ELD-X vs Accubond

[Mc Fraser]

I've wrecked the whole front end of an elk with an Accubond, funny thing about shooting stuff in the shoulder it wrecks meat!!

We are in the process of skinning the moose looks like I hit the shoulder but the meat damage in minimal. The size of 2/3 of a fist. Based on my experience with other bullets I'm sold on ELD-X

 

[Aussie Hunter Steve]

The following bullets, ELDX (top) and Accubond (bottom) are from my dirt backstop at 1200yds. The Accubond are still expanding somewhat uniformly, whilst the ELDX aren't......

 

[Almondgrower]

ELD-x was designed to expand at longer distances ( lower velocity, they were designed to be more forgiving ) for today's long range hunting ( that was from Hornady to me ) that is probably why the cup and core are often separated at closer distances but that does not explain the performance at 1200 from a dirt backstop ......?

 

[memtb]

ELD-x was designed to expand at longer distances ( lower velocity, they were designed to be more forgiving ) for today's long range hunting ( that was from Hornady to me ) that is probably why the cup and core are often separated at closer distances but that does not explain the performance at 1200 from a dirt backstop ......?

So, if I've got several years worth of points used, and several thousand dollars invested in an out of state hunt, and a trophy bull only seen in magazines, is standing in brush/timber, walking away into the timber, Head down (Head or neck shot not available), only offering an "acute angle shot" at close range.....I run about 500 yards to give my "chosen" bullet the ability to perform at it's best! According to Hornady! I don't think so!! memtb

 

[Mc Fraser]

So, if I've got several years worth of points used, and several thousand dollars invested in an out of state hunt, and a trophy bull only seen in magazines, is standing in brush/timber, walking away into the timber, Head down (Head or neck shot not available), only offering an "acute angle shot" at close range.....I run about 500 yards to give my "chosen" bullet the ability to perform at it's best! According to Hornady! I don't think so!! memtb

I don't think you're interpreting that right.
Why would you take a headshot or neck for that matter when lungs are so much bigger and guaranteed kill? I shot my moose at about 75 yds, the bullet performed as expected for me.

 

[memtb]

I don't think you're interpreting that right.
Why would you take a headshot or neck for that matter when lungs are so much bigger and guaranteed kill? I shot my moose at about 75 yds, the bullet performed as expected for me.

With my test results and the results of many others on larger game at close range....from an "acute angle" (much body mass to penetrate to get to lungs), the bullet likely "would not" have sufficient penetration to assure a kill. There will always be anomalies, both good and bad....however, I can't with a clear conscience shoot an animal with a questionable bullet in a worst case scenario. And, I do not have enough "self-restraint" to pass on the shot.... hence the the reason I've chosen a different projectile as an insurance policy! memtb

 

[Bigeclipse]

The 143 is a soft bullet ideal for deer much like a ballistic tip. The 212eldx is much more suitable for large game.

This x2. People knock bullets but don't realize the market they were intended for. Ballistic tips and eldX are meant to be sold for the masses and the masses shoot deer sized targets and smaller. A ballistic tip on a deer does wonders in my opinion. Yes a ton if damage so not for the faint of heart and if want to stay off the shoulder if possible.

If elk and moose or bear are in the mix, then buy a solid copper bullet, a bonded bullet or a partition.

 

[Bigeclipse]

With my test results and the results of many others on larger game at close range....from an "acute angle" (much body mass to penetrate to get to lungs), the bullet likely "would not" have sufficient penetration to assure a kill. There will always be anomalies, both good and bad....however, I can't with a clear conscience shoot an animal with a questionable bullet in a worst case scenario. And, I do not have enough "self-restraint" to pass on the shot.... hence the the reason I've chosen a different projectile as an insurance policy! memtb

This may be the case on a moose or elk but not on a deer. Even a texas heart shot would make it to the lungs with a ballistic tip or ELDx. That being said, id never do a texas heart shot unless it was a follow up shot to a poor first shot on a wounded animal and I had no other option. This has happened to me once. I shot a deer and hit her back in the guts. How I know is after she ran 30 yards she stopped and just stood there giving me a second to see her intestines hanging out before she ran again. When she started running away I had no other shot than her white flag in my scope and I took it. This was with a 140 grain 7mm ballistic tip. The bullet hit the left buttcheak/hind, exploded and all the fragments made it clear up into the front of the chest including a small pencil sized exit which im guessing was a small amount of what was left of the base. She died within feet. That hind quarter was completely ruined. The femur shattered. The lungs and heart were mush. I was able to still eat the right hind, the front quarters, the neck and back straps. I felt awful though. That all being said...I have total confidence in those bullets on deer sized game and smaller.

 

[Bigeclipse]

Here is one of my customer's experiences. This is from a elk cow hunt this year. Rilfe: 7mm Rem Mag, MV 2955, 175 ELD-X and yardage was 846. A friend was present on this hunt and verified the yardage. This was a one shot kill and she went down after walking 10 feet. This is the recovered bullet. It weighed 63 g and had no lead core left. It broke 2 ribs and shredded the lungs. It only made half way through the cavity and they did not recover any lead fragments. I was hoping this bullet would have lodged on the other side of the animal. This is just what happened on this hunt and with the bullet. I am disappointed in learning of this performance by the ELD-X. Although, no bloodshot meat and it was a clean kill so that is a positive. Hope this info helps.View attachment 157385

Hornady says the lead core only separates once the bullet starts tumbling (which in my opinion is not a good excuse) but the fact they did not find any lead fragments makes me feel like the lead core actually passed through and they just did not see the exit? I find it hard to believe they couldn't recover even a tiny part of lead coupled with no blood shot meat. Just my two cents.

 

[Bigeclipse]

All this being said...I like the accubond best!

 

[memtb]

This x2. People knock bullets but don't realize the market they were intended for. Ballistic tips and eldX are meant to be sold for the masses and the masses shoot deer sized targets and smaller. A ballistic tip on a deer does wonders in my opinion. Yes a ton if damage so not for the faint of heart and if want to stay off the shoulder if possible.

If elk and moose or bear are in the mix, then buy a solid copper bullet, a bonded bullet or a partition.

I guess that I keep forgetting that most people are far different than me. One rifle, one bullet for everything I may encounter!

I continue to contend that which will efficiently kill big game (elk, moose, ect.), will also work on small big game. I fail to consider that the heavier constructed bullets do not upset as readily and therefore not as efficient on "small" big game! I guess that I try to keep things "too" simple! memtb

 

[Aussie Hunter Steve]

ELD-x was designed to expand at longer distances ( lower velocity, they were designed to be more forgiving ) for today's long range hunting ( that was from Hornady to me ) that is probably why the cup and core are often separated at closer distances but that does not explain the performance at 1200 from a dirt backstop ......?

I was surprised myself. I have taken a lot of animals with both, and they both kill well. But I find the Accubond more consistent in performance and more dependable.

 

[Copper Basin]

Hornady says the lead core only separates once the bullet starts tumbling (which in my opinion is not a good excuse) but the fact they did not find any lead fragments makes me feel like the lead core actually passed through and they just did not see the exit? I find it hard to believe they couldn't recover even a tiny part of lead coupled with no blood shot meat. Just my two cents.

Her cavity was full of blood according to my friend. No exit wound on the other side. I am just reporting what they saw as they opened her up. The lead fragmented or they would have I am sure. I talked with Hornady today and they said it was not uncommon for the lead core to separate from the jacket. The bullet velocity at impact was 2051 fps which is above their desired 1800 fps.

 

[duckhunter89]

Wont ever use ELD-x again...200 grain 300 win mag bullets shattered upon impact on a waterbuck at 120 yards (all 3 shots within a small area, but just dissolved on impact...same thing with a warthog at 100 yards..hit the shoulder and just broke to pieces (the bullet)..the warthog got up and ran as if not hit and was finally put down with a head shot...i switched to accubond and had better performance on Kudu and eland with similar shots...bullets dropped the animal, mushroomed and most importantly killed humanely.

Final thoughts...the ELD-x held the tightest groups with my 300 win mag, but they did not kill the animals humanely as with similar shots from accubond...just my .02