xsn10s
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FEENIX I was going to ask you to please pass the popcorn. But I see you already did lol.
berger vs ABLR
- Thread starter coyotelite
- Start date
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I've read that the Bergers sometimes fail to expand because the tip got banged during shipping and handling. I've never had that happen, but after reading that, I bought a pin drill to check my hunting bullets. I've shot out to 340 yards on elk, and shot javelina, deer, aoudad, ibex, with the 168 gr. None went more than a few feet. I haven't tried the ABLRs because the Bergers work, and they are relatively inexpensive. I used Barnes for years with good results, but the Bergers shoot more accurately. I'm shooting low velocity (2850 fps) in a 7mm WSM, so you might want to load stouter bullets for short shots, and if it is a long shot, you have time to slip in a Berger. The 160 gr. Barnes shoot to the same point of impact for me out to about 200 yards. I'll try the 168 gr. Barnes once I run out of 160s.
I shoot 168 vld berger in my 7mm wsm, 180 vld bergers in my ,and my sons 7mm dakota's, and 195 vld's in my 28 nosler. Have never had a failure in about 100 head of game, from deer to huge eland bull. Great accuracy and terminal performance has been fantastic but i do try to avoid heavy bone, keeping shots behind shoulder. Havent shot anything under about 200 yds and out to 625 yds. I also use and love barnes ttsx and use them in my 300 wsm,30 06, 375 rum, 260 rem, 280 ai, 257 baker, 257 weatherby, 300 weatherby. Started using the bergers in longrange matches out of my 338 lapua and 7 wsm, shooting up to 1700 yds with the lapua and 140p yds out of the wsm. Accracy was/is amazing, so i started using the hunting target vld for hunting and had wonderful results, as already noted . Good luck!
Been shooting barnes 168 ttsx out of my 300 wsm ever since they came out, shot 168 tsx before that and the blue coated 168 xlc before that. The ttsx shoots the best accuracy wise and i have used the same load all along. In my gun, with 26 in benchmark barrel and tight chamber using my original 168 xlc load from an old barnes manual i shoot a max load at 3260 for .5 to .7 in 5 shot groups at 100 yds. Just returned from africa and used the 195 vld in a 28 nosler and had stellar performance on sable, roan and bush pig.
freddiej
Well-Known Member
I do not have any experience with the Long range version of the nosler AB. I do have many years experience with the AB and the VLD hunters from Berger.
I am not sure where western hunter's experience with Berger went so wrong but I have used Berger 277, 308, and 338 diameter slugs in the VLD hunter and target lines for a while now without any problems. Actually the hunters worked stellar and the targets performed well in matches and on the hunting field.
the Nosler AB's on the other hand were my go to target slug when Sierra's M/K was as inconsistent as they got for several years. I have also used the AB on Elk and Deer. I have used their 257 diameter on goats (prong horn) in Nevada.
I like them both (Nosler and Berger).
I have a client that is using the ABLR in his 7MM RUM with excellent results in accuracy. He's blowing the crap out of 1 gallon jugs at 600 to 900 yards at this time. He has not tried Berger yet either. His gun does not like Barnes; something I thought it would.
Most of my guns like all three brands of slugs (Berger, Barnes, Nosler). what my current crop of guns do not like are Sierra lead tips, Hornady exposed lead tips and Speer lead tips. I do not know how I got so many guns that hate lead tips is beyond me. I shave the exposed lead off and they are great in my guns. (insert a totally bewildered face here) it's the oddest thing I have ever seen. the one exception is my 1894&1895 big bore lever marlins. they love the hornady or any other soft point 265 grain slug and hard case 290 grain semi wad-cutters.
I am not sure where western hunter's experience with Berger went so wrong but I have used Berger 277, 308, and 338 diameter slugs in the VLD hunter and target lines for a while now without any problems. Actually the hunters worked stellar and the targets performed well in matches and on the hunting field.
the Nosler AB's on the other hand were my go to target slug when Sierra's M/K was as inconsistent as they got for several years. I have also used the AB on Elk and Deer. I have used their 257 diameter on goats (prong horn) in Nevada.
I like them both (Nosler and Berger).
I have a client that is using the ABLR in his 7MM RUM with excellent results in accuracy. He's blowing the crap out of 1 gallon jugs at 600 to 900 yards at this time. He has not tried Berger yet either. His gun does not like Barnes; something I thought it would.
Most of my guns like all three brands of slugs (Berger, Barnes, Nosler). what my current crop of guns do not like are Sierra lead tips, Hornady exposed lead tips and Speer lead tips. I do not know how I got so many guns that hate lead tips is beyond me. I shave the exposed lead off and they are great in my guns. (insert a totally bewildered face here) it's the oddest thing I have ever seen. the one exception is my 1894&1895 big bore lever marlins. they love the hornady or any other soft point 265 grain slug and hard case 290 grain semi wad-cutters.
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Swinehunt74
Well-Known Member
This should be written in all caps as the guide for a successful hunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amen!
drathaar907
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- Sep 2, 2012
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Are we actually hunting or target shooting... Why are we shooting at elk at 1200? Because we can? Wrong answer.
You have been a member of this forum since 2012 and you just now log on here to post your first message and this is what you post? I havnt shot at an animal that far but I sure don't tell people who do that they shouldn't. I don't know if you misread the title of this whole website but it is " Len Backus' Long Range Hunting Online Magazine".
Basically rule #1 violation.Like said here we ago again.Cant really generalize about the bullet totally.Cartridge,distance, marksman,lot of things come into play.Reading this thread seems if you cant kill a larger game animal with a berger.Funny.I am a fan of heavier construction in lighter bullets. But as a bowhunter too, it doesnt take much to reach the end goal.
Westernhuntr
Well-Known Member
I think the problem is that long range shooting is getting extremely popular, and there are guys who think because they can hit steel at 1200 yards it's perfectly good to squeeze one off on game animals.
I've been shooting LR for over a decade, I practice out to 1400 regularly and still won't take a 1200 yard shot.
I've killed a bull just under 1k in perfect conditions but prefer not to.
If you shoot long range enough you know there's a lot that can go wrong, most people have no business shooting animals that far.
I hate to even think about all the deer and elk that die in some hole after taking a bullet in the guts or leg because some idiot thought he was a sniper.
If a person truly feels they can ethically kill an elk at 1200 yards then at least use an appropriate chambering (which a 7mm is not).
I'd shoot the 180 Hybrid out of a fast 7 over the 175 EH or the 195. Sweet spot for excellent on game performance, easy to load too. I've personally witnessed or killed dozens of Bull Elk shot with all types of Bergers, never had a "bullet failure". Only have one experience with an ABLR, I was not impressed, but then again, it was only one animal.
Rent Outdoor Gear
Well-Known Member
I've had good luck with 175 ABLR and Berger 180 Hybrids. The Bergers shoot a little better in both guns so I used them more. I've run both in 7mm STW and 7mm SAUM.
Taken elk with the Hybrid at 360, mule deer at 550, bighorn sheep, antelope, etc.. Good overall performance in every case. One shot kills.
ABLR's work well too, although I have primarily shot antelope with them between 200 and 600 yards. They all dropped as if hit by lightning. I think they would make a good elk bullet. When shooting the ABLR's into dirt mounds I always find nice looking pancaked/mushroomed slugs mostly intact in the dirt backstop. Never had one not pass through on the antelope.
Been playing with the Hornady ELDX 175 some. They shoot well and BC is impressive. My buddy dropped a muley at 400 on the dot with one shot through the ribs with a 6.5 PRC/143 ELDX. Deer did regain his feet and staggered sideways downhill another 30 yards before crashing hard. We did not recover that bullet.
Taken elk with the Hybrid at 360, mule deer at 550, bighorn sheep, antelope, etc.. Good overall performance in every case. One shot kills.
ABLR's work well too, although I have primarily shot antelope with them between 200 and 600 yards. They all dropped as if hit by lightning. I think they would make a good elk bullet. When shooting the ABLR's into dirt mounds I always find nice looking pancaked/mushroomed slugs mostly intact in the dirt backstop. Never had one not pass through on the antelope.
Been playing with the Hornady ELDX 175 some. They shoot well and BC is impressive. My buddy dropped a muley at 400 on the dot with one shot through the ribs with a 6.5 PRC/143 ELDX. Deer did regain his feet and staggered sideways downhill another 30 yards before crashing hard. We did not recover that bullet.
