156 Berger, 143 ELDX or 147 ELDM

[vancewalker007]

Hello everyone! We have the 147 ELDM, 143 ELDX, and the 156 Berger EOL currently right now and have all of them shooting 1/2 in groups in a 6.5 PRC. Just trying to decide which one to stick with. Shots will be ranging from 100-450 yards primarily on whitetail and mule deer. For those who have shot all 3, which do you recommend sticking with as far as game performance, consistency, etc.

I've been shooting the 156 for 4 years now. I've killed 4 Coues bucks at 743, 450, 448, and 350. I've killed 18 plains game from 80 yards Sable, to 500 yards Eland, the eland took 2 shots. You should be fine with any of the bullets listed but the 156 will really crush it.

 

[Bill28]

Hello everyone! We have the 147 ELDM, 143 ELDX, and the 156 Berger EOL currently right now and have all of them shooting 1/2 in groups in a 6.5 PRC. Just trying to decide which one to stick with. Shots will be ranging from 100-450 yards primarily on whitetail and mule deer. For those who have shot all 3, which do you recommend sticking with as far as game performance, consistency, etc.

I just used the Berger 156 on a Caribou at 317 yards and it worked great, I'd go with the 156

 

[dgpcpa]

Hello everyone! We have the 147 ELDM, 143 ELDX, and the 156 Berger EOL currently right now and have all of them shooting 1/2 in groups in a 6.5 PRC. Just trying to decide which one to stick with. Shots will be ranging from 100-450 yards primarily on whitetail and mule deer. For those who have shot all 3, which do you recommend sticking with as far as game performance, consistency, etc.

I've not shot all three. I first tried the ELD-X and had great groups, small SD and good muzzle speed. Once I started reloading, anything I shot with it died quickly. So - I'm a convinced fan.

 

[General RE LEE]

Well chit

I got a bunch of ELD-X and ELD-M but no 156 EOL. Reloading has a tendency to separate me from my money lol

 

[Reemty J]

156's are pretty easy to find, I like to keep 500 or more on hand.

 

[General RE LEE]

156's are pretty easy to find, I like to keep 500 or more on hand.

I've only been checking Midway. I'll search others.

 

[tesines]

156's are pretty easy to find, I like to keep 500 or more on hand.

Where are you finding 156's I've been looking everywhere….

 

[Reemty J]

Most on here, was some a couple of weeks ago, just put an ad in your looking for some, great people here will sell you some or trade

 

[Bill28]

Where are you finding 156's I've been looking everywhere….

I've got a "extra" box if you buy chance you have some cci 200 large rifle primers to trade.

 

[tesines]

I've got a "extra" box if you buy chance you have some cci 200 large rifle primers to trade.

PM sent

 

[tesines]

PM Sent

 

[OG-danimal]

I've been shooting the 156 for 4 years now. I've killed 4 Coues bucks at 743, 450, 448, and 350. I've killed 18 plains game from 80 yards Sable, to 500 yards Eland, the eland took 2 shots. You should be fine with any of the bullets listed but the 156 will really crush it.

What was your experience with meat loss and the 156 bergers?

 

[vancewalker007]

What was your experience with meat loss and the 156 bergers?

I would say it has been about the same as what I used to see with 180gr Nosler Accubonds from my 300 WSM or 150 Federal Fusions from my 270 WSM and less than a 7mm 140 Nolser Ballistic Tip from my 7mm STW on the Coues deer. There is always some meat loss around the bullet wound even with monos like Hammers or Barnes. Of course, the monos typically have less than lead core bullets. I try to put the entrance wound low just behind the front leg, so the ribs take the brunt of the hit so not much loss there. It was about same on the African game I've shot with it. I'm sure if you hit an animal right in the meaty middle of the shoulder that entry side shoulder would be mostly lost from any soft lead core bullet.

Here is what I can say about my experience with Bergers, mostly the VLD hunting version. I have used these bullets and seen them used from the following cartridges on Western game and African antelope 7mm STW, 300 WSM, 270 WSM, 7mm LRM, and 6.5 PRC by my father, son, wife, daughter and son in law. None of the targeted animals have been lost, in fact most of them either dropped or took a few steps, but mostly dropped. That's my experience, not everyone's. I have used other bullets, mostly Nosler Accubonds and Ballistic Tips over the years. I have lost 2 Coues bucks to Nosler Accubonds and almost lost a cow elk.

 

[Petey308]

I would say it has been about the same as what I used to see with 180gr Nosler Accubonds from my 300 WSM or 150 Federal Fusions from my 270 WSM and less than a 7mm 140 Nolser Ballistic Tip from my 7mm STW on the Coues deer. There is always some meat loss around the bullet wound even with monos like Hammers or Barnes. Of course, the monos typically have less than lead core bullets. I try to put the entrance wound low just behind the front leg, so the ribs take the brunt of the hit so not much loss there. It was about same on the African game I've shot with it. I'm sure if you hit an animal right in the meaty middle of the shoulder that entry side shoulder would be mostly lost from any soft lead core bullet.

Here is what I can say about my experience with Bergers, mostly the VLD hunting version. I have used these bullets and seen them used from the following cartridges on Western game and African antelope 7mm STW, 300 WSM, 270 WSM, 7mm LRM, and 6.5 PRC by my father, son, wife, daughter and son in law. None of the targeted animals have been lost, in fact most of them either dropped or took a few steps, but mostly dropped. That's my experience, not everyone's. I have used other bullets, mostly Nosler Accubonds and Ballistic Tips over the years. I have lost 2 Coues bucks to Nosler Accubonds and almost lost a cow elk.

Losing less meat is obviously a good thing and desirable, but in my experience and what the physics tells us is that to get less meat loss there is a trade off. It's all give and take. To destroy less meat means less damage and narrower wounding caused by the bullet, plain and simple. The hope and idea is having a bullet that does just enough damage to kill quick and clean, but not too much that it destroys a lot of meat. That's a really delicate thing to balance and with reliability and consistency.

I've found it's way more reliable and consistent to use a bullet that creates plenty of damage and trauma. It sounds as though your experience with the Bergers vs Accubonds has shown that too. Losing meat sucks. Losing the whole animal sucks more. That's how I look at it and how I take my trade offs. Everyone is different though, and that's great.

Im not saying bonded bullets or any monos don't work or aren't a good choice. I still use them for certain applications because there are indeed scenarios and applications where they excel and are the better choice. I'm just picky about which ones I use lol.