Comparing the Berger 210 VLD to the 215 Hybrid

[tom m.]

Dammit now i hafta build a 30 again.. that's getting impressive for a non 338!
All kidding aside, great thread, thanks

[Broz]

Well, I got a little more data from these bullets. In the beginning I was under the impression they would not expand well due to the thicker jackets. I no longer feel that way at all. In fact it seems to me they expand more. Today I stuck one in a Bull Elk at 636 yards. Behind the shoulder and catching a rib going in. The bull ws dispatched very quickly and took maybe two 2 steps. The entrance hole was like all the others (.308) but after passing through the hide, about an inch side meat, then getting the rib going in it was really expanded. Although it destroyed the lungs and heart it didnt exit. I spent some time looking through the mountain of damaged entrals but didn't recover the bullet. Might have run out with the 30 gallons of strawberry jello. I don't know?? But I did take pics of the entrance, outside and inside, and the lungs and heart. So, I guess at 636 yards, with an impact velocity of 2341 and 2616 ft lbs of energy the expansion is more than I desire in a perfect world. But no two shots are ever the same. The next could produce an exit. I will not degrade the bullet as it killed the elk like lightning. But I am beginning to think this bullet is better siuted for longer shots where it would expand less. We have all said it before, no bullet is perfect in all areas. Some are better up close. Some for longer distances. I am a long range hunter, so I feel this bullet will work for me. But, draw your own conclusions. Here are the pics.

Placement:




Entrance outside:




Entrance inside:




Lungs:



Heart:



Hero pic:

[barnesuser28]

Nice shot and great bull, although that is a chip shot for you, probably shot him from the hip!

Your lucky you live in elk country, we got back from our elk hunt in wyoming with no luck, only saw about 18 head of elk the whole 4 1/2 days of hunting we were there. And i blew a 120 yard shot on a cow off hand but shot over the top of her because of a fallen log in the way.

That only leaves my dads whitetail deer and my late season cow elk hunt in colorado then we are done LR hunting for the year. :(

Sorry for getting off topic.

[bigngreen]

Nice bull man!!! They seem to dang sure open, how are you feeling about them in comparison to the 210 and the 230 now?

[Broz]

Originally Posted by bigngreen

Nice bull man!!! They seem to dang sure open, how are you feeling about them in comparison to the 210 and the 230 now?

I have been thinking about this long and hard. The 230's have always exited even at 511 yards on a bull. But like I said no two shots are ever the same. It seems these 215 in my rifle are more accurate than the 210's and I like the added BC. But man the 210's have dumped lots of game for me over the years and most always exited. I really expected these 215's to exit at 636 yards on the bull yesterday. I guess we will see what happens with my Mule deer tag and go from there. One thing for sure, they will all kill and drop em DRT if you place them well.

Jeff

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Broz

Very nice please disregard my question from your other thread, I now have my answer. I was wondering however, as I am all out of 185g VLDs and need to set about ordering some new bullets. Which in your opinion is the better option? Here is why I am asking, My win mag is built on a Howa with a rem mag box to get me some more room in there. In your experience with these Hybrid bullets are they seating depth sensitive like the VLD? I would rather try the Hybrid to avoid wasting money if they are not as I would like to use my mag box.

[B23]

Damn Jeff, once again you put the smack down on em!!! Well done Sir, well done!

I think to make it fair for the animals you should have to start shooting left handed.