ELD-Match Bullet Testing

[MTLIVIN]

Here is some real world data on the 208 eldm. My son shot this spike bull at 550 yards with his 300 WM. He didn't have a lung pic but said it blew them up pretty good. He found bits of jacket inside. The bull took a couple steps, stood for a few seconds and dropped.

Great shot, looks like it held together and expanded similar to a VLD. I'm mostly curious to see how it handles a shoulder impact on an elk, I don't aim for bone but it can happen, especially in the timber.

 

[elkaholic]

At that range, I would say it was similar. I think the ELD will do it farther out though.

 

[Trnelson]

I agree with Rich, my own, certainly flawed, testing shows that. The ELDM is very very similar to the Berger VLD hunting bullet, in terms of terminal performance. It opens just as reliably down to, and even a bit below 1,700fps.
I have shot about 300 of the 225 ELDM at a muzzle velocity of 2,780-2,800 from a ten twist barrel looking for a reliable, consistent load and for terminal performance. I really think they are an excellent long range hunting bullet, even if it wasn't intentionally made to be. Being a Nebraskan myself, I would sure like to see the 'home team' do well and I test and try Hornady products every time they come out with a new bullet.
IMO, the ELDM are superior to the ELDX, in terms of long range terminal performance. Beyond 700 yards the ELDM will show more expansion and fragmentation. 400 - 700 yards, flip a coin between the ELDM and X. Inside of 100 I would favor the durability of the ELDX, but not enough to switch away from a good load with the ELDM. I would not hesitate to use the ELDM, in the least.
I just wish they exhibited better consistency! It would not break my heart at all if Hornady stopped making the ELDX and focused those resources and attention on making the ELDM more consistent!!!

 

[Pdvdh]

I agree with Rich, my own, certainly flawed, testing shows that. The ELDM is very very similar to the Berger VLD hunting bullet, in terms of terminal performance. It opens just as reliably down to, and even a bit below 1,700fps.

I just wish they exhibited better consistency! It would not break my heart at all if Hornady stopped making the ELDX and focused those resources and attention on making the ELDM more consistent!!!

ELDMs are inconsistent in what aspect(s)?

If they don't open more reliably than a Berger @ 1,700fps, then they're not reliable enough for me...

Rich has posted expectations for reliable expansion down toward 1,300fps with the ELDM.

 

[Trnelson]

ELDMs are inconsistent in what aspect(s)?

If they don't open more reliably than a Berger @ 1,700fps, then they're not reliable enough for me...

Rich has posted expectations for reliable expansion down toward 1,300fps with the ELDM.

Thank you for your response. I should have been clearer in my post. I haven't had the opportunity to test much below that velocity, it puts the target right at 1,000 yards and velocity = 1,653 fps. I was not able to develop a load accurate enough, in my rifle, to reliably shoot further with any reasonable expectation to hit. It actually took about a dozen shots to hit my trap at that range, so I posted what I have actually tested and captured.

As to your question regarding the consistency of the ELDM, I bought 500 of the 225g ELDM from lot #2170060. I first randomly grabbed 20 from each box, 100 in total, weighed and measured them. I didn't believe what I found so I decided to I weigh and measure all of them to eliminate any sampling error. I found the weight range is 223.8g - 225.7g in that lot. Further, the base of the bullet to ogive varies from 0.883" to 0.887".

 

[Pdvdh]

Good to know of your efforts and experiences. Thanks for sharing that information. I may measure some of my 225s to see how they measure up tolerance wise.

 

[longrangehunterII]

I'm going to begin testing these bullets in 6.5, and 7mm, so I'd like to see posts with the distance off the lands you guys are finding the best accuracy at.

 

[Clucknmoan]

I'm going to begin testing these bullets in 6.5, and 7mm, so I'd like to see posts with the distance off the lands you guys are finding the best accuracy at.

.020 off with 147's in my 6.5 284.

 

[Clucknmoan]

Here is some real world test results from a 147 in the earhole. They bleed a lot and it deforms the horns and eyeballs.

 

[sheeba]

Shot a large black bear withe 162 eld-m 7mm Rem. MAG at 200 yards. Bear was quartering away. Bullet passed completely through exited front shoulder with a 1in. Hole will use again!

 

[Deleted member 25294]

Great shot, looks like it held together and expanded similar to a VLD. I'm mostly curious to see how it handles a shoulder impact on an elk, I don't aim for bone but it can happen, especially in the timber.

Yeah I shot a bull with the 147 ELD-M at 350 yards this year, very explosive terninal performance I am confident that a shoulder hit would result In a wounded elk disaster...
Update on the 180 eld-m, I recently used the advertised. 796 bc out to 1300 yards with my 28 nosler and it was dead on.
These are great long range bullets just know their limitations

 

[Deleted member 25294]

Heres a pics of the 147 eld-m recovered from my bull. Weighed 60 grains

 

[elkaholic]

Did it make the opposite side

 

[Clucknmoan]

Did it make the opposite side

+1

Can you share exactly where you hit him and approximate impact velocity?

Lots of haters about the ELD M'S and BC. Seems like every single time the subject comes up, folks claim they are drastically inflated. Very few of those actually have real world experience but they are so offended that it's higher than a Berger they just can't fathom it. I don't know if they are all right on, but the ones I've shot are. Good to hear the 180 numbers are legit too, I'm about to start shooting them in a 7/300.

So far they have killed fine for me, but I've shot a pretty limited number of animals with them so I can't really say.