Bullet experences requested, Help me understand the Berger for big game

[bobcat]

It got dark and I was in a hurry to get to town to get the meat on ice. This was in early September and it was hot.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I’ve seen two bears killed at ranges of 511 and 657 with 195 Berger’s chambered in 28 Nosler.  Both were devastating, and neither bear went further then fifty yards.

The only issue I’ve ever heard of is if the tip gets bent closed, they won’t shrapnel at close ranges and act like a pencil.  That could have potentially been the issue with bobcats buck...

I’ll hopefully be smacking a whitetail here in a few weeks with the 195s, and I’ll take some pictures...

This was the exit wound at 657...


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[Karl Blanchard]

It got dark and I was in a hurry to get to town to get the meat on ice. This was in early September and it was hot.

  I'm not going to lie bobcat I'm a little surprised by this. Swearing off something and doing it publicly without giving some due process to finding out what went wrong is out of character for you. 

For all you know that bullet went in and did exactly what it was supposed to 

[bobcat]

I'm not telling anyone else what to do. I've shot deer and antelope with them, and they worked fine. Oh, and a bighorn sheep.

What went wrong is that bullet did not work like it's supposed to. That's all I need to know. I've lost confidence in them. I was already of the opinion that Bergers aren't a good elk bullet. Now in my opinion they can't be trusted for smaller game either.

I've already got quite a few boxes of Accubonds, and I'm nearly out of Bergers, so it was an easy decision. I won't be buying any more Bergers.

[h20hunter]

Confidence in the equipment cannot be overstated.

[Karl Blanchard]

I'm not telling anyone else what to do. I've shot deer and antelope with them, and they worked fine. Oh, and a bighorn sheep.

What went wrong is that bullet did not work like it's supposed to. That's all I need to know. I've lost confidence in them. I was already of the opinion that Bergers aren't a good elk bullet. Now in my opinion they can't be trusted for smaller game either.

I've already got quite a few boxes of Accubonds, and I'm nearly out of Bergers, so it was an easy decision. I won't be buying any more Bergers.

but if you didnt open up the body cavity how do you know it didn't expand

[Karl Blanchard]

Cant go wrong with an accubond.  They are a great bullet

[bobcat]

I'm not telling anyone else what to do. I've shot deer and antelope with them, and they worked fine. Oh, and a bighorn sheep.

What went wrong is that bullet did not work like it's supposed to. That's all I need to know. I've lost confidence in them. I was already of the opinion that Bergers aren't a good elk bullet. Now in my opinion they can't be trusted for smaller game either.

I've already got quite a few boxes of Accubonds, and I'm nearly out of Bergers, so it was an easy decision. I won't be buying any more Bergers.

but if you didnt open up the body cavity how do you know it didn't expand

I believe I said it was only a guess. It didn't kill the deer with a double lung shot is all I know.

[BreezyBear]

From my personal experience Bergers are great for bears, big holes, lots of blood, not much or any tracking.  Now for elk, the bull I shot last year, no exit, lots of bullet fragments in the meat, however, no tracking though.

[carpsniperg2]

I really wanted to get into them. However I saw and had to many problems with shooting game at close ranges under 200 yards and hitting anything but ribs was messy and the bullet fragmented and did not kill penetrate well. I have posted before how many bullets my cousin pumped into a bull all at 150 yards or less.

Now if I was sure all my kills would be 300 plus I would use them as they are a great long range bullet. High velocity close range impacts on shoulders and necks etc, they have failed for me and family more then I can count on my hands.

Accubonds or eldx for me. Great at all ranges within there expansion speed zone.

[Karl Blanchard]

I just hope nobody tells all the animals I've seen killed under 200 yards with them that they are not effective because I think they'd be really pissed that they are dead

[carpsniperg2]

I just hope nobody tells all the animals I've seen killed under 200 yards with them that they are not effective because I think they'd be really pissed that they are dead

I wouldn't trust anyone who talks to animals anyways, they would have a screw loose and probably shoot a creedmoor

Oh I know they will kill shooting them through ribs at that range. Heavy bones they are flat not designed to act like a bonded bullet and will blow up the majority of the time and require follow up shots.

[jdb]

I love how passionate we can be about our bullets!!

[Magnum_Willys]

You gotta hit em to kill.  Thats the only reason anyone uses Bergers. 

[Duckslayer89]

I killed a bear at 680 this year and a buck at 200. 200 yard kill on the deer was insanely devastating. The 680 anchored the bear hard. I really like them so far!