[beartracker]

I will post when it gets here and I have it set up,

 

[Tang]

Didn't you tell me that you didn't like Berger ? In that same note though, I look forward to trying them in my .264 WM.

 

[pruhdlr]

My Compact

I have owned a Ruger M77 MKII Compact chambered in .308 for some time now. It also is my light stalking rifle for deer. I have a Leupold 2-7x33 shotgun scope sitting on top. (Take a gander at these for their thick crosshairs)To me,it is the perfect combo for a short(16" bbl)gun,designed for the medium ranges.

The other two calibers that I was contemplating in that weapon was the 7-08 or the 260. I am highly satisfied with the weapon after trigger work and stock bedding. I would recommend a Compact or a Frontier to anyone as long as they were prepared to do some "minor' tinkering with it.

My bullet of choice is the 125gr NosBalTip at 2900fps. Killed a deer(Fla sized) with it last year and the combo did a great job.

Enjoy that rifle. -----pruhdlr

 

[broom_jm]

Unless you're expecting some really long shots, why go with the Berger VLD, or other extremely high BC bullet? There are plenty of other options that will be pretty flat out to 300 yards and offer more consistent terminal performance; they'll open up and still penetrate well. If you're concerned about punching pencil-sized holes in deer, choose a bullet meant to expand, not a target-shaped bullet. Just my .02.

 

[Tang]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voyw1H-0CBI&feature=player_embedded


Mike since you have changed your mind on Berger, remember you need a 1 in 8 twist for those bullets.

 

[tpv]

My 6.5 experience is that those long bullets look pretty, but with the 1 in 9 twist,the flat base bullets shoot more accurately. 6.5/284, 260 and 6.5x55, all shoot better with the flat base for 1 in 9 twist.
Just my experience, but I was wrong once
Good Luck

 

[Tang]

With the Bergers in 6.5, they reccomend 1 in 8 at a minimum. It's because of the length caused by the secant ogive.

 

[Davers]

With the Bergers in 6.5, they reccomend 1 in 8 at a minimum. It's because of the length caused by the secant ogive.

I was thinking the samething, Tang. With a short 16" barrel a faster "rate-of-twist" would be necessary for good bullet stability with Bergers Bullets for the 6.5 m/m.

 

[M1Garand]

I like the Ruger Compacts and glad to see you put a barrel on it, I sure didn't like the idea of a 16.5" barrel that comes on them.

broom_jm, I've never used the Bergers but apparently their design allows them to penetrate 2-3 inches before expanding violently. John Barsness described them as the quickest kills he's ever seen on deer. A few years ago, Handloader ran an article on them including shooting the bullet tube with them where you can see how they penetrate a few inches then violently expand:

On the left is a Partition the right two are Bergers:

 

[broom_jm]

I stand corrected: It appears Berger has found a way to make a high BC bullet that will open up well on game. The reports I've read on the VLD series is that they are for target use and their performance on actual game animals is not consistent. Maybe it's the old codger in me, but without SOME kind of mechanism to begin expansion, as well as some means to control it, I have no confidence in such a projectile to reliably harvest game.

I have been wrong before and will undoubtedly be wrong again. In this case, I know what works and, at reasonable distances, there are known quantities available to meet the need. To each their own.

 

[beretzs]

Sounds like a cool rifle Mike. Should have alot of luck with all the SST's, BT's and other quickly expanding bullets. Scotty

 

[beretzs]

Mike, I think about any bullet that expands decent will work with a 260. It isn't a ultra velocity monster mag. I haven't used the Bergers, but if I had a 260, I would give them a try. I would think the 125gr Partition would be an excellent bullet to use also. It would open quick and still penetrate through thick hide and bone if needed. Scotty

 

[300rum]

my wife also had under expansion problem with 140 gr corelokt. she lost a deer last year no blood on a perfect,broadside (videotaped) 25 yard shot.
following morning found me at the local shop buying 120 gr, ballistic tip. she shot 2 deers with these. both DRT.

 

[MikeG]

The .260 just isn't fast enough to blow up reasonable bullets. Same argument I've made for years with the .257 Roberts, sometimes less velocity is "more".....

 

[big dan]

you are absolutely right mike!!

 

[shane256]

my wife also had under expansion problem with 140 gr corelokt. she lost a deer last year no blood on a perfect,broadside (videotaped) 25 yard shot.
following morning found me at the local shop buying 120 gr, ballistic tip. she shot 2 deers with these. both DRT.

Odd. I was 5-for-5 this past year with three shots around the 25yd range using 140gr CoreLokt with my .260 and none ran over ~10yds. All five were pass-through with what looked to be great terminal performance. I posted my experiences up in the hunting forum. TBH, though, from 120gr up to 160gr (if you load that heavy) should be fantastic on whitetails with the .260 (or 6.5x55SE). I think it'd be more difficult to find a bad combo than a good combo

 

[M1Garand]

I stand corrected: It appears Berger has found a way to make a high BC bullet that will open up well on game. The reports I've read on the VLD series is that they are for target use and their performance on actual game animals is not consistent. Maybe it's the old codger in me, but without SOME kind of mechanism to begin expansion, as well as some means to control it, I have no confidence in such a projectile to reliably harvest game.

I have been wrong before and will undoubtedly be wrong again. In this case, I know what works and, at reasonable distances, there are known quantities available to meet the need. To each their own.

I don't blame you, I generally feel the same way about using traditionally target bullets, but I try to keep an open mind. Though Barsness did say they were quick kills on deer, he also stated he would not use them on anything larger then deer.

 

[broom_jm]

BearTracker,

You said a mouthful. If your barrel will just barely stabilize the 140gr SMK, the longer VLD might present a real challenge. If you're looking for a single bullet to do it all, I would consider the 125gr Partition or 130gr Accubond. Either should give good accuracy, stabilize with your barrel's rate-of-twist, expand reliably and still penetrate very well. I would be confident hunting anything shy of a bull elk with those two bullets, and even that, if you're willing to get close and place your shot perfectly.

 

[big dan]

i will throw in another vote for the 125gr partition and add the 120gr ttsx as an option... it'll give you all the penetration of a 140 grainer but should open nicely due to the copper construction & poly tip...

 

[mattsbox99]

The .260 has powder space issues already, and the Bergers are already much longer than standard bullets. I guess you can be hard headed about it and force them to work though or use a little common sense and use a bullet that is shorter, well designed, and proven to work.

Besides, those pictures show a bullet exploding and not penetrating through the animal. Look at the partition wound channel, I would never worry about the partition doing its job. I'm guessing that the two Berger channels are the same bullet, but have different patterns, that is unreliable to me.