(6.5 CM) Hornady 143gr ELDX Expansion Test

[@jamesmooney5348]

In rewatching this vid, and this time hearing what was said about the 200 gr eldx, I did hammer a 500lb cow elk at 483 yrds with 308 and 178 eldx Factory loads of about 2600. In mtn's of CO. Impact was around 2000fps with energy of about 1600. Elk basically dropped in her tracks after staggering for a second or two. Bullet went through both shoulders and jellied out everything in between them big time. Cup and core did separate and came to rest inside the off side hide. Very little meat damage. I, would have gone to 600 yrds or down to 1850fpp, with this load. Used Hornady app. Had Zero wind. In Savage Long Range Hunter. .75" groups.

[@Paul-q3m7k]

These are very accurate but horrible hunting bullets on anything bigger than deer . I’ve seen them blow to absolute pieces on elk and moose . I shot an a elk that was quartering away so I lined up like a bow hunter . That means following the opposite side front leg up to mid body and shooting . I was shooting 200 grain eldx out of a 300wsm at 80 yards . . I shot the elk and it stood there in shock . I hit it again and it ran into the trees . I managed to track the elk and got a neck shot that finally dropped it . When I opened it up all I found was shrapnel and no vitals hit . the bullet literally blew to pieces maybe 5 inches of penetration . I use accubonds now and will never go back to a non bonded bullet again, the animals deserve better than this garbage

[@joshsinglefooter]

You guys testing is topnotch!

[@TMHonfire102]

What is the FPS from the Hornady 143gr ELD-X 6.5cm from a 20 inch BBL?

[@renonative]

My Ruger American really likes the ELD-X, coming in at 1/4" at 100 yards. Fine tuning loads for a muley and bighorn hunt this fall.

[@maxcontax]

They really shoot well in my 260 Remington cartridge Tikka T3. I shot a 1 5/8" group at 500m. 44 Grains of H-4350.

[@JoePeters1]

You mentioned not recommending eldx for Elk. Is there a 6.5 creed round that you would recommend for this application? Thanks very much, video was great and informative!

[@Honey_Badger_DC1]

So basically despite jacket core separation in larger calibers like 300 wm and 300wsm the bullet is still going to put down deer or elk or simmaler game?

[@Honey_Badger_DC1]

Yeah sorry posted this question before end of video which answered the above question lol

[@wes3029]

Can confirm, 200 gr ELD-X from a 300WM has terrible weight retention, and seems to explode on impact with heavy game. I got much better results with the 143gr ELD-X. I agree totally with your findings.

[@Freezer003]

What range or impact velocity was your 300wm showing low weight retention?

[@benjaminbrown1179]

Cool!

[@north61]

Great stuff would love to see the same test with the 140 ELDM (favoured by Nathan Foster at Terminal Ballistics) as a comparison. Nathan suggests in 6.5 the ELDX has a small hollow-point that limits expansion past 500 yards.

[@jamesmooney5348]

61north, you have a great channel as well. I enjoy your content, as I do these guys. Nathan uses the best medium available, live game. I was rereading his long range cartridge book this morning. I don't believe any other person has giving so much and done so much for long range hunting. I believe he is a modern day father to long range hunting. Though in using the X and M's, I do dislike lead in my steaks. I don't no where near get to take game like him or even you. But hey, I really have been your 6.5 PRC content lately. Not saying I dont enjoy your other videos as I am a lever gun fan. I have a jap remake 1895 in 06. I really enjoy shooting it as well as my trenta/trentas..... Take care

[@jamesmooney5348]

@@north61 You have me confused with some else... but if I did make videos, you all would love'm......

[@north61]

@@jamesmooney5348 Sorry James...I am getting old enough to be easily confused! 😁

[@frontlinerejects8029]

All three options mentioned in this video would work very well for your application!

[@ianscott9396]

Really enjoy your videos! But I do miss the Ben and JLO banter !

[@frontlinerejects8029]

Ya, we probably need to do another Ben and JLO update.

[@chrisb9478]

Looks like a good deer/antelope bullet & it’s know for great accuracy!👍🏻

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Thanks. I have used ELDX in 7mm magnum. I am so pleased and impressived with consistent accuracy and results in tests. No complaints. Thanks

[@chadperry4021]

Looking forward to the 06 178 results.

[@jamesmooney5348]

Very good video

[@308guy8]

To be honest water jugs are fun to shoot but really don't tell u much on how the bullet performs on game the eldx in my experience has always had jacket core separation at short to mid range( 500yds or less) with several different calibers

[@richardkramer1094]

I do not buy junk bullets and therefore I don’t waste my money on anything from Hornady! I much prefer Swift Siroccos or Nosler Accubonds for longer range bullets and the Swift A-Frame and Nosler Partitions for closer ranges.

[@rapserrapser7003]

Thank you! Can you do the same for the 300 PRC and longer ranges please?

[@dougwelch7069]

I really apreciate what you do. Most of the hard work it takes to put togeather these videos is not shown in the video, so thanks for that. I have two rifles that just don't like the ELD-X. My ruger 7mm PRC and my Mossberg 338 Win mag. Kind of sad for the 7mm PRC cause it's about the only ammo availible here (175gr percision hunter). the 338 just does not like the 230gr ELD-x. Keep up the great work.

[@doghousedon1]

There are a lot of good hunting bullets to be had. But I can't bring myself to using target bullets for that task unless I'm hunting ground squirrels. Thanks for the vid.

[@countercivilization]

Something tells the core and lead separation must have to do with the thickness of the jacket being the same all over hdy offering (correct me if I am wrong) and the lead flow on impact being not a bonded design. Minimum with 6mm low SD bullet but much pronounced with 30 cal high SD bullet.

[@petercarden4847]

Hi what is the best 6.5 creedmoor ammo bullet you have tested? For mushrooming and weight retention?

[@chrisfavorin1107]

Been watching your videos on expansion of rounds. I am heading to Colorado in the fall for 2nd rifle elk. I have a 6.5 creedmoor. We are hunting in thick wooded areas and the opportunity for a close shot is possible as well as shots at 500 yrds. What bullet would you suggest? I will be developing my own load once I figure out what projectile Im going with. Thanks, Chris

[@jimwest1967]

6.5 cm that must me a real ball buster.

[@Mrkelsmiller55]

Have you tried the 6.5 Creedmoor with a 140gr. ELD-M?

[@frontlinerejects8029]

No, we haven't really tested any match style bullets, several people have asked about the ELD-M though so we may try it out at some point.

[@leonardogarcia2506]

I have to agree with what you said about Hornady in a general sense. The only bullets that have been constantly available through these times have been Hornady. It’s great to have a load in the “better” for hunting bullets like nosler ablr or fed terminal ascent, but what is a good load if you can’t find the bullet.. cabelas, sportsman’s warehouse and ace hardware and bi-mart have always had a good supply of Hornady eld-x and match.

[@frontlinerejects8029]

Completely agree, and I really how many different diameters/grain weights the ELDX comes in.

[@Sourdough444]

Once again, well done.

[@gc641]

Nice..was there fragmentation?

[@frontlinerejects8029]

No significant chunks, some flakes.

[@whitesturgeon]

I am going to try a Hornady CX 180 gr for elk in 300 win mag because I didn't like what I was using after I saw you guys test it- 200 gr ELD-X. Thanks! I hope the CX's hold together better than they did for you in .308.

[@RobBremner]

The 110gr CX is designed for low velocity cartridges like the Blackout, should'nt have been used in a .308

[@frontlinerejects8029]

We have two other videos on the CX, 165's in an '06, and 80's in a 6 ARC. In both cases they held together very well - I think you'll be very happy with the 180's performance in the WM.

[@ronlowney4700]

🕵️‍♂️ FYI: Early This Morning Nosler Released Their First Load Data On The 7mm prc!

[@frontlinerejects8029]

Thanks, I'll have to take a look!

[@ronlowney4700]

🤔 We were told that it was designed to push a 180 grain bullet at 3,000 ft/s! SAMMI Specks say 2,950 ft/s and Nosler's data now says 2,880 ft/s! We are going in the Wrong Direction here! 🤣

[@ronlowney4700]

😳 Oopse! The Nosler Bullet is actually a 185 grain "Target Bullet"! But, will we see the 7mm PRC get close to 3,000 ft/s with the 175 grain Nosler ABLR bullet? Only time will tell! Meanwhile, I will just keep hunting with my 270 and 30-06! 😀

[@erichollobaugh2553]

Thank you , good information

[@frontlinerejects8029]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bobd8553]

Ya Buddy, Tshirt in the snow!! Great Video.

[@peterhofer5216]

Good job guys , I would like to see you testing 145 eld x in the 270 Winchester

[@frontlinerejects8029]

Thanks! We've got the 145 ELDX coming up in the 270 WSM

[@ExF1Guy]

Great video as always. If you decide to expand into varmint bullets, I'd be interested in seeing Nosler Varmageddon and Hornady V-max bullets tested.

[@calhntr1]

They disintegrate, no mystery there.....

[@ExF1Guy]

@@calhntr1 And virtually all hunting bullets expand. No point in watching a video about it then. The point was as a comparison. Which one fragments more quickly? Does the base continue to penetrate? (In the case of the Nosler varmageddon I've tested, yes.) Different varmint bullets have different applications. Some are meant to dump all of their energy in a ground squirrel, while others are meant to take down coyote sized game. Some people even use V-max bullets for deer (although I question this practice).

[@frontlinerejects8029]

The difficulty in testing varmint bullets on water jugs vs ballistics gel is it's tough to get a good idea of exactly what the bullet did when it came apart because, well, they disintegrate. It's the same reason we haven't really tested any match style bullets. Generally when we get heavy fragmentation the water washes a lot of particles away. Our testing method really works best when we have a solid, expanded projectile left over.

[@ExF1Guy]

@@frontlinerejects8029 That makes sense. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[@frontlinerejects8029]

@@ExF1Guy Sorry we can't really help with what you're looking for, that might be a question to pose to a channel that uses ballistics gel.

[@benbowditch9265]

I've got 500 of the 147gr ELDM's on order, I based my decision off of Ultimate Reloaders test of the X vs. M. ~2,700fps MV .697 BC should do me pretty well out to 700yd. 1,850 fps 1,115 fpe at 38° Thanks for the beautiful winter back drop and another thorough test! Where are you guys located? MT, WY, CO?

[@jameswatson4110]

I use the ELDM over the ELDX - in 6.5 prc. Tried them both And The M comes out a head both near and far.