Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 147 ELD terminal performance

How do 147 ELD's perform on game at Creed/Swede speed?

DF

I'm all ears for this one myself DF. Seems like they should be wicked at those two cartridges speeds.

Not sure they've been out long enough.

If that's correct, anyone killing game with them may NOT want to share the results...

I sure wouldn't, even being from Louisiana...

DF

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...38/re-147-eld-m-performance#Post11806238

Had a few more in feral hogs and they didn't disappoint. Seem much tougher than the 143 Xs......

Thanks, Josh.

Exactly what I was looking for.

I see reports that the 147 ELD-M may be a better game bullet at Swede/Creed speed than the 143 ELD-X.

I went to the Hornady website, seems the 143 ELD-X bullet has a bigger cavity behind the tip, has a heavier jacket with the lock feature per the Interlock.

The 147 ELD-M looks more like the A-Max regarding tip and jacket. The A-Max has been a good performer, hopefully the 147 ELD-M will be similar.

DF

I'd like to see a 129/130gr ELD-X in that caliber. The 143 is a bit heavy for my needs.

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/6.5mm-.264-130-gr-eld-match#!/


These won't work?

I was talking about wanting to see a 130gr hunting-style of ELD with the interlock feature. I don't really want an A-max replica, but something a little stouter that could be pushed at 2,850fps from a typical Creed/260 sporter. Seems like it would be a nice fit for Hornady factory ammo concerning the typical deer hunter, perhaps better than the 143 at slower speeds. Then again, we already have the 130 NAB and 129 LRAB, both of which I use and like in my 6.5's. Some of today's hunting reticles like the Leupold B&C or LRD work better with the 130's at 2,800-2,900 than the 140/143/147 at 150-200fps slower.

Yeah, I can see that. As I posted earlier, around 2,750 fps seems a good fit for the 6.5mm 147 ELD-M bullet construction.

The tougher ELD-X may be a better choice, pushing 3K+.

The 129 LRAB, 130 NAB choices you noted, work well.

I've long been a proponent of balancing speed and bullet design parameters.

I like the idea of the heavier 147 ELD in my Swede with its long throat.

One bullet doesn't fit all. Otherwise what would keep us Loonies up at night thinking about such stuff.

DF

Do the ELD-M have the interlokt feature? If not I think they would be a step down from the NABLR and AB. If I'm set up for long shots it almost guarantees a deer will show up at hand shaking distance. I have shot two from the hip like this and an Elk with the rifle held bazooka stile on top of my shoulder as I couldn't move into position with out spooking them. The 300 comes back pretty hard when it isn't on your shoulder came real close to getting scope eye.

Based on sectioned photos, no.

It looks like the A-Max. The ELD-X looks more like the Interlock.

DF


Edited to add, it has a locking ring, but not like the Interlock. They are different. So, will the X bullet hold up as well as the IL?

Reportedly it does pretty good.

www.hornady.com/bullets/interlock

www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/6-5mm-264-143-gr-eld-x

www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/6.5mm-.264-147-gr-eld-match

You can compare construction of the X and M bullets.

DF

JPro, did you see where Josh has shot several animals with both the X and M, and he says the M seems tougher?

From looking at cross sections of both bullets, one would conclude the X is tougher than the M, based on jacket construction/thickness.

But, it's what happens in the field that counts.

The Scenar 139 has a thin jacket and it holds together better than most thin jacketed bullets, possibly something to do with the lead alloy.

Maybe the lead core has a different hardness, M vs. X. I could see hunting bullets made with a softer alloy, depending on the thicker jacket to hold things together.

A harder alloy would make a lot of difference with terminal performance.

DF

I do remember seeing that. I suppose my thoughts also had to do with marketing and factory ammo, as the 130gr range sounds like a natural fit for a 6.5mm bullet designed for hunting deer-sized game. From a component standpoint, it is probably is unwise to knock the 130gr match version as a viable hunting bullet for handloaders until it's given a fair shake. It might be a decent one.

People have been dissing target bullets on game for a long time, regardless of evidence from years of field experience.

The proof is in the puddin' as they say.

The VLD and A-Max have been tested extensively on game, terminal performance seems pretty well documented.

My deal, you gotta match velocity with design parameters of the bullet.

A great bullet at one velocity can be a terrible bullet at another velocity.

DF

Whacked a 200 pound hog at 500 with the 147 out of a .260 last year. It worked great. Will chase elk in Nov. with them.

It will be interesting to see more reports this season. I have 147's ready to go in my 260 but it's hard to leave the scenars on the shelf.

I am currently carrying mine for elk here in Nebraska. I have the 147s loaded to 2825fps, from a 24-inch barrel. I had a hard time deciding to do it, in lieu of my 7 mags, '06 and .308s, but I could not help myself from trying something new!

If I get one killed, I will report on the results. I was hoping earlier to test some on deer, through depredation permits, but my neighbor didn't get around to getting the permits, so that was a bust.

Now, that statement touched a nerve...

A Loony just can't help being a Loony...

I have a great sub MOA load for my Swede, 139 gr. Scenar over MRP. Normal people would take that load and run with it.

But, here I am, loading a 147 ELD-M over 50 gr. RL-26. Will the 147 kill'em any deader than a 139 Scenar..?

Probably not. But if I don't try, I'll never know.

DF

I remember reading in an older Hornady manual where they touted the Amax as a capable light-medium game bullet. Have read enough to believe this to be true when bullets are matched to game weight, plus have used 75 Amax on game.

The last two shots that I fired yesterday, while checking my scope one last time, went into 1/4 inch at 300 yards. I quit while I was ahead!! Gonna test some 140 Partitions next with Re 26.

You sure wouldn't want to blow that group with another round...

DF

Yeah. I probably would have opened it up to four inches, the way the permanent heat wave works in my eye!

Let us know how 140 gr. NPT's perform with RL-26.

DF

DF,

This isn't the exact bullet, but close. Killed an antelope last week from my 6.5 SAUM using the 140 ELD-M. Hit a rib going in, trashed the lungs, hit a rib going out, an exit the size of a quarter. Pretty much perfect. Range was about 200 yards. MV should be about 3100-3150 fps though I haven't chrono'd it.

For deer, antelope, and the like I'd not even give it a second thought. I mean don't take "TSX" shot angles, but for normal kill shots, I suspect it'll be devastating.

As a tangential data point I've killed a few deer with the 7mm 162. Devastating.

The ELD looks identical to the A-Max, comparing cross sections. Jacket looks the same, tip looks the same.

I wonder if the alloy is different, or if the ELD is the A-Max with the new "magic" tip that doesn't melt at high speed.

IIRC, the A-Max holds together a bit better than the Berger VLD Hunting, breaks up but in bigger pieces.

As I've posted before, these bullets need to be matched to optimal velocity for optimal performance.

They should work well at around 2,750-2,850 fps.

I shoot a 140 VLD Hunting out of my 6.5-284 at 3K and they do OK, maybe a tad messy at the skinning shed but deadly.

I want to try the 147 ELD-M in that gun.

DF

They made at least THREE different 162 AMAX's that I've personally seen; different ogive, different tip, etc. But I agree that the latest ANAX and the ELD-M appear more or less identical aside from the tip. The deer I've killed wth the 162 AM left me thinking it wasn't an elk bullet... I switched my heavy 7 WSM to the 180 ELD-M for just that reason. We'll see. If field reports have that one coming apart badly then I'll continue my search for the ultimate elk-capable LR "match" bullet. But I'm with ya- these are great thin-skinned game bullets!

You liking that 6.5-.284? Cool cartridge.

Yeah, I do. It's a pre-64 with Borden's Bumps, 26" Krieger, Boyd Jon Sundra stock, Jewell trigger. Half MOA gun.

I've been involved with my Creed/Swede/7-08 projects, neglecting the 6.5-284 for the time being. Also spent some time with my 26 Nosler. May get back to the 6.5-284 pretty soon; the 147 ELD-M got me thinking...

Loony stuff...

DF

That 147 will do that! Same with the 7mm 180 with a .796 BC. Hard to ignore.

When I finished my 6.5 SAUM, there were a couple boxes of the 140 ELD's available locally, and my rifle really liked them, so I ran with that for this season. But I intend to switch over to the 147.

Well, so far in my rifle they suck. It is the worst-grouping bullet that I have shot from this barrel. I tried all loads with Re26, from hot down to mild and it is a two moa so far. I tried some Re23 today and it also sucked. Maybe they just are not compatible with this barrel. I have a few left yet, so I will try some other stuff, but not at all impressed so far, compared to the Interlocks and ELD-M.

Some guns like Partitions, some don't.

I'm always pleased when a gun does well with the NPT.

DF