Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game ELD-X performance?

I have not connected with them yet. How do they compare with some of the others like SSTs and BTs? What is the low end velocity threshold, I believe the add copy says 1,300. Any recovered bullets? I have them loaded for three different rifles so should have first hand experience with them soon.

My limited experience points to them being somewhat SST-ish on game, and probably not as stout as a comparable NBT. This is not an altogether bad thing if you are shooting medium-to-heavy for caliber bullets at moderate speeds. Cup/cores are often quick killers in such instances, but it pays to know the nature of the product you are using, as well as the probable limitations.

We use the 150 eldx out of 7mm-08s at 2790 fps. Deer and elk die right now but it’s placement anyway.

We use 162 eldx out of 7mm Rem Mags at 2986 fps. Deer but mainly elk die quickly but again, shoot something through the lungs and it’s gonna die. On recovered bullets (2 only, on elk) weight retention was about 50%, expansion close to 2x caliber.

Very accurate, very slippery, sometimes our shots involve BC so the eldx is our choice.





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The 150 eldx is bad medicine on deer. I did some doe culling last year on our lease, I'm impressed. Like Pharmseller said deer die right there.

I caught 2 143s from a 6.5 creed.
The first was a complete jacket separation, with fragments. It hit rib, lungs, bottom of spine, offside ribs, and stopped in the offside hide of a dall sheep. ~250 yard shot.

The second was shot into a moose head/neck junction at 200 yards and caught against the hide on the offside. I lost the bullet, and forgot to take a picture, but it was a perfect mushroom, and I'd guess 75% weight retention.

Had excellent penetration on a raking shot through a caribou as well, but did not catch the bullet. Probably 28-30" of chest on a diagonal.

I've not shot an SST into meat, and my BT experience was in 300Win, so not really apples to apples...

Interestingly enough, I am about to do some bullet testing on whitetails next week. I am heading to GA with a 7mm Mauser using 120 grain NBTs, a 7-08AI using 162 grain ELD-X and a 280 Encore using 150 grain NBTs.

I realize it isn't quite apples to apples comparison, but I am very interested to see how they all perform. I am allowed one doe per day, so I hope to shoot a doe with each to see the differences, if any.

I thought I read somewhere that the ELDX is just an interlock with the new polymer tip? It should do just as well as the good ol interlock? No?

According to Hornady:

"The thick shank of the jacket and high Interlock ring keep the core and jacket together providing 50-60% weight retention. Upon low velocity, 400+ yard impacts, the Heat Shield tip drives backward into the bullet to initiate expansion. Exhibiting conventional expansion with a large mushroom and 85-90% retained weight the bullet provides deep penetration and large wound cavities.

Features

Heat Shield Tip forms the perfect meplat
No tip deformation from aerodynamic heating
Match accurate hunting bullet
Devastating terminal performance at all ranges"

Like any CC bullet, I always go heavy for caliber to help aid in better bullet performance on game animals. My last bull was shot with a plain jane Hornady interlock. It did a bang up job, no complaints here... My buddy has used the ELDX on elk with great results. He uses the 200gr Hornady precision hunter in his 300WSM. Again, "heavy for caliber"...

I'd much rather use a VLD than one. Not impressed....

Are you pin drilling the tips to make sure you get expansions?



I started pin drilling all mine after I had one not open problem solved.

143eldx.



590 yards.



145 eldx. 400ish.

The campfire cut.
Smells like trout and bourbon.


But you eat it anyway.


143eldx
Also 143 eldx. 650yards



They stone [bleep] dead.

My apologies if the pics are reruns at I know same old shït gets boring.

No problem Fred, I hadn't seen them. Pretty ghastly stuff. What was the launch platform?

Yup. That's what I do. Every single time...

Small sample, but I watched a rag bull take four (4) 7mm ELDXs straight to the chest this year, and he stumbled around for a full minute or so before falling over.

145 was a 270win
143 was a 6.5 4s
162 was 7-08 AI.

Dead on its feet after one?

Copy that. I as well. But I go with the bullet that shoots the absolute best so I have been shooting eldx and EldM, vlds and LRAB lots lately.

I've watched a coues deer take about as much...

Piss pour wound channels on all sorts of other stuff I've seen with them..

All sorts of bullets do weird stuff....

I was being sarcastic....I don't do a thing...

I really do as I’ve had them plug and not open.