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Long Range Hunting & Shooting
Effect of Bullet Spin on Terminal Performance
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<blockquote data-quote="dennisinaz" data-source="post: 1708842" data-attributes="member: 40966"><p>No, Bergers were designed from the start to be very accurate bullets, the popular VLD bullets with the ORIGINAL jacket thickness (Orange box now) were just long range target bullets. Berger came up with an idea to MAKE a hunting bullet and even announced it at SHOT. I was given some sample bullets to test on game etc. The Bullets were called Bergerlock or something like that. They never became a reality. Berger was headquartered in Phx and it was nice to pick stuff up at the factory- reduce rough handling, etc.</p><p></p><p>Hunters started using the VLDs on game because they were good in the wind and were accurate. They , the hunters, discovered that the long meplat was delaying the explosion long enough that they killed magnificently. They were NEVER designed as a hunting bullet. They later came out with the heavier jacket bullets because people were pushing them too hard and tearing up the thin jackets. </p><p>Berger moved to Cali and really grew in size. Eventually they were bought out by the same company that owns Lapua and manufacturing moved back to Phx (Mesa, actually).</p><p></p><p>I have killed and seen killed several hundred head of game killed with various Berger VLD and Hybrids. They work really well MOST of the time. My buddy shot a pronghorn this weekend with a 180 out of a 7RUM. It zipped right through but destroyed a lot of stuff on the way. I have seen big bears, big bull elk and LOTS of little coues deer killed with the 180s.</p><p></p><p>I know this isn't a thread about Bergers but they perform best if they are twisted like Berger recommends. A lot of times I was able to shoot them in rifles that were not twisted fast enough but at higher elevations in thin air they would stabilize and shoot amazingly well. They almost always were pass-throughs and not nearly as lethal as a properly spun up bullet.</p><p></p><p>Do some media testing with a reduced load to simulate a long shot and them do the same test at range. You will be shocked at the difference in performance. Shortcuts do not always tell the truth. The denser the medium the bullet is traveling through, the more spin stability is required. Thin, high desert air is very forgiving to marginally stabilized bullets. Thick, cold, coastal air is a real test of the stability. </p><p></p><p>Now just imagine how much denser an animal is than the air. Spin helps it go straight and helps it upset. Too much spin is not perfect as it will also play heck with accuracy sometimes. Look at the minimal amount of spin the short range benchrest guys use- 30 calibers with 15, 16 and 17" twists! They know the best accuracy is right on the ragged edge of stability but the TERMINAL performance is just the opposite!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="dennisinaz, post: 1708842, member: 40966"] No, Bergers were designed from the start to be very accurate bullets, the popular VLD bullets with the ORIGINAL jacket thickness (Orange box now) were just long range target bullets. Berger came up with an idea to MAKE a hunting bullet and even announced it at SHOT. I was given some sample bullets to test on game etc. The Bullets were called Bergerlock or something like that. They never became a reality. Berger was headquartered in Phx and it was nice to pick stuff up at the factory- reduce rough handling, etc. Hunters started using the VLDs on game because they were good in the wind and were accurate. They , the hunters, discovered that the long meplat was delaying the explosion long enough that they killed magnificently. They were NEVER designed as a hunting bullet. They later came out with the heavier jacket bullets because people were pushing them too hard and tearing up the thin jackets. Berger moved to Cali and really grew in size. Eventually they were bought out by the same company that owns Lapua and manufacturing moved back to Phx (Mesa, actually). I have killed and seen killed several hundred head of game killed with various Berger VLD and Hybrids. They work really well MOST of the time. My buddy shot a pronghorn this weekend with a 180 out of a 7RUM. It zipped right through but destroyed a lot of stuff on the way. I have seen big bears, big bull elk and LOTS of little coues deer killed with the 180s. I know this isn't a thread about Bergers but they perform best if they are twisted like Berger recommends. A lot of times I was able to shoot them in rifles that were not twisted fast enough but at higher elevations in thin air they would stabilize and shoot amazingly well. They almost always were pass-throughs and not nearly as lethal as a properly spun up bullet. Do some media testing with a reduced load to simulate a long shot and them do the same test at range. You will be shocked at the difference in performance. Shortcuts do not always tell the truth. The denser the medium the bullet is traveling through, the more spin stability is required. Thin, high desert air is very forgiving to marginally stabilized bullets. Thick, cold, coastal air is a real test of the stability. Now just imagine how much denser an animal is than the air. Spin helps it go straight and helps it upset. Too much spin is not perfect as it will also play heck with accuracy sometimes. Look at the minimal amount of spin the short range benchrest guys use- 30 calibers with 15, 16 and 17" twists! They know the best accuracy is right on the ragged edge of stability but the TERMINAL performance is just the opposite! [/QUOTE]
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