We have killed 3 deer and 1 elk with Berger Hunting VLD's in the last 2 years. The elk and one deer was from my 7mm using 168's and the results where exactly as reported, massive internal damage and immediate death.
We shot two bucks with the .257 115gr out of a 25-06 going almost 3100 fromt he muzzle. The first was a moderate bodied mule deer(225 lbs) at only 88 yards. 2 shots and it didn't even act hit. It calmly looked back as it ran 300 yards up the hill, jumped a fence and when over the other side. I thought my scope had been bumped. I slowly started tracking and then heard gun shots over the hill. Well I found some faint blood spots and tracked it up. Turns out the deer had laid down in some brush and two guys on quads shot it. They gave it to me when they realized I had hit it. I found that I had put two shots through the center of the lungs, but other than the two distinct holes, no real damage. Almost like arrows going through. Well, I had the deer and assume by the time I would have found it on my own it would have been dead. So, a dead deer but not impressive.
The second deer was a 188" Mule deer my son shot at 450 yards. He had some nerves, and all I saw was the video, but again the first 2 shots seemed like clean misses with the deer looking around. The third was an obviousl hit. Later we found that the fist two again both went through the deer almost arrow like. The third hit his liver and a fourth actually bounced off a rock in front of where he had layed down and went into his brisket.
All the shots that arrowed through without damage went clean through the ribs on both sides without hitting bone. I guess we should have aimed for a shoulder, but figured the small bullets would expand is such big deer.
I am very disappointed as I put a lot of time getting a load that would shoot these well and now I feel I must start over with some Accubonds and TSX. I may try another on some wild hogs I will be hunting in January, but then again that may be time to start seeing how the noslers and barnes will do.
