168 grain berger or 175 lrab

laker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2017
Messages
1,558
Ok guys I'm still pretty green on using Bergers for hunting but ive got a great shooting load out of my 280 Ackley of a 168 grain berger at 2925fps. I also have a 175 grain lrab load that's showing some promise just needs a little more work. What I'm asking is will the 168 grain berger be fine if I happen to have an elk at 50 yards or should I continue to work on the 175LRAB load

Having only killed a handful of animals with berger bullets and all being over 250+Yards I guess I'm just a little nervous but maybe for no reason
 
Based on the results I had with a 150 LRAB in my 7ss at 150 yards on a deer, I would be more skeptical about using it than the Berger!
What did the bullet do?


I did a test with 142 lrab at 3100 fps and it blew through an elk femur at 40 yards and ended up in the 4th three gallon water jug. Bullet retained I believe around 45%. I figured that was a hell of a test
 
We shot a deer in the middle of the shoulder and almost NOTHING got into the vitals. The shoulder looked like it was dynamited!! Had it been an elk, he would have been 3 legged and gone!
 
We shot a deer in the middle of the shoulder and almost NOTHING got into the vitals. The shoulder looked like it was dynamited!! Had it been an elk, he would have been 3 legged and gone!

I had same experiance with 150 lrab from a 270 win at just over 3000 and just under 100 yards. I only use lrab on pronghorn or yotes now
 
Here is a pic. I wish I would have taken one of the heart/lungs, but there was only slight damage to one lung. He ran 200 yards wide open and then went down still not dead! The bullet hit center shoulder and blew both up and down. Part actually exited the outside of the brisket where you normally cut the shoulder off of the ribs.
150 LRAB bullet damage.jpg
 
Only on game experience ive had seen with LRAB is 175 grain on an aoudad at 400 yards and it performed great but so did the 180 grain berger at that distance
 
Here is a pic. I wish I would have taken one of the heart/lungs, but there was only slight damage to one lung. He ran 200 yards wide open and then went down still not dead! The bullet hit center shoulder and blew both up and down. Part actually exited the outside of the brisket where you normally cut the shoulder off of the ribs.View attachment 105672

That's a mess
 
Laker, have seven friends all shooting 168 Bergers in 7mm mag. No one has had any issues with them at any distance, most drop where hit. I watched my brother in law kill a large mule deer quartering at 66 yards. Entry at left front and blew up everything back including the liver. The buck would have been dead right there, but he slid 50 feet down the hill landing on a road.
 
I haven't used the 168's but I clean the tips on ALL the Berger's when I use them.
I would stay away from an elk shoulder with ANY target thickness bullet at closer ranges.
This is especially true with smaller bores. When you get into more mass like the 30's on up, it isn't as critical.
 
Last edited:
Warning! This thread is more than 6 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Recent Posts

Top