Another Berger Bullet Failure

[Team Roper]

Saturday morning my Grandson had a Berger bullet failure it failed to exit, it failed to leave a blood trail, it failed to help him learn any tracking skills. I guess when they die in the tracks they are standing in you don't need a blood trail or any tracking skills. 115 gr VLD 3100fps 60yds. So much for the internet rumors that Bergers' are only good long range bullets.

[denowt]

I've never understood why some people insist on an exit wound with a bullet.

If a bullet does not exit, that means that ALL of it's energy was expended inside the animal.
At 100 yards, even a .223 has right at 1000 ft-lbs of energy. A .30-06 has over 2000 ft-lbs all the way out to almost 300 yards.

What's the point of shooting a magnum, super-fast ammo, if all it will do better is put a bigger hole in the tree behind the animal?

In my somewhat limited experience, the shortest tracking jobs, either DRT or less than 50 yards, all either hit the spine and/or the bullet was later recovered during skinning/deboning.

A couple of years ago, while helping my brother clean a buck, we found his perfectly mushroomed .308 bullet just under the skin on the off side. The buck fell where he stood when shot.

[Jethro]

115 VLD, that must be in a 25 of some flavor. Obviously you are having good results with them. I use the 115 Ballistic Tip in dad's 25-06. I know the Berger is slicker, but the BT was dad's kill everything load, and I just can't make myself change it for sentimental reasons. Besides, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. He had over 225 dead 'yotes logged in his journal to that rifle/load.

I am using the Berger 130 Hunting VLD in my .260, I like it a lot. I think for a high BC hunting bullet, the hunting VLD is pretty hard to beat when you look at the total package of accuracy/BC/terminal ballistics.

[Outback77]

Seems like your sold! Congrats

[Team Roper]

Yes Jethro it was a 25-06

[bboswell]

Sounds like a great failure!

[Team Roper]

I have come to expect this kind of failure after using Bergers for the last 6 yrs.

[trophy8]

this was not at all what i was expecting when i opened this thread haha. Congrats!!

[Mike D]

I've never understood why some people insist on an exit wound with a bullet.

If a bullet does not exit, that means that ALL of it's energy was expended inside the animal.
At 100 yards, even a .223 has right at 1000 ft-lbs of energy. A .30-06 has over 2000 ft-lbs all the way out to almost 300 yards.

What's the point of shooting a magnum, super-fast ammo, if all it will do better is put a bigger hole in the tree behind the animal?

In my somewhat limited experience, the shortest tracking jobs, either DRT or less than 50 yards, all either hit the spine and/or the bullet was later recovered during skinning/deboning.

A couple of years ago, while helping my brother clean a buck, we found his perfectly mushroomed .308 bullet just under the skin on the off side. The buck fell where he stood when shot.

Because not all animals drop in their tracks or within sight. 2 holes leave more blood than one.

[Boomerang]

I've never understood why some people insist on an exit wound with a bullet.

If a bullet does not exit, that means that ALL of it's energy was expended inside the animal.
At 100 yards, even a .223 has right at 1000 ft-lbs of energy. A .30-06 has over 2000 ft-lbs all the way out to almost 300 yards.

What's the point of shooting a magnum, super-fast ammo, if all it will do better is put a bigger hole in the tree behind the animal?

In my somewhat limited experience, the shortest tracking jobs, either DRT or less than 50 yards, all either hit the spine and/or the bullet was later recovered during skinning/deboning.

A couple of years ago, while helping my brother clean a buck, we found his perfectly mushroomed .308 bullet just under the skin on the off side. The buck fell where he stood when shot.

BINGO!!!

If you can get a large caliber to fragment and not exit, then it will REALLY kill them. Having any bullet exit, you have not delivered 100% of the energy. Having it fragment into the vitals just takes away all the potential for them to run. A .22-250 is excellent for this. The .220 Swift is faster. The .223 sometimes drops them but not as much energy so they can run 60+ yards or take a bit to expire if the shot isn't placed well.

Shooting a sabot out of a .308 diameter bore with a .224 diameter bullet puts a hurt on them.

[Boomerang]

Because not all animals drop in their tracks or within sight. 2 holes leave more blood than one.

True, a .22LR rimfire will not exit and usually does not drop an animal in its tracks. I have seen a few hogs get hit that fall over (rare occasion). It is all about speed, bullet type helps the velocity obviously.

[cbrown]

Saturday morning my Grandson had a Berger bullet failure it failed to exit, it failed to leave a blood trail, it failed to help him learn any tracking skills. I guess when they die in the tracks they are standing in you don't need a blood trail or any tracking skills. 115 gr VLD 3100fps 60yds. So much for the internet rumors that Bergers' are only good long range bullets.

I've had a few fail out of my 257 Weatherby and 6.5 Creedmoor just like you experienced... I walked over to where the deer and pigs were standing each time and could not find any blood at all... So I quit looking and just picked the animal up and put it in the truck!

[kcmarullo]

I load 168 gr vld bergers in my 7 STW it kills them pretty dead ! I also shoot 55 gr berger hollow points in my 22-250 still no gripes

[thorshammer]

Hate it when that happens.

Never had a problem with my Berger's.

[Txnrog]

So if it won't pass through on a broadside, how's it going to do on a hard angle shot?