285 ELD-M vs cow elk

[desertbull]

We shot a Mule Deer this weekend with 162 grain (.284) ELDM. 7mm RM, 3085 FPS. 350 yards

1/2" entry, 2 ribs behind shoulder
2" exit

dropped in it's tracks
heart / lung were jello, but little other meat damage.

did not get a picture because the bugs, flies, bees were horrible while quartering buck.

 

[Farmerbrown32]

I shot a big muley buck at 605 with the 162eldm outta my 280ai going 2925 fps. Right behind shoulder and lodged in hide on far side. Dropped him like a sack of potatoes. Devastating performance and is deadly accurate. Having a 338 rum barrel spun up and am gonna try the 285 eldm. Building a 7 rum right now with a 26" proof to shoot the 180eldm. Excited to see what these babys can do.

 

[JTB]

We took a large sized bull elk last week with a 285 ELD-M at 550 yards; took 2 steps and dropped. Entered just behind the shoulder and left two exit holes opposite side about 8 inches apart. The entrance and exit holes were about 1" diameter. Delivered a quick one-shot kill with no meat damage. Worked up the load initially with H-1000 but could not achieve over 2750 or under 1 MOA. Thought about going back to SMKs but tried Retumbo and found 1/2 MOA at 2850. Spot-on to 2000 yards

 

[elkaholic]

We took a large sized bull elk last week with a 285 ELD-M at 550 yards; took 2 steps and dropped. Entered just behind the shoulder and left two exit holes opposite side about 8 inches apart. The entrance and exit holes were about 1" diameter. Delivered a quick one-shot kill with no meat damage. Worked up the load initially with H-1000 but could not achieve over 2750 or under 1 MOA. Thought about going back to SMKs but tried Retumbo and found 1/2 MOA at 2850. Spot-on to 2000 yardsView attachment 85452

Nice! What cartridge?

 

[Farmerbrown32]

Nice work. And nice elk!

 

[JTB]

Sorry. 338 Edge

 

[BEEMAN]

How long is the barrel? Did you try R33 or N570? Very nice bull.

 

[JTB]

Thanks. Barrel is 27 inches. Being in AZ with large temperature shifts (especially when over 100 degrees), I have gravitated toward the Hodgdon extreme powders and is what I am most familiar with. Experience has taught me that when near maximum loads are established shooting heavy bullets at, say, 70 degrees the primers, when used with many non-extreme powders, will blow out when temperatures climb over 100 with the same charge. The extreme powders don't seem to need as much cushion to maintain a safe load at >100 degrees. Between 4831, h-1000 and Retumbo I can generally find an optimal load with the heavier bullets we use. I started with h1000 using the 285 ELD-Ms since the same rifle preferred it with the 300gr SMKs but Retumbo is my go-to powder for 80% of the rounds we shoot when pushing heavies at higher velocities. RL33 and N570 may achieve slightly higher velocity but I just haven't taken the time to work them up

 

[Farmerbrown32]

There is no need really, if its shooting half moa at 2850 anyway.

 

[BEEMAN]

Thanks for the reply. Building a 338 this winter. I'm in Canada so most shooting/hunting is in colder weather. I am worried about the R33 being temp stable as well. Got 8 lbs so I will try it and see how it works. Also have N570 that I use in my 6.5 Sherman.

 

[Pdvdh]

No big issues with RL 33 temperature sensitivity in Alaska temperatures I hunt in. I don't hunt in the dead if winter temps. It will lose velocity below ~23*F.

 

[BEEMAN]

Good to know phorwath. How much velocity would you lose? Say from 50F to -20C? We can hunt in some very cold temps. I usually try to develop my loads right around freezing temp.

 

[Pdvdh]

Good to know phorwath. How much velocity would you lose? Say from 50F to -20C? We can hunt in some very cold temps. I usually try to develop my loads right around freezing temp.

I placed a Temperature versus MV table in a Thread/Post you can access using this link... Pretty confident in the data I collected with my .338 Rogue. The 338 Rogue is a 338 Lapua Improved.
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/the-338-rogue.168245/page-7#post-1324728

 

[Earnhardt]

JTB, what Retumbo powder load are you using with the 285 ELD-Ms, in your Edge?
In my 338 Edge, I've started trying some VV N570, the ES is great when shot in cold bore groups shot over the course of days. But the ES grows considerably when the barrel 27 1/2" Rock Creek) gets a little heat in it while shooting normally spaced 3 to 5 shots groups.
Accuracy is so-so in my Edge.
With 285 ELD-Ms, N570 starts to crunch at 96 grains, with the 285's kissing the lands.
With 94 grains of N570 and a 285 ELD-M, the last 3 cold bore shots on the Magnetospeed have been...2868, 2872, 2872.