Are the Eld x bullets that bad

[Frank in the Laurels]

Same bullet from the back..3000 was the muzzle velocity...

 

[memtb]

One of those mysterious bullets where you hear of how bad they are online yet all the pictures of them are them working fine

"IF" I can show a photo of my bullet after it has killed an elk or moose…..I have a bullet that "FAILED"! memtb

 

[dbailey14]

I love the things. Never had any poor performance in the 143 grain.

 

[memtb]

I always tell everybody else that Mom's homemade banana pudding sucks, too. More for me.

How's that diabetes treating you? memtb

 

[ICMDEER]

I shot two elk with 200 grain ELDX bullets out of my 300 Win Mag last year and a big bear this year. Excellent performance on all. The bull went down in his tracks, but struggled like he was going to get up again. So I shot him again. (That's how I shoot elk; till they are done.) Never twitched after that. Both shots were high shoulder quartering away. Both in the shoulder and spine. One was full penetration. The other went through the shoulder and 3-4 vertebra and was intact under the opposite hide. The cow was close; under 100 yards. Shot her high shoulder and she dropped without a twitch. Full penetration.

The bear was shot at 200 yards. Full penetration. Right over the heart and through that cluster of atreries and both lungs. Bear ran about 35-40 yards and died. A death run.

The bullets also group well. About .5 MOA every time. And they hold that group well at all distances.

I also shot an antelope year before last with a 143 ELDX out of my 6.5 PRC. He was 150-200 yards. Death run with full penetration through both lungs. Went about 50 yards.

I also had a hunter shoot a nice 6X6 with a 143 ELDX out of a 6.5 PRC. 435 yards. Bullet went in behind one shoulder and exited just in front of the other. Though the spine, too. Exited. Bull dropped in his tracks.

So far, the ELDX bullets have done everything I could ask of them.

 

[memtb]

I like the ELDx line. Shot a lot of hogs whitetail and a big mule deer with the 7mm REM mag 162 ELDx. Ran them at 2950. Farthest shot was 325. I ain't recovered one yet. Used the 143 in a 6.5 prc and a AR platform 6.5 creed, none ever recovered. All animals recovered that I've shot and my son and nieces and nephews I've taken while with me. I don't have any reservations about using them. Rolling with the 178 this year in my
300 wsm for my elk hunt. Will report results if I get one.

None recovered, but…..did they exit? My very limited experience with the 143 from a 6.5CM at close range (30 yards) was abysmal! They may be great at distance, but left a lot to be desired at close range! Just my findings! memtb

 

[kwcreager]

So are the 162 grain Eld x bullets that bad? Sure see slot of negative comments about them.

Generally speaking I like the ELDX bullets, I've used them with great success in multiple calibers. A few years ago I got some 6.5 147 gr ELD Match bullets, all from the same lot (over 1,000 bullets) that were tumbling out of the barrel. Imagine shooting 100 yards and the bullets not even coming close to the target, going all over the place, it was weird. got closer and finally got one to go through the cardboard box is it was flying sideways. Not every bullet did that, you'd shoot some and they'd do great, then all of a sudden you had no idea what happened.. Hornady was great about it, I showed them pictures and sent back my unused and they gave me new ones (but I'd already tried shooting quite a few) but I never really trusted them.... But the ELDX's I've never had issues and they preform well on game

 

[3chester]

"IF" I can show a photo of my bullet after it has killed an elk or moose…..I have a bullet that "FAILED"! memtb

Ha,ha think have found a few that workD over the years!!

 

[mudygmc]

You've taken 30+ elk with them Adam?

No not elk. Big game animals. Antelope deer elk. I wish I could afford to hunt elk that often.

Adam

 

[memtb]

Ha,ha think have found a few that workD over the years!!

I have too, but soon after changed bullets!

My statement was a bit too broad, I did recover a bullet (my present brand) from a large cow elk….after it passed through and killed another cow elk. Thankfully, we had two cow tags! memtb

 

[3chester]

I have too, but soon after changed bullets!

My statement was a bit too broad, I did recover a bullet (my present brand) from a large cow elk….after it passed through and killed another cow elk. Thankfull, we had two cow tags! memtb

That'll happen when a guy uses 416 Rigby on an Elk. The large caliber hole thru both sides does shorten the tracking work.

 

[bomberodevil]

"IF" I can show a photo of my bullet after it has killed an elk or moose…..I have a bullet that "FAILED"! memtb

I disagree with this statement. Many cup and core bullets that impact an animal at moderate speeds (2000-2500 fps-ish) and mushroom at least 2x their diameter will often not penetrate the far side hide. That certainly does not indicate a bullet failure.

Hunters need to know the characteristics of the bullets they use, and the likely performance outcomes regarding the different factors, including bullet type, impact velocity, and impact location (soft tissue vs shoulder bone).

There's many choices between bullet types, including cup and core, monolithic, bonded. They all perform differently at terminal performance. Just because they performed differently from what the hunter wanted or expected, doesn't automatically indicate there was a bullet failure.

 

[Hydra6]

280AI and Hornady Precision Hunter 162ELDX has harvested multiple mule deer, whitetails, and antelope from 75 yards to 350 yards last several seasons. No lost animals. Picture is recovered 162ELDX from antelope in New Mexico - frontal shot at 194 - fragmented in chest and DRT - the base drove through and was recovered under hide at tail after breaking spine. Got 300WM project and I plan to use 200 ELDX.

 

[stx]

All my experience with my hunters using ELDXs has been poor! Jacket Separation!!!