Hunting & Fishing 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

[Skyking]

Well I helped a few friends built two 7wsm's. There first custom guns. The guns got finished up two days before there hunt. So did not have a lot of time to developed a load and DOPE for them. We did manage to go out the day before they left for Alaska and hit the steel at 1000 yards. I loaded up there IPhones with Bulletflight and showed them how to use it. Also got them a Kestrel 3500 weather station. Feeling confident with how they where shooting, I was crossing my fingers that they would like there new toys and know how to use the program.

Well here are the pictures for there hunt. They are sold the 7wsm and Nightforce scopes.

9 foot Grizzle. 350 yards. One shoot. Dead!

498 yard one shoot!

250 yard one shoot 7 foot Grizzle

 

[SingleShot85]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies!

Berger Bullets Rock!

 

[oinco]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies!

very nice pics! can't wait to build one myself.

 

[Nortex]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies!

Very nice trophy's.

 

[dpreston]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies!

Wow that's awesome right there. Nice animals.

 

[shanksalot]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies!

cool story!! Great pics!!!

 

[gregsjt]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies!

And some people think 7mm is to small for that kind of hunting...

 

[Cegorach]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies!

That is awesome. Care to share details about the rifles?

 

[jasonahull]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies!

Great pictures. I am a big fan of the 7 wsm and the 180 bergers. Those pictures prove, in my mind, the 7wsm is hard to beat for an all around hunting rifle.

 

[aaronraby1]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies!

awesome!

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

This is a good friend's desert big horn he shoot last week. This is my long range shooting buddy. We practiced all summer at a 1000 yards to make shots like this. 7wsm shooing the 180 Berger 505 yards one shot.

 

[RyeDaddy]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

NICE!

Any exit wounds? The 140 grain VLD's have exited everything I've shot with them out of my 260. Haven't shot anything really large, just curious.

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

The desert big horn had a 4 inch exit hole. With lung and heart stuck to the rocks behind the ram. The sheep had the slug just under the skin on the far side. Both bears had no exit wounds.

 

[VKC]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

What type of barrel contour, length and weight of rigs are these guys running? Thanks.

 

[snave58]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

outstanding critters, sounds like outstanding weapons...thx

 

[Scott H]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Very nice shooting.

 

[Burleyboy]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Nice, I was elk hunting up here in Idaho with B., the guy who shot the 7 footer and he told me he thought he was using the 168 berger, guess it was the 180. What brand of barrel is on his rifle. It looked about like a #4 fluted.

Thanks,
Bb

 

[Chad Ryan]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

what kind of velocity are you getting with the 7wsm

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

We are getting between 2920-2975 fps. They will go faster but this is where they shoot the best.

Here are the latest Berger takings. Gap 7wsm 180 Bergers. 1380 yard cow elk my dad got. Got it on video, hope to post it soon.

My elk 900 yards. One shot dead. We did not get mine kill shot on film. They where filming the wrong elk.

 

[G38]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Elk aren't safe around you or your dad.

 

[ROCKer]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

I just switched over to the Berger 180 VLDs out of my
GAP 7 WSM. George at GAP gave me the load (H4831SC, Winchester Brass, 215M, 62 grains). I shot 5 deer the other morning all over 250 yards. Here's an exit hole from a 140 lb doe at 300 yards.The initial test results are positive for the bullet on whitetails. I shot them in the shoulder, behind the shoulder, and straight up the rear. The rear shot was quartering away and opened up a hole the size of a volley ball!

 

[widowmaker06]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Rocker...that is an amazing exit hole...

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Nice shooting!. Got to love those Bergers.

62g of 4831SC is what I started with, but was getting pressure after a few reloads. Went with H1000 and it fix it.

 

[Tackleberry]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Rocker who poossibly would have talked you into VLD's? I have got to stop listening to your bullet choices and stay with what I know works...VLD's work
Sarge

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

7wsm 180 Vld 655 yards

7wsm 180 Vld 544 yards

7mm Rem mag 168 Vld 150 yards

 

[XTREM HTR16]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Very nice! Is anyone using a GAP non-typical 7WSM? It's high on my wish list...

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Yes! One of the guys i reload for got one in 7wsm. It was in the ready to ship section on Georges web page. It's a good shooting gun. He end up having them put a muzzle brake on it. Also I would have them change the bottom metal to aluminum. That had a steel one in his. No need for the extra weight.

 

[teamr2]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

You guys having results like these with the 30 cal. Bergers? Might try some in my win mag. Thinking about the 185gr.

 

[ROCKer]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Another VLD and GAP kill. I love my new 7 WSM and the 180 Berger VLDs.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

ROCKer,

Great buck! Could you share details on your GAP 7WSM build? Thanks!

 

[ROCKer]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

It's a GAP 7 WSM, Non typical build with the Badger Mag and George had it dipped ATACs Camo for me with OD Cerakote. I'm shooting the load he gave me for 180 VLDs. It's 62g H4831 SC with Winchester brass and Fed 215M. The base and rings are Badger and the scope is a Nightforce NXS 5.5 - 22 x56.

This is my third GAP short mag and without a doubt my favorite! I've shot it out to 1000 yards and it's performing well.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

That is one sweet rig! I'm running a Kimber Montana 7WSM at the moment, saving up for a Non typical...

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Just got this text of Mackezie first elk! What I nice 7x7.
7wsm shooting 180 vld's

 

[robescc]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: teamr2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You guys having results like these with the 30 cal. Bergers? Might try some in my win mag. Thinking about the 185gr. </div></div>

Yes. Two years ago, I shot a doe at the base of the skull and almost took her head off. The 185's are excellent when used with a .300 win mag.

 

[Opticsspecialist]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

nice!

 

[vetski]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Skyking,

How did that VLD perform on the cow elk of your dad's? (Obviously good enough!) Just wondering what kind of expansion you got, considering the fps had to be less than what Berger recommends.

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mike1023</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Skyking,

How did that VLD perform on the cow elk of your dad's? (Obviously good enough!) Just wondering what kind of expansion you got, considering the fps had to be less than what Berger recommends. </div></div>

It took out the left front shoulder and lungs. We did see the bullet impact the snow after it passed through. We never did find the bullet. As you said. It killed it!

 

[MK75]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

That's why I reload Bergers. Don't forget to check out their all new reloading manual. Already preordered mine.

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Both bulls taken Monday mourning within 5 miles of each other, in Utah County.

7wsm Berger 180 vld's 500 yards

300wsm 50 yards.

 

[hamr56]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Very nice bulls! From my experience and the pictures here the Berger VLDs work.

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Another one of my buddies Utah elk shot last night. GAP 7swm 180 vld.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Awesome bulls!

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!


Utah desert big horn. Scored 163 GAP 7wsm Berger 180vld 75 yards.

 

[Longspring]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

This thread is making me want to stuff some VLD's into my 7 STW....

 

[Skyking]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

My Colorado deer.
7wsm 180 vld

 

[TannerGun]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Dude... great buck.

 

[Chopperguy]

Re: 7WSM 180 Berger takes down two Grizzlies and More!

Switched to the 6.5 130 VLD Hunting bullets this year for my pronghorn and deer hunting.

Work as advertised! I use the Target VLDs in my 6.5 target rifle and practice all summer at out to 1000 for fun. It's nice to shoot a hunting bullet that performes exactly the same as your target load. Builds a lot of confidence.

This guy came out at a reasonable distance and only took about a step and a half after the shot.

Not tracking or following up wounded game is nice!

 

[Skyking]

Me and the crew just got back from Alaska on a great bear hunt. We had awesome weather for the icing on the cake. Gap 7wsm 180vld Berger, 300 Ultra mag 190 vld, 300 wsm

 

[lancetkenyon]

How do they perform at high velocity and closer ranges? I saw the 50 yd. elk.

I have been considering switching from the Barnes 180gr. XBT to 190 gr. Berger's in my .300RUM for a while. Also building a 7mmSTW and thought about the 140 & 168 gr. pills.

I have to stick with solid copper (or at least "non-lead") bullets for one of the units I occasionally get to hunt though, so Berger's are out for that area. But I have a few other choices of rifles for that hunt anyway.

 

[elkregulator]

While I love the 180 berger on steel and have used bergers on big game with success, I would still be hesitant to use them on a once in a lifetime hunt (dall, stone, griz). Thanks for sharing, the pics above boost my confidence in them.