ELD-M a Good Hunting Bullet?

[6xcshooter]

Since I can’t find 6.5 143eldx bullets for ever. Has anyone used the eld m for hunting?
Results?

 

[TTE]

IMO ... Hornady hunting bullets (ELDX) are 'soft' bullets. The Match version can't perform any better

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

I have shot more Med size game with the 108gr M than I can count, from 190y to just over 700y not one has required a follow up shot, im also yet to recover a bullet. Allot of my friends use them in heavy 30 weights with great results, id think they would work exactly the same in 6.5

 

[XTR]

There is a vid on YouTube with some ballistics gel testing of the M and X versions in 6.5, both seem to work pretty well from the tests shown.

 

[karrarararararar]

 

[tthomp302]

The Eld M, Sierra Tipped match kings, and the berger hybrids are all amazing bullets on game.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have not killed anything with a eldm yet. I've killed plenty of deer with Amax's. 6mm, 7mm, 30 cal. I've loaded for my brother and his buddy, 105 Amax in .243, all DRT. Nothing has ever gone anywhere once shot. 75 yards to 250 yards.

 

[Rtheurer]

Good Video.. Only issue i have about it is.... Impact Velocity. I dont know about you, But i dont shoot my critters at 24" from the muzzle at 2600fps... The impact velocity has a huge impact on how the bullet performs. I want see the test done with an Impact velocity of 1400fps or so.

 

[Bocephus]

Since I can’t find 6.5 143eldx bullets for ever. Has anyone used the eld m for hunting?
Results?

Proper shot placement on small-med game trumps a lot of other factors.
Take out the gas pump and engine and you probably won’t need a road atlas for the tracking job.

 

[XTR]

Good Video.. Only issue i have about it is.... Impact Velocity. I dont know about you, But i dont shoot my critters at 24" from the muzzle at 2600fps... The impact velocity has a huge impact on how the bullet performs. I want see the test done with an Impact velocity of 1400fps or so.

They did that too....

 

[TTE]

yet to recover a bullet.

I would say that means the bullets exited or blew up.

 

[TTE]

There is a vid on YouTube with some ballistics gel testing of the M and X versions in 6.5, both seem to work pretty well from the tests shown.

IMO ... it depends what you are looking for. Broadside shots on deer, probably both are OK. Angling shots require different considerations

 

[Clancy]

The 6.5 is probably the only flavor I WOULDN’T use. I have had and have 2 friends that had a lot of trouble with them on whitetails.

The 6mm variety have worked great so far.

 

[46and2]

The 6.5 is probably the only flavor I WOULDN’T use. I have had and have 2 friends that had a lot of trouble with them on whitetails.

The 6mm variety have worked great so far.

I tried the 140 eldm on a 1 1/2 doe at 150yds with a 6.5 wsm at 3200 fps MV.

Double lung shot broadside, she ran 20 ft.
Not any meat damage, massive internal damage to the upper cavity ( red jello). 1" exit.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I forgot to mention the 6.5 caliber. I shot 2 bucks and 1 doe on a hunting trip with my .260 and 140 Amax. All 3 125 yards. The 2 bucks dropped where they stood and the doe went maybe 20 feet. All 3 double lungs with 1" or so exit wound. Jello inside and I have never lost more than a handful of meat. The Nosler ballistic tips that I've shot Deer (120 7mm, 180 .30) with have done equal internal damage with a little better exit wound.

 

[FNSafari]

IMO ... Hornady hunting bullets (ELDX) are 'soft' bullets. The Match version can't perform any better

Soft because they are designed to work at longer ranges and lower velocities. One needs to put good thought into what bullet they use, based on quarry size, velocity at normally encountered shooting distances. IMO a "match" bullet(thin jacket and nearly pure or pure lead core) in not a wise choice.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

I would say that means the bullets exited or blew up.

They exit, only one that didn't exit but made it to the skin side on the second shoulder was a 680y double shoulder shot on a huge Blesbuck. The shoulder on the "exit" side sounded like a bag of dominos when picked up, I never looked to see what the damage was but I imagine the bullet would have most probably been in a lot of little pieces after doing the work

I have been hunting with Berger Hybrids and ELD/Amax so long I cant remember when last I used a "hunting" bullet. At closer range just slip them in behind the shoulder if your scared of heavy bones and you'll be fine but generally they don't just blow up

 

[TTE]

They exit, only one that didn't exit but made it to the skin side on the second shoulder was a 680y double shoulder shot on a huge Blesbuck. The shoulder on the "exit" side sounded like a bag of dominos when picked up, I never looked to see what the damage was but I imagine the bullet would have most probably been in a lot of little pieces after doing the work

I have been hunting with Berger Hybrids and ELD/Amax so long I cant remember when last I used a "hunting" bullet. At closer range just slip them in behind the shoulder if your scared of heavy bones and you'll be fine but generally they don't just blow up

Firstly, not picking on you...... a 600+yard shot at a game animal is quite a shot (especially on a smallish Blesbuck) !

I am not a fan of long shots on game animals, 250 yards was about as close as we could ever get in Masailand to Fringe Eared Oryx, as there is not much cover (and that was when we put on Shukas and carried the rifles like they were spears) and those were the longest shots my clients ever took.

The results you've viewed and experienced with bullets on game are how you judge the effectiveness of the bullets you use and have seen used.

And (now) personally I don't care what bullets anyone may use, as it does not effect me directly, so ..... use whatever bullet(s) you want to use ... no skin off my nose.

Be that as it may .... as a (retired) PH in Tanzania for 25 years, I strongly suggested my clients leave all the 'tipped' bullets at home.

Broadside shots are cool, but they don't always present themselves on a hunt. When that 'big" critter is viewed will you wait for that broadside shot because he is quartering away ..... or will you let him walk ?

IMO, you have to prepare for all the possible angles of a shot, so your load/bullet best be up for the task at hand.
As shooters and hunters, we hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
If you were going to shoot a 600 - 1000 yard match, would you go without wind flags ? The bullet would still make it to the target, without flags. No you wouldn't, because we want the best outcome possible, so you take wind flags,
Hoping there is little to no wind is not a good strategy. So you plan for the best result(s).

IMO it is the same for hunting, we hope for the best and prepare for the worst.



PS .... when hunting ..... two holes are better than one

 

[dthomas]

I will be using them this season but haven't used them on game yet. They are supposed to be the same as the a max which is reported to work great for deer. I will be using the 162 eldm in a 7 saum.

 

[CharlieNC]

Nathan Foster "Terminal Ballistics" considerable research rates ELDm as tops!