225gr eldm durability

[86alaskan]

I'm working up an elr load and possibly a long range hunting load. It's a 28in 300norma shooting the 225gr eldm. The barrel is fast, brass and powder are allowing for a very good load at approx 3100fps. I know it's not necessary, let's not debate that. The question on hand is whether or not the 225 will survive at that speed. I've personally seen the 230gr atip come apart at at far less speed, so I'm wary. I want the performance that the cartridge is capable of, and that bullet gives it at that speed. Has anyone run the 225 that fast for long?

 

[MagnumManiac]

Not the ELDM, I hate Hornady anything, but in my 30-416 Rigby Improved 40°, I ran Berger, Nosler and Sierra in the 210-220g range, none of them, including the 230g OTM performed to my liking at speeds above 3300fps. Even dropping them into 3150fps had them breaking up even at 400, so ditched them for 210g ABLR or 208LRX.
Most of my loads now run either ABLR or Cutting Edge Lazers.

Cheers.

 

[Dragoon300]

Not the ELDM, I hate Hornady anything, but in my 30-416 Rigby Improved 40°, I ran Berger, Nosler and Sierra in the 210-220g range, none of them, including the 230g OTM performed to my liking at speeds above 3300fps. Even dropping them into 3150fps had them breaking up even at 400, so ditched them for 210g ABLR or 208LRX.
Most of my loads now run either ABLR or Cutting Edge Lazers.

Cheers.

Please tell more about the Berger's "breaking up".
I would like to know what you had seen them doing, and what you feel caused it.

 

[FEENIX]

I'm working up an elr load and possibly a long range hunting load. It's a 28in 300norma shooting the 225gr eldm. The barrel is fast, brass and powder are allowing for a very good load at approx 3100fps. I know it's not necessary, let's not debate that. The question on hand is whether or not the 225 will survive at that speed. I've personally seen the 230gr atip come apart at at far less speed, so I'm wary. I want the performance that the cartridge is capable of, and that bullet gives it at that speed. Has anyone run the 225 that fast for long?

As with anything else, YMMV. You will get different experiences and preferences from others. A friend did an extensive gel test and on game in various calibers and prefers the M over the X. I have some ELD-Ms to try on my .30 LARA, but I haven't loaded any yet. I am sure you already know it is a fragmenting bullet and performs differently on impact. Hopefully, people with real-world experience will chime in and provide you with the information you seek. Good luck!

Ed

 

[Mike99]

Not the ELDM, I hate Hornady anything, but in my 30-416 Rigby Improved 40°, I ran Berger, Nosler and Sierra in the 210-220g range, none of them, including the 230g OTM performed to my liking at speeds above 3300fps. Even dropping them into 3150fps had them breaking up even at 400, so ditched them for 210g ABLR or 208LRX.
Most of my loads now run either ABLR or Cutting Edge Lazers.

Cheers.

Great response ....thorough and concise. I have been shooting the 210 ABLR in a 300 Rum for a few years for hunting. Working great.

 

[lager]

I shot a bull a few ago with the 225 ELDM running 3020 fps at 390 yards about 8 inchs behind the shoulder quartered away a little bit, top of heart, took 2 steps and fell over dead. Entrance hole was good sized, with blood spraying out. I never found any part of the bullet. It should of been in front of opposite front shoulder. So Im guessing it came apart and didnt get good penetration. Yes elk was dead, but I would not want to hit a shouder with one. I personally have had horrible luck with 7mm 180 eldm on elk having to shoot one 3 times becuse they were coming apart so fast. Have since switched to the 220 x in my 30 cal 10 twist and they shoot well but I also slowed them down to 2900fps. One frontal shot on a bull at 400, dropped like rock. Bullet was probably in stomach, so dont have a used one to show. Let a gal use my gun to shoot a cow with the 220x at 150 yards, she hit it way back of the guts, long tracking job but we got her. That bullet got better penetration and did cause lots of internal bleeding, so I think it my be a little tougher bullet.

 

[TRG65]

I've never run the ELD-M that fast. All the bullet cartridge pairs I run are sub 3k fps. However, even in the low 2800s I had 147 ELDM blow up when the barrel got old. For that barrel/load, the velocity and the accuracy stayed consistent, however, I started loosing calls on shots until at one match the conditions were right and I saw some puffs.

Also, using the 123 ELDM, 147ELDM, and 230ELDX on whitetails and hogs for a decade, they are not a bullet I would describe as durable.

 

[skipglo]

I've never run the ELD-M that fast. All the bullet cartridge pairs I run are sub 3k fps. However, even in the low 2800s I had 147 ELDM blow up when the barrel got old. For that barrel/load, the velocity and the accuracy stayed consistent, however, I started loosing calls on shots until at one match the conditions were right and I saw some puffs.

Also, using the 123 ELDM, 147ELDM, and 230ELDX on whitetails and hogs for a decade, they are not a bullet I would describe as durable.

10 years and still using them....tells me how much you just don't trust them! Me too...my go too projectiles for just about everything! I certainly don't want a bullet that goes in 6-8" and drops 100% of its energy inside the cavity where it belongs! Far better to retain 90% of its weight penciling thru both sides....so I can track em'....love to walk! Please everyone....don't buy A-tips, Xs or Ms....be far less difficult to buy for those of us that Hate them...or can't trust them! Just me....
.

 

[FEENIX]

10 years and still using them....tells me how much you just don't trust them! Me too...my go too projectiles for just about everything! I certainly don't want a bullet that goes in 6-8" and drops 100% of its energy inside the cavity where it belongs! Far better to retain 90% of its weight penciling thru both sides....so I can track em'....love to walk! Please everyone....don't buy A-tips, Xs or Ms....be far less difficult to buy for those of us that Hate them...or can't trust them! Just me....
.

You behave!

 

[floyd kittrell]

I'm working up an elr load and possibly a long range hunting load. It's a 28in 300norma shooting the 225gr eldm. The barrel is fast, brass and powder are allowing for a very good load at approx 3100fps. I know it's not necessary, let's not debate that. The question on hand is whether or not the 225 will survive at that speed. I've personally seen the 230gr atip come apart at at far less speed, so I'm wary. I want the performance that the cartridge is capable of, and that bullet gives it at that speed. Has anyone run the 225 that fast for long?

Federal Terminal Ascent !!

 

[Earnhardt]

I've never had a ELD blow up…and I've run them pretty fast.

 

[Earnhardt]

10 years and still using them....tells me how much you just don't trust them! Me too...my go too projectiles for just about everything! I certainly don't want a bullet that goes in 6-8" and drops 100% of its energy inside the cavity where it belongs! Far better to retain 90% of its weight penciling thru both sides....so I can track em'....love to walk! Please everyone....don't buy A-tips, Xs or Ms....be far less difficult to buy for those of us that Hate them...or can't trust them! Just me....
.

And you sir, win the internet for the day, with this post…

 

[COBrad]

I'm running 245 Berger EOL's at 3035 muzzle velocity. Shot bulls at 675, 800 and 1222 yards, bullets did a good job on all 3. Not ELDM's but close.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Please tell more about the Berger's "breaking up".
I would like to know what you had seen them doing, and what you feel caused it.

I have had OTM in 30 cal and 33 cal break up, tumble or NOT expand and tumble at 700-800 metres, either were started at 3300-3400fps. Those recovered at 600 and less were fragments and penetration was poor.
Other Berger bullets have not done this, no Hybrids or VLD style bullets have performed other than expected, only the OTM in my experience, just the same as Hornady A-Max 208g, very poor hunting bullet at range.

Cheers.