75 ELD on Pdogs in 22xc

[strow]

A little late in the season but how are the 75 ELD-M working on prairie dogs? I have taken several coyotes with the 75 ELD-M and they are a hammer at 2750fps MV (17" 223AI) . Just wondering how they perform on smaller prairie dogs at 2000fps impact velocity or more.

 

[RegionRat]

In general, a 75 ELD-M (and the 77 TMK, etc,) will put away a prairie dog, close or far.
That said, in general, if you compare the violence inside say 300 yards next to something like a 40 - 53 VMax or Blitzking, the 75 ELD-M and the like are not as dramatic an impact. There is less energy dissipated on the prairie dog an a lot more pass-through.

ETA: still beats sitting at our keyboards....

 

[7315br]

A little late in the season but how are the 75 ELD-M working on prairie dogs? I have taken several coyotes with the 75 ELD-M and they are a hammer at 2750fps MV (17" 223AI) . Just wondering how they perform on smaller prairie dogs at 2000fps impact velocity or more.

Since you asked...I have about three seasons experience with the 75 gr ELD-M (3640 fps MV) on PD's out to a 1000 yds +. Rifle is a .22-243 Imp. It is deadly with that bullet to 750 yds on PD's. Blows them up. Past that it becomes like most long range bullets on PD's, but I would say it performs a little better than most I've tried. My last PD kill with that rifle and bullet was 1115 yds (2nd shot). I sold the rifle, and the new owner certainly knows how to shoot. The rifle now has a little over 300 rds through it. Enclosed from him is a 100 yd group and a 1000 yd group (about 3")...both 3-shots.

 

[strow]

So backing into the numbers, with a wild guess, it looks like the 75 ELD-M should have violent fragmentation if the velocity is kept above 2300-2400fps. And 3640fps is MOVING that 75 ELD-M!

 

[RegionRat]

If you placed the shots on prairie dogs below the diaphragm and they were well fed and watered, you got drama with them. However, if you placed the shot higher it may have knocked chunks off of them on the way through, but it wasn't enough flesh in front of the bullet to transfer the energy as in the example of a Blitz or VMax that comes apart on a blade of grass by contrast.

Not trying to say they don't work, but they are not like a designated varmint bullet. What makes them fun is how much farther you can play with them in wind and distance.

 

[7315br]

So backing into the numbers, with a wild guess, it looks like the 75 ELD-M should have violent fragmentation if the velocity is kept above 2300-2400fps. And 3640fps is MOVING that 75 ELD-M!

All I can say is for my experience they did well. I had a number of first shot kills with that bullet at 700-800 yds...and it pulverized them. I just looked at my ballistic sheet and your guess is on the money! I'm showing 2440 fps at 725 yds and 6500' elevation. As RegionRat commented it's not a V-Max, but it's the best I found for longer range PD's. Not perfect...but okay.

 

[RegionRat]

Just FYI, I have been hearing about a new model bullet from Hornady. I have not seen them in person yet.

They call it a "VT" and describe it as a blended technology bullet where they keep the weight down to get velocity up but give it a slick aerodynamic shape. It is supposed to have the violent shallow expansion of a varmint bullet. Time will tell.

 

[AckleymanII]

In a 22 XC with .020 freebore, the 53-55g bullets shot with AA2700 would give incredible velocity with very long barrel life, exceeding the velocity of the 22/250. Tubb brass with .003 Neck clearance on a loaded round on a reamer design using a 12 twist.

The long neck on the XC case retards throat growth, make no mistake about it!

Just a thought

 

[WyleWD]

In a zero 22 XC with .020 freebore, the 53-55g bullets shot with AA2700 would give incredible velocity with very long barrel life, exceeding the velocity of the 22/250. Tubb brass with .003 Neck clearance on a loaded round on a reamer design using a 12 twist.

The long neck on the XC case retards throat growth, make no mistake about it!

Just a thought

Good information. I have one exactly like that "in process" at the moment. With any luck and good weather I'll be Doing load develpment just in time for spring chuck and coyote hunting. I'm anxious to get behind a 22xc again. It's been a while. WD

 

[urbanrifleman]

Good information. I have one like that "in process" at the moment. With any luck and good weather I'll be Doing load develpment just in time for spring chuck and coyote hunting. I'm anxious to get behind a 22xc again. It's been a while. WD

You have one on order?

 

[WyleWD]

You have one on order?

Yes. It's in the Que at the gunsmith. WD

 

[urbanrifleman]

Yes. It's in the Que at the gunsmith. WD

Good to know someone else is doing it.

 

[Old Navy]

This cartridge has been out long enough now for someone to have tried it with Reloader 22 with 77 and 80 SMKs. I need a starting load if you care to share. I have a lot of 22 and and am running low on H4350. Thanks. Frank

 

[cb186]

I have my 22xc reamer now and it is 90 FB.

I am thinking these guys right here in an 8 twist going say... 3600 FPS is hand grenade city?

View attachment 1275026

I built myself a 22 Creed last year, to shoot 75 ELDs. They are going 3500 w/RL22. I thought it was going to be king. Its very good, but I feel 53 X-Max @4100 out of my 22-250AI that I also built last year, is way more fun out to 500 yards. The 75's don't overtake the 53's on elevation until near 700 yards.
This year, I'll only be loading 50, maybe 100 75's for the creed(8 twist, so the 53's should survive), and will load the rest with 53's.