Hey Guys , on yall's advise I'm looking at beefing up my reloads from 140 up to a 168 Berger bullets. I found they make a 168 grain Hunter and a 168 grain Hunting, Hunter looks to be shorter while the Hunting is long and pointy. To reach optimum length for my gun I'm concerned that longer bullet will be too long for my clip and have to loaded one at a time, what have ya'll found and how do you like the Berger Bullets? Thanks, Mike
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Berger Bullets, Hunter or Hunting?
- Thread starter bigbass
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MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
What you are referring to is the 168 Classic Hunter, and the 168 Hunting VLD. I shoot the VLD's. I haven't had the chance to kill any deer with them yet, but they shoot great.
With the ogive shape of the Classic Hunter they will probably be alot easier to load for and not be as picky on seating depth as the VLD's can be.
With the ogive shape of the Classic Hunter they will probably be alot easier to load for and not be as picky on seating depth as the VLD's can be.
ultraedge
Well-Known Member
180gr. hybrids are best in my rifle. Gary
284nut
Active Member
Mixed reviews with the 140 vld this year, 2 Mule deer at 253 and 260 through my 7 STW respectively showed decent performance without a pass through on high shoulder broadside shots.
1 coues deer at 562 with surface impact explosion, 4" diameter entrance wound on a quartering away shot in upper 2/3 of the body on the back rib resulted in dropping of intestines and a wounded deer. Second shot at same distance blew up on high shoulder shot never penetrating the cartilage. Put the buck down but left me scratching my head as to how.
I need to try the 168, but feel the 140 doesn't do what I like at 3300fps.
1 coues deer at 562 with surface impact explosion, 4" diameter entrance wound on a quartering away shot in upper 2/3 of the body on the back rib resulted in dropping of intestines and a wounded deer. Second shot at same distance blew up on high shoulder shot never penetrating the cartilage. Put the buck down but left me scratching my head as to how.
I need to try the 168, but feel the 140 doesn't do what I like at 3300fps.
Broz
Well-Known Member
3300 is what we have found to be a threshold for a bullet on the edge of coming apart WHEN used with fast twist barrels. I will assume you have a 1 in 9 twist. The only thing I feel you could do to aggravate the situation more would to be using a 3 or 4 grove barrel that induces more inscription to the bullet jacket making it even more fragile.
Not trying to insult in any way if that sounded bad, just offering what we have seen in an effort to offer a solution. We have been there and the small fast bullets with tight twists in a 3 grove is creating the perfect storm. Especially when placed in the shoulder.
Just a friendly suggestion would be to go to the 168 or better yet a 180 and try a behind the shoulder shot when and if possible. I feel you may get the results you are seeking.
OP, The 180 Hybrid has proven to open best for us at the longer pokes. Yet expect large exits on softer game at closer distances resulting in very dead animals.
The 180 VLD has opened a little slower for us up close but could prove to not expand enough with impact velocities below 18 or 1900 fps. way out there.
The hunters are designed for use in shorter mag boxed. That may be your only choice if you want to retain the use of the mag box. With out measuring the rifle up I can't say for sure.
Jeff
284nut
Active Member
1 in 9 is completely accurate, will have to look in to the groove count. I was expecting that the distance would have been in my favor more at 500+ that inside 300 yards, hence the head scratching.
Regardless, I will try the heavier VLD's and re assess performance based on the heavier pills.
As to being insulted, your post was very diplomatic and no offense was taken. Thanks for the advice.
Love the behind the shoulder shot as bread and butter, things got to moving relatively fast and well, that's where she landed.
Regardless, I will try the heavier VLD's and re assess performance based on the heavier pills.
As to being insulted, your post was very diplomatic and no offense was taken. Thanks for the advice.
Love the behind the shoulder shot as bread and butter, things got to moving relatively fast and well, that's where she landed.
joeycoates
Well-Known Member
I have used both the 168 classic hunter and the vld. I found that the classic hunter could be seated anywhere from .010 to .090 off in my 7RM and be accurate, it did not seem to really matter. Now grains of powder/velocity made a big difference, but seating depth really didn't. With the vld there was defiantly a difference when I tested seating depths, but I have not had to change the grains in H1000 to remain accurate. They both however shoot very well, and I have taken game with each. I did not see much of a difference in expansion, they both did what they were supposed to.
In a 7RM I am able to fit either of them loaded into the lands, but I do not think you would be able to load a 168 VLD into the lands with a 7stw unless you had an extended box like a wyatt's. With that being said, I have read where the 7stw likes a jump anyway so this really does not matter.
In a 7RM I am able to fit either of them loaded into the lands, but I do not think you would be able to load a 168 VLD into the lands with a 7stw unless you had an extended box like a wyatt's. With that being said, I have read where the 7stw likes a jump anyway so this really does not matter.
