This past week I took a big 8 point whitetail at 320 yards with my Jarrett 280AI using 168 grain Berger VLD's, as this rifle really shines with this bullet. I've used VLD's here and there for a few years. In each instance prior to this, the VLD's virtually disintegrated after impact with nothing left to find. Not this time. This was a quartering away shot that I slipped the bullet behind the last rib on the left side, with the bullet traversing through the vitals coming to rest under the hide after penetrating the right shoulder. I'm thinking this bullet was convinced it was a Nosler Accubond or something of the sort. It retained right at half its weight and acted for the world like it was bonded.

Five or so years ago I had a similar sized 8 point buck at, again, 320 yards, that I shot with this rifle and the same load, only it was broadside. My shot was dead through the heart in that relatively narrow portion of the lower chest. I am guessing that may have been 6"or so wide at that point? The VLD never exited, only an entrance wound and a heart blown to smithereens. In my case, that is the norm with this bullet.

Both bucks were quite dead but I couldn't get over this VLD's ability to hold together this last time.....sometimes that happens.

That bullet behaves like that for me every time started at 2,820...

Which version of the VLD?

I have used the Berger VLd on one deer and one antelope. The deer was the 6.5, 140gr from a 6.5-06 at 2900fps and the range was 35yds broadside shot . The bullet grenaded, deer died, no surprise.
The next was a 243, 115gr. from a 240 Wby at 3150fps. range was 300 yds. The bullet pencilled through the scapula and grenaded , ded goat.... the interesting part was the lack of bloodshot meat.
And it was really cool to see the bullet punch through bone before expanding, just like Mule Deer has been telling us.... I like these bullets!



Bullet hole by tip of knife...this is the backside of the scapula. This really increased my confidence in the Bergers

Stunt shooters.......

aalf this is a serious topic damnit... no place for this rhetoric.....keep this up and I will have no choice but to report you to Brad Sysop... you been warned..

Not sure who it was, maybe Bob Hagel, said 'no such thing as the perfect bullet, we have physics to thank for that.'

aalf, when you figure out to sneak closer than 800yds on your milk jug then you can opine.....

The 6.5-140’s were extremely accurate in my 264’s. When the bullet hits heart-lungs, they don’t go ten feet.

Hanco, I would expect that.... the punching through bone part is what excited me

Godogs,

One of the "problems" with Bergers (as I have pointed out many times here, and in print, since 2007, when I first got to field-test them extensively) is that they don't act like the conventional idea of expanding bullet performance most hunters have been indoctrinated with for the last several decades--which generally involves weight-retention, penetration, "perfect mushrooms", etc. The fact that they penetrate at least 2-3" before "grenading" is thus often lost on many hunters.

But if the impact velocity is low enough--and the bullet doesn't hit, say, even a rib--Bergers can indeed end up looking like conventional expanding bullets. This tends to happen more at longer ranges. Whether or not it matters is another question.

aalf,

Where;s the "like" button on this damn site?

140 6.5 vld Berger hit onside shoulder of bull elk, came to rest under hide behind opposite shoulder. Impact velocity 2100-2200 fps. These have been my favorite bullets now for going on 10 years.

Careful JB, you'll get put in a timeout........

That the VLD Hunting bullet. Labradar said 2816 fps average at the muzzle.

Aw hell aalf you have rolling on the floor laffin.... well played..

Should have chose my words more carefully....

Ha ha.....you threw that softball right down the middle.....couldn't not swing.....(double negative, I know)

I would expect the same......

Crying Tears, here. 😂🤣😂😎

Okay, that made me laugh.

I have shot most of the VLD’s from 80gr 22cal to 300gr 338cal and agree with you with one exception, I have a lot (lot#1393) of 30cal 210gr VLD’s that will grenade on impact at any range or velocity from my 300WM up to 1300yards......want to try some??? I still have several hundred

Haha!! 😆😆

aalf got me good..... lesson learned, not only is he a deadly milk jug assassin, his wit & humor is off the charts....

Several years ago, after reading of success with VLD's, I decided to give the Bergers a try from my 25-06, and came away very impressed!

Loaded the 115's up to a faster-than-expected mv of 3190 fps via Retumbo. Shot nice tight groups with them. Zeroed the 6x Leupold at 300 yards and went hunting. Three mule deer, four shots over two years. First mule deer was hit on the spine, and needed a finishing shot when I got to him.

I shot one young mule deer buck at about 175 yards, through the shoulder blade. Instant collapse & death. Recovered the spent bullet just under the hide on the other side, it had gone through BOTH scapula, and also destroyed the lungs. Wow! Danged thing was mushroomed, but more of a pancake look to it than shown here. I carefully set it on a rock, to take with me after I quartered up the deer for the pack out.

Oooops. Left it there. Sigh. The other Bergers I recovered looked like a varmint bullet - not much left - I think one weighed 33 grains after starting at 115. Still, all the deer died, and quickly!

Perhaps I'll give those VLD's another try one of these days. It's been a while since I hunted with them, still have a few boxes sitting around.

Guy

So you’re driving a Chevy.



P

F-150, Wont make that mistake again with a Chevy

Does the F-150 have a GPS to find the airport? Asking for a friend. 😬😎

Im tempted myself. I ran 220 Scenars this year in my 300. Nothing volunteered for the bullet test though.

Uv korse.

boatanchor,

Thanks for your post! That seems a little weird to me as well.

The 210 VLD happens to be the most accurate bullet in my present .300 Winchester Magnum, which I mainly use to break test-scopes with a load that gets 2950 or so. However, have not used it on game, so dunno how my lot works!

Will check the lot # of my batch, and if it's different, would happily buy some of yours to test.

Mule Deer, I gave not so accurate info previously.
The Berger 210gr VLD’s that are grenades are lot#1091 not lot#1393 as I stated earlier, lot#1393 is fine. I only have 13 bullets left of lot#1091, don’t know if that is enough for you to test??? If it is PM me your mailing address and I will send them to you.

I shoot the 190’s in my 300 Win mag. Statistically small sample on deer but they act more like a bomb than a grenade. Wicked bullets