything. The other thing that is arguable and without a doubt purely opinion is which bullet is best. Everyone has there personal best. That's why so many are made. All have killed exceptionally well and all shoot differently.