ELD-M for hunting

[Raudy707]

@codyadams you have any experience with the larger 30 cal eld-m models like the 195 or 208? I'm still really happy with the 170 grain EOL in my 270 WSM but was looking for a wind bucking bullet for my 300 winnie. It shoots the 208 better than anything.

 

[codyadams]

@codyadams you have any experience with the larger 30 cal eld-m models like the 195 or 208? I'm still really happy with the 170 grain EOL in my 270 WSM but was looking for a wind bucking bullet for my 300 winnie. It shoots the 208 better than anything.

Unfortunately I do not, the heaviest eld-anything I have used is the 175 7mm. I loaded some 212 eld-x bullets for a buddy with a Browning x-bolt 300 win mag, they shot great and he killed a nice bull with them, he seemed satisfied, but I have not used them. If I had a 300 win mag, 300 PRC or the like, I would not hesitate to use the 208 though. I am in a position however where I get at least 2 doe pronghorn tags every year, and they make for great table fare and field testing.

 

[Raudy707]

We have 5 antelope tags and 3 elk so I'll let you know how we did after November 7th. My daughter is shooting 7mm-08 150 ABLR's, my son 6.5 Creed with 124 Hammers, my brother 300 wm with 185 Bergers, my nephew 6.5 Creed with 143 eld-x and my other nephew 30-06 with 165 Sierra Gamechangers. I'll try the 208"s. We will have a good field report for discussion on one bullet or another. I'll save my 270 WSM and 280 AI for another trip.

 

[codyadams]

We have 5 antelope tags and 3 elk so I'll let you know how we did after November 7th. My daughter is shooting 7mm-08 150 ABLR's, my son 6.5 Creed with 124 Hammers, my brother 300 wm with 185 Bergers, my nephew 6.5 Creed with 143 eld-x and my other nephew 30-06 with 165 Sierra Gamechangers. I'll try the 208"s. We will have a good field report for discussion on one bullet or another. I'll save my 270 WSM and 280 AI for another trip.

Nice, I loaded up the 124 hammers for my nieces 6.5 creed. Sounds like it should be a good season for y'all!

 

[loonie]

Few years ago I shot a bull 3 x at 400 yards broadside with 180 ELD M from 7 Saum. He just stood while I was getting more bullets from my pack. It's a single shot. Never needed 3 before. He walked behind a big tree and laid down. Took 30 min to die. Could see my bullet holes on him . There too fragile and didn't get enough penetration. I have not been able to get a LRAB to come apart on game or wet newspaper test at close range. Shot a bull last year with a 210 lrab doing 3140 at 30 yards from a 300 prc. High shoulder shot exit, minimal blood shot. There tough bullet. All the x bullets I shot in paper came apart .

 

[Prieto9000]

I've used the 147 Eldm's with very poor performance.
1 coyote @550 yds out of my 6.5 GAP4S @2950fps. The coyote was walking towards me. Hit it right in the center of the chest, saw a red stain trough my scope he fell down came back up and ran away. Never recovered.
1 aoudad sheep @220yds out of my 6.5 creedmoor @2830fps. Hit it in the center of the shoulder, saw the impact clearly trough the scope and he ran like he was just spooked. No blood trail, lost the animal.

I thought maybe I needed a little more power so gave my 7mm rem mag a try.
Javelina @220 yds 162gr ELDM @3100fps
Broadside shot through the boiler room, never knew what hit it, the thing is I didn't get an exit hole on an animal this small.

Ok, maybe not enough
White tail buck @250yds 180gr ELDM @2950fps broadside high shoulder shot.
Deer fell on its tracks, but after 10 minutes it was still alive, had to shoot him again. Entrance hole was unnoticeable, no exit wound, broke the spine but no damage to the vitals.

After that shot decided to stay away from ELDM bullets for hunting. I've had very good results using the 123gr SST for deer sized game out to 700yds out of my creedmoor so started using them again.

Switched to 162gr SST on the 7mm rem mag for more power and this season I'll be hunting with Barnes LRX on all my rifles. I usually try to keep my shots inside the 500yd mark anyway.

 

[500mag_guy]

In a couple weeks I'll be using the 285gr eldm's on elk and will try to get some good pictures. Better half has been shooting 200gr eldx's for the past 3 years and has taken 2 elk and 5 deer with only two pass throughs. All the rest have been recovered just inside the hide on the off side.

 

[xsn10s]

Few years ago I shot a bull 3 x at 400 yards broadside with 180 ELD M from 7 Saum. He just stood while I was getting more bullets from my pack. It's a single shot. Never needed 3 before. He walked behind a big tree and laid down. Took 30 min to die. Could see my bullet holes on him . There too fragile and didn't get enough penetration. I have not been able to get a LRAB to come apart on game or wet newspaper test at close range. Shot a bull last year with a 210 lrab doing 3140 at 30 yards from a 300 prc. High shoulder shot exit, minimal blood shot. There tough bullet. All the x bullets I shot in paper came apart .

Hey loonie could you give the muzzle velocity of the 180 ELDM and the altitude? Also the altitude of the 210 ABLR? Great pictures btw. TIA.

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

@codyadams we've had results that mirror yours as well with ELDM. Went to the ELDX and they have been FLAWLESS. 200 gr. (30 cal) 143 gr (6.5) and 175 gr (7mm).

Very seldom do we get exits with the ELDx but the wound channels are flat impressive.

 

[xsn10s]

@codyadams we've had results that mirror yours as well with ELDM. Went to the ELDX and they have been FLAWLESS. 200 gr. (30 cal) 143 gr (6.5) and 175 gr (7mm).

Very seldom do we get exits with the ELDx but the wound channels are flat impressive.

I believe I've seen you all also liked the 178 ELDM in the 308 Win. Could you share your MV and high and low impact velocities as well as any insights? I have both 308 win and 30-06 so it would greatly help me. TIA.

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

The 308 uses the 178 ELDx. Furthest terminal report we have used on that was a bull elk just under 600 yards. Impact velocity was in the low 1900 FPS. Jacket core seperated, however the lead trucked through both shoulder blades (and exited) with the jacket coming to rest on the far side hide. That Bull made it less then 40 yards and took a nice dirt nap.

The only ELDm I really liked to hunt with was the 285 grain 338 flavor. That had enough mass to still shed alot of weight to create one heck of a wound channel.

140 & 147 ELDM just did not give predictable results for us on elk sized game.

@xsn10s on real small framed deer we have had great luck with ELDM.

 

[xsn10s]

The 308 uses the 178 ELDx. Furthest terminal report we have used on that was a bull elk just under 600 yards. Impact velocity was in the low 1900 FPS. Jacket core seperated, however the lead trucked through both shoulder blades (and exited) with the jacket coming to rest on the far side hide. That Bull made it less then 40 yards and took a nice dirt nap.

The only ELDm I really liked to hunt with was the 285 grain 338 flavor. That had enough mass to still shed alot of weight to create one heck of a wound channel.

140 & 147 ELDM just did not give predictable results for us on elk sized game.

@xsn10s on real small framed deer we have had great luck with ELDM.

Thanks for that info. I've been playing with the ideas to extend my range with existing rifles. I've considered the 208 ELDM and 215 Hybrid for the 30-06. This helps me reconsider the 178 ELDX and 212 ELDX. If those play out then I'll just designate the 30-06 and 308 for elk and 260 AI everything else deer and smaller.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I'll be using 180eld out of a 7saum on elk in a couple weeks. The plan is to stay off the shoulder. I'll let you all know how it goes.

 

[loonie]

Hey loonie could you give the muzzle velocity of the 180 ELDM and the altitude? Also the altitude of the 210 ABLR? Great pictures btw. TIA.

I was running them 3000 fps at 4600 ft. I tried running them harder awhile back for a goat load and they were blowing up before they got to the target. Thats why they say Match, not hunting. I wouln't shoot a elk with them in the ribs if it were very close, like under 600 yards. I already tried that. The 285 M s come apart too, even at reduced velocity, but enough lead there to still do some damage.