Creedmoor shooter
Well-Known Member
26in barrel. 69.5 grains of rl-26. I ran up over 3150 with no pressure but backed off to my accuracy node
Hornady 143 gr ELD X Terminal Performance Report
- Thread starter Crowe284
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26in barrel. 69.5 grains of rl-26. I ran up over 3150 with no pressure but backed off to my accuracy node
North Idaho Hunter
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Here's this years take on hunting with 6.5 ELD M's
I had the chance to take a mule deer buck @ 550 yards w/6.5 creedmoor 140 ELD M @ 2725 FPS. first shot he was hard quarter away, I ran one in from behind last rib, bullet did not make it to the vitals! Deer laid down immediately, I then stalked in to 250 yards where I shot a 2nd time, trying to sneak one in behind the shoulder, instead I hit square in the humorous (big part of upper leg) bullet exploded on impact and never penetrated through the chest cavity. From there he looked down, when I got to him he tried to get up and I had to finish him point blank. I was surprised to see the 1st shot didn't devastate his lungs, nonetheless I was disappointed with the performance on this big buck, last year we had good luck with this 140 ELD M on deer.
Second instance was little sister shooting 147 ELD match @ 2800 FPS out of her husbands creedmoor. Spike bull elk. 250yards, same thing, she was shaky (first elk) hit square in the humorous, again, this 147 did not penetrate to the vitals, all of the lead and jacket rested on the rib cage. this bull had to be put down point blank as well.
Third instance was father in law was able to harvest a nice rag horn bull elk with my creedmoor (same 140 ELD match) this shot was at 100 yards, steep down hill shot, he shot him square in the neck, bullet traveled through the neck and came to rest in the backstrap, beautiful mushroom that weighed just over 90 grains.
I have had extensive testing on game between myself and family - the verdict : don't expect these to penetrate like a conventional hunting bullet, they do not have a thick enough construction to really penetrate, I have found the 140 ELD match to be inconsistent with penetration, avoid shoulder shots is my opinion.
If you have the ability to make perfect shots then yes they work wonderfully, however, as most know/have experienced hunting isn't always perfect, I am on the fence as to whether or not to keep using these, they are just so darn accurate I don't know if I want to work a new load.
I had the chance to take a mule deer buck @ 550 yards w/6.5 creedmoor 140 ELD M @ 2725 FPS. first shot he was hard quarter away, I ran one in from behind last rib, bullet did not make it to the vitals! Deer laid down immediately, I then stalked in to 250 yards where I shot a 2nd time, trying to sneak one in behind the shoulder, instead I hit square in the humorous (big part of upper leg) bullet exploded on impact and never penetrated through the chest cavity. From there he looked down, when I got to him he tried to get up and I had to finish him point blank. I was surprised to see the 1st shot didn't devastate his lungs, nonetheless I was disappointed with the performance on this big buck, last year we had good luck with this 140 ELD M on deer.
Second instance was little sister shooting 147 ELD match @ 2800 FPS out of her husbands creedmoor. Spike bull elk. 250yards, same thing, she was shaky (first elk) hit square in the humorous, again, this 147 did not penetrate to the vitals, all of the lead and jacket rested on the rib cage. this bull had to be put down point blank as well.
Third instance was father in law was able to harvest a nice rag horn bull elk with my creedmoor (same 140 ELD match) this shot was at 100 yards, steep down hill shot, he shot him square in the neck, bullet traveled through the neck and came to rest in the backstrap, beautiful mushroom that weighed just over 90 grains.
I have had extensive testing on game between myself and family - the verdict : don't expect these to penetrate like a conventional hunting bullet, they do not have a thick enough construction to really penetrate, I have found the 140 ELD match to be inconsistent with penetration, avoid shoulder shots is my opinion.
If you have the ability to make perfect shots then yes they work wonderfully, however, as most know/have experienced hunting isn't always perfect, I am on the fence as to whether or not to keep using these, they are just so darn accurate I don't know if I want to work a new load.
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Capt RB
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- Dec 1, 2014
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- 1,994
I have some Rl26 to try thx
I feel like we should have stickies for terminal performance reports. Sticky for Bergers, Hornady's and so on. Anyway, my buddy took a nice bull elk at 350 yards with 180 ELDM's that I loaded for him. He shot it twice since it was the last 30 mins of the last day of his hunt, but said the bull only went 50 yards. Bullets destroyed internals and were found on the offside under the hide. I think they were moving about 2900 fps at the muzzle.
elkaholic
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I am curious as
to how you were able to approach the bull that your sister shot?
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North Idaho Hunter
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Rich, I was not there for that one personally. I can only relay the information I received from them when they got home, it appeared the shot got through the high leg bone and into the spine from the looks of it being skinned. Second shot was in the neck.
When they butchered the elk that's when they found bits and pieces of the bullet just on the offside of that leg/shoulder.
When they butchered the elk that's when they found bits and pieces of the bullet just on the offside of that leg/shoulder.
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North Idaho Hunter
Well-Known Member
I will also note my brother was able to use that same load 147 eld match to take a nice whitetail buck this year @ 150 yards. Double lung, fist size exit hole. That buck never took a step.
Wachsmann
Well-Known Member
I think the ELDX are going to hold together a lot better than the ELD match. The ELDX also have a slight crimp or ring about 1/2 of the way down the bullet. I took a deer with a 300 RUm 220 grain bullet last year and it went all the way though it. Entered about the last rib area and came out through the shoulder area. dead in it tracks. dear was 761 yards away ranges with my Sig kilo. I may try the 143 eldx in my 6.5x284 or I will just keep shooting the 140 VLD. I've put over 4000 of them down a barrel and by far they have been one of the best shooting bullets on the market. But now my barrel throat is worn out a lot. So its time to rebarrel the gun.
Prieto9000
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- May 11, 2010
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- 579
I´m planning on using the 143 ELD-X on my aoudad hunt this weekend out of my 6.5 Gap. Lets see how they perform. I'm pushing them @3,017fps with slight pressure signs out of my 24" proof. My most accurate load is with the 135gr Berger @3,117fps, but I'm a little afraid the bullet is too soft. Aoudads have a reputation of being tough critters.
Ballistically both loads are almost identical, I just feel more confident using the tougher bullet.
Ballistically both loads are almost identical, I just feel more confident using the tougher bullet.
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
It may have spined him which would explain going down and nothing in the vitals,...
North Idaho Hunter
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Rich, that is very true.
Lpart
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Tikkashooter
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- Nov 19, 2017
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- 64
Ive used the 140 amax and eldm quite a bit on antelope and mule deer. One of the most impresive bullets ive seen used on mid sized game. One of my buddies is now using the 143 eld-x and every animal he has killed i have been very underwhelmed with the eldx performance. Doesnt hit near as hard or have near as large of wound cavities and animals run quite a bit farther
