6 Creedmoor with 80 Gr ELD-VT and H4350

[ABC1000]

Just starting this thread as I’ve tried to find as much individual results with this bullet as I can… there’s not a ton of data on the VT…
I’m looking to push the mv on these 80 ELD-VTs for a thermal night hunting setup as to be able to hold same point of aim over a distance of 175-350 yards or as close to that as I can get…

I’ve struggled with the 62 gr ELD-VT to find accurate loads though I’ve tried with 22 Creedmoor, 223 Rem/AI, 22 BR, I found a moderately accurate load in 22 ARC but am still needed to finalize seating depth test.

My rifle is a tikka/CBI 26” heavy varmint, 7.5 twist with a .109” freebore in 6 Creedmoor. I just shot out my last Benchmark barrel and swapped it out today. Loaded up 25 rounds of
H4350
new Peterson 6mm CM brass
450 primers
80 gr ELD-VT bullets.

First shots on barrel.
My modified case was dinged up so I had to just guess on a length of 2.717” for all rounds. I’ll update my seating depth when I get a new/repaired modified case…

Hornady load data showed another 80 gr bullet of theirs with a max with H4350 @ 45.2 so I loaded up to 45.0 gr as not to push the brass too hard on first firing… MVs on initial pressure test was:

39.0 cold/clean bore 2,898
40.0 3,147
41.0 3,163
42.0 3,245
43.0 3,324
44.0 3,407
45.0 3,510 no pressure signs throughout.

Then loaded 6 groups of 3, all shot fairly fast… with maybe a couple minutes between groups (37 deg, just before dusk, heavy mirage)

#1-42.5-3,278, 3,265, 3,265
#2-42.8-3,276, 3,281, 3,284
#3-43.1-3,291, 3,306, 3,296
#4-43.4-3,337, 3,323, 3,327
#5-43.7-3,365, 3,338, 3,357
#6-44.0-3,389, 3,381, 3,377

Results were better than I expected with a guess on seating depth and conditions, vertical was pretty consistent through out all 6 groups for the most part. ES was much better than it’s been in other tests (6BR) so I’m encouraged at this point.

Next steps:
-I’ll try some other groups at 44.3, 44.6, 44.9 and see if groups/ES stay similar…
-verify seating depth and test
-test 205m and 400 primers

Ignore Bottom row as I was confirming zero on a 22 BR I was going night hunting with…

 

[Clancy]

I don’t see anything to work with here. I’d grab some Berger 87s and a new modified case.

Stick with a CCI 450.

 

[ABC1000]

I don’t see anything to work with here. I’d grab some Berger 87s and a new modified case.

Stick with a CCI 450.

Thanks for the response. I took a wild guess on a seating depth on a bullet that is wildly sensitive to seating depth… I’m going to give it a go…

I’ve got several boxes of these and am trying to find something that will shoot them decent.

I struggled to find something good with the 62 gr 224s in 22 CM, 22 GT, 22BR, 223 rem & IMP, until I tried them in 22 ARC and found an acceptable load there.

I’m wanting to try these in a night hunting coyote rifle to see terminal performance.

 

[Clancy]

Thanks for the response. I took a wild guess on a seating depth on a bullet that is wildly sensitive to seating depth… I’m going to give it a go…

I’ve got several boxes of these and am trying to find something that will shoot them decent.

I struggled to find something good with the 62 gr 224s in 22 CM, 22 GT, 22BR, 223 rem & IMP, until I tried them in 22 ARC and found an acceptable load there.

I’m wanting to try these in a night hunting coyote rifle to see terminal performance.

I’ve seen about 35 coyotes shot with the ELD-VT.

I can’t say I’ve seen one get away, but very few bang flops, lots of exits (a bad thing) and I’m not sure any two of the bullets acted/performed the same.

You’ll be running them a little faster, maybe that’s the key. I doubt it… but it sounds like you’re bent on finding out.

 

[ABC1000]

I’ve seen about 35 coyotes shot with the ELD-VT.

I can’t say I’ve seen one get away, but very few bang flops, lots of exits (a bad thing) and I’m not sure any two of the bullets acted/performed the same.

You’ll be running them a little faster, maybe that’s the key. I doubt it… but it sounds like you’re bent on finding out.

Thanks for the tip. I’m half interested in terminal performance, and half interested in finding a load that shoots these with solid accuracy… I’ve tried the 62s extensively and finally found something that shoots.
I’ve got some of the 95s on their way, and am contemplating a slower twist 25 cal (probably Creedmoor). I’ve got a 7T but might do an 8T.

I’m looking for a bullet for a load I can step on and maintain the same point of aim from 175 yards to 350 if possible.
This will be for my backup thermal setup for a son/buddy to hunt with me, as my setup has a LRF.

Thanks for sharing your experience on the terminal performance on coyotes. 35 is no small sample size! I wish hornady could swage the lead in those VTs to have the lead in front of the empty cavity… I’m guessing it would be a completely different scenario…

 

[cb186]

I'd try a little faster powder with that light of a bullet, or, if you can find some, RL26.
For the 62vt in 22cm, I found N150 to be the best(26" Wilson 8 twist). I got 3700+ out of it.
As far as flat, its hard to beat the 53 Vmax's @4000 inside 400-500 yards, but nothing is going to be have the same point of aim from 175-350 yards, unless its literally a laser.
Here is a 53@4000@32°@800 elevation with a 250 yard zero as well as a 80vt @3600(if you could get it there) with a 250 yard zero, are very close.