Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Opening the hp tips on vlds a bit.

Anyone used tiny drill bits or something to open the tips on bullets like the nosler rdfs or similar. I've shot some varmints with rdfs and they seemed to zip through like fmjs. I'm a bit hesitant to try them on game. They have tiny meplats and the hos are pretty much closed. Great for targets and max bc but I'm wondering if a little bigger hp would help them open on game.

I've also noticed some Barnes match burners like the 112g have a pretty tightly closed hp. I'd like to run a tiny bit in a few and try them on my extra doe thus year. What would work best to do that.

Bb

I do on all my VLD's. They can get plugged with polishing compound.
I dont open them up bigger per say but just use a bit the same size to clean out the hollow point channel.

The consensus is to use a pin vice with a #59 drill.

Good discussion here:

https://www.longrangeonly.com/forum/threads/berger-bullet-tip-opening.2415/

I found what I needed locally. Here are some at Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Hand-Pin-Vises/zgbs/hi/2225064011

I think if I'd do it, I'd use a bullet trimmer and just trim the meplats.

Why don`t you just use the correct bullet for the application? Save a lot of time and BS.

I ended up just shooting my extra doe with a 143 eldx from a 6.5 Creedmoor. Is that the correct bullet for the application? I have so little experience shooting I just wanted to check with the authorities. My 11 year old flattened one with a 135g bonded from a 300 hammer.

I was hoping to use my fieldcraft 6mm Creedmoor with 112g Barnes but it appears the scope on that rifle may be going. Went from 1/4 moa to 2 moa with shifting poi. Mounts are not loose and I've seen this a few other times with the super sniper 3-9. It's one of my favorite scopes and I have a dozen of them but I've had more than one take a dump. The either have the windage stop adjusting much one direction or the groups go and start shifting poi. My 7-08 fc has killed 2 of them.

Thanks for the info I was requesting Azshooter. I'll try a 59.

Bb

You have very little shooting sxperience, but have dozens of scopes? Please explain how that works.

I`ve done all that stuff, opening HP holes etc, years ago with Sierra Match Kings. Much todo about nothing. Found the Game Kings worked well, as did the Pro Hunter series.

All the Berger bullets I`ve used on game worked as advertized by Berger, no need to enlarge holes, or unplug them, IME.

Used the X bullet in .25 cal. Worked great on three WT`s. Also used the dreaded SST`s.

READ what the manufacture suggests the bullet be used for, instead of trying to modify it. Saves a LOT of BS, IME.

I've been wondering why you'd want to open the hollow point anyway.

It's my understanding the bullet jacket crushes on impact, rather than a hollow point opening up like a varmint bullet.

Am I wrong? It happens...

This is my understanding, and experience using them, as well.

I've never done this before and considered it unnecessary because I had such great luck with the 7mm 168 VLDs. However, a few years ago I shot a cow elk at about 250 -300 yards, with a Berger 7mm 180 VLD and she just jumped behind a fir tree and stood there for 60 to 90 seconds before going down.

The bullet went through the chest of the cow and left a caliber sized exit. I'm now using the Berger 7mm 180gr Hybrid Target and the elk are dropping in their tracks. If go back to using the 180 or 168 VLDs, I'll be ensuring the tips are open with the above pin vise.

Use Berger’s. The hp is the right size for game with the hunting vld

Or use a TTSX, LRX, hammers, accubonds etc. I don't trust bergers. Heck ELDX and eldm's work well too.

I have a dozen dead elk with as many shots from the 140rdf.....un modified.

I've killed alot of Elk, Deer and antelope with the 6.5 140VLD's and 30 cal 215's in 17 years with zero issues.
I dont modify the tips only thing I do is use a small drill bit same size as the hollow point to clean out any polishing compound if its has some in the tip.

That is what JB has stated, at least for Bergers. More specifically, that the nose collapses and does not expand like many people assume.

He was involved with the early field tests with Berger and has written about it.

If a Berger doesn't expand how does it completely destroy the internals on animals?

Theoretically, it penetrates 1-3" or so and then blows up inside the vitals. The heavy for caliber slugs may penetrate all the way.

7mm 168 VLD hunting started at 3,000 fps out of a 7RM went in chest and exited near last rib on quartering shot. Shot was about 100 yards. Lungs were soup. Deer was bedded and never twitched. WT buck. Expected a softball exit and it was about an inch or so. Sample of one I know. I did nothing to tips.

Broadside shot with 162 ELDX out of same didn’t exit. Less than 100 yards. Quit using it as Bergers and 150 TTSX shot better anyway.

103 ELDX out of 6 creed has done well for me, at 350 exit was about a half inch. TX heart shot penetrated a foot, took out 8 inches of spine and stuck under skin. Just about out of them so may try the 105 Berger. 112 Barnes Matchburner shoots very well out of it. I’d expect They would be similar to other match bullets on game but haven’t tried them.

Not trying to be a “smart @$$ here…….but in this case, it’s irresistible!

Why in the hell would I buy a bullet that’s noted for failures, and then have to modify it to “HOPEFULLY” improve it!

There are very good bullets available……that have proven, reliable track records! memtb

You shouldn't buy any bullets, only people that shoot should buy components/ammo

I never go sooting.

How many if these so- called failures were the animal recovered? Just like the guy about a year ago on LRH who was 100% convinced that a Berger " penciled" through a deer buddies heard the smack and everything. Buck got away only to find out a couple days later the same exact buck showed up on his game camera alive and well!!
COMPLETE MISS!!

I corrected the typo just for you.

A recovered animal is not the absolute defining point of a bullet’s terminal performance!

Many shooters/hunters do a pretty detailed necropsy of their deceased animals to ascertain the performance of their bullet! There is much data showing the failures of some of the Berger designs tendencies to fail to expand as desired upon hitting game!

There is enough data indicating this as an ongoing issue to which some folks will modify the tip, “hoping” for improved terminal performance!

Going back to my initial comment, if I feel that I must modify a bullet for better performance ….it’s time for me, not everyone obviously, to search for a much better bullet for hunting purposes!

The age old comment “the animal died didn’t it”, is a pretty lame argument! But, if it’s all ya got…..that speaks volumes! memtb

Never had to modify a Berger tip only clean out the polishing compound, no need too. Ive either killed or seen probably 100 animals killed by Bergers since 2005 and 95% are DRT.
Show me this so called data other than internet say so.
If you dont recover the animal then its a pure guess, ive seen to many so called good hits turn out to be otherwise it happens but alot dont want to admit it and blame the bullet. FACT!!

I don’t know you, nor do I have your “experience”! So much like your statement, those that discuss this topic a great deal over on LRH are subject to scrutiny! Your “FACT” is also internet “say so”! memtb

No my fact is seeing it to many times with my own eyes and not believing the net or here say.
Show me this Berger "failure data" if its true.

Your use of the ! Is the most annoying thing on this forum.

Do you yell at everyone in your day to day?

I don’t have to show you anything…..nor do I have to believe any of your statements a! That sir is “FACT”! memtb

People only claim "failure" when they never recover the animal.

Couldn't possibly have been a poor shot. They would know since they flinched and the recoil made it unable to see the bullets impact.

And the fuddlore grows...

Thats because there is no data.

I have had failures happen with VLD in animals I did recover.
I guess everyone would if they had used them enough.
Failures came from late fragmentation or from no fragmentation at all.
When fragmentation happened late the bullet produced a very narrow wound path inside the animal and a vast superficial exit wound.
When there was no fragmentation the bullet produced a very narrow wound path from entry to exit as you would expect from a solid bullet which travelled straight.
Animals were recovered either due to good bullet placement and/or because one or more follow up shots and/or because I always take my Bavarian Mountain Bloodhound with me when stalking.
Had many failures with 25 cal 115gr, some with 27 cal 130gr, some with 6mm 87gr, and some with 6,5 140.
And none with 130 and 135gr 6,5s and 6mm 105gr, the latter being the best bullet I have tried in my 6XC.
Must have shot 400+ animals with them, from the size of a 70lb Roe Deer to the KKKK lbs of a female eland.

The 6.5mm 130s have the same form factor as the 6.5mm 140s but less lead in the core. This make a bigger air space (void) in the point.

I have had great luck with the 140gr VLDs in the .264 Win Mag (3250fps @ muzzle) but prefer the 130gr VLD in the much slower 6.5mm Creedmoor.

I have seen the 105gr VLD fail to open one time on a chest shot elk. Missed rib on the entrance and went straight through the lungs with minimal damage.

Elk was recovered and that was one failure in over 50 elk killed with the 105gr VLD and many more deer/antelope/coyotes.

I believe the VLD is optimal with a bit of an air space at the point to ensure expansion in cartridges that don't generate high velocity.

I took my elk this year with 2 rounds of 180 eldm from a 7 prc. It worked but I miss my series of 1 shot kills with the 308 215g berger hybrid. The 215 hybrid really kills well as is.

I just bought a bunch more 225g eldm bullets today to try next year. I've used the 208 amax on game in the past and it worked but penetration was not much. Interested in seeing how the 225g does.

Bb

Tipped bullets are the Debil.

HPBTs are where it's at for killin.

Just Sayin.

I've shot big game with the 243 105 vld, the 6.5 140g vld, and several with the 308 215g hybrid. I had great results everytime. A 140 from a 6.5 Creedmoor a dozen years ago put a big 4x4 buck down instantly and had an exit wound.

I like the vlds and the bit of delayed expansion you get vs tipped. Although lately I've been running heavy tipped stuff at moderate speeds and having good results.

A friend I hunt with took 168g 7mm vlds to Alaska and had 1 shot kills on griz and sheep. I did have a 150g eldx from a 7-08 splash on a cow elk and only penetrate about 5" a few years back so I've gone to 180s there and slowed it down.

Bb