I just read an add today in one of my hunting magazines--I think it was Peterson's Hunting. It was for the Berger VLD bullet. It claimed superior terminal performance on game or something like that. I have seen the Berger foldout bullet chart at the gun shop and it says that the VLD is a match bullet. What gives?
Berger VLD marketed as a hunting bullet?
- Thread starter sambo3006
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goodgrouper
Well-Known Member
I sincerely hope they mentioned something about "long range performance" only and not tried to advertise it as an all-around hunting bullet for all distances. I would hate to see the look on the first poor guy's face who tries the 155 grain VLD on a whitetail at 200 yards from his 300 ultra mag. Roadkill anyone? We got one here that was just hit by an 18 wheeler carrying a couple tons of dynamite.
Now back up about 1000 yards from the whitetail and it will work great!
Now back up about 1000 yards from the whitetail and it will work great!
This ad was on page 80 of the October issue of Petersen's Hunting. It shows a picture of a buck with crosshairs on him. The ad says in part:
"The Berger VLD uses a sleek profile that is designed to hit harder, penetrate deep enough and expend all of its energy inside the animal producing wound channels that effectively and consistently put the animal down fast."
"Superior terminal performance produces humane, one-shot kills. If you are tired of watching your game run off after the bullet pokes through try the Berger VLD."
"The Berger VLD uses a sleek profile that is designed to hit harder, penetrate deep enough and expend all of its energy inside the animal producing wound channels that effectively and consistently put the animal down fast."
"Superior terminal performance produces humane, one-shot kills. If you are tired of watching your game run off after the bullet pokes through try the Berger VLD."
waha
Active Member
With a thin jacketed bullet like the Berger you would have drastic kills when the bullet goes to pieces in the boiler room. The problem is if you hit bone up close on deer and especially elk the bullet could disinegrate on the shoulder blade and the animal may get away on you and suffer a horrible death. As G.G. mentioned it would be great at 1000 yards. By the way wonderul shooting G.G.! You have inspired a lot of folks.
reed mosser
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When I used 7mm 180 VLDs in my 7 wsm I had the exact opposite results. If you didn't hit a bone they bored a .308 hole right through them.
waha
Active Member
Reed were you shooting a deer or wapiti? Did they seem to open up at all and expand or just shoot through like a solid unless bone was hit? I've always found the J4 jackets to be quite fragile on big game like elk especially up close but they may have improved. I've never tried them on deer just elk so I'm no expert on deer performance.
reed mosser
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I only shot deer with them. They did not expand at all. I too thought they would explode with the thin jacket but that wasn't the case. I like fast one shot kills and the vld's make it tough. They are a target bullet.
oldfamily
Well-Known Member
Watch the best of the west and see what they using. Berger vld bullets for big game.
remingtonman_25_06
Well-Known Member
Berger sent me a little dvd video capturing some deer and elk shot at longer ranges, usually 300 yards plus. They were mainly using a 168g and 180g VLD out of a 7mm. They made some great shots. I talked to someone at berger about a 168g 7mm how it would work on elk. He said he would send me the video so I could see for myself. Bottom line he said dont use a bullet you dont feel comfortable using. After seeing the video though, I have no doubts about taking any animal I'll ever shoot out to at least 800 yards with the 168g VLD at 3000fps. That bullet was dropping big muleys, whitetails, and bulls just as good, if not better then any conventional "hunting" bullet would have. I think it truly is a dual purpose bullet as they are some of the most accurate bullets I've shot in my factory rem 700 rifles. Next weekend buck season starts for me. So hopefully a story and pics will be here shortly about the 168g VLD on deer.
FWIW, last season I shot at and killed 5 deer with the 168 VLD out of my 7RM. The first was MD at 30 yds broadside and I aimed for the high shoulder shot. Entrance wound was small but the exit wound was huge, maybe the size of a dinner plate. I won't do that again.
Second was a WT at 200 yds broadside and I placed the cosshairs just behind the front leg and 1/2 way up. DRT, I mean DRT. Small entrance and small exit.
Third was a WT broadside at 100 yds. Same point of impact and same results at the last one.
Fourth was a MD broadside at 200 yds. Impact was just behind the front leg and 1/3 way up. The deer took off running, covered mabe 50 yds in a tight circle and was dead. Small entrance and small exit.
Fifth was a MD at 437 yds quartering towards my right. Impact was in the near shoulder and it dropped right there. The SIL cleaned that one so I'm not sure what the exit wound looked like.
Bobby B.
Second was a WT at 200 yds broadside and I placed the cosshairs just behind the front leg and 1/2 way up. DRT, I mean DRT. Small entrance and small exit.
Third was a WT broadside at 100 yds. Same point of impact and same results at the last one.
Fourth was a MD broadside at 200 yds. Impact was just behind the front leg and 1/3 way up. The deer took off running, covered mabe 50 yds in a tight circle and was dead. Small entrance and small exit.
Fifth was a MD at 437 yds quartering towards my right. Impact was in the near shoulder and it dropped right there. The SIL cleaned that one so I'm not sure what the exit wound looked like.
Bobby B.
