Target bullet for hunting?

[Mcarso1]

Was talking with gunsmith about inconsistency in weights and measurements of hunting bullets I use(ELDX and HVLD) and he says that him and some guys who hunt with his builds are shooting ELDM for hunting? Is this a common thing and what's your thoughts? Just trying to learn something here. Thanks

 

[elkaholic]

Very common. Some agree and some dont

 

[aushunter1]

Was talking with gunsmith about inconsistency in weights and measurements of hunting bullets I use(ELDX and HVLD) and he says that him and some guys who hunt with his builds are shooting ELDM for hunting? Is this a common thing and what's your thoughts? Just trying to learn something here. Thanks

Been discussed many times here & everywhere else.

Im in the camp that thinks use a projectile for what its designed for.

While target projectiles will definitely kill its even more about precise shoot placement as they wont expand in the same way(or at all!) like a game projectile will.

I think the attraction is the cheapness of the compared to standard game projectiles, they are up to 50% less in cost!

 

[RT2506]

It depends on what you will be hunting. If it is thin skin animals like deer then the ELDM should be OK. If you want "match" bullet accuracy and expense then get some Berger VLD "hunting" bullets. These are what they used to call their "match" bullets. They are accurate and they killed like setting off dynamite inside of things and blow baseball size exits. But by using quality "hunting" bullets you should not run into to many inconsistencies. I went the Sierra match bullet hunting way at one time for deer. 90% of the time the bullet expanded violently and killed DRT. But then there was that 10% of the time that it seemed that the bullet nose either bent over or did not open at all and bullet went through like a FMJ and deer ran for long distances with little to know blood trail or were not found at all.

 

[snox801]

I choose based on game the I'm hunting the eld x is soft and expands fast. I use them on deer sized game. When I'm hunting African game like oryx or even most sheep. I use the m for the tougher jacket at closer ranges. Works great but ended up switching to hammer Bullets they have been the best on game bullet I've ever used and you can't get more consistent bullet.

 

[lancetkenyon]

80% of my "Hunting" loads are "match" bullets. Devastating on game. Fastest kills I have seen.
To say they are "cheaper, up to 50%", let me know where. I will buy them out of stock.
I am a huge Hybrid, OTM, SMK, and Blackjack fan for shot placement and on-game performance.

 

[Mram10us]

Had good luck with 225 eldm, bad luck with 300gr smk and good luck with 215hybrid.

 

[JIsbell40]

I've down loaded ELDm and ELDx bullets to simulate 800 yard hits. The M gets faster expansion than the X. The X penetrates better up close. The X must have a thicker jacket. As far as I'm concerned the M is just an AMAX with a new tip. And the AMAX is SOFT.... expands to 1700 fps on small does just fine....


I've killed anywhere from 75-100 deer with the 162 eld m doing crop management and it opens up great at lower impacts. The 162eldx, not so much. Similar results with the big 30s out of my 30" 300wby. The M is a more violent expander.

 

[Johnslam]

I've used the 155 grain amax for all my deer up till last year. Never lost a deer or pig. None ran farther than 20 yards. Most dropped in their tracts.

I've had hunting buddies shoot "hunting" bullets and end up tracking their kills much farther. From 243 to 300 win mag.

I guess it mostly depends on the bullet, animal, shot placement, and velocity on impact. And even then, weird things happen.

 

[Westernhuntr]

I've been hunting with target bullets for years ( including Berger's, yes they're rebranded target bullets).
Recently I've seen some really poor results on elk and won't be using any non bonded bullets anymore.

One guy I was hunting with last season shot a bull at 800 yards in the shoulder with a 300 Berger EH and it literally blew up impact, he tracked the bull 2 miles the next day!

I shot my bull three times at 700 yards last year with Berger 215's, one exploded on the ribs, one pencilled through, and 15 minutes later I was lucky enough to get a third shot in him that put him down.

My buddy shot his bull at 700 yards in the shoulder with a 225 ELDM, and it was a disaster!
Here's a pic, the shoulder hit by the 300 EH looked the same.

If you use these bullets hope to God you get your cross canyon wind call perfect and don't hit anywhere near the shoulder..

 

[arch408]

Use bullets for what they were designed for. Target bullets have inconsistent performance. Also tailor your hunting loads by using a bullet designed for the velocity of your rifle and the type of game your are hunting. IMO

 

[ByronC]

I've used the ELDM in deer and it works each time BUT it does grenade and destroys way more meat and does not pass through like a heavy jacket or solid hunting round. This is especially true at close range. I use match on deer but I know I should switch. Lately I've wasted too much meat so I think I will be switching. Good placement has worked for me. On elk though, I would NOT risk it and would use an actual hunting bullet and not a match. We've shot big bulls five times in the chest with an 30-06 and not a good bullet and it just stared back. Eventually we brought him down but the right bullet matters more in large heavy game.

 

[freddiej]

I am the unique one in this thread, I used to shoot 1K matches with Nosler ballistic tips and Barnes X bullets. I have found that through the 1990's Nosler ballistic tips were more consistent than Sierra M/K's.
My 270 Win right now with 140 grain barnes TSX slugs will keep 1/4 MOA far past 300.
My 375 H&H loves Woodleigh solids.
my 25-06 loves mono's (barnes TSX) as well
I have yet to use any ELD M or X
I have used Berger VLD hunters with great success.
I am in the camp of use hunting slugs for hunting and leave the target slugs to the paper.

 

[Deleted member 107796]

I started this thread a while back, Recovered Bullet Photo Gallery, to get some actual terminal performance info about different bullets. Many match bullets are in there and have been used successfully. Aside from Berger VLDs, which are described as for match and hunting, I have no other match bullet experience. I like this thread because it doesn't leave much room for talking about what someone purely thinks about any one bullet's performance.
https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/recovered-bullet-photo-gallery.226322/