285 ELD-M vs cow elk

[JTB]

Earnhardt. Here are the final notes from my phone as i was matching the actual bullet trajectory to by ballestics app prior to the hunt (sighted in at 300 yards, 1.5" 4 shot group all in a 2" bullseye). Please note: the MOA listed below were actual on target turret adjustments while the velocity and G7 I manipulated slightly in the app to match the actual trajectory:

338 Edge - 285 ELD-M
91.5 gr Retumbo
2845 fps
Pressure 26.66 inHg
G7=0.407
0 MOA @ 300 yards
27.75 MOA @ 1210 yards
69.75 MOA @ 2000 yards

With the above settings in the app accuracy was confirmed with shots at 500 and 750 yard. I believe I loaded these 0.025 off lands simply because of magazine fit. The heavy barrel on this rifle maintains accuracy well when heated with 4-shot groups but not fun to carry. As I mentioned earlier I had no success using h-1000 with the 285 ELD-M and almost gave up on them. Gave it one more try with Retumbo and groups flattened at 2850. I was short on time so I just went with it. I had no pressure so I may have been able to push it a little faster.

 

[5RWill]

So small thread resurrection but i've been trying to find as much evidence or terminal results for the ELD-M for the last month or so as i can. I realize that the weight bullet the 338 RUM is pushing is obscene compared to what i'll be using with the 123gr ELD-M at 2800 but trying to get a basis for what to expect. Thus far what little i've found the results have been pretty darn good for a match bullet. I never used the old AMAX but always heard good things and the ELD-M seems to mimic it's results.

Can you high shoulder shoot with this round? This is mainly for whitetail in the delta, i've not ventured to grab a tag outside of MS for anything bigger. Been wanting to go Elk hunting for 9 years now, planning on having a 7 SAUM barrel spun up for the TL3 for that occasion.

 

[Pdvdh]

Can you high shoulder shoot with this round? This is mainly for whitetail in the delta, i've not ventured to grab a tag outside of MS for anything bigger.

Yup. Just don't plan I eating any of the meat in the near vicinity of the bullet wound path, unless you're willing to eat blood shot and lead-leaden meat.

I would rib shoot a deer with that bullet, in order to maximize the salvageable percentage of meat. Or head shoot'em at close range.

 

[5RWill]

Yup. Just don't plan I eating any of the meat in the near vicinity of the bullet wound path, unless you're willing to eat blood shot and lead-leaden meat.

I would rib shoot a deer with that bullet, in order to maximize the salvageable percentage of meat. Or head shoot'em at close range.

Traditionally i've never done a high shoulder shot. I've spined a couple but of course that was at the expense of the backstrap. I've traditionally always gone behind the front shoulder and if applicable CNS shots.

So the ELD-M will hold up for a high shoulder shot?

 

[Pdvdh]

Yes, on a whitetail deer-sized animal. Particularly smaller deer. Aren't the deer down there relatively small body sized, compared to AL and the Midwest? Or are the small ones limited to FL?

 

[5RWill]

Yes, on a whitetail deer-sized animal. Particularly smaller deer. Aren't the deer down there relatively small body sized, compared to AL and the Midwest? Or are the small ones limited to FL?

Idk i think they're pretty big truthfully. At least in the delta they are grain fed for half the year. It's not unusual to see bucks at 180-200+ if they're a mature deer.

 

[Pdvdh]

Yeah, that's a good sized deer. FL deer are definitely smaller from the road kill I've seen while visiting there.
I still think your bullet will drop them with a shoulder shot, provided the bullet expands upon impact (hasn't slowed to below expansion velocity). It doesn't have to penetrate terribly deeply on a whitetail deer in order to short circuit the vitals. Lot of deer shot with the Amax, and the ELD-M is nothing more than an Amax with a different composition (heat resistant) plastic tip.

 

[ATH]

A shoulder shot on deer with the smaller (not 338) ELD-Ms is likely to be a bit explosive and ruin a lot of meat. I tend to avoid that shot in general as I like to eat what I kill. But if I PLANNED to shoulder shoot an animal at any close to moderate range in order to guarantee DRT, I would use a tougher bullet that would hold together all the way through.

 

[5RWill]

Welp to update i got them at 2840 after doing some velocity based OCW test with RL16 on the 18" 6.5x47 with the Omega. Girlfriend took this at 330yds. Only shot a rifle twice and she was propped with a TAB gear bag in the front and a fat bag to lean against in the rear. She did pretty good all things considering. I've had her shoot probably 20rds or so at 200yds though i think she jerked on this one. So spined him bullet hit and exploded but he was DRT. I've got the tail end of the jacket i caught in the hide on the exiting side. Didn't penetrate all the way through. Was hoping to get a high shoulder shot to see how it performed.

Some pics but the cold started to get to my phone and couldn't use flash on the last pic.

 

[Pdvdh]

Look's like a mature buck.
In the skinned pic, is the bloodied area the bullet entrance, or exit, side of the buck?

 

[5RWill]

Look's like a mature buck.
In the skinned pic, is the bloodied area the bullet entrance, or exit, side of the buck?

Bloodied area is the entrance.

 

[5RWill]

Tried to get a high shoulder shot with it before i had to go back to school after a long weekend. Have been plagued on this field with miss ranges time and time again and it seems the doe i thought that was 380 was not 380. That or this PRF is more finicky than the one i had. Checked my DOPE the day before on a 4" circle at 400yds drilling it, so i know it's not the gun.

 

[royinidaho]

Tuned up an Edge for a fella who happens to be a horrible shot. The 285 ELD-X was running close to 3000.

He smacked a nice bull elk right square in the hams at 160 yds. Hit no bone.

The bull dropped at the shot and only wasted a fist full of meat.

Full empty jacket was recovered under the offside hide.

Have no idea of how that happened.

 

[Schmitty]

So small thread resurrection but i've been trying to find as much evidence or terminal results for the ELD-M for the last month or so as i can. I realize that the weight bullet the 338 RUM is pushing is obscene compared to what i'll be using with the 123gr ELD-M at 2800 but trying to get a basis for what to expect.

I have shot quite a few coues deer with the 123 SST. I imagine performance with the 123 eld-m would be similar. The 123 SST expands pretty quickly and exit wounds have been pretty severe. We did have a bullet grenade on a strong quartering to shoulder shot. It killed the buck, but upon impacting the shoulder blade it grenaded into a bunch of fragments with no clear bullet path beyond the onside shoulder.

Muzzle velocity was approximately 2900 feet per second out of a 6.5 x 47 Lapua with most shots less than 200 yards.

I did kill two bucks this year with the 140 BTHP and 147 eld-m with excellent performance, minimal meat damage and pretty good expansion. The 140 was at 450 yards and the 147 at just over 100 yards. I will be sticking with the heavier bullets from now on. Hope this helps!
Schmitty