ELD-X NOT recommended under 400 yards.

Has to be interesting living in a place where you have so much choice in Game. Elk, Browns, Deer, Mules ect... Here in NC we have medium size deer and an occasional black bear. The Ole Rem.Core lock is all you need for the entire state...(if I could only convince myself !!) Too much fun playing with "all" the bullet choices out there. I would drive myself nuts if I lived "Out West/NorthWest"... I'd have six people with me at all times...each carrying different calibers, with different loads, of three different bullets made up for short, long and really long shots for each animal I might stumble across..HA! I can see how Bullet Choice has to be on the mind of shooters with so many different size animals...at different distances. With that said, I think I'll load up some of these ELD-X's for the Wife's reduced loads and see how the deer like em slowed down..
 
Derek Graff,
Sounds like your 143 ELD-X behaved exactly like a bonded or Copper bullet would - and killed the Elk. The only thing it didn't do was explode like a Berger.
 
Derek Graff,
Sounds like your 143 ELD-X behaved exactly like a bonded or Copper bullet would - and killed the Elk. The only thing it didn't do was explode like a Berger.
Interesting, I've never seen a Berger explode in a LOT of game, never had one not exit a deer and only one not exit an elk. Can't say we say anything nearly as good performance wise from the ELDs.
 
I have a friend that hired a guide in Colorado last year for a Trophy Muledeer hunt. With that , he took his 6.5 creedmore with 143 gr ELD-X, and he shot at a 37'' BUCK AT 190 YARDS the buck was looking stright at him and shot into the chest , the deer fliped over backwards and hit the ground. While they were doing HI 5's the buck got and ran away.
They brought in dogs and to this day the buck has never been seen. My buddy said he felt so bad about loosing the deer, but not as bad as writing the 10K check and nothing to show for it
 
I have a friend that hired a guide in Colorado last year for a Trophy Muledeer hunt. With that , he took his 6.5 creedmore with 143 gr ELD-X, and he shot at a 37'' BUCK AT 190 YARDS the buck was looking stright at him and shot into the chest , the deer fliped over backwards and hit the ground. While they were doing HI 5's the buck got and ran away.
They brought in dogs and to this day the buck has never been seen. My buddy said he felt so bad about loosing the deer, but not as bad as writing the 10K check and nothing to show for it
There is no accurate way to know where your buddy actually hit that big muley if he never recovered it. Cant blame a bullet for a bad shot. Sounds more plausible that his shot was a brain shaker graze between those big ol horns or possibly a hit to a horn base. Wouldn't be the first time a 3 foot spread affected one aim point :D
 
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I would have to say that hornady is covering them selves here. While teh ELD-X may do the job, I certainly would not try it on a brown bear. Lots of bullets kill lots of things, natives kill polar bears with 243's. When the hunt of a lifetime is on the line with a $30k+ price tag, why chance it with a bullet not designed for the task at hand? Load up some heavy coppers with a proven track record of deep penetration and minimal fragmentation, and go kill a bear.

And while on that, I also wouldn't trust an SST on a bear either. I've had those come unglued on White tails, so they'd stay on the shelf for sure.

Right on 86. I'm headed to the Peninsula this fall with my 338WM and I'm currently working up loads with Swift A-Frames. I have too much money invested and respect for those big bears to use cheap bullets. If I was hunting interior grizzlies and maybe something like sheep at the same time, maybe I would look for something more aerodynamic but it would still be heavy and bonded.

Cross
 
Right on 86. I'm headed to the Peninsula this fall with my 338WM and I'm currently working up loads with Swift A-Frames. I have too much money invested and respect for those big bears to use cheap bullets. If I was hunting interior grizzlies and maybe something like sheep at the same time, maybe I would look for something more aerodynamic but it would still be heavy and bonded.

Cross

Good luck
Adventure of a lifetime

Those Hammer Hunters bullets fill the bill for close and far
 
Good luck
Adventure of a lifetime

Those Hammer Hunters bullets fill the bill for close and far

I looked at getting some Sledge Hammers for the hunt but was unable to get any load/expected velocity info from anyone. Also, I have no experience with them so while their reputation is good and I like the fact that they're made in the Bitterroot Valley, made the decision that I couldn't go wrong with A-Frames.

I have no experience with them either but their reputation is renowned and my guide recommended them.

Thanks for your help.

Cross
 
I looked at getting some Sledge Hammers for the hunt but was unable to get any load/expected velocity info from anyone. Also, I have no experience with them so while their reputation is good and I like the fact that they're made in the Bitterroot Valley, made the decision that I couldn't go wrong with A-Frames.

I have no experience with them either but their reputation is renowned and my guide recommended them.

Thanks for your help.

Cross

Next time in the future give Steve a call. He is very good at helping his customers out and will have info you need. You can also try emailing him.
Goes by RockyMTN on this site
 
Next time in the future give Steve a call. He is very good at helping his customers out and will have info you need. You can also try emailing him.
Goes by RockyMTN on this site

I did. All I got was "Good Luck"
 
I did. All I got was "Good Luck"

That is completely out of the norm for Steve.
I'll add that the best way to start load with a hammer is to look at Nosler load data for each cartridge and bullet weight to get a starting point for powder type and charge weights.
I'll notify Steve of your issue

Have a safe and memorable hunt!
 
I looked at getting some Sledge Hammers for the hunt but was unable to get any load/expected velocity info from anyone. Also, I have no experience with them so while their reputation is good and I like the fact that they're made in the Bitterroot Valley, made the decision that I couldn't go wrong with A-Frames.

I have no experience with them either but their reputation is renowned and my guide recommended them.

Thanks for your help.

Cross

Sounds like it's too late to matter now, but what specific information were you looking for regarding the Hammers? There are a lot of folks here on LRH who've shot them and could have helped you out.
 
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