7mm RM with 180vld

[malcarjeb]

I just got a few sample 180 VLD from JLK and the bullets look impressive with a listed BC of .735. Has anyone tried these and if so, does the advertised BC work out to the .735? I did get to try them today a 100 yards and they shot very well. What powders are you using for the 180s? Velocity in 7mm Rem Mag? How well do you think these would work for whitetail deer?

Thanks

 

[linksmechanic]

I'm getting 2900 with 68 grains of retumbo and 215m primers. I'm shooting the bergers. They group into tiny groups. This is max load according to hodgdon.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I think the VLD's are great bullets, my only concern with them is their expolsive nature at high velocities. I would consider using them as a long range bullet, i.e., 600 yds plus for accuracy and longer down range ballistics and punch and something else close in.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I'm getting 2900 with 68 grains of retumbo and 215m primers. I'm shooting the bergers. They group into tiny groups. This is max load according to hodgdon.

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May I ask how long your barrel is and how far off the lands your bullets are seated? I'm guessing the shape of the ogive might not allow close seating to the lands. But if you're getting good velocity and accuracy I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[linksmechanic]

montana: what are your concerns with vlds at close range? Penetration? loss of meat? I have shot numerous animals with them at close range. I shot a deer last year at 10 yards and it was devastating. Bang flop! entrance hole was tiny. Exit hole was a silver dollar. Just curious.

 

[Derek M.]

Has anyone tried these and if so, does the advertised BC work out to the .735? I did get to try them today a 100 yards and they shot very well. What powders are you using for the 180s? Velocity in 7mm Rem Mag? How well do you think these would work for whitetail deer?

Thanks

Email Jeremy Winters at BOTW Productions. His favored load for LRH is 7mag/180 VLD/Retumbo. [email protected]

If I recall, he stated to me that 73.0 grains of Retumbo was his load with the 168 VLD. I do not know what charge he is using with the 180s. He also stated that his Broughton 5C barrel is 27" long. He can give you all the details. I've exchanged several emails with him and talked with him on the phone....very nice fellow.

 

[linksmechanic]

My barrel length on my rifle is 26". I'm just at or slightly into the lands. No pressure signs. Berger vld's are designed to be at or in the lands.

 

[malcarjeb]

I tried the 68 gr of Retumbo with ok groups but when I tried 68 grs of RL 25 it produced clover leaf size groups or smaller. I did not get my Ohler 35 out to check speed yesterday, but I will today or tomorrow. I am seating them about .010 into the lands and my barrel is a Hart 26" with a 1-10 twist. I was surprised that the 10 twist would stabilize them.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

montana: what are your concerns with vlds at close range? Penetration? loss of meat? I have shot numerous animals with them at close range. I shot a deer last year at 10 yards and it was devastating. Bang flop! entrance hole was tiny. Exit hole was a silver dollar. Just curious.

What you are describing and what Berger describes are two different things..Here's Berger's own description of what thier bullets do.

The MATCH VLD bullets are proving to be the most lethal big game hunting bullet available. The VLD design incorporates a sharp nose that allows the bullet to penetrate up to 3 inches before it starts to expand. This delayed expansion results in a wound channel that is deep inside the vital area of any big game. After the bullet starts to expand it will shed 80% to 90% of its weight into the surrounding tissue traveling as deep as 18 inches. This results in a massive wound cavity that creates the greatest possible amount of tissue damage and hemraging within the vital area (organs). This massive and extensive wound cavity result in the animal dropping fast. Our bullets don't poke through like an arrow but instead expend all of their energy right where it is most effective, inside the animal. Bullets that poke through so that they can cause a blood trail are designed to result in a hunter tracking a wounded animal. Using the Berger VLD will result in an animal that goes down fast so you can enjoy the results of your hunt without having to track the wounded animal after the shot. You owe it to yourself to see how accurate and deadly the Berger VLD will be on your next hunt.

Berger Bullets

They are basically say their bullets are designed to explode in the animals to produce maximum trauma and damage. This is not what I look for in a bullet. One big flaw with this type of design is that a bullet that hits a major bone will most likely disintegrate, causing a great wound but not killing the animal, especially with larger animals. This type of bullet performanc also tend to ruin a lot of meat. I prefer a bullet that opens, and produces a wound channel and shock and stays intact (even when smashing through bone) such as an E-Tip, TSX, Partion, A-Frame, etc. My experience in the past has pretty much been totally with Partitons, and most of my game has dropped where shot and the farthest any strayed was less than 50 yds. I'm planning to start using E-Tips now.

Now if VLD's always did what you describe, great, I'm all over them. So what has your experience been with them?

 

[cross]

Berger VLDs or Swampworks JLK 180 VLDs?

When I saw that the bullets were from JLK I got the impression that you refering to Swampworks JLK 180 VLDs but then everyone started in on discussing the Bergers. Which are you refering too?

Also, I don't know if characterizing the Bergers as explosive as varmint bullets is correct. They do penetrate, we put 7 of them in elk, deer, and caribou last year and all got well into the vitals but none of them exited. I wouldn't say that they're going to do everything that a Partition will do but the BCs of Partitions are very poor. If they made a polymer tip Partition with a boat tail I'd order immediately. The fronts of Partitions are nice and soft for expansion at low velocities but the Partition gives them the ability to withstand high impact velocities. Of course they also would have to provide some reasonably heavy for caliber bullets too, 140 7mms would be too light for me as would 165 30s but 160s and 180s respectively, and up would be good.

 

[malcarjeb]

I was asking about the Swampworks JLK 180 VLD in a 7mm Rem Mag but Berger 180VLD experiance is OK too since I was thinking about tring them too.

I got a chance to check vel. yesterday and the 180 JLKs in my 7RM were going 2900. It still is shooting dime size groups at 100 yards and hopefully I will get to try them at 300 and 500 yards soon. So far the Swampworks seem to be excellent bullets. Not quite sure yet about the .735 claimed BC but time will tell.

 

[silvertip-co]

180's seem overweight for the bore. Seems like VLD 168's would fly better but not as flat as 139/140's which are natural for the 7mm calibre.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

When I saw that the bullets were from JLK I got the impression that you refering to Swampworks JLK 180 VLDs but then everyone started in on discussing the Bergers. Which are you refering too?

My bad, when I saw "VLD* I mentally locked onto Berger.

I wouldn't say that they're going to do everything that a Partition will do but the BCs of Partitions are very poor. If they made a polymer tip Partition with a boat tail I'd order immediately.

Yep, there are always trade offs. I think the E-Tips and TSX's are better bullets than the Partitions. VLD's are great bullets with high BC but I like the performance of the solids better, at least at closer ranges. And I don't know anything about the Swampworks bullets.

 

[linksmechanic]

montana: I have shot 4 big game animals with the bergers. 2 were under 50 yards and both had the results I spoke of: tiny entrance hole and large silver dollar like exit hole. Went through both shoulders. Maybe I'm just lucky. The other animals were at 100 and 500 yards. Both bang flop. I will be hunting elk again this year with them both in 7mm and 30 caliber.