140g VLD v 143g ELD X

I am shooting a 6.5x284 and I worked up a good load using 52g H4831sc and a 140g Berger VLD hunting bullet loaded .020 off the lands. This load shoots .5MOA and is 2840FPS. I have started trying to develop a load for the 143g ELD X as I think it will have better performance on game. Last fall I shot a medium sized doe in the spine, Berger exploded on impact and came out the top. I wanted a bullet that would hold together better in case of a front shot or a high shoulder shot.

So far my results with the ELD X have not been so good, worked OAL from .010 jump out to .130 jump with 51g of H4831sc and the best loads are just under 1 MOA. Is anyone else shooting this bullet with goo results?

The other day I weighed 6 Berger bullets, 140g... 5 were 140.0g and 1 @140.1... The 143 ELD X? not so good weighed 10.. anywhere from 142.5g to 143.5g and none were right on @143g. maybe the quality control is not good enough to get Berger type accuracy

I've been testing a lot of bullets this month.
If I were hunting deer I would choose these bullets in the following order.
A). Barnes TSX (Not TTSX)
B). Hornady SST
C). Berger VLD Hunter

My experience with ELD-X is it blows through soft skinned animals like deer like FMJ's. For thick skinned hogs they are awesome.

I have not tried the Hornady 143 ELD-x in my 6.5x284. I have had excellent results with a few dozen game animals taken from 200-1200 yards with the 140 and 142 JLKs at 2975 FPS.
I have worked up good loads using the 143 ELDX in my 6.5CM that produces sub .25 MOA. The ELD-X seems quite accurate in my 6.5CM. They hold .5MOA out to 1000 yards. Shown is a 5 shot .18MOA group at 200 yards. I used 45.6 gr of H4831sc/Fed210M. I haven't taken any game with them yet.
Have you tried Retumbo in your 6.5x284...I get superb accuracy, velocity in the 3000FPS range and single digit ES and no pressure signs.
I use 58gr/Fed 210M. I would try this load working up from 56 gr if I were to test the 143 ELD-x in my 6.5x284. It has worked well with other 140/142 gr bullets I have tested.

Greyfox- I have not tried Retumbo yet but it's on the list. The H4831sc worked real well for me with the 140g VLD. how are you getting 3000+/- FPS with only 45.6g? I am only at 2840 FPS with 52g

pills, using H1000 in a .264 Win Mag. The Berger 140 was most accurate followed closely by the Hornady SST. A friend gave me a few Barnes to try, but couldn't get any accuracy. I've also found the ELDX are all over the place in weight and length. If you're not shooting over 500 yds, perhaps the Nosler Partition would be worth a try. They are quite accurate and will penetrate very well. Good luck

The EDLX will not be any better, its not bonded and will still fragment at close range.

Greyfox was talking about his 6.5cm load @ 45.6gr. He did not mention a velocity.

Have you tried working up a load with H1000? I've had better luck with that powder and short jumps.

The 143 Eldx and Retumbo work great in my 6.5-300. .5moa or better and super deadly on game. Couldn't quite get the accuracy that I wanted out of the VLDs.

thanks for the responses, I will try H1000 and/or Retumbo and see what happens. If I can't get it to shoot I will just stick with the Berger 140s and be careful with shot selection.

Zen, I have gathered good info from your videos. I am a little confused about your TTSX comment. I know several I have seen on the fire have used the 120TTSX for Elk & Deer with great results. What are your reservations concerning this bullet?

Zen Archery said:

I've been testing a lot of bullets this month.
If I were hunting deer I would choose these bullets in the following order.
A). Barnes TSX (Not TTSX)
B). Hornady SST
C). Berger VLD Hunter

My experience with ELD-X is it blows through soft skinned animals like deer like FMJ's. For thick skinned hogs they are awesome.

Click to expand...

I had same experience with 143 EDLX in my 6.5-06 very inconsistent. Never could get them to shoot sub MOA. Tried 4831 and 7797 with same results. 140 VLDS shoot 3/4 MOA with 4831. The Berger are more consistent in weight. Killed Bull elk and bears with them

As a side note 129 LRABs also shoot 1/2 MOA out of my gun

140 VLD and Retumbo are a great combination for the 6.5x284.