You are welcome. I know the threads are long but hopefully they will be worth the time.
Some things I myself have learned.
With Bergers the heavier for caliber the better allowing more after initial fragmentation to carry on.
You will get more penetration and less expansion as the distance goes out. This is what I want for a long range hunting bullet. Expansion is what I seek at the longest pokes with lower impact velocity to improve my odds for a quick dispatch.
The 30 cal 215's commonly do not exit with MV of 3000 fps under 600 yards on large body game like elk, dependent on placement. The 30 cal 230's will exit at shorter distances than the 215's.
We commonly get exits with the 300's even close up on elk sized game, but with MV's of 3200 fps some do not under 300 yards.
At any distance shot placement is king. Wind is hardest to conquer. A placement with a fragmenting bullet in the crease behind the shoulder allows for the widest kill zone if errors become reality.
Penetrating shoulders, with Bergers, of even large bull elk have not been an issue with slowed velocities common with distances above 700 plus yards. Even with a 300 gr OTM and a MV of 3200 fps.
With all bullets the problem changes from too much, or good expansion, to not enough as distance increases. I choose a bullet that works best at the longer distances. No expansion at 1000 yards could mean disaster even with a double lung hit on almost any large animal.
Again, shot placement is king, wind is hardest to conquer. Higher BC's will make you job easier at distance. The less error for a given wind drift, the easier the job of good placement will be. Thus the reason I use High BC bullets that expand easily at lower velocities.
In the end, there is no perfect bullet for all distances. Know your chosen bullet. Know how it reacts at low and high impact velocities. Use that knowledge to place it so it will work best to improve terminal results and work to your advantage.
Jeff
