BERGER bullets

[Formidilosus]

About a half inch right.

Center to center was like .3 something.

 

[elkguide]

Center to center was like .3 something.

Still to the right!











Definitely a good shooting rifle and shooter!

 

[Formidilosus]

Still to the right!

grin.... You are correct.

 

[draebi]

185gr Juggernauts.


2072fps impact velocity. Quartering to- Entrance through scapula, at least 20in of penetration. Traveled approximately 70 yards.









2218fps impact. Slight quartering away- entrance tight behind near scapula, exit as shown. Traveled about 10-15 yards.










Juggernauts have the thicker Target jacket, and typically penetrate a bit deeper than VLD's before upsetting.

In your experience are these more consistent performers on game than 168 or 178 ELDs?

 

[Kimber7man]

How do the 200.20X compare to the 185 (beside the 15 grain difference ), any hunting success?

 

[Formidilosus]

In your experience are these more consistent performers on game than 168 or 178 ELDs?

No. Well, yes they are consistent (185gr Juggs) in that they penetrate more than ELD-M’s, but they also do not fragment nearly as much as standard VLD’s.

 

[draebi]

No. Well, yes they are consistent (185gr Juggs) in that they penetrate more than ELD-M’s, but they also do not fragment nearly as much as standard VLD’s.

Thanks, I'm looking for the best bullets to try stretching out my 30-06 Tikka without giving up good close range penetration. With the 11 twist barrel I'm limited a bit. If the 168 or 178 eld-m will consistently penetrate well on close range shots I will probably stop there but if those aren't holding together up close(where the majority of hunting shots take place) then maybe the Juggs or VLD's should be what I focus on. Planned use will be for Elk size critters if that sways your opinion one way or another.

 

[JeffRaines]

Thanks, I'm looking for the best bullets to try stretching out my 30-06 Tikka without giving up good close range penetration. With the 11 twist barrel I'm limited a bit. If the 168 or 178 eld-m will consistently penetrate well on close range shots I will probably stop there but if those aren't holding together up close(where the majority of hunting shots take place) then maybe the Juggs or VLD's should be what I focus on. Planned use will be for Elk size critters if that sways your opinion one way or another.

Don’t discount heavier offerings if you’d like heavier. A buddy of mine runs the 212 eldx in his stock tikka 300wm with zero issues out to 1100 at sea level.

I’m in the middle of load development with the 205s in my 300wsm and they aren’t flying sideways at sea level.

 

[Formidilosus]

Thanks, I'm looking for the best bullets to try stretching out my 30-06 Tikka without giving up good close range penetration. With the 11 twist barrel I'm limited a bit. If the 168 or 178 eld-m will consistently penetrate well on close range shots I will probably stop there but if those aren't holding together up close(where the majority of hunting shots take place) then maybe the Juggs or VLD's should be what I focus on. Planned use will be for Elk size critters if that sways your opinion one way or another.

The 168 and 178gr ELD-M’s are very effective. On deer no issues other than meat loss if you hit bone. On elk, they’re a bit splashy for normal hunting ranges. The ELD-X’s or heavier ELD-M’s would be better. People make more out of the twist thing with Tikkas than is real. They work fine with 210’ish grain VLD’s. Also, the 185gr Juggernaut is a very good bullet. One of the top 30cals bullets IME due it being extremely predictable at all ranges. 0-600+ for hunting from an 30-06 would work well.

 

[robtattoo]

I'm sorry, i'm comparing apples to hubcaps here, but my experience with 140gn VLD hunters from my 6.5 Swede have put me off the the things for life. I've shot 5 whitetail with them, from 80 to 260yds. Every one was a broadside, double lung hit & bone have gone less than 100yds. I had an exit wound one 2 (I forget the ranges) but they were unimpressive. Internal damage has been explosive, but penetration & wound depth was not.
3/10. Do not recommend.

 

[Formidilosus]

I'm sorry, i'm comparing apples to hubcaps here, but my experience with 140gn VLD hunters from my 6.5 Swede have put me off the the things for life. I've shot 5 whitetail with them, from 80 to 260yds. Every one was a broadside, double lung hit & bone have gone less than 100yds. I had an exit wound one 2 (I forget the ranges) but they were unimpressive. Internal damage has been explosive, but penetration & wound depth was not.
3/10. Do not recommend.

That’s what they’re supposed to do. They penetrate 2-4” even through bone, the nose collapses, and then they fragment violently.

 

[wind gypsy]

Thanks, I'm looking for the best bullets to try stretching out my 30-06 Tikka without giving up good close range penetration. With the 11 twist barrel I'm limited a bit. If the 168 or 178 eld-m will consistently penetrate well on close range shots I will probably stop there but if those aren't holding together up close(where the majority of hunting shots take place) then maybe the Juggs or VLD's should be what I focus on. Planned use will be for Elk size critters if that sways your opinion one way or another.

I'd look at 180 berger extreme hunter for a 30-06.

 

[robtattoo]

From a 4/6 test set, i'd say that's half right.
They penetrate 2-4" then explode, as described. But in my admittedly limited test set, they don't go a whole lot further AFTER they explode.

I've never hit bone with one, so can't comment on that.

 

[draebi]

The 168 and 178gr ELD-M’s are very effective. On deer no issues other than meat loss if you hit bone. On elk, they’re a bit splashy for normal hunting ranges. The ELD-X’s or heavier ELD-M’s would be better. People make more out of the twist thing with Tikkas than is real. They work fine with 210’ish grain VLD’s. Also, the 185gr Juggernaut is a very good bullet. One of the top 30cals bullets IME due it being extremely predictable at all ranges. 0-600+ for hunting from an 30-06 would work well.

I'll start with the Juggs and see if the rifle likes them. Thanks

 

[draebi]

I'd look at 180 berger extreme hunter for a 30-06.

Have you compared these with the 185 Juggs Form is suggesting? Sounds like you are both suggesting 180-185 Bergers so that's where I'll start. Thanks

 

[Montana Craig]

You all in these forums have helped me so much with everything I thought I would share my experience with Bergers. I've been feeding my 270 win with federal premium Bergers hunter hybrid 140 grains. The accuracy is the best I've found with factory ammo and it's a huge confidence booster.

Ewe I took at ~120 yds she took 3 good shots (all shots were kill shots but being in sheep country a few steps can make retrieval a huge pain in the ass). First shot through a gap in the ribs and out the bottom of the ribs opposite side, 2nd shot went through gap in ribs and out opposite shoulder, the third shot she turned towards me and took it in the front shoulder and was stuck in the opposite side in the hide halfway back. The lungs and heart were just liquid.

Antelope I took at 200 yds I hit a little high 2/3 up the body just behind the shoulder this hit a rib and it created a ton of damage before exiting opposite side with some backstrap damage. The antelope just fell over.

Whitetail Deer I took at 80 yards hit a rib and exited through opposite shoulder. Deer fell right over. This ruined about half of the front shoulder.

Elk I took around 200 yds was quartered towards me I hit it at the edge of the shoulder blade near the neck. It went less than 80 yds. I never found the bullet but when cutting off the neck meat I accidentally punctured the chest cavity and it was a fire hose of blood. I assumed I had gotten the heart however when removing the ribs I noticed the lungs on one side looked good so I checked the heart and it was untouched. Here's a pic of the elk shoulder and the heart.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[wind gypsy]

Have you compared these with the 185 Juggs Form is suggesting? Sounds like you are both suggesting 180-185 Bergers so that's where I'll start. Thanks

The 185 Juggernauts are in their target line, the name comes from the fact that they transition into subsonic speeds nicely for folks shooting a long ways with small cartridges like 308s.

The 180 EH is a hunting line bullet with presumably a thinner jacket and has the best form factor of any berger 30 cal hunting bullet besides the 245. It is a slippery sucker with a better BC and you'd be able to push to a faster velocity than the Juggs.

I don't have input on terminal ballistics but my guess is that the juggs would be a bit tougher.