Have you seen that video from the guy at Berger that explained why they developed the hybrids?
Actually VLD's are my go-to bullet, I shoot them 10 to 1 vrs Sierra. There is no Kool-aide drinking going on here. I have literally shot tens of thousands of them at various distances off the lands and they shoot best snug up against the lands to .005 off. I have plenty of experience shooting them and my best accuracy with them has been with no to very little jump and I have all the targets and load info to prove it.
Anytime you are in my neighborhood, give me a call, come over and look at my targets and load data. Its all there. I have every paper target for every round fired through my match quality guns that were aimed at paper.
If my experience does not correlate with yours then I don't know what to tell you, but I do know I am not the only one in this camp.
Here is a Video where Bryan Litz from Berger talks about depth sensitivity of the different profiles.
While we are on the subject of observations... I also find the condescending comments you made in your post to be pretty ignorant.
If I find myself in FL I'll give you a call, we'll look at targets and load data. However, doesn't really change anything. You like to put VLDs on or very near lands, if it works for you run it.
However, I do doubt your advice to OP as I and many others in the "jump'em" camp have had plenty of success getting VLDs to shoot plenty tight with 0.040" jump (give or take depending on what your rifle likes). If OP is unable to put VLD close to lands, my original comment was geared such that he shouldn't give up on VLDs and should try them with some jump. I gave up having VLDs just kissing lands or very small jump about a decade back when my experimentation showed I didn't give up any accuracy and reduced work load of chasing lands.
I've heard the theory and explanation that was given on why the hybrid was designed. I've also heard plenty of disinformation over the years or in other words, tell people what they want to hear so it makes it more palatable. VLDs had/have a "reputation" of needing to be just off/just kissing/just into lands to shoot well, which in my experience is not true. Make the hybrid, tell guys it is jump tolerant and avoid discussions like we are having on what is required to make VLDs shoot well. There are some other reasons but those delve off into even less relevant tangents to the OPs original question.
Bottom line, there are two camps: 1) Jump'em 2) Jam or minimal jump. Both camps have success stories, groups and load data to support their claim.
Berger website "Getting the Best Precision and Accuracy from VLDs in your rifle". You seem to be a little too eager to discount the information from Eric @ Berger on how to get the most from VLDs.
"...We scratched our heads about this for awhile until we started getting feedback from hunters who were competition shooters as well. Many were the same guys who were telling us for years that the VLDs shoot great when jumped. Since a much larger number of shooters were using the VLD bullets with a jump we started comparing all the feedback and have discovered the common characteristics in successful reports which gave us the information needed to get VLD working in your rifle. We were able to relay these characteristics to several shooters who were struggling with VLD bullets. Each shooter reported success after applying our recommendation..."
"...Solution
The following has been verified by numerous shooters in many rifles using bullets of different calibers and weights. It is consistent for all VLD bullets. What has been discovered is that VLD bullets shoot best when loaded to a COAL that puts the bullet in a “sweet spot”. This sweet spot is a band .030 to .040 wide and is located anywhere between jamming the bullets into the lands and .150 jump off the lands.
Note: When discussing jam and jump I am referring to the distance from the area of the bearing surface that engages the rifling and the rifling itself. There are many products that allow you to measure these critical dimensions. Some are better than others. I won’t be going into the methods of measuring jam and jump. If you are not familiar with this aspect of reloading it is critically important that you understand this concept before you attempt this test.
Many reloaders feel (and I tend to agree) that meaningful COAL adjustments are .002 to .005. Every once in a while I might adjust the COAL by .010 but this seems like I am moving the bullet the length of a football field. The only way a shooter will be able to benefit from this situation is to let go of this opinion that more than .010 change is too much (me included).
Trying to find the COAL that puts you in the sweet spot by moving .002 to .010 will take so long the barrel may be worn out by the time you sort it out if you don’t give up first. Since the sweet spot is .030 to .040 wide we recommend that you conduct the following test to find your rifles VLD sweet spot.
Load 24 rounds at the following COAL if you are a target competition shooter who does not worry about jamming a bullet:
1. .010 into (touching) the lands (jam) 6 rounds
2. .040 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
3. .080 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
4. .120 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
Load 24 rounds at the following COAL if you are a hunter (pulling a bullet out of the case with your rifling while in the field can be a hunt ending event which must be avoided) or a competition shooter who worries about pulling a bullet during a match:
1. .010 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
2. .050 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
3. .090 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
4. .130 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
Shoot 2 (separate) 3 shot groups in fair conditions to see how they group. The remarkable reality of this test is that one of these 4 COALs will outperform the other three by a considerable margin. Once you know which one of these 4 COAL shoots best then you can tweak the COAL +/- .002 or .005. Taking the time to set this test up will pay off when you find that your rifle is capable of shooting the VLD bullets very well (even at 100 yards)."
Until we know the OPs chamber dimensions, there is no way to begin to answer the question. However, OP won't truly know if VLDs will or will not shoot from his rifle until he tries them. How OPs rifle shoots the VLDs is the final answer, either rifle shoots VLD well or it doesn't.
I stand by my assessment. You had issues getting the VLDs to shoot well with jump, found your confirmation on the internet to support your bias so problem solved; VLDs must be just off/just kissing to shoot well. You continuing to tell me something I already know to be false only reaffirms my original conclusion.
