I must admit that after numerous failures with the 168 & 180 7mm Bergers that we did find success in the 30 cal 210 hunting VLD.
I've read on countless posts from people who've had great success. I was never one of them until 2014.
I set out to test this bullet up close and if possible at distance. I've got a few photos that show what seems to be typical at 300 yards and in.
Our base line for testing over the years has always been a broadside center shoulder hit.
This was a high shoulder shot at 170 yards. The bullet did not exit and obviously the deer didn't go anywhere without a spinal cord.
The tissue damage surprisingly wasn't as bad as I expected. I noticed a lack of blood shot tissue that you typically see with a ballistic tip or Amax.
I also expected a pass through and was almost shocked to find out that it didn't.
Just fast forward to the end for the kill shot:
2013 Whitetail Pursuit - YouTube
My wife shot this deer at 285 yards. The results were similar but the shot placement was more in line with our base line for testing. I should probably let her pull the trigger more often…….
This photo does reveal more tissue damage than #1 but still lacking in the total destruction dept. Never the less the results where perfect and will be on the wall next year.
I'm trying to get the video up but since google and youtube linked up there have bee issues.
This one was just a victim………….
Sorry no disection photos………
This doe was shot with a 185g by a friend of mine. While this wasn't the norm it was a good example of what could happen with they hit bone on the first part of the entrance.
No dissection required
My over all opinion at the end is that, at least this bullet, is what Berger says it is. We never missed bone so I didn't get to see what happens in that scenario but none of the deer made it through this test.
As a matter of fact the only deer that did take a step was one shot at 1000 yards on the dot. Some how two bags of corn got spilled on the 1000 yard berm. She made it about 150 yards in the brush. The damage was consistent. If they hit bone absolutely crush it. Hopefully with more testing we'll get to see a few more variables but it looks like it's going to be next year before that happens.
I think these would be really good elk bullets but I was too scared from previous experiences to try them out on something that large for their first rodeo in my hands.
I've read on countless posts from people who've had great success. I was never one of them until 2014.
I set out to test this bullet up close and if possible at distance. I've got a few photos that show what seems to be typical at 300 yards and in.
Our base line for testing over the years has always been a broadside center shoulder hit.
This was a high shoulder shot at 170 yards. The bullet did not exit and obviously the deer didn't go anywhere without a spinal cord.
The tissue damage surprisingly wasn't as bad as I expected. I noticed a lack of blood shot tissue that you typically see with a ballistic tip or Amax.
I also expected a pass through and was almost shocked to find out that it didn't.
Just fast forward to the end for the kill shot:
2013 Whitetail Pursuit - YouTube
My wife shot this deer at 285 yards. The results were similar but the shot placement was more in line with our base line for testing. I should probably let her pull the trigger more often…….
This photo does reveal more tissue damage than #1 but still lacking in the total destruction dept. Never the less the results where perfect and will be on the wall next year.
I'm trying to get the video up but since google and youtube linked up there have bee issues.
This one was just a victim………….
Sorry no disection photos………
This doe was shot with a 185g by a friend of mine. While this wasn't the norm it was a good example of what could happen with they hit bone on the first part of the entrance.
No dissection required
My over all opinion at the end is that, at least this bullet, is what Berger says it is. We never missed bone so I didn't get to see what happens in that scenario but none of the deer made it through this test.
As a matter of fact the only deer that did take a step was one shot at 1000 yards on the dot. Some how two bags of corn got spilled on the 1000 yard berm. She made it about 150 yards in the brush. The damage was consistent. If they hit bone absolutely crush it. Hopefully with more testing we'll get to see a few more variables but it looks like it's going to be next year before that happens.
I think these would be really good elk bullets but I was too scared from previous experiences to try them out on something that large for their first rodeo in my hands.
