Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

[GUNENTHUSIAST]

Anyone know the difference between the VLD Hunting and the VLD Match bullets?
The 6.5mm 140 grain Match and Hunting both have the same dimensions and BC.
I plan on using them for mostly match shooting, but if I can get just as much accuracy out of either bullet I would rather have one I can use for hunting as well.
Anyone with first hand experience?

Thanks!

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

I asked the same question a while back. The answer I recieved was jacket thickness. I was told that the match jacket is heavier and won't expand in a soft target. The hunting jacket is thinner and will deform. This was in one of the hunting with match bullets threads.

 

[GUNENTHUSIAST]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

Are the Hunting bullets shooting as tight of groups as the Match bullets?

 

[Ouch!!]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GUNENTHUSIAST</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are the Hunting bullets shooting as tight of groups as the Match bullets? </div></div>

Yes, they go where you point them.

 

[frankythefly]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

Match bullets have thinner copper jackets this makes it easier to have a more uniform jacket around the lead core. However thin copper jackets nearly explode when they hit a soft tissue target ruining a lot of meat. Hunting bullets will never be as accurate as as match just because of the inconsistency of having a thicker copper jacket. The thicker the jacket the more of a chance you will have one side thicker than the other.
However having said that the Berger hunting bullets have been known to provide accuracy results nearly identical as their match cousins. My friend loads the 210 berger VLD hunting bullets just because he has found that the weight is more consistent and so are the bullet points/ overall length. Most people's will not see a difference in results between the two. So stick with the hunting bullet.

 

[torch338]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

On the berger web site they have a write up about the difference. It is on the main page left hand side in a box in berger bulletin latest news. It will explain it all.

 

[vman]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

Make up a load with the match bullets and use those for your paper punching, but keep a box of equivalent hunting bullets around. When you need to drop some game, just load up your normal match go-to round with the hunting projectiles instead...Vuola! You now have long range hunting ammo

 

[GUNENTHUSIAST]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

vman,
Your a pretty smart guy.
It will work as long as they have the same POI.

 

[GUNENTHUSIAST]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

torch338,

Thanks for the link, It helped explain a lot.

 

[Playerz1337]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

Yeah, makes sense that the jackets are different.

But I found something odd about Hornady's website on Amax. In the generic description page with the pictures of Amax bullets, it says thin jacket for quick expansion. But in the bullet catalog where you look up BC/etc it says "*Match bullets are not recommended for hunting medium & large game".

They do work great on whitetail (even small caliber).

 

[SingleShot85]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Make up a load with the match bullets and use those for your paper punching, but keep a box of equivalent hunting bullets around. When you need to drop some game, just load up your normal match go-to round with the hunting projectiles instead...Vuola! You now have long range hunting ammo

</div></div>

or

just use the hunting bullet as you match load, bc's are the same according to the site and the price is the same, then you'll never have to worry about it.

which is my plan for my 300wsm and the 185 Berger!!!!

 

[vman]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GUNENTHUSIAST</div><div class="ubbcode-body">vman,
Your a pretty smart guy.
It will work as long as they have the same POI. </div></div>

They should have a similar POI I would imagine. I would imagine If you have a very precise node sorted out for this load, it shouldnt matter if the powder is +/- 0.1 of a grain, or the jacket is thicker. I would think seating depth would play more with these types of projectiles also, more so than jacket thickness.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SingleShot85</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: vman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Make up a load with the match bullets and use those for your paper punching, but keep a box of equivalent hunting bullets around. When you need to drop some game, just load up your normal match go-to round with the hunting projectiles instead...Vuola! You now have long range hunting ammo

</div></div>


just use the hunting bullet as you match load, bc's are the same according to the site and the price is the same, then you'll never have to worry about it.

which is my plan for my 300wsm and the 185 Berger!!!! </div></div>

Very true.

 

[Scott H]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

I shoot Bergers in all my rifles. I tried the match 105 and the hunting 105 and they shot the same. I went with the hunting 105 because i hunt with it as well. I shoot the match over the varmint 52 Bergers in my 22-250 because they have a slightly higher B.C. I shoot the 52 Berger about 3800 fps and it does great on coyotes and prarie dogs. The match bullets work well for hunting in a 22 cal because you can shoot them fast enough to make them open. I shoot the 168 hunting Berger in my 7mm remmag and have not been disappointed. I have shot deer to 750 and as close as 100 and they performed well.

 

[JRWALLSIII]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

The hunting and target shoot exactly the same.

If you plan to hunt with it, Defenitly go with the hunting bullet. The target bullets will not expand at all.

NOTHING KILLS LIKE A BERGER HUNTING BULLET!!!

I was a big Partition fan for many years. Never had a partition let me down. That being said, 95% of the animals I have taken with a VLD have not taken a step

 

[MALLARD]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

+1 hunting bullets have thinner jackets.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

I regularly interchange the 180 VLD hunting and target bullets in my 7WSM (due to availability) and have seen zero changes in my rifle.
The rifle is too heavy for hunting so I don't care which bullets I have loaded. They both hammer paper and steel at long range.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frankythefly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Match bullets have <span style="text-decoration: line-through">thinner</span> <span style="color: #FF0000">Thicker</span> copper jackets this makes it easier to have a more uniform jacket around the lead core. However thin copper jackets nearly explode when they hit a soft tissue target ruining a lot of meat. Hunting bullets will never be as accurate as as match just because of the inconsistency of having a thicker copper jacket. The thicker the jacket the more of a chance you will have one side thicker than the other.
However having said that the Berger hunting bullets have been known to provide accuracy results nearly identical as their match cousins. My friend loads the 210 berger VLD hunting bullets just because he has found that the weight is more consistent and so are the bullet points/ overall length. Most people's will not see a difference in results between the two. So stick with the hunting bullet. </div></div>

Actually, you're wrong.

The Hunting Bullets are the original (thin) J4 jacketed Berger Bullets that we all came to love.

The Match Bullets are the newer (thick) jacketed Berger Bullets that were the answer to the 6.5x284's blowing up bullets. This came about after a very lengthy study conducted by Berger, Henry Childs, Michelle Gallagher and others. This thicker jacket makes it harder for the bullet to expand in a hunting situation resulting in a less than desirable end result.

As far as accuracy goes, you cant tell the difference between the Hunting VLD's and the Match VLD's. Berger did make a die change to the 6mm 105VLD line of match Bullets thus causing the meplat to be slightly larger than before lowering the BC slightly. The Hunting VLD's remained the same.

For paper use the Match Bullets, for Hunting use the Hunting Bullets.
</div></div>
Roscoe is correct. The hunting bullets have THINNER jackets.

I have shot both 6.5mm 140 grain hunting and target/match bullets side by side with the same load, and they performed identical- speeds, groups, and point of impact. I am running the hunting bullets in my match gun since that's all you can get right now.

 

[GUNENTHUSIAST]

Re: Berger VLD Hunting vs Match bullets

That's good to hear guys,
As long as I can get the vld to shoot in my gun, If I can shoot matches and hunt with the same loads, that's as good as it gets.

Thanks for the help guys!