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Mixed results. I had a splash wound with 190 grain VLDs out of a .300 Win Mag (440 yards) that didn't make it through the ribs and that turned me off them for years.

In the meantime, friends were absolutely slaying things with 180 VLDs in their STWs so I eventually had to admit that what I was seeing wasn't what I had gotten before. With a great deal of unease, I eventually started trying that particular bullet on close range deer and bear to see is I could make them fail. Results are spectacular, and exit more often than not. The animal that takes a single step is the exception.

I don't know if that means that the bullets have to be taken on a case by case basis, or I got some bad ones earlier or what to make of it exactly. Maybe the lesson is to not use target bullets unless there is some crying need.


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Originally Posted by Model70Guy
Maybe the lesson is to not use target bullets unless there is some crying need.


Were you using the target or hunting version?

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I hit a 200 lb sow at 60 yds in the shoulders with a 140 from a 264 Win mag. She was in a feeder pen with a trap gate, so she couldn't get out. Bullet hit her, knocked her down, a couple minutes later she got up, went back to eating corn. Made a big flesh wound. Shot her in chest, didn't get back up.

Maybe it was a bad bullet, 3000 fps. That turned me off to Bergers. They were very accurate. Seems like other guys have had similar experiences. I don't know if bullet is bonded to jacket. Heavier bullets in bigger calibers are probably better than 6.5's.

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Boomer, I used a pack of 130g VLDs on pigs a few years ago. Shot several dozen pigs of all sizes. Shoulder shots were as effective as any bullet I've used on pigs in that weight in the 270 Win. They were also very accurate.

MV was around 3030fps.

Yes I would use them again but I moved onto other bullets as the Bergers were fairly exxy compared to the other bullets I usually used.

I doubt you'll be disappointed with them.

(I wasn't butchering the pigs so can't make any hard and fast comment about meat damage, though there were not a high percentage of exits.)

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Interesting experience, Hanco... wait, what?!?!

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My exp. is very similar to 96.. Noslers always work..😤


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Killed 5 deer with 140 VLD's out of a .270 WCF and have to say they are impressive killers.


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Originally Posted by cast10K
Originally Posted by Model70Guy
Maybe the lesson is to not use target bullets unless there is some crying need.


Were you using the target or hunting version?



At the time of the 190 grain 30 cal incident the target and hunting versions were identical except the color of the box. That was awhile ago.

With the 180 7mms, the current hunting VLDs are the same as the old target VLDs. The current target VLDs are beefed up to withstand the higher rates of twist that are the current fashion. The hunting VLDs are soft to retain the low velocity expansion/fragmentation characteristics at extreme range that are the only real reason to use them in the first place. FWIW, I'm using the Hunting 180 grain, while my friends are shooting up what seems to be an endless stash of old target VLDs


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Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer
Berger doesn't recommned their hunting VLD to be shot faster than 3,100 fps.

140 gr. VLD at 3K fps out of my 6.5-284 is deadly on chest shot Louisiana WT's.

I gave up on VLD's for my 26 Nosler after talking with a Berger tech. He suggested that I use their target VLD with its heavier jacket.

I subsequently chose mono's for that round and am happy with the results.

DF


I guess I don't get berger tech comment did he say 3100fps at the muzzle or were the bullet impacted the animal bid difference. I have shot 3 bull elk and
3 deer from 150-786 yards with 140 hunting VLD's going 3200fps at the muzzle and no problem all just dropped dead.

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Originally Posted by sherm_61
Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer
Berger doesn't recommned their hunting VLD to be shot faster than 3,100 fps.

140 gr. VLD at 3K fps out of my 6.5-284 is deadly on chest shot Louisiana WT's.

I gave up on VLD's for my 26 Nosler after talking with a Berger tech. He suggested that I use their target VLD with its heavier jacket.

I subsequently chose mono's for that round and am happy with the results.

DF


I guess I don't get berger tech comment did he say 3100fps at the muzzle or were the bullet impacted the animal bid difference. I have shot 3 bull elk and
3 deer from 150-786 yards with 140 hunting VLD's going 3200fps at the muzzle and no problem all just dropped dead.

My impression was MV.

If it's working, it's working...

I've had good results with the 6.5-284, as mentioned, MV 3,000 fpr over 48 gr. RL-17.

Some posters suggest heavier bullets, bigger calibers, but then you see posts with excessive devistation with the larger, heavier bullets. So, I don't know.

DF

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I shot a small mule deer buck with a 185 VLD a few years ago and gave the rest away to a friend. He was quartering towards me and it absolutely flattened the deer but during processing we found alot of bullet fragments. Enough so that I didn't want to eat some of it and ended up trashng about 20%. It's a sample of one but I have heard other say they have had similar experiences with the VLDs.
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Just picked up some 130gr classic hunter and loaded up some test rounds with H4831. Being a T3, I am limited to mag length so went with 3.335"

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