6.5 143 ELD-X before & after

P

projp

Active Member
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A couple of weeks ago on a mature mule deer.
6.5x284 handloads
Hornady 6.5 143 EXD-X
2735 FPS @ muzzle
185 yards, deer quartering away.
Entered and broke second to last rib, exited body cavity and lodged in muscle of off shoulder.
Before weight 143 gr.........after weight 56 gr.

I liked the BC and accuracy of this load but was hoping it would hold together a little better.
It only hit one bone, (rib), and this is what is left. I worry about taking a high shoulder shot, or heaven forbid I make a "bad" shot, definitely will not use it on elk.
Will go back to the drawing board and try a Barnes LRX
or become a better shot
or of course try an AB.

58159143eldxbeforeandafter.jpg


37988143eldxshot.jpg
 
I wondered how they'd work on game. not so impressive, about like the SST.

But it needs to be remembered they're direct competition for the Berger. I bet they would have blown up worse.









Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
My load was very conservative fps wise.
Many loads are 200 fps faster which would only make matters worse.
 
Eldx is not made to retain all of its weight. It's made to do like you describe, similar to a berger. Sounds like the deer is dead.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-08-17 AT 09:58AM (MST)[p]>How far did the deer go
>after the shot?

20Yards
I have no doubt that on a broadside shot with no major bone in the way it will perform excellent.
 
>Eldx is not made to retain
>all of its weight. It's
>made to do like you
>describe, similar to a berger.
>Sounds like the deer is
>dead.

Yes the deer is dead......It made recovering the slug much easier.

My concern is what if the shot would have been front quartering?
I am not sure it would not have come apart on the shoulder and not penetrated to the vitals.
I know a Barnes or partition would have.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-08-17 AT 01:57PM (MST)[p]My bet is it would not expand on impact on any part of the animal at any reasonable range. It was designed for controlled expansion. Obviously there are any number of possible field situations that could happen. Ultimately the shooter is responsible for this stuff. If you desire a bullet that retains most of its weight then barnes is a good choice, or the accubond. Both good bullets for what they are designed to do.

I've historically used barnes and harvested many game animals with them. In fact, I've never lost one using barnes. My only complaint is I've used a follow up shot on animals that were hit in the vitals (would have died with the first) because these bullets do not create a large wound channel. This is a benefit in terms of meat loss. If hit somewhat poorly this could be a negative.

On the otherhand, I took two animals with the eldx this year. In both cases, elk and deer, the main bullet fragment exited, 330 and 270 yds respectively. But the expanded and fragmented portions created more damage in the chest cavity than a barnes type bullet. Both animals dropped in their tracks.

That's just my experience so far...
 
>LAST EDITED ON Nov-08-17
>AT 01:57?PM (MST)
>
>My bet is it would not
>expand on impact on any
>part of the animal at
>any reasonable range. It was
>designed for controlled expansion. Obviously
>there are any number of
>possible field situations that could
>happen. Ultimately the shooter is
>responsible for this stuff. If
>you desire a bullet that
>retains most of its weight
>then barnes is a good
>choice, or the accubond. Both
>good bullets for what they
>are designed to do.
>
>I've historically used barnes and harvested
>many game animals with them.
>In fact, I've never lost
>one using barnes. My only
>complaint is I've used a
>follow up shot on animals
>that were hit in the
>vitals (would have died with
>the first) because these bullets
>do not create a large
>wound channel. This is a
>benefit in terms of meat
>loss. If hit somewhat poorly
>this could be a negative.
>
>
>On the otherhand, I took two
>animals with the eldx this
>year. In both cases, elk
>and deer, the main bullet
>fragment exited, 330 and 270
>yds respectively. But the expanded
>and fragmented portions created more
>damage in the chest cavity
>than a barnes type bullet.
>Both animals dropped in their
>tracks.
>
>That's just my experience so far...
>


Just curious.
What bullet weight and cartridge?
Where were they hit?
Thanks!
 
Elk, high spine, deer behind shoulder, 300wsm 178 gn. Not cronied, but should be in the 2900-2950 fps range.
 
I shot the precision hunter ammo in 270 (145 gr ELDX) this year. I shot a mature buck at about 200 yards. 1st bullet broke his front shoulder clipped the heart and ended up under the hide on the back side. The 2nd bullet (He didn't really need a second bullet, but I've always shot until it hits the ground.) was as the buck was running. I hit him in the back part of the lungs and broke a rib on the front side, but there was no exit and never found the bullet. The deer died as soon as the 2nd shot hit and didn't go more than 50 yards. The 1st bullet that broke his front shoulder looks great and if I can find it I will post a picture. I would guess 60-70% weight retention being conservative. At first I was a little worried after neither bullet exited at 200 yards, but after seeing the 1st bullet after busting through a shoulder, I think I am going to stick with the ELDX.
 
I've shot the 6.5 143 ELD-X through 2 pronghorn, one mule deer and a coyote and no bullets were recovered because of the complete penetration.

I shot an elk earlier this year with the 212 ELD-X from my 300 RUM and the bullet was recovered and retained about 60%. Stellar penetration and expansion.

They might not be the do-all bullet but they seem to work well.

With that said, I have another elk hunt this year and the 200 grain Accubonds in the RUM will be making the trip.

Zeke

#livelikezac
 
>
>I've shot the 6.5 143 ELD-X
>through 2 pronghorn, one mule
>deer and a coyote and
>no bullets were recovered because
>of the complete penetration.
>
>I shot an elk earlier this
>year with the 212 ELD-X
>from my 300 RUM and
>the bullet was recovered and
>retained about 60%. Stellar penetration
>and expansion.
>
>They might not be the do-all
>bullet but they seem to
>work well.
>
>With that said, I have another
>elk hunt this year and
>the 200 grain Accubonds in
>the RUM will be making
>the trip.
>
>Zeke
>
>#livelikezac
Late cow hunt Zeke ?
 
Took two antelope does with the 178gr. ELD-X out of my 300 win. mag.
One pretty close at around 75yrds or so and one at around 180yrds. With both being slammed down in their tracks. Complete pass through on both.
I have no complaints.
A cup/core separation doesn't mean a failing on performance. Especially when the animals die in short order.
Appears energy transfer is dumped into the body under most instances, more than effectively enouph to get the job done.
Hopefully I can use this combo on an elk eventually. I'm sure more than a few whitetail will find it to be effective enough for them in the mean time.
 
There really is no perfect bullet for every scenario you might encounter while hunting.
Many bullets will get the job done and some people prefer pass through and I've often heard the saying I need 2 holes so I can track the animal.
I'm a big fan of Berger and JLK bullets. They are extremely accurate and kill DRT. Furthest I've had an animal go is maybe 30 yards. They are IMO highly effective and yes I have taken quartering shots with them. Most all animals were also pass through shots. The vitals were soup also.
Use whatever bullet you have confidence in and shoots accurately in your rifle.
 
I shot two antelope with that same bullet and wasnt able to recover the bullet, pass through. The deer I shot didnt go anywhere but the bullet looked the same.
 
OP should stick with Barnes TSX/TTSX for max penetration if you feel that is the primary thing that kills animals.

If I had to track an animal and wanted a blood trail to do so, this would be my primary objective. My primary objective is to kill and quickly and humanely as possible, so maximum penetration is not a primary concern to me.

Seems this ELD-X, like the accubond, is more middle of the road, with the Berger type bullets being the other end of the spectrum, relying more on wound channel and even "shrapnel" type effect.

First deer I killed with a berger VLD, was hit low, but right through the heart. Bullet basically exploded and while it took out the heart and made a moderate exit hole, it sent a piece of shrapnel due North and severed the spine near the base of the skull as well. Talk about DRT. Like a billiard trick shot.

I think they all kill well and have their own weaknesses, so for now I use that which provides me the most accuracy, so I can feel most confident about placing the shot well. I presently load about 6 guns w/ berger VLD's and 4 with TTSX.
 
At what range and approx velocity were those tested? If max weight retention is what you're after, the eldx is not it. Corelokts are good bullets. I've taken lots of game with them and still run them in an 06'.
 
Yuk I just bought a box of 200 grain ELD X for my 300 HH. I might just stuck with my Nosler after reading this thread.
 
I always find it amazing that people use "SST" as a pejorative. I have killed numerous deer, antelope and caribou with 130gr SST's out of a .270. My best mule deer was taken at 525 yards with Hornady Custom factory ammo at 3050 fps. Never needed to fire a second shot at any animal. Yes, what was left of the bullet wouldn't make a nice picture but everything inside the body cavity looks like one giant hematoma. Never had a tracking job, with most animals tipping over in their tracks. I was hunting solo when I took the mule deer at 525. When I recovered from the recoil, there was no deer standing where I aimed. I racked another round and looked through my scope for the buck. He was with 14 other bucks and they were all looking around, then slowly walked off. I grabbed my bino's looking at the deer moving off the sage covered hillside and could not find my buck among them. Hiked up to the kill scene and he was down in his tracks, tipped over so fast I never had a chance to see him after the shot. I've never had a chance to use the SST out of my .338 on elk, but I'm inclined to give it a try. All my elk and oryx with a rifle have been killed with 210 gr Nosler Partitions out of the .338.



"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard
 
Looks like the lead core is missing and probably still in the carcass somewhere.
Also, looks like the bullet did everything it was designed to do.
If you want weight retention, the partition or some of the solid copper bullets like Barnes and others make, would be a good choice.
But, deer just aren't that hard to kill to need 80%+ weight retention.
A fast expansion will transfer more energy to the body than a complete pass through ,and that usually means more trauma to the body cavity and a quicker death.
Moose and large elk could make a person want more penetration, but I see more than a few elk brought into my taxidermy shop that were shot with the SST and a couple with Ballistic Tips.
I assure you they were extra dead, and the damage caused led me to believe the hunter when he said they went down fast.

If you don't have confidence in your load then shoot something else. The deer won't likely complain either way.
 
I too liked the sleek looks of the ELD-X. The 145 .277 variety. Loaded 10 to fiddle with. My T3 Tikka didn't like them from an accuracy standpoint. I put the last one through jugs of water set at 100 yards. Very disappointing. The recovered bullet weighed 87 grains. There was still core in the jacket,though I can't say wether or not it went to the bottom. Not what I'm use to from Hornady. I'd trade the remaining 90 bullets for 50 130 AccuBonds in a hot minute..
 

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