Review: Berger verses Barnes Bullets

[bearpaw]

I can remember while growing up, my dad drilled it into my head to hold right behind the shoulder or if the angle required, just in front of the shoulder and aim for the vitals, but either way try to avoid hitting the shoulder as that would cause the bullet to break up.

Since then bullets have improved dramatically. I have been a fan of Barnes bullets since the time I realized that my hunters who were using Barnes were consistently shooting completely through game animals on a regular basis regardless of hitting bone. In fact since many brands of quality bullets have become popular I now recommend breaking a shoulder and hitting vitals as one of the best shots on big game, especially bear.

My son and I have been reading a lot of impressive stories about the long range capabilities of Berger Bullets so we decided to give them a try. He puchased and loaded some .264 Caliber 140 grain Berger VLD at 2600 fps. He also loaded some .264 Caliber 120 grain Barnes TSX at 2850 out of his .260 Remington.

The Barnes bullets held about a 1" group at 100 yards and the Bergers held a slightly tighter 7/8" group at 100 yards. We both liked the fact that the bergers produced a slightly tighter group. He has been bear hunting for a few weeks and finally pulled the trigger on a nice big boar recently.

He took the first shot with the Barnes 120gr. The Barnes entered the chest and exited through the spine, the bear dropped, broken back and unable to get up, the bear was dieing but still had life. He approached the bear and placed a second shot with a Berger bullet through the rib cage from only a few feet to finish off the bear. 

When dressing out the bear he saw that he had hit no bone with the Berger bullet. He found what was left of the Berger bullet which had separated and had not exited the opposite side of the bear. Later in the week we weighed the berger bullet, both pieces together weighed only 68 grains, 72 grains of the bullet had fragmented. (sse photo of a new bullet and the two pieces of the recovered bullet below)

As previously mentioned the Barnes bullet had exited as usual so he was unable to recover the bullet that dropped the bear. In the photo below I show a new .30 caliber 180 gr TSX and an identical bullet which was shot into a large block of firewood. The bullet penetrated 24 inches into the wood, stayed in one piece, and weighs exactly 180 grains after recovery.

I was very disapointed to see that the Berger separated especially since it hit no bone. While the Berger did shoot slightly tighter groups and the ballistic coefficient certainly qualifies it as a top choice for long range target shooting, we both plan to continue loading Barnes bullets for most of our big game hunting loads.

[bobcat]

I'm not surprised. Bergers are target bullets, Barnes are hunting bullets.   

[iusmc2002]

Bergers are designed to enter 3-4" before they "explode" and fragment, supposedly causing massive internal trauma.  Barnes aren't made to break up, but to split into the 4 razor "petals" and tear sheet up

[Bob33]

I am not a fan of Berger bullets.  I am a fan of Barnes bullets.  That said, I've read many articles on the Bergers.  From what I have read they are designed to enter an animal a few inches, expand violently, and expend all their energy inside.

I'm sure you'll hear from some Berger fans. There are quite a few.  They appear to be either loved or hated.

By the way, I think I just saw your son's Barnes bullet pass overhead.  They orbit a few times before dropping harmlessly to earth.

[mkcj]

I was going to load up some Berger's but have decided to just stay with the Barnes. I do know the guy's that can't get any closer than 800-1000 yards from an animal really like Berger's though.

[wadu1]

I’ve not loaded any Berger’s I switched to Barns after my Nosler Ballistic Tips did not do the job. I’m loading Barnes in 6.5, 22-250, .308, 30-06 and 9.3 to this date I have never recovered one bullet all have been thru and thru’s.  Only one out of five deer have walked more than 10 feet.

[Bob33]

Here is a review by John Barsness: http://www.bergerbullets.com/Information/Barsness%20Article.pdf

[Killmore]

Barns are one of the best hunting bullets made today, I'm waiting for pictures and story in the bear section please....

[Curly]

I'm a big fan of Barnes bullets too.  Bergers would be good if you know that the shots are going to be long range (over 400 or so); but if you think you might have a shot under a few hundred yards, they wouldn't be the best choice IMO.

That is why I like Barnes.  I can shoot elk from 10 yards to 500 yards and be confident the bullet will open up and punch through so I have a good blood trail.  Barnes don't have the best BC, but the slightly lower BC doesn't mean much until you get out past 400 yards or so.

[dontgetcrabs]

Which bullet killed the bear?   

[Curly]

That is a pretty good review of the Berger VLD by Barsness.  He said he would use the bullet for N. American game from antelope to Caribou.

[JimmyHoffa]

I would expect the Berger to be that badly fragged and not exit from being shot from 'a few feet'.  The high velocity rips them to pieces.  My guess is that if the berger was tested at farther ranges it would hold up better and exit.  Barnes seem to work fine at any range.

[bearpaw]

That is a pretty good review of the Berger VLD by Barsness.  He said he would use the bullet for N. American game from antelope to Caribou.

It was a good review and their results were similar to what we saw with the Berger. I like the way he explained the different views about bullet performance, although he was hired by berger to make the berger sound good.

I would expect the Berger to be that badly fragged and not exit from being shot from 'a few feet'.  The high velocity rips them to pieces.  My guess is that if the berger was tested at farther ranges it would hold up better and exit.  Barnes seem to work fine at any range.

Keep in mind the berger was loaded at only 2600 fps.

I guess it all depends on what you want from a bullet. 

[Curly]

That is a pretty good review of the Berger VLD by Barsness.  He said he would use the bullet for N. American game from antelope to Caribou.

It was a good review and their results were similar to what we saw with the Berger. I like the way he explained the different views about bullet performance, although he was hired by berger to make the berger sound good.

Yeah.  And I've read some really good things that he's had to say about Barnes bullets too.

I might try Berger for antelope someday.  I figure a 190 or so gr Berger would be good antelope medicine out of my 300 win mag.

[madmack76]

the barnes bullet contains no lead they are solid copper that helps alot. they are all i have been using for the last 4 years never had to use a follow up shot great hunting rounds.