Berger VLD or Sierra GK

jersurf101 · October 19, 2013, 08:17 PM

I am facing a dilemma that I'll put up to you guys. I am super excited to be going deer hunting this fall for the first time in 5 years. I used to hunt in Maryland and Virginia and this will be a trip to southwestern Wisconsin.

I have a .270 that I have worked up a good load with SGK's. This rifle has killed most of my deer for me and I love it.

I just bought a Savage 11 trophy hunter and have worked up a good load using 168 gr Berger VLD hunting projectiles. I am hesitant on using the VLD's. The shots will be short like under 100 yards. I really like the light weight of the Savage 11 and the way the rifle points.

Does anyone have any in the field experience with the Bergers? Thoughts?

Art Eatman · October 19, 2013, 11:13 PM

I've always figured that inside of a couple of hundred yards, most any old hunting bullet will work just fine on Bambi. About all that matters, IMO, is that your load is giving you decent groups. After that, it's all about shot placement.

jersurf101 · October 20, 2013, 07:56 AM

Thank you Art. I guess I am just hesitant to change my rig after using it for so long. Good advice.

Art Eatman · October 20, 2013, 08:07 AM

For all that we natter and chatter about ballistics, trajectories and coefficients, I figure that at 100 yards? Wad-cutters would work as well as a BC of .700.

Kachok · October 20, 2013, 11:08 AM

Gatta agree with Art on this one, SGKs are to me the gold standard by which all deer bullets are judged, I am sure the VDLs would work fine too but why mess with perfection?

jmr40 · October 20, 2013, 05:45 PM

The Bergers will work just fine. So would almost any bullet on deer at that range. If you want to use the Savage there is no reason not to. If you'd prefer to use the old standby then it will work too, but why buy another rifle if you aren't gonna use it.

Bergers are not a good choice on larger game such as moose or elk if taking less than perfect shot angles. They won't give the penetration to get through several feet of muscle before reaching vitals. But if you put one into the lungs they typicaly result in more quick kills than most any bullet on even the largest game.

PawPaw · October 20, 2013, 05:52 PM

On my hunting grounds, 200 yards is a long shot, about the farthest I could see. Even on a pipeline or power-line cut, most shots are between 75-100 yards. I use Sierra Gamekings and have never been disappointed in the results.

tahunua001 · October 21, 2013, 01:06 PM

I have no personal experience but the general consensus is that berger makes a derned fine bullet that is very hard to compete with. I would take the VLD over the game king myself.

however, anything in 270 at the ranges you specified will leave a dead deer on the ground as long as you don't shoot 'em in the butt.

Kachok · October 21, 2013, 03:00 PM

I will give a word of caution though on the VLDs, it seems even at max length I had too much jump on my lands and they would not group worth a darn in my Tikka, it is the ONLY bullet to perform poorly in that gun.

jersurf101 · October 22, 2013, 10:14 PM

Those 168 VLD's shoot tiny groups in my savage 11 and fit in the magazine at 2.9 inches. I might just try the Bergers and the Savage.

Thanks for the replies fellas.

fatwhiteboy · October 22, 2013, 11:36 PM

From what I understand, the Bergers will probably open up faster and make a larger wound channel than the SGK's.

October 19, 2013, 08:17 PM	#1
jersurf101 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 553	Berger VLD or Sierra GK I am facing a dilemma that I'll put up to you guys. I am super excited to be going deer hunting this fall for the first time in 5 years. I used to hunt in Maryland and Virginia and this will be a trip to southwestern Wisconsin. I have a .270 that I have worked up a good load with SGK's. This rifle has killed most of my deer for me and I love it. I just bought a Savage 11 trophy hunter and have worked up a good load using 168 gr Berger VLD hunting projectiles. I am hesitant on using the VLD's. The shots will be short like under 100 yards. I really like the light weight of the Savage 11 and the way the rifle points. Does anyone have any in the field experience with the Bergers? Thoughts?

October 20, 2013, 05:52 PM	#7
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	On my hunting grounds, 200 yards is a long shot, about the farthest I could see. Even on a pipeline or power-line cut, most shots are between 75-100 yards. I use Sierra Gamekings and have never been disappointed in the results. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

October 21, 2013, 01:06 PM	#8
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	I have no personal experience but the general consensus is that berger makes a derned fine bullet that is very hard to compete with. I would take the VLD over the game king myself. however, anything in 270 at the ranges you specified will leave a dead deer on the ground as long as you don't shoot 'em in the butt. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

October 22, 2013, 11:36 PM	#11
fatwhiteboy Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 317	From what I understand, the Bergers will probably open up faster and make a larger wound channel than the SGK's. __________________ Fat White So Cal

October 19, 2013, 11:13 PM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I've always figured that inside of a couple of hundred yards, most any old hunting bullet will work just fine on Bambi. About all that matters, IMO, is that your load is giving you decent groups. After that, it's all about shot placement.

October 20, 2013, 07:56 AM	#3
jersurf101 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 553	Thank you Art. I guess I am just hesitant to change my rig after using it for so long. Good advice.

October 20, 2013, 08:07 AM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	For all that we natter and chatter about ballistics, trajectories and coefficients, I figure that at 100 yards? Wad-cutters would work as well as a BC of .700.

October 20, 2013, 11:08 AM	#5
Kachok Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2012 Posts: 304	Gatta agree with Art on this one, SGKs are to me the gold standard by which all deer bullets are judged, I am sure the VDLs would work fine too but why mess with perfection?

October 20, 2013, 05:45 PM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,806	The Bergers will work just fine. So would almost any bullet on deer at that range. If you want to use the Savage there is no reason not to. If you'd prefer to use the old standby then it will work too, but why buy another rifle if you aren't gonna use it. Bergers are not a good choice on larger game such as moose or elk if taking less than perfect shot angles. They won't give the penetration to get through several feet of muscle before reaching vitals. But if you put one into the lungs they typicaly result in more quick kills than most any bullet on even the largest game.

October 21, 2013, 03:00 PM	#9
Kachok Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2012 Posts: 304	I will give a word of caution though on the VLDs, it seems even at max length I had too much jump on my lands and they would not group worth a darn in my Tikka, it is the ONLY bullet to perform poorly in that gun.

October 22, 2013, 10:14 PM	#10
jersurf101 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 553	Those 168 VLD's shoot tiny groups in my savage 11 and fit in the magazine at 2.9 inches. I might just try the Bergers and the Savage. Thanks for the replies fellas.