Berger 180 Hybrid Expansion

[TxLite]

What is the minimum velocity you guys are seeing expansion at? I’ve read 1800fps as a rule of thumb but wanted to see from those that have used them.

I worked up a load in my 18” 7prc that has been consistently accurate and low SD’s, but velocity is lacking at 2620fps. I don’t have a ton of time available to continue tweaking the load so I am considering rolling with it for whitetail and Antelope. At the altitude I plan to hunt at, the Berger calculator shows this bullet holding 1850fps at 800 yards which is further than I intend to shoot this rifle.

 

[TxLite]

Just wanted to follow up on this post in case anyone is considering these for game. Short answer, they’ve worked great so far, and I will continue to use them.

So far this season I’ve used this rifle on 2 pronghorn and 1 whitetail buck. Was able to witness all impacts through the scope. One antelope at 400 yards, one at 261. The whitetail was at 220.

400 yard pronghorn was shot by my wife. Was quartering to, hit slightly back, exited way back. Antelope ran 20 yards and nosedived. Vitals were destroyed with chunks of shattered bone in chest cavity.

Golfball exit with rear leg visible in top of pic:


Mine was at 261, Antelope was facing me slightly turned, hit left side of chest, .284 entrance, bullet did not exit. Antelope hunched up and fell in his tracks.



Whitetail buck this weekend hit scapula, 220 yards, .284 entrance, opened up behind scapula, 2 exits side by side. Buck dropped in his tracks.
.284 Entrance:


Entrance hole behind scapula:


Exit:

 

[bpeay4]

Thank you for showing would channels and describing the damage. So often are people showing pics of the bullet they recover and singing high praise about the "perfect mushroom" "bullet retention" blah blah blah...

I do not care one bit what the bullet looks like. I want to see what the bullet did to the animal.

 

[TxLite]

Thank you for showing would channels and describing the damage. So often are people showing pics of the bullet they recover and singing high praise about the "perfect mushroom" "bullet retention" blah blah blah...

I do not care one bit what the bullet looks like. I want to see what the bullet did to the animal.

No problem. I’m pleased with performance even with the slow muzzle velocity in this rifle

 

[sierracharlie338]

Glad you rolled with it and had some success. I was in the same boat a while back and made it work with the load I had and killed the biggest deer Ill probably ever kill. Congrats on the meat in the freezer!

 

[deadwolf]

I use the 180 hybrid in my 7 saum at 2800 fps, works like a champ with results near the same as yours.


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[TxLite]

I use the 180 hybrid in my 7 saum at 2800 fps, works like a champ with results near the same as yours.

I might try the 180 eld’s and see how they do. That BC is pretty appealing.

But the hybrids have worked fantastic for me so far

 

[deadwolf]

I tried the 175 eldx and it didn’t shoot well in my rifle. Haven’t tried eldms as the hybrid was so good. Easy to tune. I have some 175 elite hunters to try, but it would just be for comparison at this point.

Shot my muley in MT in 2022 with the 180 hybrid at 1034yds. Bullet speed in the ballpark of 1600fps, bullet entered just behind shoulder and went straight through, quarter sized hole in the opposite side. That particular deer went about 50 yards laid down, then got up briefly to try to follow his does, laid down again and expired.


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[TxLite]

I tried the 175 eldx and it didn’t shoot well in my rifle. Haven’t tried eldms as the hybrid was so good. Easy to tune. I have some 175 elite hunters to try, but it would just be for comparison at this point.

Shot my muley in MT in 2022 with the 180 hybrid at 1034yds. Bullet speed in the ballpark of 1600fps, bullet entered just behind shoulder and went straight through, quarter sized hole in the opposite side. That particular deer went about 50 yards laid down, then got up briefly to try to follow his does, laid down again and expired.


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Hell of a poke. Good shot

I’ve got some 175 EH. They shot well but I haven’t tested them on game yet

 

[KelsoBrowny]

Shooting the 180 Hybrids at 2902. First year this year with them. 2 Muley Bucks @ 375, 715 and 2 Whitetail does (315, 497). All 4 were dropped on impact.

Muley at 375 was hit high lung. dropped him. About half a baseball sized exit, and turned his lungs to soup. Muley at 715 was shot high lung, and destroyed the top half of his backside shoulder - No exit, and was finding shrapnel inside. Doe at 497 was shot quartered toward, blew out the top of her backside shoulder. Doe at 315 was my buddies first deer (shot the wrong one) - Hit back of liver, through the guts, through the top of the back hind quarter with an exit - And it still jellied the lungs a bit.

Overall was extremely impressed this year with the bullet.

 

[deadwolf]

Hell of a poke. Good shot

I’ve got some 175 EH. They shot well but I haven’t tested them on game yet

Absolutely perfect conditions for that one, and I don’t think I’d do it again. 3300’ elevation, 15 degrees, not a breath of wind.


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[deadwolf]

Short little Berger video

I LOVE Berger Hybrids : )


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[Slick8]

I'm a berger hybrid fan and started shooting them in a 7 saum two years ago. My farthest shot is 540 at 8k so no where near bottom of velocity threshold with a MV of 2840. This was on a mule y quartering to me. Bullet entered the shoulder and exited just at the back rib. Deer took a few steps and rolled.

I personally set a minimum velocity threshold of 2k as an additional insurance margin.

You stated 1850 at 800 which is on the edge but farther than you say you plan to shoot this rig. So you should be money. If you wanted to add a little insurance you could trim the meplat. There's an estimated 2% loss of bc and its more explosive up close but more reliable at distance.

It's all a compromise in one way or another.