Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Hornady 73 gr ELD-M for Prairie Dogs

I have read that the 73 gr Hornady ELD-M works well (AKA Very Explosive) on Praire Dogs from a 22-250 or 22-250 AI, and a 9 twist barrel.

Does anyone have any experience directly with shooting them at small critters? I am thinking about working up a load with these for my 22-250 AI for a PD hunt next summer.

Can't add anything beneficial regarding the 73gr Hornaday ELD-M. But I CAN tell you that the "red mist factor" is spectacular with 55gr NBT or 55 gr V-Max out of a 22-250, at close to 3800fps.

Just had most of the day in dogtown, besides a lunch break. Most of my 223 and 204 loads were v-Max or Blitzking bullets. I did have a few other very frangible bullets mixed in.

Besides the ‘red mist’ effects of the fragile bullets, there’s the safety factor, reducing ricochets. I haven’t look a bunch, but seen no mention fron Hornady about the bullet besides touted accuracy. Of course most any bullet would work, can’t see many being better that the common V-Max or Blitzking.

I shot the berger 70gr in a Savage 22-250 1-9 twist, I couldn't imagine anything better, imho