Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Up close and personal with the VLD?

I've been shooting the 190 VLD in my RUM quite a bit this past month. The dang bullet is ridiculously accurate, like 3 shots you can cover with the end of a popcan at 822 yards accurate. My concern is close range shots. With a MV of around 3250 fps, what can I expect of a hit on an antelope in the 150-250 yard range? My Accubond load groups almost as well, but thought I'd like to see what the Berger fuss is all about. mtmuley

Rather than repeating again, look in the "Hunting Rifles" section, find the thread,,"Berger Hunting VLDs at closer ranges",,started by PaHuntin and read my comments.

Ime with hogs, I don`t think you`ll have a problem with any 30 cal VLD bouncing off of an antelope. In fact, could get quite messy!

I've killed somewhere between 10-15 whitetails in the last few yrs and most being between 15-200. I'm not shooting the 190 but the 168's and all that i can remember passed through with massive damage. The close ones always exited for me and generally provided huge blood trails. The buck i shot 2 yrs ago field dressed at 180 and was shot at 65 yds. He ran about 25 yds out of sight but just dropped over the hill edge. When i walked to where he was standing there was a 1.5" chuck of lung hanging in a little bush where he was standing. I am now out of the 168's and am now loading the 210. Can't wait to see what that does.

Roy

Thanks guys. bigsqueeze, no need to look up the thread. Messy isn't what I want. mtmuley

..........Then the VLD may not be the best choice for you when hunting antelope.

Maybe you could use a bazooka next time? It would save you from skinning it.

Why would a close range shot on a deer or elk yield different results? mtmuley

Bought the gun when the RUM first came out and simply because its my favorite. Have lots of other rifles i just enjoy carrying and shooting it. No other reason. I've always said they can never be too dead

Roy

.......It shouldn`t. Dead is dead.

You should take your own advice.

........Perhaps Rancho LOCOWEED, the next time you happen be in So Cal,,you can finish the job that my niece`s son started.

Put up or shut up!.............You`re quite the im-mature ass hole!

And another internet threat by the master of rex-kwon-do..

I'm shaking.

..........Cowards usually do shake!

I know this has been beat to death, but I'm wondering if the VLD at RUM velocities and close range on any game is a bad idea. Just wanted to hear from some guys that have done it. The way these are shooting, it's hard to ignore possibly using them. 200 to 300 yard shots are typical with opportunity at twice those yardages. But I've also had shots on game at under 100 yds. It's those that worry me. mtmuley

I wouldn't be too concerned. Just put it were you're not gonna eat from. In other words don't shoulder shoot one and be butt hurt about losing the shoulder roasts. Think back a few ribs I ran a 300WM with 150gr Nosler BT's (the old ones) for deer. It was like hitting them with a lightning bolt. They were running in the neighborhood of 3300 fps. It was my field load but I would get a close one once in a while. All I did was aim back a little in the area of the liver,forward of the diaphram and they would drop like a stone with minimal meat damage. With high impact velocities at close ranges they tend to be like a grenade but shot placement can minimize meat damage. I can't imagine your RUM with a 190 behaving much different than a 300WM and 150's at proximate velocities.

............Before starting to use them, all us hunting VLD users probably had the same concerns as yourself. I know I did.

While most 30 cal VLD users (including myself) don`t use a 300 RUM firing faster MV speeds, I believe you`ll be fine.

There`s only one way to find out how they`ll perform at shorter distances.

I have 3 antelope tags. I'm probabaly gonna put a VLD through one of them, no matter the range. By the way, these are yellow box VLD's I purchased before all the hype and TV stuff (2006 I think). mtmuley

Higher velocity impact at closer ranges.

Having seen the mess my son-in-law's 30-06/168g A-MAX made at close range on an antelope I have no interest in using A-MAX or VLD or any similarly constructed bullet on game.

I won't shoot another VLD as long as I live,take it for what it is worth. Didn't like them on deer and surely wouldn't try one on a elk.
BBJ

Always good to hear why.

One of the virtues of the Campfire is an exchange of specific descriptions of performance.