I can't decide which bullet to use, is there much difference in velocity between the 130 vld and the 140 vld and has anyone used the 140 amax for deer hunting they are a lot cheaper to shoot but i have been leaning towards the 140 vld. I know i should get all three of them and try, but looking for an opinion what you guys think. Thanks
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130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
- Thread starter Retterath
- Start date
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
I shot an antelope last October at 375yds with the vld hunting. Pencilled right through him center lung. He didn't go far but I would have liked the bullet to come apart like they're advertised .
I shot an antelope last October at 375yds with the vld hunting. Pencilled right through him center lung. He didn't go far but I would have liked the bullet to come apart like they're advertised .
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JaredCO</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shot an antelope last October at 375yds with the vld hunting. Pencilled right through him center lung. He didn't go far but I would have liked the bullet to come apart like they're advertised . </div></div>You gotta hit some bone. That's why they preach high shoulder shot placement. In the shoulder.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JaredCO</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shot an antelope last October at 375yds with the vld hunting. Pencilled right through him center lung. He didn't go far but I would have liked the bullet to come apart like they're advertised . </div></div>You gotta hit some bone. That's why they preach high shoulder shot placement. In the shoulder.
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
The a-max is very frangible. I shoot heart lungs. The amax is a devastating bullet for this. I have never had a deer take more than ten steps after being hit in the heat/lungs with a a-max. The bullet usually totally fragments no recoverable bullet or exit. It does make a mess. I tried the barnes x bullets. holes through both sides. Animals ran 100 yds. I should have shot shoulder. This has been my experience with the .264 140 grain a-max and 105 .243. My friend in Oregon uses the 80's .224 and report the same- no more than ten steps with a solid heart /lung hit. I would not consider amax 140gr appropriate for elk but the bonded hornady is a good compromise for that although the 6.5x55 is really not a elk caliber IMHO even at modern pressure levels.
The a-max is very frangible. I shoot heart lungs. The amax is a devastating bullet for this. I have never had a deer take more than ten steps after being hit in the heat/lungs with a a-max. The bullet usually totally fragments no recoverable bullet or exit. It does make a mess. I tried the barnes x bullets. holes through both sides. Animals ran 100 yds. I should have shot shoulder. This has been my experience with the .264 140 grain a-max and 105 .243. My friend in Oregon uses the 80's .224 and report the same- no more than ten steps with a solid heart /lung hit. I would not consider amax 140gr appropriate for elk but the bonded hornady is a good compromise for that although the 6.5x55 is really not a elk caliber IMHO even at modern pressure levels.
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
I've used the 140 hunting VLD on several animals out of a 260, none at long range. Farthest was a desert ram at 200-ish yards, also shot two pigs with one bullet using it at 80 yards, through one's neck and spine, into second's skull. Got a whitetail doe at 150. All shots exited with alot of evident expansion, the shot on the ram went through the onside shoulder bones, and exited between ribs on offside. The 140 VLD as I've used it has expanded without issue, and all animals died on the spot or within 10 yards.
I've since switched to the 130 grain VLD as they're more readily available locally. I've yet to get anything with it, but I expect about the same performance, the bullets are almost identical in length. Not pushing maximum on pressures (and loading to 2.805") using H4350 I got 2710 FPS with the 140 and am getting 2810 with the 130 out of a 22" factory barrel with a 1 in 9" twist. The velocity was 15 FPS slower out of my old rifle's 1 in 8" twist barrel of the same length.
I haven't tried the Amax in my 260, but have settled on the 155 Amax for my 308. Got one doe with it at about 15 yards and it worked fine as one would expect, severed the spine and exited, so although I don't have a ton of info to share I can at least say that even up close striking bone it didn't disintegrate and leave a surface wound or anything. I plan to keep using the Amax for hunting in the 308 in the future.
If your only game is deer, I would say there isn't a huge difference between a VLD and an Amax, both will kill deer just fine. Looking at BC values, the 130 VLD is the same as a 140 Amax and the 130 VLD will probably have a 100 FPS advantage. Price is a factor, but that's up to you to decide on.
I've used the 140 hunting VLD on several animals out of a 260, none at long range. Farthest was a desert ram at 200-ish yards, also shot two pigs with one bullet using it at 80 yards, through one's neck and spine, into second's skull. Got a whitetail doe at 150. All shots exited with alot of evident expansion, the shot on the ram went through the onside shoulder bones, and exited between ribs on offside. The 140 VLD as I've used it has expanded without issue, and all animals died on the spot or within 10 yards.
I've since switched to the 130 grain VLD as they're more readily available locally. I've yet to get anything with it, but I expect about the same performance, the bullets are almost identical in length. Not pushing maximum on pressures (and loading to 2.805") using H4350 I got 2710 FPS with the 140 and am getting 2810 with the 130 out of a 22" factory barrel with a 1 in 9" twist. The velocity was 15 FPS slower out of my old rifle's 1 in 8" twist barrel of the same length.
I haven't tried the Amax in my 260, but have settled on the 155 Amax for my 308. Got one doe with it at about 15 yards and it worked fine as one would expect, severed the spine and exited, so although I don't have a ton of info to share I can at least say that even up close striking bone it didn't disintegrate and leave a surface wound or anything. I plan to keep using the Amax for hunting in the 308 in the future.
If your only game is deer, I would say there isn't a huge difference between a VLD and an Amax, both will kill deer just fine. Looking at BC values, the 130 VLD is the same as a 140 Amax and the 130 VLD will probably have a 100 FPS advantage. Price is a factor, but that's up to you to decide on.
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
Thanks again for all the useful information, i think I'm going to try the 140 amax i don't plan on shooting a deer over 600 yards with this gun hopefully the a max will do the job in the 260, plus i think they will be good for steel too.
Thanks again for all the useful information, i think I'm going to try the 140 amax i don't plan on shooting a deer over 600 yards with this gun hopefully the a max will do the job in the 260, plus i think they will be good for steel too.
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
I use Berger 140 VLD Hunting in my 6.5-284 Norma. Shot this Texas Whitetail at 603 yards.
What remain of the bullet.
I use Berger 140 VLD Hunting in my 6.5-284 Norma. Shot this Texas Whitetail at 603 yards.
What remain of the bullet.
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
What are you shooting in out of? If 260/6.5x55 I would go 140 VLD. If shooting 6.5x47 or 6.5 CM Id go 130 VLD, send em fast and watch them drop. I know the 140s are alittle heavy for the smaller 6.5 case offerings.
What are you shooting in out of? If 260/6.5x55 I would go 140 VLD. If shooting 6.5x47 or 6.5 CM Id go 130 VLD, send em fast and watch them drop. I know the 140s are alittle heavy for the smaller 6.5 case offerings.
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
I'm using the 260 rem i was planning on going with the amax but am still hesitate with it for hunting 600 yard probally the longest shot i will take amax will probably work just fine. If i use the bergers i am just wondering on seating depth because of my detachable mag i will only be able to seat them out only so far and i don't want to single feed them.
I'm using the 260 rem i was planning on going with the amax but am still hesitate with it for hunting 600 yard probally the longest shot i will take amax will probably work just fine. If i use the bergers i am just wondering on seating depth because of my detachable mag i will only be able to seat them out only so far and i don't want to single feed them.
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
one other question i had that i forgot to say is the amax going to do alright if you hit in should, they say the bergers do great for high should shots was wondering if hit in should with amax would there be good penetration into shoulder. Thanks
one other question i had that i forgot to say is the amax going to do alright if you hit in should, they say the bergers do great for high should shots was wondering if hit in should with amax would there be good penetration into shoulder. Thanks
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
If you have ever heard of Best of the West, that guy really pushes some long range hunting, and just shooting for that matter. A friend of mine that has met the guy in the video said that he is taking animals with 140 gr vld's. These are all 600+ yard shots, some of them into larger animals like elk. I think he said they are running 6.5x284norma or 7mm stw. They are high energy cartridges and dumping a lot of energy, but watching those videos, they are dropping animals like sacks of potatoes! But they are also making sure placement is high and in the shoulder, is really impressive the way they drop them in their tracks!
If you have ever heard of Best of the West, that guy really pushes some long range hunting, and just shooting for that matter. A friend of mine that has met the guy in the video said that he is taking animals with 140 gr vld's. These are all 600+ yard shots, some of them into larger animals like elk. I think he said they are running 6.5x284norma or 7mm stw. They are high energy cartridges and dumping a lot of energy, but watching those videos, they are dropping animals like sacks of potatoes! But they are also making sure placement is high and in the shoulder, is really impressive the way they drop them in their tracks!
Re: 130 vld vs 140 vld vs 140 amax for hunting
I have witnessed awesome performance with the 140 a max in a 6.5-06 ai. Running about 3000 fps. After watching 2 mulley does and five antelope drop on the spot in two seasons, I'm very impressed for light skin game. Shots were generally 200 to 385 yards, punched into vitals and explode without much bloodshot and only a few exits.
I have witnessed awesome performance with the 140 a max in a 6.5-06 ai. Running about 3000 fps. After watching 2 mulley does and five antelope drop on the spot in two seasons, I'm very impressed for light skin game. Shots were generally 200 to 385 yards, punched into vitals and explode without much bloodshot and only a few exits.
