.284 175 ELD-X on Deer at 600 Yards - PICS

[CB11WYO]

Hey all,
Killed my first animal after switching to the 175 gr ELD-X, small mule deer buck at 600 yards.
Impact Energy: Approx. 2300 ft/lbs
Impact Velocity: Approx. 2400 fps

Although this was a heart/lung shot, the deer dropped immediately after being hit, exactly like animals I have previously killed with a high-shoulder/spine shots. He just folded up. 30 minutes later when I made my way to him he was still laying with his legs folded under him, no evidence of thrashing. Pics show the entrance and exit, fairly dramatic.

I'm very impressed to say the least. Elk will hopefully follow in a few weeks.
*Note: front shoulders have obviously been removed already in pictures, left side is entrance, right side is exit.

 

[elkaholic]

Messed him up big time!!

 

[rlspahn]

What cartridge were you using? Still carrying a lot of velocity at that range so I suspect some 7mm mag variant.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

Well, that is a lot of meat loss.

DRT is always good, however, I hunt for meat and look for performance with reduced meat loss.

That said, congratulations on a 600 yard DRT hunting shot. That fits the theme of this site well.

 

[CaptnC]

IMO-better to loose a couple hamburger patties than a whole deer due to poor bullet performance.

I like Nosler BT because they hit like a sledge hammer...but you will loose some meat...

Nice shot OP...congrats!

 

[CB11WYO]

What cartridge were you using? Still carrying a lot of velocity at that range so I suspect some 7mm mag variant.

Yup its a 7mm Rem Mag. 28" barrel

 

[CB11WYO]

Well, that is a lot of meat loss.

DRT is always good, however, I hunt for meat and look for performance with reduced meat loss...

Shot was just far enough back behind front shoulders into the crease that meat loss was less than expected on this one. But yes, the shoulders still looked a little bloodshot.

 

[onlythebestisgoodenough]

Hi Mate
Were you not bothered about the meat damage ? why shoot the animal through the shoulders instead of shooting just behind the shoulder through the ribs for a heart or lung shot, or was it wind drift at the time or did it hit where you shot , either way it sure made a mighty mess of the carcass and the hydraulic shock would push blood everywhere between the muscle and skin layers making it a messy carcass to cut up with blood everywhere its a shame either way . what was the Rifle ( Picture ) please , and what was the ( rifle scope ) not bad shooting , shame about the mess !

It wouldn't be my choice of bullet though ( 175 gr ELD-X ) if that's what they do , we like to produce quality clean carcasses to put back into the food chain .

Steve

 

[TwoMore]

I shoot deer in the shoulder all the time, I usually try for a high shoulder shot. its the best way to drop them, with the right bullet selection there will be little meat waist, we do hamburger or sausage on front shoulders any way. and like I said with a good bullet choice on the chambering will produce a quick death. Here in the south a Whitetail deer may run several hundred yards double lunged or heart shot and vanish in nasty thickets. If the shot is high in the chest cavity the blood trail can get thin quick. I chased this big 7 point all year and when I finally got a shot it was on a thin power line and I couldnt take a shoulder shot and had to double lung him,I tried to scoot just under the spine but I hit about 2 inches or less to low but it vaped both lungs, hung pink all over the ground and trees behind him, he had a very nice exit hole, he dropped, got up and ran 300 yards like a rocket and the blood trail vanished, luckily he was on a trail and I found him, I was using Antler insanity while tracking . I shot with a 7 wsm 168 berger and I have shot many many many deer with that rifle and it always produces, but I prefer a high shoulder shot.

 

[CaptnC]

Here is a high shoulder hit (actually a little too high) on a deer...with 7mm RUM shooting 140gr Accu-Bond.

Shot was a bit over 300 yards...DRT

 

[dana bodnar]

Well, that is a lot of meat loss.

DRT is always good, however, I hunt for meat and look for performance with reduced meat loss.

That said, congratulations on a 600 yard DRT hunting shot. That fits the theme of this site well.

A quick kill is always number 1 in my book, i have seen to many bad shoots and I don't like feeding coyotes. I would call it a very good round.

 

[dana bodnar]

Hey all,
Killed my first animal after switching to the 175 gr ELD-X, small mule deer buck at 600 yards.
Impact Energy: Approx. 2300 ft/lbs
Impact Velocity: Approx. 2400 fps

Although this was a heart/lung shot, the deer dropped immediately after being hit, exactly like animals I have previously killed with a high-shoulder/spine shots. He just folded up. 30 minutes later when I made my way to him he was still laying with his legs folded under him, no evidence of thrashing. Pics show the entrance and exit, fairly dramatic.

I'm very impressed to say the least. Elk will hopefully follow in a few weeks.
*Note: front shoulders have obviously been removed already in pictures, left side is entrance, right side is exit.

View attachment 81617 View attachment 81619

Good shot I use the 212-g ELDX here in Arizona on Elk in a 300 win-mag and always have a good clean kill.

 

[bassrods]

Hey all,
Killed my first animal after switching to the 175 gr ELD-X, small mule deer buck at 600 yards.
Impact Energy: Approx. 2300 ft/lbs
Impact Velocity: Approx. 2400 fps

Although this was a heart/lung shot, the deer dropped immediately after being hit, exactly like animals I have previously killed with a high-shoulder/spine shots. He just folded up. 30 minutes later when I made my way to him he was still laying with his legs folded under him, no evidence of thrashing. Pics show the entrance and exit, fairly dramatic.

I'm very impressed to say the least. Elk will hopefully follow in a few weeks.
*Note: front shoulders have obviously been removed already in pictures, left side is entrance, right side is exit.

View attachment 81617 View attachment 81619

Hey all,
Killed my first animal after switching to the 175 gr ELD-X, small mule deer buck at 600 yards.
Impact Energy: Approx. 2300 ft/lbs
Impact Velocity: Approx. 2400 fps

Although this was a heart/lung shot, the deer dropped immediately after being hit, exactly like animals I have previously killed with a high-shoulder/spine shots. He just folded up. 30 minutes later when I made my way to him he was still laying with his legs folded under him, no evidence of thrashing. Pics show the entrance and exit, fairly dramatic.

I'm very impressed to say the least. Elk will hopefully follow in a few weeks.
*Note: front shoulders have obviously been removed already in pictures, left side is entrance, right side is exit.

View attachment 81617 View attachment 81619

I have found that Berger 180 grain VLD hunting in 7 mag will do a good job on any Deer, Elk, Moose and Pronghorn that I have used it on from 462 yards out to 978 yards on an Elk all with one shot and only the Pronghorn ran for about 50 yards all the others dropped in less then 10 yards..
The closer the shot the more meat loss, but its the best long range bullet I have found in over 60+ years of shooting..

 

[SHRTSHTR]

Hey all,
Killed my first animal after switching to the 175 gr ELD-X, small mule deer buck at 600 yards.
Impact Energy: Approx. 2300 ft/lbs
Impact Velocity: Approx. 2400 fps

Although this was a heart/lung shot, the deer dropped immediately after being hit, exactly like animals I have previously killed with a high-shoulder/spine shots. He just folded up. 30 minutes later when I made my way to him he was still laying with his legs folded under him, no evidence of thrashing. Pics show the entrance and exit, fairly dramatic.

I'm very impressed to say the least. Elk will hopefully follow in a few weeks.
*Note: front shoulders have obviously been removed already in pictures, left side is entrance, right side is exit.

View attachment 81617 View attachment 81619

Congratulations on your Buck! Seems like you did everything right including your choice of bullets.

I eat around the bullet holes!

Ray