225 Eldm and 230 atip for Hunting

[teejj]

Ive had few hunting bullets fail. Berger 300 elite, berger 180 elite, 195 elites. Hammers..got a bent nose on a bear last

This^
Will they work? Probably... but it's a gamble. Are they designed for it? Not at all, they're made for putting holes in paper, they're not designed for RELIABLE expansion in tissue.

I'm actually not doubting an eldm will reliably expand, I know it will, I've had too many deer drop to its the predecessor amax in 178 gr. The eldm version are after all only an eldx without a "lock" ring and slightly thinner jacket. What I am interested in is if anyone has been shooting any game with 225 eldm or 230 atip and what the results have been?

 

[teejj]

Ive had few hunting bullets fail. Berger 300 elite, berger 180 elite, 195 elites. Hammers..got a bent nose on a bear last year

I've heard of hammers "necking over" pretty often.

 

[Barehandlineman11]

I'm actually not doubting an eldm will reliably expand, I know it will, I've had too many deer drop to its the predecessor amax in 178 gr. The eldm version are after all only an eldx without a "lock" ring and slightly thinner jacket. What I am interested in is if anyone has been shooting any game with 225 eldm or 230 atip and what the results have been?

Killed 4 bulls last year with them. 300 too 1100 yards all dead instantly 230 a tips.

 

[teejj]

Killed 4 bulls last year with them. 300 too 1100 yards all dead instantly 230 a tips.

good to hear! Thanks

 

[SamuelBerryhill308]

is this the same guy that said hammer bullets are no good?

Yes it is

 

[bultinkle]

Sorry I thought I did in my original post asking about the 225 eldm and 230 atip. Ill see if the title is editable.

You did, but as you can tell what is drawing people in his just "match bullets for hunting" being the title.

So we are gonna get a lot of opinions from people that have never even used them, many of which don't even bother to care what specific bullets you're asking about. Unfortunate, but seems normal. If it hits enough posts to go out in an email update it will get even more crazy in here.

 

[mullmann03]

300 RUM with 190 gr matchkings going 3150ish. 100 yard shot back in 2012. Buck charged us and was looking at us head on. The bullet went in the front of the neck and took out everything on the way out. Way too much horsepower up close. I switched to Berger 230's after that.

I didn't blame the bullet as much as the speed on an up close shot.

 

[Rosebud]

I've heard of hammers "necking over" pretty often.

I've never recovered a hammer hunter to know if it necked over. From the collateral damage from the broken tip pieces on the opposite ribcage and a half dollar exit hole from the shank I say they work as advertised. I've killed 20 + deer so far, and none required any tracking. Even if the tip bent over, that would make the bullet tumble and tear up a new one inside an animal. I discount anything someone on the internet says that can't show proof. Show me a picture of a recovered hammer bullet with the tip bent over.

 

[teejj]

Killed 4 bulls last year with them. 300 too 1100 yards all dead instantly 230 a tips.

good to hear! Thanks

I've never recovered a hammer hunter to know if it necked over. From the collateral damage from the broken tip pieces on the opposite ribcage and a half dollar exit hole from the shank I say they work as advertised. I've killed 20 + deer so far, and none required any tracking. Even if the tip bent over, that would make the bullet tumble and tear up a new one inside an animal. I discount anything someone on the internet says that can't show proof. Show me a picture of a recovered hammer bullet with the tip bent over.

I have no personal experience with them, like I said it's just something I've heard fairly often about them. Yes you are right a change of direction or nosing over can lead to deformation, fragmentation etc but it may not be repeatable/reliable. If it works for you though then why not.

 

[Bghunter338]

Sorry I thought I did in my original post asking about the 225 eldm and 230 atip. Ill see if the title is editable.

 

[Bghunter338]

Here's another good watch.

 

[Barehandlineman11]

I've never recovered a hammer hunter to know if it necked over. From the collateral damage from the broken tip pieces on the opposite ribcage and a half dollar exit hole from the shank I say they work as advertised. I've killed 20 + deer so far, and none required any tracking. Even if the tip bent over, that would make the bullet tumble and tear up a new one inside an animal. I discount anything someone on the internet says that can't show proof. Show me a picture of a recovered hammer bullet with the tip bent over.

……

 

[Barehandlineman11]

I know of two now. One in a bear 75 yards 28 nosler went in hit shoulder blade and tumbled. Bear made it killed few days later. Retrieved bullet from inside shoulder. Ive seen them kill just fine too. Bc sucks and never know when this will happen so i dont shoot them.

 

[Calvin45]

I have a great hand load in 300 win mag with the 225 eldm for accuracy and would like to know experiences with this or similar bullets on game, should I expect good terminal ballistics? I also have a batch of 230 atip, will this be similar in the damage & penetration department? Or do I back up and punt for a bullet for hunting that is bonded/copper/locked etc? I do want pass through on my shots incase I need to trail them (thick in my area or Texas if the run) but want max damage for a humane kill and best chance of bangflop. Looking forward to hunting season! Thanks

I've killed three whitetails here with tge 225
Eld m in my .300 win at around 2760 fps mv. All three died incredibly quickly, two went straight down in fact (one was admittedly a CNS hit). The other did a drunk run maybe 20 yards and piled up. Crazy blood loss.

All three exited, including one that went through the front shoulder/neck spine area. All three DEFINITELY opened up very fast and violently. It's an off switch. I wouldn't shoot a moose in the shoulder with one.