Is there a recommended, or experienced, minimum velocity for terminal performance for the ELD-M (or any other "target" bullets, Berger comes to mind)? I'm doing some ballistic comparisons and have a few hundred ELD-Ms in different calibers and for different cartridges that I'm thinking I want to try for next hunting season. I'm just trying to figure out what the limits are for these, and if it even makes sense. If anyone has any personal experience with these I'd be ecstatic to hear your experiences. Currently I'm thinking of trying the 140 ELD-M in my 6.5 Creedmoor compared to the 143 ELD-X, also the 180gr ELD-M compared to the 195 EOL in my 28 Nosler. I have others that I'd consider trying too, like a 120gr ELD-M in a 6.5 Grendel or 162gr ELD-M vs ELD-X in a 7mm WSM. I'm open to suggestions as well, mostly in the Berger and Hornady lines.
ELD-M minimum velocity for “expansion”?
- Thread starter chav0_12
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
Another thing, velocity increases from something like a 195 EOL vs a 180 ELD-M or VLD in the 28 Nosler? Also the 143 ELD-X vs the 140 ELD-M? I pretty much find a bullet that I want to shoot and do whatever I can to make it shoot so I stick with my choices. I haven't tried the others, yet, but I can and want to if it makes sense.
MagnumManiac
Well-Known Member
Minimum velocity for RELIABLE expansion is variable in my experience.
Hitting bones makes a big difference once velocity is down to the minimum required for a bullet to expand.
If you hit ribs, not big bones, you may not get any useful expansion, depending on the bullet type and jacket thickness.
I tested Berger HT, Nosler ABLR & Sierra MK all at the same impact velocity of 1300fps. The only bullet that expanded reliably was the ABLR. The ABLR expanded every time in 6.5mm, 7mm, 30 cal and 33 cal. As soon as velocity dropped to 1000fps, none expanded, in fact, all boat tail bullets tested tumbled at that velocity. I had 1 ABLR that had a tip intact, all others they were missing.
Anyway, my conclusion is to follow the minimums and maximum, if there is a maximum, to the letter. Even Ballistic Tips prove to be iffy below 1800fps.
Food for thought.
Cheers.
Hitting bones makes a big difference once velocity is down to the minimum required for a bullet to expand.
If you hit ribs, not big bones, you may not get any useful expansion, depending on the bullet type and jacket thickness.
I tested Berger HT, Nosler ABLR & Sierra MK all at the same impact velocity of 1300fps. The only bullet that expanded reliably was the ABLR. The ABLR expanded every time in 6.5mm, 7mm, 30 cal and 33 cal. As soon as velocity dropped to 1000fps, none expanded, in fact, all boat tail bullets tested tumbled at that velocity. I had 1 ABLR that had a tip intact, all others they were missing.
Anyway, my conclusion is to follow the minimums and maximum, if there is a maximum, to the letter. Even Ballistic Tips prove to be iffy below 1800fps.
Food for thought.
Cheers.
Huntnful
Well-Known Member
You'll gain around 100FPS in the 28 nosler with the switch from 195's to 180's. And still gain BC.
I just killed an elk with the 180 ELDM at 2150fps impact velocity and performance was solid.
I like 2000fps as my minimum, but that has zero credibility or science behind it lol. Bullets just seem to work at or above that speed.
I just killed an elk with the 180 ELDM at 2150fps impact velocity and performance was solid.
I like 2000fps as my minimum, but that has zero credibility or science behind it lol. Bullets just seem to work at or above that speed.
I'll never trust a Nosler BT anymore from an experience I've had. "Target" bullets don't typically come with a recommended velocity, hence the question. Is 1800 fps a basic for these target bullets too?
That's why we/some of us start them out faster.
Maybe not quite as fast as a 7/300 NM, but fast.
Was your nosler BT experience with the old style 1st generation or the "hunting" variety? Velocity? Animal?
Maybe not quite as fast as a 7/300 NM, but fast.
Was your nosler BT experience with the old style 1st generation or the "hunting" variety? Velocity? Animal?
That's what I have mocked up right now. My 195s at 3002 and the 180s at 3100. I just feel like it's a lot to expect 100fps dropping only 15grs.
Huntnful
Well-Known Member
It will be very close to 100fps. You'll start 1gr. higher in charge weight and possibly end up 2gr. higher.
It was only a couple of years ago and they were new then. It was a hunting variety, not the varmint. It was a 6.5 Grendel at sub-100 yards, velocity form the muzzle was around 2500 fps, 120gr. If I had to guess it was even less than 75 yards. I hit it square in the lungs/high heart, with no reaction and no wounds. Next shot was in the base of its skull on a whitetail. Upon field dressing there was little to no damage in the vitals.That's why we/some of us start them out faster.
Maybe not quite as fast as a 7/300 NM, but fast.
Was your nosler BT experience with the old style 1st generation or the "hunting" variety? Velocity? Animal?
Last edited:
dfanonymous
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2016
- Messages
- 2,257
There's a bunch of reviews on the ELMs on the YouTube space. Example:
I can confirm a few things in a sec as well.
I know a few guys on here made some decent shots on elk at distance with ELDMs and there's been a few questions on the difference between the two. I've posted a cross section before.
What I will say is both bullets can and will probably have jacket separation. There's no way around that as it's not bonded when it gets into bone.
Secondly, the eldm is basically a bomb. It dumps energy differently and just frags inside the animal. The X if it doesn't separate (usually at closer distance) will mushroom just fine at longer ranges.
The ELD Ms honestly have very similar ballistic characteristics as a the AMAX that they replaced.
Speaking of which, some FPS info https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Wound+Database/.30+cal+-+Hornady+A-Max.html
You can check to see if Nathan Foster updated this website with the actual ELDM, but if not, the AMAX is identical from my experiences.
I can confirm a few things in a sec as well.
I know a few guys on here made some decent shots on elk at distance with ELDMs and there's been a few questions on the difference between the two. I've posted a cross section before.
What I will say is both bullets can and will probably have jacket separation. There's no way around that as it's not bonded when it gets into bone.
Secondly, the eldm is basically a bomb. It dumps energy differently and just frags inside the animal. The X if it doesn't separate (usually at closer distance) will mushroom just fine at longer ranges.
The ELD Ms honestly have very similar ballistic characteristics as a the AMAX that they replaced.
Speaking of which, some FPS info https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Wound+Database/.30+cal+-+Hornady+A-Max.html
You can check to see if Nathan Foster updated this website with the actual ELDM, but if not, the AMAX is identical from my experiences.
Last edited:
MagnumManiac
Well-Known Member
I would think a good minimum to adhere to is 1800fps for RELIABLE expansion, except those bullets INTENDED for LR hunting.
Berger are different, some are bombs up close but work exceptionally well at LR. Others not so much.
I don't use Hornady bullets, but have heard they perform similar to Berger bullets expansion wise.
Cheers.
