There is a lot of discussion and debate about this subject. The Berger seems to be a very effective bullet most of the time, but I've read some reports of non-expansion or little to no penetration due to under expansion. Another issue for me is bloodshot meat. I eat my game and butcher it myself. The VLD's tend to ruin a lot more meat from what I've read and heard. My philosophy is not to use them at close range if I use them at all.
Right now, my go to load is 180 E-tips with an MV of 3400 fps. At an elevation of 5000', the E-Tips get to just under 1100 yds with 1800 fps velocity which is their minimum expansion velocity. At 3150 fps the 210 Bergers get about 50 yds farther with a little more enrgy/momentum.
The E-Tips are shooting very well and I dont see a need to use the 210's for the more extreme ranges, because I dont see a big benefit. After recovering an E-Tip in the dirt from target shooting, I am very impressed with what I see. It will put a major hurting on what ever it hits.
Having said that, I do have some of the thick jacketed 210 VLD loaded and will give them a try at ranges inside 500 yds on a cow elk if I get the chance. This is based on the fact that the thick jacket VLDs tapper down in thickness to the meplat and should proved expansion. I am very interested in seeing their performance.
In the LR game, I look for well performing, relatively high BC bullets which include E-Tips and AB's.
Just my $.03
Mark
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