Berger 168 VLD results on an Elk

[NZ Longranger]

Originally Posted by Slopeshunter

Here's a question for you guys who carry 2 loads when hunting, as Greg mentioned for instance AB's for 400 & closer and bergers for 400+. Do you just have a drop chart for the bergers (as that's your long range bullet), & if it's 400 or under, just use the AB & aim accordingly, or will you adjust your clicks using your berger drop chart?? Do you carry 2 drop charts? I wouldn't think it necessary if one is just for under 400. But then again I'm the one asking the question.

Have I confused anyone now? Not sure how clear my writing was.

Slopes,
No, that's perfectly clear! I generally don't use a drop chart for the AB load, as we're driving them up to around 3600fps so they shoot pretty flat to 400 yards. I normally set them for a 300 yard zero, aim straight at them to 350 and hold up on the animal at 400. Beyond that its longrange load, drop charts and dial up. The turret is zero'd for the longrange load, and I know what setting gives me the 300 yard zero with the AB load for spook and shoot.
Make sense?
Greg

[jmden]

In the heavier guns the 338 300gn SMK is an extremely reliable performer, and I expect the 338 Bergers to be even better! (Please Eric!!! I’ve rethroated most of my reamers to suit them in anticipation so I hope they’re not too far away now!?!?!?)

NZ Longranger--Would you take a close shot (say, impact of 2800-2900fps) at the shoulder of an elk with the 300SMK? Any experience there? It'll be interesting to see how the 300Berger does...

[Marine sniper]

I shot an elk at 275 yards this year with a 300 Wby and 210 Berger. 10-12 in. total penetration, very high shoulder shot (just below spine) did not exit. Biggest piece of bullet was maybe 20-30 grains. Elk dropped in his tracks

There is no perfect bullet. All are trade offs. I carry 200 NAB's and 210 Bergers depending on the most likely range. I would not want to use a Berger at 100 yards through the shoulders, not sure they would make it deep enough, but at 800 thrugh the lungs, absolutely.

Even though a bullet has a great BC, and is accurate, does not mean it is an effective long range killer. If you plan on killing elk at long range I believe you are under gunned with anything less than a 7mm magnum, 30 cal better and the 300 gr 338's, better yet.

[NZ Longranger]

Originally Posted by jmden

NZ Longranger--Would you take a close shot (say, impact of 2800-2900fps) at the shoulder of an elk with the 300SMK? Any experience there? It'll be interesting to see how the 300Berger does...

If I had to yes, but I definitely would aim just behind the shoulder and treat it like a bow shot. I wouldn't want to hit big bone on the way in. SMK's will come to pieces and loose their core, which is just fine once they're in the lungs, but not on the shoulder! A 300gn SMK with a 2800fps impact is a bomb!

Marine Sniper is quite right. Accuracy at long range is only half the story. Terminal performance is the other half, which is why I love the Bergers way out there!
Greg

[montana_native]

They are definitely the hunting bullets...at least according to the packaging they are.

Again, maybe I was just expecting more from them.

[Slopeshunter]

Originally Posted by NZ Longranger

Slopes,
No, that's perfectly clear! I generally don't use a drop chart for the AB load, as we're driving them up to around 3600fps so they shoot pretty flat to 400 yards. I normally set them for a 300 yard zero, aim straight at them to 350 and hold up on the animal at 400. Beyond that its longrange load, drop charts and dial up. The turret is zero'd for the longrange load, and I know what setting gives me the 300 yard zero with the AB load for spook and shoot.
Make sense?
Greg

Thanks Greg! That's exactly what I thought.

Cheers!

[jmden]

Originally Posted by montana_native

They are definitely the hunting bullets...at least according to the packaging they are.

Again, maybe I was just expecting more from them.

Interesting. In an email exchange with Walt Berger last month asking him what bullet he'd reccomend for elk for my brother's 300 WSM, I thought he'd reccomend the 190 or maybe the 210, but he said the 168's had been the goto bullet for elk. Obviously, no one bullet will perform well at all times at all distances, but it would seem that there's enough evidence that the 168 generally works quite well on elk that Walt was willing to through some weight that way...

Here's the quote from Walt: "We want our VLD bullet to expend ALL of its energy inside the animal and destroy all of the vital organs resulting in a one shot humane kill and the animal not running off. The 190 and 210 grain bullets will perform well on elk but the most popular bullet for this application is the 168 grain VLD bullet."