has anyone used berger bullets or there

[billc]

already loaded ammo in africa.I have not used it but was planning on getting some to shot to see how it works out of our guns.There stuff seems to from what i heard work great on are big game here in the states.Thanks Billc

 

[enysse]

I'm sure the Berger Bullets work just fine. Just use the heaviest grain, for the caliber. For example....180 or 200 gr. for 300 Win Mag., 180gr. - 30-06, 140 or 150 gr. 270 Win, 160 gr. 7mm.

 

[gillettehunter]

My son and I have both used the Bergers. I also read the Long Range forums. I used them in Namibia 4 years ago and was not impressed. In fact I quit using them after that trip.. My son used them on his elk this year. 7MM mag. After a slight mechanical problem he had to use my gun to finishhis bull. Performance was fine. They tend to expand quickly at close ranges.... sometimes blowing up.... Some of the long range hunting guys use a "harder " bullet at up to 300 yards and then switch to the Bergers for longer shots. They open up reliably at long distances when speed is down some. They also can be very accurate. Usually have to find the correct seating depth. Can make a huge difference with the accuracy. When you find the "right" load they can be great. If your going to use them I'd look at the heaviest bullet for your caliber. Bruce

 

[billc]

So seems like then not the best bullet for over there since most shots will be under 300 yds in africa.Plan on shooting a 300 win mag or 7mm weatherby and my son a 270win.I do not reload so can anyone tell me a good factory round they may have used.Not sure if my standard remington rounds is what I should be shooting there.I do like to shot the heaviest bullet I can out of my guns.

 

[enysse]

I would buy some Winchestor Ammo XP3 or Accubond in the heavy grain bullets. Federal makes factory ammo is Nosler Partitions and TSX. Hornady makes the Interbond and GMX bullets in factoy loads. Remington has the Scirocco Bonded bullets, the Accutip, and the Ultra Core-Lokt factory ammo.

These are all premium lines of factory ammo.

 

[James.Grage]

Just my 2 cents

billc

one RIFLE at a time

300 Win Mag.
1. Remington makes Premier scirocco in 180 grain are very good
a. Express core-Lokt in 180 grain would be second if you select Remington
2. Barnes makes a 180 grain TTSX also very good.
3. Hornady makes a 180 grain SST i am starting to like there ammo more and more
4. Federal makes a 180 grain TSX & NP both quality bullets.

270 Win.

1. Hornady makes a 140 grain SST
2. Federal makes a 140 or 150 grain NAB & NP both quality bullets.
3. Barnes makes a 130 grain TTSX also very good.
4. Remington makes Premier scirocco in 130 grain are very good
a. Express core-Lokt in 130 grain would be second if you select Remington

7MM Weatherby
1. 160 grain in either NP or NAB WEATHERBY

You will need to see what your rifles like.
I have not covered Winchester ammo as i do not use their products...

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Adding another to mix, Remington makes ammo in .270 and .300WM using the Swift A-Frame. I just loaded some of these in 200gr for my .300 WM and found them to be very accurate.

 

[WST416]

I've used the 140gr VLD match hunting bullets in a my 6.5x284 and the 168gr VLD match hunting bullets in the 7mm Rem mag on many North American Antelope and a couple of elk. These bullets are very accurate and retain their velocity well because of their high BC. I've found that out to 350yds the bullets front section tends to fragment but the back half to 2/3s stay together and remains on coarse and exits the animal. They have no problem killing the animal but tends to be hard on meat. Once beyond this range to way out there the bullet is losing velocity, the bullet acts more like a conventional bullet and there is not much more or the same amount of damage to the animal as a traditional hunting bullet. These are meant for more of a long range hunting bullet then a regular all around hunting bullet IMO. So if longer range hunting is what your trying to accomplish these are great bullets, but if you just want a great hunting bullet try Some nosler Accubonds or a bullet of the equivalent they are hard to beat.

 

[trigger creep]

My son and I have both used the Bergers. I also read the Long Range forums. I used them in Namibia 4 years ago and was not impressed. In fact I quit using them after that trip.. My son used them on his elk this year. 7MM mag. After a slight mechanical problem he had to use my gun to finishhis bull. Performance was fine. They tend to expand quickly at close ranges.... sometimes blowing up.... Some of the long range hunting guys use a "harder " bullet at up to 300 yards and then switch to the Bergers for longer shots. They open up reliably at long distances when speed is down some. They also can be very accurate. Usually have to find the correct seating depth. Can make a huge difference with the accuracy. When you find the "right" load they can be great. If your going to use them I'd look at the heaviest bullet for your caliber. Bruce

I read on the internet that they are more like a ballistic tip than anything else. That is probably why the guys on TV that shoot Elk at 750+ yards use them, because they need a bullet that is lightly constructed so it expands.

 

[trigger creep]

billc

one RIFLE at a time

300 Win Mag.
1. Remington makes Premier scirocco in 180 grain are very good
a. Express core-Lokt in 180 grain would be second if you select Remington
2. Barnes makes a 180 grain TTSX also very good.
3. Hornady makes a 180 grain SST i am starting to like there ammo more and more
4. Federal makes a 180 grain TSX & NP both quality bullets.

270 Win.

1. Hornady makes a 140 grain SST
2. Federal makes a 140 or 150 grain NAB & NP both quality bullets.
3. Barnes makes a 130 grain TTSX also very good.
4. Remington makes Premier scirocco in 130 grain are very good
a. Express core-Lokt in 130 grain would be second if you select Remington

7MM Weatherby
1. 160 grain in either NP or NAB WEATHERBY

You will need to see what your rifles like.
I have not covered Winchester ammo as i do not use their products...

Is there any particular reason you chose the .270 130 core-lokt over the 150 core-lokt? I haven't used the 150 core-lokt on game but I hear that they're excellent penetrators.

 

[WST416]

I read on the internet that they are more like a ballistic tip than anything else. That is probably why the guys on TV that shoot Elk at 750+ yards use them, because they need a bullet that is lightly constructed so it expands.

Christian the main reason they use them is because the BC(ballistic coefficient) is very high on these bullets. The short answer is that this allows the bullet to fly through the air with less resistance than a regular hunting bullet with a lower BC, therefore retaining its velocity longer. This in turn makes the trajectory flatter at longer ranges and not as much correction or MOA is needed in the scope. This is kind of a short simple answer.

 

[Mark H. Young]

billc,

I live in Cody, WY which is long range hunting central and the home of the Best of The West TV show. I've cornered these guys and asked them the hard questions about Bergers and their ilk. They do work extremely well at long range on a broad side shot. At extreme ranges 400-1000 yards they fly flatter and kill very well. When these guys are asked about a close range raking shot and a shot right up the butt as you might be offered in Africa they can't recommend the Bergers. The short answer is use a premium controlled expansion bullet in Africa and you'll be happy.

 

[billc]

thanks for all the info.I have taken berger bullets of my list of bullets for africa.will be going with a frame or nosler pat. I think.

 

[trigger creep]

Christian the main reason they use them is because the BC(ballistic coefficient) is very high on these bullets. The short answer is that this allows the bullet to fly through the air with less resistance than a regular hunting bullet with a lower BC, therefore retaining its velocity longer. This in turn makes the trajectory flatter at longer ranges and not as much correction or MOA is needed in the scope. This is kind of a short simple answer.

Yes, but they need the bullet to be lightly constructed so the bullets actually expand at longer ranges. I've seen them shoot Elk at 1000 yards on the Best of the West TV show, and that is why they need a lightly constructed bullet. Ballistic coefficient has something to do with this as well, but certainly they need a lightly constructed bullet as well.

 

[davidarizpe]

Very low drag, is not only important for long range momentum but also for wind deflection, parallel adjustments and regular "drop", specially made for long range shooting, not for Africa.
I like them very much to be honest, but just not for africa, this bullets are a mountain hunter thing.

 

[WST416]

Very low drag, is not only important for long range momentum but also for wind deflection, parallel adjustments and regular "drop", specially made for long range shooting, not for Africa.
I like them very much to be honest, but just not for Africa, this bullets are a mountain hunter thing.

David I agree with you on general African Hunting, but can you imagine a springbok cull hunt on the open grass plains at long distance. What a blast.

 

[davidarizpe]

WST416, I stand corrected.