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Long Range Hunting & Shooting
Done with 215 Bergers
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<blockquote data-quote="fishingstockwell" data-source="post: 2012893" data-attributes="member: 96590"><p>NO bullet is perfect, and if you ask enough people, you will find failures with every single bullet out there. </p><p></p><p>I have been hunting western big game for 30 years and have killed 20+ elk, and many more deer. I've lost count, and I haven't lost a single one with a rifle. I am not a long range expert. Normal ranges for hunting scenarios are typically 200-600 yards The majority of elk I've shot, have been shot with Nosler accubonds, and almost all had the same exact result. Shot through the lungs or heart, they run 100 or so yards and tip over dead. There are good exit holes and blood trails.</p><p></p><p>I switched to the 215 Berger a number of years ago when I became more interested in longer range hunting, and every experience with them has been the same. When shot behind the shoulder the bullet goes in, explodes, and the elk drops where it stood. I have not had one exit, and there is rarely any blood at the scene of the kill, other than from the animals mouth. I frequently recover the base of the jacket under the far hide, and there isn't much left. They are frangible. They come apart violently. They are also very accurate and have performed flawlessly for me. I can imagine that there are better bullets for poorly placed shots, which will leave a better blood trail. Personally, I hated the panicked feeling of watching elk run off with boiler room shots from bonded bullets. That being said, I believe the original Nosler AB To be one of the best all around bullets ever made.</p><p></p><p>The only bullet failure I have had on an elk was with a 200 grain LRX that hit a 500 lb Tule Elk square in the chest. The elk needed to be dispatched when I walked up to it. The bullet was recovered between the shoulders with all four petals broken off, and Nothing but perfectly round .308 base of the bullet. It killed the animal, as I assume most other "bullet failures" do, but I didn't like the performance. </p><p></p><p>Strange things happen to different combinations of metal when they strike flesh at speeds from 1800-3000 ft per second, and I'm not sure that performance can be 100% predictable under varying conditions, speeds, and impact locations.</p><p></p><p>What I know is from experience. Bonded, partition and monolithic bullets will penetrate better, and give better blood trails, but I've never seen animals drop in their tracks like I have since I switched to Berger's. Maybe a good bonded bullet, like the Nosler AB is the best choice for most, in case of a poor shoot and tracking needed. I prefer to watch them drop in their tracks and will continue to use the 215 Berger, until it fails me.</p><p></p><p>Best of luck finding the perfect bullet for your preference of performance. There is something out there for everyone, from highly frangible to solid monos. Use what you are most comfortable with, and most of all a bullet you can put in the boiler room.</p><p></p><p>I hope everyone has a great safe and successful season. I shot my CA antelope in August, just got home yesterday, with my second season CO buck and bull, so the season is done for me.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="fishingstockwell, post: 2012893, member: 96590"] NO bullet is perfect, and if you ask enough people, you will find failures with every single bullet out there. I have been hunting western big game for 30 years and have killed 20+ elk, and many more deer. I’ve lost count, and I haven’t lost a single one with a rifle. I am not a long range expert. Normal ranges for hunting scenarios are typically 200-600 yards The majority of elk I’ve shot, have been shot with Nosler accubonds, and almost all had the same exact result. Shot through the lungs or heart, they run 100 or so yards and tip over dead. There are good exit holes and blood trails. I switched to the 215 Berger a number of years ago when I became more interested in longer range hunting, and every experience with them has been the same. When shot behind the shoulder the bullet goes in, explodes, and the elk drops where it stood. I have not had one exit, and there is rarely any blood at the scene of the kill, other than from the animals mouth. I frequently recover the base of the jacket under the far hide, and there isn’t much left. They are frangible. They come apart violently. They are also very accurate and have performed flawlessly for me. I can imagine that there are better bullets for poorly placed shots, which will leave a better blood trail. Personally, I hated the panicked feeling of watching elk run off with boiler room shots from bonded bullets. That being said, I believe the original Nosler AB To be one of the best all around bullets ever made. The only bullet failure I have had on an elk was with a 200 grain LRX that hit a 500 lb Tule Elk square in the chest. The elk needed to be dispatched when I walked up to it. The bullet was recovered between the shoulders with all four petals broken off, and Nothing but perfectly round .308 base of the bullet. It killed the animal, as I assume most other “bullet failures” do, but I didn’t like the performance. Strange things happen to different combinations of metal when they strike flesh at speeds from 1800-3000 ft per second, and I’m not sure that performance can be 100% predictable under varying conditions, speeds, and impact locations. What I know is from experience. Bonded, partition and monolithic bullets will penetrate better, and give better blood trails, but I’ve never seen animals drop in their tracks like I have since I switched to Berger’s. Maybe a good bonded bullet, like the Nosler AB is the best choice for most, in case of a poor shoot and tracking needed. I prefer to watch them drop in their tracks and will continue to use the 215 Berger, until it fails me. Best of luck finding the perfect bullet for your preference of performance. There is something out there for everyone, from highly frangible to solid monos. Use what you are most comfortable with, and most of all a bullet you can put in the boiler room. I hope everyone has a great safe and successful season. I shot my CA antelope in August, just got home yesterday, with my second season CO buck and bull, so the season is done for me. [/QUOTE]
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