Most "Match" bullets are "not suitable for hunting" only because they have a thicker jacket. Most will still function at reasonable velocities and reasonable distances. I've shot deer with "match" bullets before. Had the same positive results I did with "hunting" bullets. Shot placement is more important than whether the bullet says "hunting" or "match" on it. The only bullets I wouldn't use for hunting would be any cheap east-block bi-metal jacketed bullets or FMJ's. But that's just my personal opinion on that.
And in some cases, like Berger, the Hybrids and target versions are more controlled on the expansion and actually seem to be more reliable when it comes to expansion. I shoot Bergers, and am a big Berger fan, so nobody take this as me being critical...But as someone who has had several different bullet brands and models fail on game animals, I can tell you that none of them are anymore exempt from potential failure than any of the rest.
Try the ELD-M and see if it works. You might be surprised at the outcome.
Also, alot of those folks they hire at the "big box" stores are nothing but random DA's hired off the street that might know how to look on the side of the action and determine a Remington from a Savage...Becaue it's written on it. So, I would never put much (if any) faith in what those people at those stores have to say. Most don't know anything more than what the box says or what they heard someone once say on the interwebz about their uncle's cousins' brother's former room mate's best friend's experience.
