Berger VLD vs Elite Hunter – What are you guys seeing?

[Don@HSM]

I wanted to kick off a discussion that comes up a lot when guys start stretching things out on western hunts—especially as more hunters get comfortable past 400–500 yards. Which Berger bullet do you land on and why?


Both the VLD and the Elite Hunter bullets flat-out work. But there are differences.
Curious where everyone’s landed on this and what factors you are considering most when picking between the two?
- Higher BC?
- Grain weight options?
- Or simply what shoots best through your rifle?



There’s a lot of real-world experience on here—let’s hear it.

 

[MagnumHntr]

Berger LRHT now. 6mm, 25 and 6.5

 

[HuntHarder]

Both are incredibly deadly in my experience.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Hybrid Target

 

[Axlrod]

I landed on the 7mm 180 hunter and then the 30 cal 215 Hybrid. Then the 6mm 115 Dtac and finnaly nirvana - 6mm 116 TMK!

 

[Fireflyfishing]

The only animals I lost…3 in a row were from the 210 VLD. I’m not sure what happened as I never recovered the animals. Stopped using them and started killing animals again. Since then, I have killed a deer each with a 168 VLDH and a 85.5 Hyb. They worked fine. I really like how easy it is to tune the hybrid bullets.

 

[ccsumner78]

I used the 300 prc 205 Elite Hunter in my MT bull elk at 475 yards. double lung shot went 20 yards and doubled up.
I have been very impressed on the Pigg River range with the Elite a hunters in 6.5 and 30 cal.
no experiences to compare with VLD but I'm not switching anything load development wise but results have been flawless with white tail and the 1 elk

 

[sierracharlie338]

For me it’s what shoots best in my rifle. I’ve dabbled in several flavors such as 130vldh, 140eh, 105 hybrids, 95 classic, 135lrht, 115vld, 168 classic and of course the devastating 215 hybrid, recording kills with every one of them. I’m a Berger fan especially when it comes to accuracy.

 

[Flyjunky]

215, 156, 140…all devastating, I have yet to shoot an animal twice.

I’m building a 6mm for my daughter and she’ll be hopefully shooting the 108.

 

[Quandary]

I have found that the Elite Hunters are easier to tune for when developing my loads. Consequently if I were to buy a commercial cartridge I would go with an EH as I would guess it has a higher probability of shooting well in the randomness of finding a commercial load that shoots in my rifle.

 

[doverpack12]

If I’m shooting Berger I want a Hybrid jacket bullet not a VLD. (Most classic hunters, elite hunters are hybrid jackets) Plenty of sectioned bullet data to show the VLD is much thinner.
In my experience you can push VLD too hard and have issues with on game performance. Ignore the Berger label of Hunter, Target, Orange box, yellow box and figure out what the actual jacket design is.

With Bergers I also want to tailor my weight or velocity to keep the bullet in a good velocity performance window for each specific cartridge and barrel combo. High end 2850 impact velocity max (little less is better) down to 2000 fps.

 

[Don@HSM]

If I’m shooting Berger I want a Hybrid jacket bullet not a VLD. (Most classic hunters, elite hunters are hybrid jackets) Plenty of sectioned bullet data to show the VLD is much thinner.
In my experience you can push VLD too hard and have issues with on game performance. Ignore the Berger label of Hunter, Target, Orange box, yellow box and figure out what the actual jacket design is.

With Bergers I also want to tailor my weight or velocity to keep the bullet in a good velocity performance window for each specific cartridge and barrel combo. High end 2850 impact velocity max (little less is better) down to 2000 fps.

As far as jacket design is concerned, Berger runs their J4 hunting jacket thinner than the target options as per their website, which of course can lead to a different level of bullet fragmentation/ expansion than a thicker jacket.

I agree, impact velocity is king, and the thinner jackets have performed fantastically for me personally at a variety of distances, but gives me the extra confidence they will expand/ fragment properly at lower impact velocities. I personally don't think you need to load these bullets super hot due to their ability to excel at lower velocity. That is a big part of our philosophy for how we load them at HSM!

 

[bcmntgoathunter.]

Altho the heavy for caliber vlds are nice id definitely prefer the hybrid targets my 7mm prc and 28 nosler both run 180 target hybrids excellent results on wt and mule deer black bear moose and elk. My 300 prc was mainly 245 eols at 2875 took elk and black bear my 6.5 prc ran the 140 hunting vld first then I moved to the 140 target hybrid and got much better terminal performance deer,elk mainly. And my 6.5x300 wby 140 target hy rids and 156 eol absolutely fantastic. My 30 378 wby 215 target hybrids and 230 otm are great. Over all the hybrid designs win and perform much better.

 

[wind gypsy]

I haven't purchase a VLD in quite a few years. Not because they didn't work well though.

Hard to not start with something designed around being insensitive to seating depth when that option exists.

 

[cole96]

I had mixed results with the 180 vldh this year. Multiple pigs and deer with solid performance, but did lose one. I am ultimately unsure as to what happened but it is the only deer out of probably 150-200 kills I have lost with a gun
The bullet is the only thing denominator that was different

 

[bcmntgoathunter.]

I had mixed results with the 180 vldh this year. Multiple pigs and deer with solid performance, but did lose one. I am ultimately unsure as to what happened but it is the only deer out of probably 150-200 kills I have lost with a gun
The bullet is the only thing denominator that was different

Altho the vlds are a great bullet as far as terminal performance gose their hybrids and target hybrids are the way to roll most likly the 180 vld was it 7mm? Went in 3-4" then started to expand... deer arnt very wide so most likly really only destroy 1 lung. I absolutely love bergers but now shoot only their hybrid designs. And have been for years.

 

[cole96]

Altho the vlds are a great bullet as far as terminal performance gose their hybrids and target hybrids are the way to roll most likly the 180 vld was it 7mm? Went in 3-4" then started to expand... deer arnt very wide so most likly really only destroy 1 lung. I absolutely love bergers but now shoot only their hybrid designs. And have been for years.

Yessir 7mm. I actually have hybrids I am working up now. Deer hit the ground. Got there to get him and no deer. I knew that typically leads to not finding him. Came with a dog 18 hours later and jumped him and the rest is history. Hoping to find a dead head.

I’ve noticed it seems people seem to prefer the hybrid. Is the expansion more consistent or rapid?

 

[bcmntgoathunter.]

Yessir 7mm. I actually have hybrids I am working up now. Deer hit the ground. Got there to get him and no deer. I knew that typically leads to not finding him. Came with a dog 18 hours later and jumped him and the rest is history. Hoping to find a dead head.

I’ve noticed it seems people seem to prefer the hybrid. Is the expansion more consistent or rapid?

Yes I ran the 180 target hybrids is my 7mm prc 10" barrel 2812 on black bear mule deer and elk and moose with absolutely outstanding results. Also ran then out of a 27" 28 nosler same thing the 180 vlds do work but typically would run them on elk and moose bigger game but the target hybrids shot more accurately and terminal results are better so now thats all I shoot. Plus the 215 target hybrids and 230 otm. And in 6.5x300 wby use the 140 target hybrids and 130 otm.

 

[solarshooter]

Have had great luck with Hybrid ogive Bergers from various lines. They just shoot well in everything. And they tend to have higher BCs. The VLDs are an older design. Litz has been focused on Hybrids for 10+ years now. I could see going with a thicker jacket "Hybrid" for some applications. I would not pick the LRHT or anything that's been pointed, since closed tips are the one Achilles heel of Berger terminal performance.

 

[bcmntgoathunter.]

Have had great luck with Hybrid ogive Bergers from various lines. They just shoot well in everything. And they tend to have higher BCs. The VLDs are an older design. Litz has been focused on Hybrids for 10+ years now. I could see going with a thicker jacket "Hybrid" for some applications. I would not pick the LRHT or anything that's been pointed, since closed tips are the one Achilles heel of Berger terminal performance.

Yeah the 215 hybrid was pretty effective out my 30-378 at 3180 fps could push it fast but it shot exceptional well at that speed.... and the 230 otm is a wrecking ball i wish berger made a 110-115 target hybrid in 257 so I could use it in my wby that rifles shooting 115 ballistic tip ct and 110 accubonds atm.