Has anyone here tried this bullet? If so, what were
your results? Did you need to seat them to/into the
lands for accuracy?

I would be particularly interested in hearing from
anyone using them in a 7mm WSM cartridge as well.
Thanks!

DB...............I don`t use the 7mm Bergers, but have used the 168 gr 30 cal hunting VLDs on a number of hogs and will use either use the 190 or the 210 grain on my next big elk hunt.

Berger has recently updated some info on their site that is worth the read. It is not necessary to seat the bullet into the lands in order to achieve the best accuracy using the VLDs as was previously thought.

Follow this proceedure using the same VLD bullet, powder, primer and charge.

For hunting loads, simply start out with the max COAL that your magazine will allow while still effectively cycling the bolt. Load 3 to 5 rounds.

Then load another 3 to 5 rounds backing off 10/1000ths. Repeat again, backing down another 10/1000s. Repeat again and then repeat again.

Shoot each group for accuracy to see at what COAL your rifle`s sweet spot is for best accuracy.

Somewhere within that 40/1000ths spread, you will find your rifle`s sweet spot for best accuracy.

Anytime you change any component or charge, start over using the same process.

For range loads, start with seating the bullet 5/1000ths into
the lands and then use the same above process, backing off 10/1000ths per group.

The (hunting) VLDs are an extreeeeemely accurate bullet and are the fastest, most devasting DRT bullet I`ve ever used on hogs. From a 7 WSM, once your sweet spots are found, I have no doubt your end results.

bigsqueeze, I would love to hunt hogs just once!

I tried the new recommended seating procedure in the 7mmWSM
using the 7mm 168gr VLD's. The only thing remotely accurate
in my rifle was touching the lands, thus the question about
the 140gr bullets.

The rifle is a model 1999 from Montana Rifle Company and the
only accuracy it has attained to date is with 130gr Match
Kings. I'm wondering if the 140gr VLD's will shoot with
accuracy.

...........Very possible! But, each rifle is different with each bullet and is different at any given seating depth. With the 140 VLD, the only thing you can do is try.

You may also want to vary your charges by a 1/2 grain at a time with the 168s and see if you get better accuracy.

Though for hunting loads, I consider no greater than 1 1/2" groups (outer dimension), to be good enough.

Danno-I shot em in my 7 Mashburn Super and the 140 and the 168 and the 180 Burgers wouldn't perk for me. But, the barrels getting a bit worn and that may of been the issue. Although I can still get fairly good accuracy to 500 with the 150 NBT.

To date, I've not had any luck in getting the Burgers and or the Scirocco's to shoot in any of my rigs. But then again I've never had a Sako that shot worth a darn and everyone in the free world besides me says that they shoot great.

Guess you'll just have to see if they'll perk for you.

Best of luck

Dober

DB,

I tried some in my .280 Rem and got groups under .5" at 100 yards (three shots); best was .444". I just picked an LOA and loaded them up with H4831.

I have a pair of rifles in 6.5-'06 and the .280 built by the same gunsmith both with Red Elliot reamers. I have been shooting the .264"/.130 gr VLD and used the same distance from the lands as the 6.5 for the .280. I guess it worked.

jim

I've used the 140 in my 7mm Remington magnum (sendero) and my Ruger .280 - both seated to magazine length. The 280 was just under MOA, the sendero was right around 1/2-2/3 MOA. Powders were H4831 and R19 in the .280, RE22 and Retumbo in the 7mm. Retumbo gave the smallest groups.....

Kaiser Norton

They work great in one of my 7rms. I tried them in 3 7rms with descent results, but one (Sendero SFII) loved them giving sub 1/2moa accuracy. h4831 and IMR4350 did well, I ended up going with 4350 pushing them to 3180 fps last season, took a lope and whitetail with them. Both gave exits and good internal damage. I was running them about .003 off the lands in that particular rifle.

Good Luck

loder

Thanks, guys!

Yea, I know, will just have to try them in this rifle at various
depths. Was just after an idea of what mostly worked for others
using the same bullet.