ELDX Performance on elk

[Longcruise]

what was the minimum velocity you saw or what caliber and what velocities did you see issues with no expansion? i am seeing different min velocity recommendations from 1400 thru 1800 fps, but someone mentioned hornady said min is 1700 fps for eldx.

Wonder how that may vary caliber to caliber?

 

[coldboremiracle]

what was the minimum velocity you saw or what caliber and what velocities did you see issues with no expansion? i am seeing different min velocity recommendations from 1400 thru 1800 fps, but someone mentioned hornady said min is 1700 fps for eldx.

I saw a 143 hit at projected 1800fps and it didn't open. At all. Not even sure the tip broke off until it hit a rock behind the deer. The amazing part was that it still worked, meaning the wound channel looked great, and there was blood everywhere. Deer made it a few hops then tumbled head over heels, had we not found the bullet I would have thought it was a perfect bullet performance.

 

[huntforfood]

I did read that heavier bullets were more consistent on expansion. 178 grs were in the middle with good to great results with 200 grs and above. That makes sense I guess, I know the 6mm bullets were 50/50 on reliability. Interesting that coldbore had a good kill and blood trail, but no expansion.

 

[nicholasjohn]

I saw a 143 hit at projected 1800fps and it didn't open. At all. Not even sure the tip broke off until it hit a rock behind the deer. The amazing part was that it still worked, meaning the wound channel looked great, and there was blood everywhere. Deer made it a few hops then tumbled head over heels, had we not found the bullet I would have thought it was a perfect bullet performance.

Did it hit a rib on the way in and send a big piece of bone tumbling through the vitals as a secondary projectile ? That can makes a big difference.

 

[jshepherd61]

I was mistaken….this is what I have to choose from my reloading bench for my 7mm rem mag for elk: Barnes 150 gr. TTSX, Hornady 139 gr. SST, 180gr ELD Match, Berger 168 gr. VLD hunting

I normally hunt with my 30.06 but I won the 7mm at a RMEF dinner 2 years ago. I've read great thing about the 7mm Rem Mag, as well as the above bullets. However, I have read horrible things about each and I find myself at a loss for what to use. Thank you for your time.

I have had extremely good luck with the Nosler 168 gr Accubond Long Range out of my 7mm STW have taken three elk at 1,028, 987 and 1,006 yds. But the STW is a little different animal than the 7 mag. I'm pushing the 168 ABLR at 3,352 fps.

 

[Timber Runner]

This is a 300wsm precision hunter 200 gr eldx from an elk shot at 620 yards. Velocity would of been around 2000 fps. I can't remember exactly, but weight retention was around 85%????

As you can tell, there was no separation at that velocity.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Did it hit a rib on the way in and send a big piece of bone tumbling through the vitals as a secondary projectile ? That can makes a big difference.

None that we saw. Just a nice hole, lots of blood, right thru the heart.

 

[Longcruise]

None that we saw. Just a nice hole, lots of blood, right thru the heart.

It's possible that bullet behaved like an FMJ, destabilizing and passing through tipped sideways.

 

[coldboremiracle]

It's possible that bullet behaved like an FMJ, destabilizing and passing through tipped sideways.

I had assumed that possibility as well.

 

[nicholasjohn]

It's possible that bullet behaved like an FMJ, destabilizing and passing through tipped sideways.

It's ironic that you brought this up, just a few days after I read about gyroscopic stability in animal flesh ( as opposed to in air.) The author, a guy named Pierre van der Walt, stated that a bullet needs to be spun hundreds of times faster to maintain stability in animal tissue, and since their rotational velocity doesn't change on impact, they may tumble in flesh if they don't become significantly shorter. When the front half of the bullet either mushrooms or fragments, the shank is what remains to be stabilized - and it is probably spinning fast enough to maintain gyroscopic stability and continue to penetrate in a straight line. If there is no expansion, however, it would likely not be spinning nearly fast enough for this to happen, and tumbling is likely to occur. He also stated that monolithic solids of very heavy weight for caliber are particularly bad in this regard.

Of the handful of animals I've shot with the ELD-X, any bullets I found in the carcasses were nothing more than a shank. The front ends were either completely deformed or gone, and penetration was good. Some exited as well. Holes weren't huge, but plenty big enough. All were on deer - some large; some not so large. I haven't shot any elk with the bullet, but wouldn't hesitate to do so. I would prefer to use a heavy for caliber ELD-X, so that when the front end is gone there will still be enough mass there to get the job done.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Did it hit a rib on the way in and send a big piece of bone tumbling through the vitals as a secondary projectile ? That can makes a big difference.

If your interested, there are some pics and videos here:

Impact Velocity, and its effects.

Don’t miss the video at the end of this article With modern rifles and bullets, the distances we shoot at animals keeps creeping further and further out. But as bullets travel further away, they lose more and more velocity. How much they lose, and how fast they impact is a very important subject...

coldboremiracle.com

 

[bluedog69]

My boy has shot two whitetail bucks in the front left of the chest/neck. Both bullets stopped under the hide on the far right hindquarter. Full length pass throughs virtually.

Thia was a 60 grain Nosler Partition shot out of a 223. Open reliably and they don't stop!
I wouldn't recommend a 223 for elk though.

 

[Longcruise]

Nosler partition has been my go to in the 270 for ages. Always the 150 for everything. This after miserable results with Federal red box and Nosler ballistic tips. Also was not impressed with Win PP and silver tips.

I loaded the ELDX 145 two years ago with antelope and hogs on the agenda. No lopes but three hogs in the 60 to 100 pound category gave good results but a bit explosive at 50 yards and less. Where I will hunt elk this year is not a long range proposition so that is what prompted me to start this topic. The last two elk i killed in this spot were at 25 and 35 yards with the old Barnes original X bullets 30 cal and 180 grains at 2550 fps at the muzzle. Absolutely perfect results.

So, not being able to get my Partitions, I ordered 150 ABs from Midway on backorder with the site saying they expected to receive them to ship to them on 7/31. No soap!!

So, I'm hoping to bring something together in time to hit the hills on October 16th.

 

[Kimber7man]

I have had extremely good luck with the Nosler 168 gr Accubond Long Range out of my 7mm STW have taken three elk at 1,028, 987 and 1,006 yds. But the STW is a little different animal than the 7 mag. I'm pushing the 168 ABLR at 3,352 fps.

Nice, good to hear! I've got them shooting well in my 7 SAUM so likely using them for elk this fall.