Here is a picture of a 7mm mag 180gr. VLD .659bc bullet that i shot a cow elk with at 626 yards. THIS IS A HUNTING VLD BULLET (NOT TARGET) THAT CAME OUT OF THE ORANGE BOX. I have never bought a target Berger bullet so there is no question that it is a hunting VLD. The bullet was found under the hide of the elk on the opposite side of the rib cage. This elk had ran off and I was lucky enough to get one more shot to eventually put her down. But my question is why didnt this bullet perform? The riflings on this bullet are very apparent and it doesnt look like this bullet was going to expand no matter what! Could just about reload this bullet again! Shot placement was perfect and 7mm mag at 3,025fps should have done a perfect job! Also in the picture is another Berger bullet (300gr. .818bc 338 Lapua cal) that a friend shot a bear with at 1,152 yards. The bear was not recovered but we knew it was a hit! We went over and found the bullet in the hill side and 1 speck of blood. Another question here is why didnt this bullet expand like it should? I eventually switched to my 243 Ackley Improved 115gr. Berger bullet .545bc at 3,153fps and shot my mule deer buck at 731 yards. Perfect Shot placement and bullet performed how it should. It dropped the deer in his tracks and had excellent blood on the ground. Am I just way over gunned or what? I really am disappointed on the performance of my custom 7mm mag not being able to put down an animal with the 180gr. Berger VLD hunting bullet. These are just a few stories of the bullets we actually recovered. But we do have video footage of animals getting hit and just walking off! Maybe someone can explain or share similar stories. I know there is great talk about Bergers performing, but it seems to only happen sometimes and not ALL the time! I just want feedback of simliar stories!
Last edited by bullridety; 12-05-2012 at 05:44 PM..
I've heard stories but that's crazy you recovered the bullets... my 185 vlds 30cal didn't perform like I had EXPECTED but all 4 shots had passed threw completly so I was not able to retrieve the bullet. Needless to say the exit holes were bigger than the entry just not as big as I thought they should be. And looking at the blood trail from the first shot it was apparent there was ALOT of damage. I only have one story to share, but I've talked to alot of friends and we've wondered if it would be smarter to aim for bone on our trophies? It should greatly increase chances of maximum bullet performance. Im still not sure if its a great idea or not however..
Sorry for your bad luck. Ill be watching this thread to see if there is a verdict because I too am interested
Have you contacted Bergers guys yet to give/get some input on the issues?
IMO if your having issues regularly a guy really has to look at his bullet seating and carrying method for closing the meplat some how.
How well is your twist rate matched to the bullets?
__________________
High Fence, Low Fence, Stuck in the Fence, if I can Tag it and Eat it, it's Hunting!
"Pain is weakness leaving your body"
At only 626 yards a 180 from a 7mag would have plenty of velocity to exit if it did not expand as shown in the pic. I don't know what happened here but something is wrong.
Both those bullets look just like some I have recovered from dirt from very very long distances at targets, all subsonic, bent noses and flattened on the side as well as a color from tarnish.
I wish I could be of more help but all I can say is I have used them for years now and been there for literally close to 100 kills and never seen anything like you are reporting. I to think you should contact Berger, they will want to help.
That sucks here and see this. i have killed all kinds of game with as well as my daughter and never had one bit of trouble out of them. I can't believe u where able to find the bullet after shooting it at 1,152 yards wish i could i never get to find any of mine and I'm shooting mostly in the same place. you got some good luck. I would give Berger a call n see what they say.
Here is a picture of a 7mm mag 180gr. VLD .659bc bullet that i shot a cow elk with at 626 yards. THIS IS A HUNTING VLD BULLET (NOT TARGET) THAT CAME OUT OF THE ORANGE BOX. I have never bought a target Berger bullet so there is no question that it is a hunting VLD. The bullet was found under the hide of the elk on the opposite side of the rib cage. This elk had ran off and I was lucky enough to get one more shot to eventually put her down. But my question is why didnt this bullet perform? The riflings on this bullet are very apparent and it doesnt look like this bullet was going to expand no matter what! Could just about reload this bullet again! Shot placement was perfect and 7mm mag at 3,025fps should have done a perfect job! Also in the picture is another Berger bullet (300gr. .818bc 338 Lapua cal) that a friend shot a bear with at 1,152 yards. The bear was not recovered but we knew it was a hit! We went over and found the bullet in the hill side and 1 speck of blood. Another question here is why didnt this bullet expand like it should? I eventually switched to my 243 Ackley Improved 115gr. Berger bullet .545bc at 3,153fps and shot my mule deer buck at 731 yards. Perfect Shot placement and bullet performed how it should. It dropped the deer in his tracks and had excellent blood on the ground. Am I just way over gunned or what? I really am disappointed on the performance of my custom 7mm mag not being able to put down an animal with the 180gr. Berger VLD hunting bullet. These are just a few stories of the bullets we actually recovered. But we do have video footage of animals getting hit and just walking off! Maybe someone can explain or share similar stories. I know there is great talk about Bergers performing, but it seems to only happen sometimes and not ALL the time! I just want feedback of simliar stories!
Give the Swift Siroccos and Hornady Interbonds or Nosler Accubonds a try.
I'm with the others, both of those bullets you recovered appear to have been tumblers. My bet is that neither struck any bone on the way through. Hard to believe though that such a bullet didn't exit the cow elk if it didn't strike bone and strike it hard.
__________________ Without the First and Second Amendments the rest of The Constitution is Meaningless.
At only 626 yards a 180 from a 7mag would have plenty of velocity to exit if it did not expand as shown in the pic. I don't know what happened here but something is wrong.
Both those bullets look just like some I have recovered from dirt from very very long distances at targets, all subsonic, bent noses and flattened on the side as well as a color from tarnish.
I wish I could be of more help but all I can say is I have used them for years now and been there for literally close to 100 kills and never seen anything like you are reporting. I to think you should contact Berger, they will want to help.
Jeff
Yep. I have seen many instances of the bergers acting just like standard cup and core bullets, but never anything like that.
__________________
I admit that I know just enough to be dangerous.....but dangerous at ever extending distances.
Without the First and Second Amendments the rest of The Constitution is Meaningless.
Linear Mode
