best whitetail deer bullet

has anyone been using the Berger hunting vld for deer hunting?I have been using the vlds in my 6.5 and get really tight groups at 300 yds.They shoot tighter than the accubonds and ballistic tips that I was using for deer hunting.Accubonds seem to be too tough for deer,or at least 8 or 10 that I have harvested with them.Make no mistake about it,they are going to give an exit wound.
Guess I just wanted to try the Bergers after what I heard about them.
would like to get some info from all you shooters ot there.
Thanks,Jim
For about a dozen years, I have been using both the Berger HVLD's and now discontinued JLK VLD's, both with very similar construction and performance with the J4 jacket design. Being primarily a deer hunter(whitetail and Mulies), hunting out west where shots can be 150-1000+ yards, with my average distance of 450 yards for about 50 deer taken. I've run these bullets out of a 6.5x284 Norma at velocities of 2975-3025FPS. At ranges of 300 yards and less, expansion is rapid with a high degree of internal destruction. Because if the high sectional density, there is complete penetration on broadside chest shots with the deer DRT. Performance on game is reminiscent of my hunting with a 270 loaded with 130gr Power Points/Core-Loks. Chest/lung shots were the order of the day. As the range increases, the bullet will begin to perform like most conventional bullets displaying varying degrees of mushrooming when terminal velocities maintain 1800FPS/1000FPE which s roughly 1000 yards with my rifles. Well over 70% of the deer shot at the longer ranges have been DRT with the balance generally dead within 50 yards it so. Of late, I have been trying the Berger 156 EOL's at 2950-3000FPS. On deer sized game out to 1000 yards, the difference in performance is difficult to discern compared to the 140's, however my sample size is small. I think the greatest advantage of the 156 would be if larger game(ie. elk) were on the venue, or if the 1000 yard, 1000FPE performance were to be extended another 150-200 yards on deer sized game. For now, I still like the 140 VLD's largely due to the consistently reliable sub .5MOA accuracy and consistent terminal performance that is maintained for as far as I will take a shot….IMO.
 
I have used Sierra Gamekings and or Prohunters for all of my deer, however I ran out of the SGK's for my 300WM. Hunted around and the only thing I could come up with were Speer Hot Cor's in 180gr. so I bought two boxes. Unbelievably they shot a little tighter. Most of my hunting is done in the Eastern PA woods so my average shot is 80 to 120yds. Took a buck this year with the Speer and the bullet did well. I know 300WM is overkill for whitetail but we also have a black bear overlap and plus I just love the rifle.
 
Any NON-PREMIUM lead tipped bullet from Sierra, Hornady or Speer is perfect......I load interlocks mostly.

Winchester PowerPoints and Rem. Core-loks are absolutely as good as any for what you described.

Premium bullets for what you describe are just marketing, publishing filler and unnecessary conversation.
 
My opinion Berger is one of the best bullets for deer size game I've killed deer at 30 yards to 700 with them and have performed excellent I've also shot hogs weighing 125 to400 lbs testing these bullets and they deformed excellent have not lost any yet or had to go over 30 yards to find any of them ...it will ruin meat for sure
 

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I know in my experience I try to match my bullet with the speed of my round I'm shooting with the game I'm hunting ..and the range I'll be shooting .for deer I shoot two bullets I shoot Berger and Barnes I shoot my Barnes from a 270 wsm at a speed of 3150 fps and have great results would I be comfortable shooting them over 400 yrds no they probably want expand and pencil hole through a deer .yes it would still kill the deer but would not have the shock I like . The Berger will work on slow calibers also and fast it is my go to bullet for deer it is a bomb in them but will ruin meat for sure
 
has anyone been using the Berger hunting vld for deer hunting?I have been using the vlds in my 6.5 and get really tight groups at 300 yds.They shoot tighter than the accubonds and ballistic tips that I was using for deer hunting.Accubonds seem to be too tough for deer,or at least 8 or 10 that I have harvested with them.Make no mistake about it,they are going to give an exit wound.
Guess I just wanted to try the Bergers after what I heard about them.
would like to get some info from all you shooters ot there.
Thanks,Jim
Yes I have been shooting bergers for awhile and absolutely love them on deer they work great and yes they will ruin .eat ..I shoot the classic hunters in 3 rifles
 
The projectiles we have available today is so much better than years past. I started out on Core-lokt, Silver tips, bronze points, Power points, ranging from 30-30 to 300 WM killed a lot of animals with them, performed well, have had deer run double lunged with 300WM and have DRT with a 22lr with lead round nose and yes shoot in chest. I generally pick my bullet as to how my gun shoots them from Bergers, Hammers, Sierra, Nosler, Speer the choices today are great you can max out a 257 Roberts to 25-06 velocities, load up a 109gr AH in 6.5x284 and melt rifling, load up a 218 Bee and smoke yotes with a 33gr HP and so on. So a perfect bullet I don't think one has ever been made, but man do I like trying to find it, enjoy the year men may ya aim be accurate and your bullets perform as advertised.
 
I prefer nosler ballistic tip. If you don't mind ruining too much meat then run the Bergers. As stated by many there's no need for bonded bullets for deer size game.
 
If I were only going to shoot one bullet with 80% being less than 150 yards……Barnes all punch above their weight in my option. I have never had a WT take more than a step before DRT. I've never recovered a Barnes bullet either. I agree WT deer are not hard to kill, but its nice not having to looking for a blood trail, ever.
 
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