Are the Eld x bullets that bad

[JAYgs8163]

NO they're not that bad when used properly.

 

[Prairie Sasquatch]

What's the difference between the 162 interlock and the 162 eldx in 7mm structurally? I know the eldx has the plastic tip and has better bc. Does it have the interlock ring?

Reason I ask is that I've killed both moose and elk with the 162 interlock. Two weeks ago I killed a bull elk with the interlock at 380 yards quartering away uphill with my 7mm Rem Mag. I hit two ribs from the back and angled up and penetrated through the offside shoulder blade stopping at the hide. Bullet mushroomed and weighed 101 grains. Elk tipped over after walking about 20 feet. Pretty much textbook performance.

I worked up a load this summer for the 162 eldx which shoots 3/4" groups but didn't have time to shoot it beyond 300 yards so I hunted with the interlock load.

I do like the better bc of the eldx and it's more accurate than the interlock but it's hard to go away from a bullet that's been so effective.

 

[Hydra6]

The ELDX is not a bonded bullet but is has some form of "interlock" between the tip and the base.

 

[Hydra6]

The base of a 162 ELDX that was recovered from an antelope I harvested in NM last season. 280AI, 162 ELDX from Precision Hunter. Antelope facing me - projectile entered chest and traveled length of antelope with the base caught under the skin near tail after breaking spine.

 

[bomberodevil]

I'm not sure. I've shot truckloads of deer and antelope using Nosler Ballistic Tips and Accubonds with much better/quicker kills at a wide variety of ranges. I haven't shot anything other than that deer using the 143 in the Creedmoor. I'm not trashing the ELD-X, just observing that it was the least spectacular kill I've ever made on a game animal.


The bullet did kill the deer. That is true. It passed completely through also. No blood trail. No catastrophic lung damage. If I hadn't been the one who made the shot, I would have called it a miss and told the shooter to fire again. Going from 26 cal. to 30 cal. is only 44 thousandths of an inch in diameter and it wouldn't make a hill of beans difference if the bullet didn't expand. Just unlucky terminal performance in my case I guess.

I have to disagree with your assessment of "unluck terminal performance in my case".

I think it was classic cup and core, and classic ELDX terminal performance. The bullet entered, and wreaked havoc on the inside of the animal. It sounds like it maximized the tissue damage to the internal organs while minimizing the damage to the muscle tissue. The deer took the shot, walked 10 feet away, laid down and died.
I'm not sure what else a hunter could want with terminal performance.

 

[Hand Skills]

NO they're not that bad when used properly.

How do you define 'proper' use?

 

[Rocketeer77]

How long were the ranges these were fired at, what were the animals, what shot angles? I had a 215 grain Berger hybrid do the same on an elk at 1176 yards. In my case I can't blame the bullet but won't use it on game that far anymore. Mine was fired from a 300 WSM at 2817 FPS. I had better results at those kind of ranges with heavy Berger HVLD's.

You could try getting closer, that's why it's called hunting

 

[JAYgs8163]

How do you define 'proper' use?

Using them in the proper cartridge as it wouldn't be my choice in a 7-08 or similarly type cartridge. Knowing your effective range. Shot placement. Common sense. They're a good bullet, not my first choice though. I load them for a friend in his 7 Mag and he's had very good success with them.

 

[hunter0528]

Recovered from Elk @ 185 yards
Hornady 200 ELDX at 2833fps
300 Win Mag and Blaser Rifle
These were recovered on the opposite side of the Elk just under the skin. One was a lung shot the second was a heart shot. Just not sure which order, but I believe Lung was first.

Works for me!

 

[hawk-i]

My wife and I each used ELD-X bullets on Moose last year...one shot each, 2 dead Bulls.

 

[birddog 68]

My wife and I each used ELD-X bullets on Moose last year...one shot each, 2 dead Bulls.

This thread has become more interesting with age.
Would you please share your cartridges, estimated muzzle velocities and the range of the moose.
After seeing recovered bullets it's amazing how they are holding together similar to a bonded bullet instead of just a locking ring.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I think that we see more concerns about 143ELDX performance specifically because of the surge of popularity of 6.5 Creedmoor. 65CM is an extremely accurate and easy to shoot cartridge. Hunters can make hits at longer ranges with this accurate and low recoil cartridge. However, 65CM is not the "hammer of thor" and bleeds off energy quickly. Be interesting to see how 143ELDX performs in 65 PRC with some more velocity.

My Grandson shot, 3 Deer with, his 6.5 PRC ( Load Chrono'd, 3,100 FPS ) using the 143 gr ELD-X's at,.. 225, 268 and 470 Yards the first 2, were "Boiler Room" hits and PASS Thru's and the 3rd one, clipped ONE shoulder Blade at, 470 yds and was laying, just under the Far sides Hide, NONE went over, 20 Yds and all,.. DRT . I've chosen t Hunt with THIS Bullet in My 6.5 Creed as I was, impressed with, it !
It's a "Cup and Core" Bullet, so the Core WILL probably separate and,.. Fragment some !
140 gr. .277 and 6.5 cal. Berger's, Driven, FAST ( 3,100 to 3,200 FPS ) are, my Number ONE, Elk / Deer Bullet and now thinking that, these ELD-X's are,.. #2

 

[hawk-i]

This thread has become more interesting with age.
Would you please share your cartridges, estimated muzzle velocities and the range of the moose.
After seeing recovered bullets it's amazing how they are holding together similar to a bonded bullet instead of just a locking ring.

My bull was just under 200 yards broadside, 175ELD-x from a CT Rival in 7SAUM @2885fps muzzle and wife's bull was about 80 yards, complete frontal shot, 178 ELD-X from Vanguard II 308win. @2650fps muzzle.
My bull dropped on the spot, hers ran 20 yards and piled up.

 

[COBrad]

You could try getting closer, that's why it's called hunting

You do realize this is a long range hunting forum don't you?