Berger VLD killing power

[buckskin52]

I am looking to start some load development for my Larue 20" stealth. I am looking at the 75 grain VLD. I need to know if these bullets expand and have killing power for varmints. All other Match bullets just blow through groundhogs and they run. I am not to keen on walking out 500 yards after every shot to look for a blood trail. Anyone have some input.
thanks

 

[GCMxVeGeTa]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

Is it a bolt-action? Have you tried Hornady 75 gr Amax?

 

[mavrick10_2000]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blaster7</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am looking to start some load development for my Larue 20" stealth. I am looking at the 75 grain VLD. I need to know if these bullets expand and have killing power for varmints. All other Match bullets just blow through groundhogs and they run. I am not to keen on walking out 500 yards after every shot to look for a blood trail. Anyone have some input.
thanks </div></div>

Be sure it's the hunting VLD. Some of the Target VLD's have a thicker jacket and on small critters might not expand as well. Otherwise like GCM said AMAX should leave no guess on the hit.

 

[vman]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

+1 on the A-max.

Thin jackets, rapidly expanding heads, consistant meplats and pretty decent accuracy especially when handloaded.

I dont suspect a hog will walk away from that.

Asides from that, the right velocity and shot placement put the hunting VLDs near the top of the list for me... I just wish they werent so expensive.

 

[jbroadnax]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

Berger VLD's will perform in most any hunting situation. The hunting VLD and Target VLD's are not different other than the color of the box. The Target VLD's are not marked as hunting bullets until Berger gets feed back from hunters.

 

[fireguyty]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbroadnax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Berger VLD's will perform in most any hunting situation. The hunting VLD and Target VLD's are not different other than the color of the box. The Target VLD's are not marked as hunting bullets until Berger gets feed back from hunters. </div></div>

I am not doubting you about the above statement, but are you sure about this?

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbroadnax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Berger VLD's will perform in most any hunting situation. The hunting VLD and Target VLD's are not different other than the color of the box. The Target VLD's are not marked as hunting bullets until Berger gets feed back from hunters. </div></div>
You're smokin' crack!

To the OP, the Target VLD's have the thinnest jacket, so you will get the most expansion from these. But, they normally open up a few inches into soft tissue. They do provide dramatic wound channels, though.

 

[patriotoutlaw]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

Aim High AT the front shoulder. They are very effective on Whitetails I can attest to that.

 

[jbroadnax]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbroadnax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Berger VLD's will perform in most any hunting situation. The hunting VLD and Target VLD's are not different other than the color of the box. The Target VLD's are not marked as hunting bullets until Berger gets feed back from hunters. </div></div>
You're smokin' crack!

To the OP, the Target VLD's have the thinnest jacket, so you will get the most expansion from these. But, they normally open up a few inches into soft tissue. They do provide dramatic wound channels, though. </div></div>

Naw. I am off the crack for now. I have put the bullets on he milling machine, cut them and did the measurements. They were the exact same to the .0001. Well at least that's what the mic said. I try not to run the milling machine when under the influence.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

Did you cut it length-wise in half, or in half at the diameter of the bullet? The hollow point section is where they have it thicker. But I have also been told they are thicker in the jacket section at the ogive.

 

[buckskin52]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

So what I gather is the target VLD would kill the hogs dead. It is between the VLD and the AMAX. The hogs are tough around here. Anything over 400 I shoot with the 308 168 match kings that is not shot in the head or directly in the shoulder will make it to the hole with little sign of being hit.

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

The hunting VLD's are the old original J4 jacket, standard VLD bullet that was sold for years. The Target VLD is the thicker J4 Jacket bullet. Straight from Bergers lips to my ears.

 

[buckskin52]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

Thanks for all the info. I think I will try both the hunting VLD and the A max and see which works better. If anyone has a good starting point for a 20 inch larue stealth with H335 powder, I would appreciate the info.

 

[kyreloader]

Re: Berger VLD killing power

I would consider the Amax bullet it I were you. The VLD hunting bullets(thin jacket) penetrate about 3 inches before they come unglued, so therefore, may already have penetrated through the hog before they expand. The Amax with its plastic tip initiates expansion upon contact, so should make nice big holes for you if the velocity is enough to place it in the bullets designed "expansion window".

I concur with Roscoe, the hunting bullets have the thin jackets, the Target the thicker jackets.