Berger 7mm 180 VLD Hybrids for hunting

[UNCLEDAN25]

I was wondering if anyone had issues with using the hybrids for hunting 125lb mule deer. I know they are not recommended for hunting but I have a hard time believing that a bullet regardless of the Design that hits at 800yards at 2,103lbs of energy wont get the job done. still traveling at 2,294fps

Any thoughts? better yet any photos of kills with these VLD hybrid bullets?

Thanks in advance

 

[UNCLEDAN25]

Re: Berger 7mm 180 VLD Hybrids for hunting

^^^

 

[JRWALLSIII]

Re: Berger 7mm 180 VLD Hybrids for hunting

You are asking for trouble.

Could it kill...HEll yes!!!!

Could it not expand at all and leave a pencil sized hole....Yes

The better question is why would you not just load up some 180 Hunting VLDs? A chamber cut for a hybrid will work fine with a VLD.

I use and own both bullets.

Nothing kills like a 180 VLD in my experience

 

[UNCLEDAN25]

Re: Berger 7mm 180 VLD Hybrids for hunting

Are the VLD hunting bullets made to expand or are they the ones that are made to shed 80% of the weight in scrapnul?

 

[JRWALLSIII]

Re: Berger 7mm 180 VLD Hybrids for hunting

Hunting VLDs have a thin jacket. They expand, and yes they shed 80% or more of the original weight. I have killed several critters with a 180 grain VLD. I have yet to have one animal take a step. Accuracy is superb.

The hunting version is actually the original target bullet that Berger offered. With todays boom in fast twist, high velocity, and big magnums; Berger was having trouble in rare cases of jacket seperation before reaching the target. They created a thick jacket version ( now the target version) to fix that issue.

During hunting testing it was discovered that the thin (original jacket) killed cleaner than the new thick jacket. I have heard of several bad results when using the target version for hunting. So Berger now makes a hunting version and target version. Either one shoots as good as the other. If you are multitasking I would run the hunting bullets 100% of the time.