Five years ago shot a whitetail buck at 80 yards with an Interlock 150 gr. in my '06. Hit him in the left shoulder...he stumbled and ran to within 20 yards of my stand and I put one in his neck to finish him. When I gutted him, it was evident that after breaking the left shoulder, the bullet fragmented and blew out his lungs without further penetration. I called Hornady and was told to use Interbonds NOT Interlocks! Nuff said...
bullet expansion test results
- Thread starter yorke-1
- Start date
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X2, thanks Wedgy for pointing that out.
Reuben
P.S. yorke-1 those 155 CEB's should be close to knocking on your door soon.
Longshotjames
Well-Known Member
I'm getting a pretty good system down to track everything. I have a notebook that I wright down the load, muzzle velocity, retained weight and approximate impact velocity from each day that I go out. Then I label all the pictures and have them saved in files based on the date. When I get enough time I want to get everything sorted out and categorized by bullet manufacturer and bore diameter. One step at a time though!
As long as people stay interested, I'll keep this going. It's already gone on far longer than I expected it to.
Andrew
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I still pop in when I notice a new post or 2 has been made... 
longgunshooter
Well-Known Member
What MudRunner said...
I am pleased to see the ELDX is performing well. thank you for taking the time to do this for us!
codyadams
Well-Known Member
Yup, this is great stuff, and I am sure I will refer back to this post from time to time....
Update time! I left the house at about 10 this morning and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day, and it was for a while. I ended up getting hit with snow mixed with rain up at about 2600' elevation! I still got a decent amount done though before I called it a day. Today's test guns were mostly the same as used in past tests including the 6mm BR pistol, CZ 527 6.5 Grendel for the light weight 6.5 bullets, 6.5x47 Lapua for the heavy 6.5s, 300 Win Mag and for the .358s I brought out the 35 Whelen built on a sporterized Springfield. It's my classic elk rifle loaded with not so classic bullets. This isn't a picture from today, it's just one of the better pictures I have of the rifle.
6mm BR
- 85gr Sierra Game King HPBT
- Muzzle velocity 1970 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1725 fps with retained weights of 84.7gr and 84.1gr. I'm impressed with how well these expanded at such a low velocity.
6.5 Grendel
- 130gr Berger AR Hybrid
- Muzzle velocity 1910 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1790 fps with retained weights of 130.2gr and 130.4gr caused by the leather material filling the HP. As with almost every Berger Hybrid I've tested so far, these did not expand at the low velocity.
- 123gr A-Max
- Muzzle velocity 1905 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1777 fps with retained weights of 114.0gr and 116.4gr. I incorrectly marked this as a 130gr bullet in the picture, that's why it's been edited.
- 123 SST
- Muzzle velocity 1886 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1754 fps with retained weights of 114.8gr and 112.8gr. It was interesting that these bullets had a muzzle velocity 20 fps (with a single digit ES from both loads) slower than the 123 A-Max with the exact same load. performance between the SST and A-Max is almost indistinguishable.
6.5x47 Lapua
- 142 Nosler ABLR
- Muzzle velocity 1893 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1775 fps with a retained weight of 132.9gr. Two bullets were fired but only one was recovered. It's likely that the bullet is still stuck in the leather and I just haven't found it yet.
300 Win Mag
- 165 Sierra Game King HPBT
- Muzzle velocity 2945 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 2745 fps with a retained weight of 102.1gr from the one bullet recovered and the second one completely fragmented after 1.5" of penetration. I'm going to test these at a lower velocity as well out of either a 30-06 or 308, curiosity just got the best of me and I wanted to see how it would do under a high velocity impact. I think they held up pretty well though considering the impact velocity.
- 150gr Sledge Hammer
- Muzzle velocity 1745fps
Impact Velocity is approximately 1680fps with retained weights of 150gr each. These were shot at relatively close range using Trail Boss powder and is well bellow the recommended 1800 fps minimum for expansion. All of the Hammers have performed exactly how I would expect them to when inside the recommended velocity window so I wanted to see what would happen at an extremely low velocity. I'm not at all surprised by the lack of expansion but it was interesting that the HP curled in instead of expanding outwards on impact.
- 225gr ELD-M
- Muzzle Velocity 2153 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 2051 fps with retained weights of 172.6gr and 129.7gr. One of these was struck by a 200gr TTSX bullet which caused the more significant weight loss of one bullet.
- 200gr ELD-X
- Muzzle velocity 2209 fps
Impact Velocity is approximately 2085 fps with retained weights of 183.1gr and 179.1gr. The core slipped out on one bullet but was recovered.
35 Whelen
- 200gr TTSX
- Muzzle velocity 2740 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 2449 fps with retained weights of 170.9gr and 198.5gr. One of these bullets struck a 200gr ELD-x and lost one petal. This is a load that was already loaded up for this rifle. I'll get a lower velocity load to test at a later date.
Once again, today's test showed that the Berger Hybrids don't expand well under these conditions, I'm not sure whether it's the test medium that I'm using or the low velocity. Since other styles of Berger VLDs have performed better in the same tests I have to assume that it has to do with the design of the hybrids. I've also been very impressed by all of the Hornady bullets I've tested so far whether it's the newer ELD series or the A-max and SSTs. It' hard to argue with the results they've given compared to some bullets that cost significantly more.
Andrew
6mm BR
- 85gr Sierra Game King HPBT
- Muzzle velocity 1970 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1725 fps with retained weights of 84.7gr and 84.1gr. I'm impressed with how well these expanded at such a low velocity.
6.5 Grendel
- 130gr Berger AR Hybrid
- Muzzle velocity 1910 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1790 fps with retained weights of 130.2gr and 130.4gr caused by the leather material filling the HP. As with almost every Berger Hybrid I've tested so far, these did not expand at the low velocity.
- 123gr A-Max
- Muzzle velocity 1905 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1777 fps with retained weights of 114.0gr and 116.4gr. I incorrectly marked this as a 130gr bullet in the picture, that's why it's been edited.
- 123 SST
- Muzzle velocity 1886 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1754 fps with retained weights of 114.8gr and 112.8gr. It was interesting that these bullets had a muzzle velocity 20 fps (with a single digit ES from both loads) slower than the 123 A-Max with the exact same load. performance between the SST and A-Max is almost indistinguishable.
6.5x47 Lapua
- 142 Nosler ABLR
- Muzzle velocity 1893 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1775 fps with a retained weight of 132.9gr. Two bullets were fired but only one was recovered. It's likely that the bullet is still stuck in the leather and I just haven't found it yet.
300 Win Mag
- 165 Sierra Game King HPBT
- Muzzle velocity 2945 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 2745 fps with a retained weight of 102.1gr from the one bullet recovered and the second one completely fragmented after 1.5" of penetration. I'm going to test these at a lower velocity as well out of either a 30-06 or 308, curiosity just got the best of me and I wanted to see how it would do under a high velocity impact. I think they held up pretty well though considering the impact velocity.
- 150gr Sledge Hammer
- Muzzle velocity 1745fps
Impact Velocity is approximately 1680fps with retained weights of 150gr each. These were shot at relatively close range using Trail Boss powder and is well bellow the recommended 1800 fps minimum for expansion. All of the Hammers have performed exactly how I would expect them to when inside the recommended velocity window so I wanted to see what would happen at an extremely low velocity. I'm not at all surprised by the lack of expansion but it was interesting that the HP curled in instead of expanding outwards on impact.
- 225gr ELD-M
- Muzzle Velocity 2153 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 2051 fps with retained weights of 172.6gr and 129.7gr. One of these was struck by a 200gr TTSX bullet which caused the more significant weight loss of one bullet.
- 200gr ELD-X
- Muzzle velocity 2209 fps
Impact Velocity is approximately 2085 fps with retained weights of 183.1gr and 179.1gr. The core slipped out on one bullet but was recovered.
35 Whelen
- 200gr TTSX
- Muzzle velocity 2740 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 2449 fps with retained weights of 170.9gr and 198.5gr. One of these bullets struck a 200gr ELD-x and lost one petal. This is a load that was already loaded up for this rifle. I'll get a lower velocity load to test at a later date.
Once again, today's test showed that the Berger Hybrids don't expand well under these conditions, I'm not sure whether it's the test medium that I'm using or the low velocity. Since other styles of Berger VLDs have performed better in the same tests I have to assume that it has to do with the design of the hybrids. I've also been very impressed by all of the Hornady bullets I've tested so far whether it's the newer ELD series or the A-max and SSTs. It' hard to argue with the results they've given compared to some bullets that cost significantly more.
Andrew
Last edited:
Once again, awesome job! This is one of my favorite threads on here because it's nice to see real world results with a non biased approach! Your comments about the Hornady bullets is the main reason I use them, I've never had one fail me. The new ELD Match are quickly becoming my favorite mid to long range bullet. For the price and performance you can't beat them!Update time! I left the house at about 10 this morning and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day, and it was for a while. I ended up getting hit with snow mixed with rain up at about 2600' elevation! I still got a decent amount done though before I called it a day. Today's test guns were mostly the same as used in past tests including the 6mm BR pistol, CZ 527 6.5 Grendel for the light weight 6.5 bullets, 6.5x47 Lapua for the heavy 6.5s, 300 Win Mag and for the .358s I brought out the 35 Whelen built on a sporterized Springfield. It's my classic elk rifle loaded with not so classic bullets. This isn't a picture from today, it's just one of the better pictures I have of the rifle.
6mm BR
- 85gr Sierra Game King HPBT
- Muzzle velocity 1970 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1725 fps with retained weights of 84.7gr and 84.1gr. I'm impressed with how well these expanded at such a low velocity.
6.5 Grendel
- 130gr Berger AR Hybrid
- Muzzle velocity 1910 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1790 fps with retained weights of 130.2gr and 130.4gr caused by the leather material filling the HP. As with almost every Berger Hybrid I've tested so far, these did not expand at the low velocity.
- 123gr A-Max
- Muzzle velocity 1905 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1777 fps with retained weights of 114.0gr and 116.4gr. I incorrectly marked this as a 130gr bullet in the picture, that's why it's been edited.
- 123 SST
- Muzzle velocity 1886 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1754 fps with retained weights of 114.8gr and 112.8gr. It was interesting that these bullets had a muzzle velocity 20 fps (with a single digit ES from both loads) slower than the 123 A-Max with the exact same load. performance between the SST and A-Max is almost indistinguishable.
6.5x47 Lapua
- 142 Nosler ABLR
- Muzzle velocity 1893 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 1775 fps with a retained weight of 132.9gr. Two bullets were fired but only one was recovered. It's likely that the bullet is still stuck in the leather and I just haven't found it yet.
300 Win Mag
- 165 Sierra Game King HPBT
- Muzzle velocity 2945 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 2745 fps with a retained weight of 102.1gr from the one bullet recovered and the second one completely fragmented after 1.5" of penetration. I'm going to test these at a lower velocity as well out of either a 30-06 or 308, curiosity just got the best of me and I wanted to see how it would do under a high velocity impact. I think they held up pretty well though considering the impact velocity.
- 150gr Sledge Hammer
- Muzzle velocity 1745fps
Impact Velocity is approximately 1680fps with retained weights of 150gr each. These were shot at relatively close range using Trail Boss powder and is well bellow the recommended 1800 fps minimum for expansion. All of the Hammers have performed exactly how I would expect them to when inside the recommended velocity window so I wanted to see what would happen at an extremely low velocity. I'm not at all surprised by the lack of expansion but it was interesting that the HP curled in instead of expanding outwards on impact.
- 225gr ELD-M
- Muzzle Velocity 2153 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 2051 fps with retained weights of 172.6gr and 129.7gr. One of these was struck by a 200gr TTSX bullet which caused the more significant weight loss of one bullet.
- 200gr ELD-X
- Muzzle velocity 2209 fps
Impact Velocity is approximately 2085 fps with retained weights of 183.1gr and 179.1gr. The core slipped out on one bullet but was recovered.
35 Whelen
- 200gr TTSX
- Muzzle velocity 2740 fps
Impact velocity is approximately 2449 fps with retained weights of 170.9gr and 198.5gr. One of these bullets struck a 200gr ELD-x and lost one petal. This is a load that was already loaded up for this rifle. I'll get a lower velocity load to test at a later date.
Once again, today's test showed that the Berger Hybrids don't expand well under these conditions, I'm not sure whether it's the test medium that I'm using or the low velocity. Since other styles of Berger VLDs have performed better in the same tests I have to assume that it has to do with the design of the hybrids. I've also been very impressed by all of the Hornady bullets I've tested so far whether it's the newer ELD series or the A-max and SSTs. It' hard to argue with the results they've given compared to some bullets that cost significantly more.
Andrew
By the way, beautiful Springfield sported! My Dad has a very similar rifle to yours but chambered in .30-06 and soon to be rebarreled to .308 Norma Mag!
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
Good job AGAIN! I like the Hornadys predictability also and is why I recommend them for long range. Quite honestly though, I think they could have just forgot about the ELDX and the ELDM would have worked just as well. The minute little crimp in the jacket of the eldx does not really accomplish much over the match bullet and I am not too sure the lead clear to the tip on the M is not better than the big hollow nose on the X. They will still expand down to about 1300 in my tests! ...Rich
Thanks! I bought it from a buddy who needed some cash a while back. I doubt I'll have it very long though, he plans on buying it back before I keep it for good!
I'm trying to get the pics rotated, I don't know what's going on with Photobucket tonight!
