Berger bullets

[62flint]

Any have any experience with berger bullets in africa ?

 

[mdwest]

Anyone use TSX on leopard?

I have a leopard and elephant combo hunt coming up in Zim. I'm thinking of taking one rifle (416 Rigby) to do the elephant, bait animals and leopard. I'm going to verify that I can get Barnes 400 solids and 400 TSX to print close together. Has anyone used TSX on leopard? I know that's more...

www.africahunting.com

lots of Berger talk in the above recent thread...

 

[62flint]

thank you

 

[Hogpatrol]

 

[gillettehunter]

Here is a thread I started on them a few years ago:

Berger bullets in Africa

I promised Mike (Livingthedream) that I'd start this thread. He wanted me to title it the efficacy of Berger bullets in Africa. I thought that might start an argument right off the bat. I will start this with a few observations. All bullets are designed with a use in mind. There is no one size...

www.africahunting.com

I have done well with them. Since that safari I have used them successfully in Tanzania as well as my last hunt in RSA. So add another 16 or so african animals to that list. Plus what I've killed in the USA. I listed the guidelines to follow when using Bergers. When used appropriately they are deadly. When they are not then the results are less than ideal.
There will be several who come along and tell you they work terribly or they heard from a friend that they lost an animal using them. That happens with any bullet when they they are not used as designed. Ask @Hogpatrol who answered above how they worked for him. Try their 165 0r 180 grain in a .30 Nosler at 3400 fps and the result will not be what you want. Try a 215 in that .30 Nosler at 2900-3000 fps and it kills very well. My moose a few yrs ago took perhaps 4 steps after that combo.
The Huge Livingston eland (considerably bugger than my cape buffalo) was shot on the shoulder at 75 yds with my 7 SAUM and a 180 gr VLDH at 2900 fps. I shot him a second time but was likely going down and didn't need it. Ask @LivingTheDream how they worked for him in Zambia. He was there to see the eland firsthand. He also saw the results in Tanzania.
What cartridge are you considering and which Berger? Velocity? What animals are on your target list? Where are you going to hunt in africa? Fair warning, your going to get a number of replies that there are better bullets out there. For certain applications I'll agree. In many cases the Berger will do better than most. Just know the limitations.
In closing I have a friend that helped with a elk depredation hunt on the ranch that he manages. 117 elk in one season. He was in on most of those kills. Close to 100 were with his .300 WM and 215 gr bergers. He felt like they preformed better than any other bullet he or others had tried. Elk are essentially the size of a kudu. If it does a good job on a elk then it will do a good job on Kudu.
If you want to read about performance of bergers on my recent hunts we can get links to my hunt reports on here for 2022 (RSA) and 2021 (Tanzania).
Bruce

 

[LivingTheDream]

To quote my PH, "Mr. Bruce is a man who pays attention to detail". If you follow his advice you will be extremely impressed with Berger bullets. The words "dead right there" come to mind.

 

[flatwater bill]

Sometimes one experience can make a big impression. I saw a fellow hunter shoot a Sitka deer in the left shoulder at about 140 yard with a 7mm Rem and a Berger hunting bullet.....140 grains I think. I watched the dirt fly from the hit, which looked great. These animals are not huge....maybe 300# Animal recovered the next day after an eventful chase. This was 3 years ago. An anecdote, but I judged and convicted Bergers based on that one piece of data. Bruce is right. I should look at the whole picture a little more......FWB

 

[Rich s]

love the 7mm 180 gr hunters out of my 7 saum at 2,800 fps. Have used them and have worked extremely well on moose at 338 yards, Brown bear at 20 yards, elk at 90 yards, coyote at 601 yards, deer at 35 yards, impala from 80 yards to 300 yards. Bushbuck at 15 yards to kudu at 50 yards. Just in the last 3 years. Have used the 7mm 168 Hunter vld’s for years in my 7 rem mag. And the 75 gr vld’s in .224. If you put it in the right place they work well. Out of tge 1,000’s I’ve shot I’ve had very few that didn’t work as they were supposed to.

 

[YancyW]

I have not used them in Africa, but I wouldn't think twice about using a 230gr hybrid in a 300 RUM or a 300 PRC on plains game. I wouldn't choose it for that purpose, but I have zero doubt it would work very well.

I have hunted elk with a 210gr VLD out of a 300 RUM, it is an absolute lightening bolt.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I have not used them in Africa, but I wouldn't think twice about using a 230gr hybrid in a 300 RUM or a 300 PRC on plains game. I wouldn't choose it for that purpose, but I have zero doubt it would work very well.

I have hunted elk with a 210gr VLD out of a 300 RUM, it is an absolute lightening bolt.

I'm using the same bullet in a 30-28 Nosler. Curious as to what velocity in your RUM.

 

[YancyW]

I'm using the same bullet in a 30-28 Nosler. Curious as to what velocity in your RUM.

My RUM isn't really much of a speed demon, compared to what I see others getting. But with a 25" tube and with Retumbo I was getting in the mid-2800's.

 

[Andrew62]

Here is a thread I started on them a few years ago:

Berger bullets in Africa

I promised Mike (Livingthedream) that I'd start this thread. He wanted me to title it the efficacy of Berger bullets in Africa. I thought that might start an argument right off the bat. I will start this with a few observations. All bullets are designed with a use in mind. There is no one size...

www.africahunting.com

I have done well with them. Since that safari I have used them successfully in Tanzania as well as my last hunt in RSA. So add another 16 or so african animals to that list. Plus what I've killed in the USA. I listed the guidelines to follow when using Bergers. When used appropriately they are deadly. When they are not then the results are less than ideal.
There will be several who come along and tell you they work terribly or they heard from a friend that they lost an animal using them. That happens with any bullet when they they are not used as designed. Ask @Hogpatrol who answered above how they worked for him. Try their 165 0r 180 grain in a .30 Nosler at 3400 fps and the result will not be what you want. Try a 215 in that .30 Nosler at 2900-3000 fps and it kills very well. My moose a few yrs ago took perhaps 4 steps after that combo.
The Huge Livingston eland (considerably bugger than my cape buffalo) was shot on the shoulder at 75 yds with my 7 SAUM and a 180 gr VLDH at 2900 fps. I shot him a second time but was likely going down and didn't need it. Ask @LivingTheDream how they worked for him in Zambia. He was there to see the eland firsthand. He also saw the results in Tanzania.
What cartridge are you considering and which Berger? Velocity? What animals are on your target list? Where are you going to hunt in africa? Fair warning, your going to get a number of replies that there are better bullets out there. For certain applications I'll agree. In many cases the Berger will do better than most. Just know the limitations.
In closing I have a friend that helped with a elk depredation hunt on the ranch that he manages. 117 elk in one season. He was in on most of those kills. Close to 100 were with his .300 WM and 215 gr bergers. He felt like they preformed better than any other bullet he or others had tried. Elk are essentially the size of a kudu. If it does a good job on a elk then it will do a good job on Kudu.
If you want to read about performance of bergers on my recent hunts we can get links to my hunt reports on here for 2022 (RSA) and 2021 (Tanzania).
Bruce

Bruce, how long of a shot was your sable last year with Tsala? I thought you camp back that night and told me over 300 yards? Berger bullets have done an outstanding job for you!! By the way, I'll be back with Tsala in just 3 weeks!!

 

[gillettehunter]

Bruce, how long of a shot was your sable last year with Tsala? I thought you camp back that night and told me over 300 yards? Berger bullets have done an outstanding job for you!! By the way, I'll be back with Tsala in just 3 weeks!!

My sable was a bit closer than that. He was under 150 yds. Tsala was a great place to hunt. Wonderful people and a great property. I’m sure you’ll have an excellent hunt. Looking forward to a report on it. My Congo hunt was postponed till September 15. So I’m 4 weeks out.
Bruce

 

[Andrew62]

My sable was a bit closer than that. He was under 150 yds. Tsala was a great place to hunt. Wonderful people and a great property. I’m sure you’ll have an excellent hunt. Looking forward to a report on it. My Congo hunt was postponed till September 15. So I’m 4 weeks out.
Bruce

All the best on your Congo hunt! It’s a challenging part of Africa to hunt. I did 2 trips for bongo in Cameroon, hot, humid, miserable, but I would do it again! Lol

 

[Tra3]

I am a fan of berger bullets. I’ve shot a variety of elk, deer and antelope with them. I use a 7 mm Rem Mag. with 180 grain Bergers. The results were sufficiently effective that I brought them to Africa in 2021. But, I never used them. The .375 did all the work and I was loath to change barrels.

I still use the 180 gr. Bergers in NA and will continue to do so. This summer I stuck with the .375 again. My daughter and sister used a 9.3x62. I also brought a .270 win barrel with barnes TSX that only was used at the end of the hunt for a couple PG.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I have not used them in Africa, but I wouldn't think twice about using a 230gr hybrid in a 300 RUM or a 300 PRC on plains game. I wouldn't choose it for that purpose, but I have zero doubt it would work very well.

I have hunted elk with a 210gr VLD out of a 300 RUM, it is an absolute lightening bolt.

I’ve had the same experience with Berger out of my 300 RUM…

I don’t shoot anything else out of that hunting rifle.

Elk at 300 yards…
Targets to 2,000 yards…

 

[MShort]

I'm using the same bullet in a 30-28 Nosler. Curious as to what velocity in your RUM.

I used to shoot the 210 Berger in my 300 Norma Improved at 3225 fps but they were a little splashy on game at that speed. Likely fine around 3000-3050. I now shoot the 230 Berger’s at 3100 and very happy with them.

 

[YancyW]

I’ve had the same experience with Berger out of my 300 RUM…

I don’t shoot anything else out of that hunting rifle.

Elk at 300 yards…
Targets to 2,000 yards…

My longest shot on game came with that round of my RUM. It was an elk at 660, it dropped in its tracks.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

My longest shot on game came with that round of my RUM. It was an elk at 660, it dropped in its tracks.

That’s great testimony. And, an amazing shot. I’m aware of longer shots than that on Elk with Berger bullets, but I haven’t had an opportunity myself. I wouldn’t hesitate if I did…

I have Barnes LRX in 208 Grain I’m eager to try in my 300 RUM…

 

[YancyW]

That’s great testimony. And, an amazing shot. I’m aware of longer shots than that on Elk with Berger bullets, but I haven’t had an opportunity myself. I wouldn’t hesitate if I did…

I have Barnes LRX in 208 Grain I’m eager to try in my 300 RUM…

That should do very well. Those need a bit of speed and that RUM will give it plenty of that.