Berger Bullets for Sheep Hunting - Yes or No?

[Ivory]

I don't want to start a hard debate and I'm sure there are different opinions out there but I want to know what some of you much more experienced reloaders and marksmen think about Berger bullets for sheep hunting with a 7mm RM.

As compared to bullets like a Nosler AB, Partition, Hornady IB, ELD-X.

Range 0 - 400 yards.

I'm brand new to Berger bullets and have been just recently starting to work on loads with the 168gr Hunting VLDs. I'm getting very good results but have no idea how they perform on animals like a mountain sheep, especially if it's a less than perfect shot...?

I'll have a lot invested into the hunt and just want to make sure I take the right bullets. Thanks for the responses!

 

[Stid2677]

If 400 is your max, I would use the AB or Partition. Bergers are designed more to fly than to kill, and since you plan on making shots that are about 1/2 the range of that bullet and it not really a hunting bullet (even though they kill fine) I would go with a bullet that might work better on a Grizzly if you should have the need and I know for sure that ABs kill sheep and bears.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I would not hesitate to shoot a sheep with a 168 VLD. All of the above are great hunting bullets including the bergers. As you know, you'll get a ton of different responses----you'll like one of them more than the others.

Randy

 

[Yellowknife]

Sheep are smallish animals. Out of a 7 mag, I'd think almost anything will work fine at <400 yds. I tend to overthink bullet decisions myself, but really you can't go too wrong.

I've only taken a couple animals with Bergers myself. Full penetration on all shots so far (mountain goat and caribou). Same could be said for the sheep (and other goats) I've seen killed with partitions, accubonds, and even speer mag-tips. I might use Bergers again this year in a .308 for a sheep hunt. Can't see why they wouldn't work.

Biggest reason to avoid a Berger might be if you want to avoid lead in your meat. In that case, a mono would be the ticket.

And if Grizz season is open, then Steve has a point. In the areas I hunt it doesn't open until Sept though, so the bullet only needs to work good enough to keep one from actively chewing on my leg.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Biggest reason to avoid a Berger might be if you want to avoid lead in your meat. In that case, a mono would be the ticket.

I like the 145LRX for this role in my 7s.


Main consideration on the VLD is it penetrates a few inches and then comes apart. This certainly will scramble internals if that is where it has entered into, however if you hit a quarter shot or something that might occur midway through a shoulder instead. So just factor that into how you use the bullet. Similarly monos need a bit more impact velocity for reliable expansion (no issue <400yd from a 7mm RM) so that factors into that bullet.

 

[84toyota]

I shoot that exact bullet out of my 7mm WSM and I have really liked the performance. I have killed two blacktail deer and two mule deer, and one elk with the bullet. 3 deer were under 100 yards, 1 deer was just over 200 yards. The elk was 75 yards. The deer were all bang flop kills, well placed shots, with no real meat loss. The elk I shot twice - the first shot rocked it, his knees were wobbling, and he was dead on his feet - but I gave him a second round to anchor him because I didn't want to chase him if he didn't go down. But I don't hunt grizzly country... you might want a more solid bullet for that!

 

[idig4au]

If 400 is your max, I would use the AB or Partition. Bergers are designed more to fly than to kill, and since you plan on making shots that are about 1/2 the range of that bullet and it not really a hunting bullet (even though they kill fine) I would go with a bullet that might work better on a Grizzly if you should have the need and I know for sure that ABs kill sheep and bears.

What he said. I would focus more on bullet performance than B.C. for the ranges you want to shoot. I'm not a fan of Bergers as I don't like bullets that are designed to shed weight regardless how they group on paper. I use Barnes TTSX on most of my sheep hunts with excellent results. AB and partitions are also outstanding hunting bullets.

 

[jwb300]

I shot 5 animals and had 1 complete failure, 3 underwhelming results and 1 satisfactory result with 175 VLD Hunting. The animals were as follows: Failure - large mountain boar - shoulder shot on the fighting pad - projie failed to penetrate and I lost the pig. 3 poor results - feral goats - failed to penetrate on soft skinned goats, just exploded and disintegrated - nil exits -retained weight from the largest fragment was 40g. 1 ok result - on a Chamois which is a small thin skinned animal - projie disintegrated and was probably lucky it slipped through the ribs. All shots were sub 150yds. Just my experiences so feel free to disregard. I personally think they are one of the poorest performing projectiles on the market. I wouldn't risk a sheep hunt on a Berger.

 

[Ivory]

All great information. Thanks for the replies guys. My decision is really down to 168gr VLDs or 160 regular spitzer Accubonds as I have enough of both on hand to shoot all summer and hunt with.

I've killed numerous animals with the AB's and they have worked well, but after trying the VLD's for the first time a couple months ago, they are more accurate in my rifle than the AB's, but I've never hunted with them.

 

[fire arrow]

Every animal that I have shot (small hogs up to elk ) have all been DRT with Berger's. The only thing I will every day about them that is not 100% positive is keep your shot away from the front shoulder if you are meat hunting, because that front, or both, quarters are done. Past this I would buy both and work up a load for each and let your rifle tell you which one you should use, and spend as much time as you can shooting up/down hill, and cross canyon shots. Get used to shooting in the wind.

 

[4ester]

I have killed and witnessed dozens of antelope, elk, and deer killed with a VLD. Shots ranging from point blank to 1300 yards. Great bullet for sheep. Hunt with confidence. Any bullet will fail if not placed in the goods.


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[GKPrice]

Personally, if the rifle I was going to use for a specific hunt shot VLD's into 1/2" and Accubonds into 1 1/2" I'd use the Accubonds without hesitation

 

[luke moffat]

Personally, if the rifle I was going to use for a specific hunt shot VLD's into 1/2" and Accubonds into 1 1/2" I'd use the Accubonds without hesitation

Man not me!! For sheep, deer, and caribou I would use the most accurate "hunting" bullet I found my gun to shoot. They are all easy to kill animals and certainly don't require a bonded bullet.

For bears and goats I will stick with bonded or other such quality stout bullets like aframes, accubonds, scirocco, partition and the like but for easy to kill critters that might be shot at longer ranger I would take 1/2 MOA vlds all day long.

 

[GKPrice]

Man not me!! For sheep, deer, and caribou I would use the most accurate "hunting" bullet I found my gun to shoot. They are all easy to kill animals and certainly don't require a bonded bullet.

For bears and goats I will stick with bonded or other such quality stout bullets like aframes, accubonds, scirocco, partition and the like but for easy to kill critters that might be shot at longer ranger I would take 1/2 MOA vlds all day long.

VLD's are too messy for me .....