Hunting & Fishing 162gr eldx for LR Elk

I don't have any experience with elk or 7 mag but started using the 162 ElD-X in my .284 Winchester.

Loading it with 51.0 grains of H4350 @ 2877fps. I have taken a couple of whitetail and hogs with it. Everything dropped where it stood except one buck that only ran about 30 yards before piling up.

My nephew is also running the ELD-X bullet in his 6.5x47 Lapua. 143 grain bullet loaded with 36.3 grains of Varget @ 2768fps. He has also taken some hogs and whitetail wigh it. They all pretty much dropped where they stood.

So far we have had really good luck with this bullet and would recommend it.

Interested to hear more as well. When I build my 7 mag for elk I'm torn between the 162 eldx and the 180 vld.

Jackomason said:

Your 284 load sounds really close to what I'll be running, what kind of distances were your kills at? Did the bullet pass through or did it stop? If so did you recover it?

I'm really excited to see how it all works out! I'll make sure to share what happens with as much info as possible.

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All shots were only a couple hundred yards and all the whitetails were complere pass throughs. Haven't recovered any bullets.

I killed a spike this last year at 450-500 yards (couldn't get my damn rangefinder out of my jacket but when I saw the first bullet hit right below his belly I figured out how far he was). Second shot, line back up on his shoulder, send it, dude turns to go uphill. Bullet enters ham, destroys femur, goes all the way through the guts, lungs/heart, and out the brisket. This was out of a 7 mag doing 3010fps. If it can make it asshole to chest on an elk at 500 yards, I think you'll be fine.

162 will do awesome on elk, especially around 3000FPS.

Jackomason said:

The sad part is that it seems like with H4831 I'll be pushing it if I go to 2900. Of course I'll try. Can't wait to get my hands on this rifle and get some real world results. But on paper it's looking pretty good! I should still have great expansion to 1000 yards but that's about the farthest I'd attempt a clean kill.

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With a 7rem? You should get that easy, I can get 3150 or more with my SAUM, and there’s not a ton of difference.

I have a load for my 7 mag that will shoot the 162 nearly 3200fps with Reloder 26.

Jackomason said:

Are you running H4831? I plan to use up what I have then move to h1000 or Retumbo. I guess it also depends on how the barrel puts out but most load data I've seen says that max load will likely be around 2875fps, so I'm thinking I could safely push it a little past 2900fps. If you don't mind me asking what load youre using and what barrel length?

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H4831SC and an 8.5 twist 24” barrel.

I think with a 9.5 twist you will run into stability problems with heavier bullets. I think the 162eldx is best for stability /speed/maximize bc.

I'm primarily an elk hunter who has been shooting 300 win mag and Barnes 180 TTSX with great success but I have just had a new 7mm built with the specific intention of hunting elk with the new 7mm ELD-X 175gr and use the 162gr ELD-X for mule deer and antelope. Having shot quite a few elk with the .300 / 180gr combo I don't think I'll be comfortable using a 162gr bullet on an elk. That's just MY personal approach and philosophy for MY comfort level because there's many people here who will fight to the death that their smaller caliber is right for their elk preference and experience.

Any of those bullets will kill any of those animals in the right situation but that is my strategy. As for distance, "on paper" the 7mm 175gr ELD-X will deliver the same kinetic energy as my 300 win mag shooting 180gr TTSX a full 200 yards farther.

I don't profess to be anything other than an aspiring long range hunter but again "on paper" the ELD-X looks great downrange and as for dialing in a load on my new Proof 7mm, it seems to love the 162gr ELD-X hand loads I'm making.

I have a bull elk tag here in Nevada coming up in October and hopefully I can have my own field report to show afterward!

I've killed 12 elk in my lifetime, none with a bullet bigger than a 162, most with a 154 SST, and one with a .260 and a 143 ELD-X. Its all about shot placement.

Its funny this post came up. I actually just got a my order of 162 eldx from midway last week, for exactly the same reason. Elk. I ordered a box for myself and one for a friend, both shooting 7rem mag. Planning on h1000 h4831sc or rl26. Depends on quickload. Havent punched the numbers yet.

They shoud do just fine on elk. Shot placement as always.

Deano

From what Ive heard, 26 would be unstoppable in most big 7’s. Havent tried it yet myself, but would like to. I ised to shoot the 162’s they were amazing flat and hit hard, only ever killed one elk and a deer with em, but would do it again anyday. I switched to 183 match kings and it was like shooting viagra and cocaine into my bore. Destroys anything I point it at.

Jackomason said:

Yeah that deal was hard to pass up, I kinda wish I had ordered more just for some good data but I'm not too worried. As far as powder what do you think of the RL powders? From what I understand the hodgdon extreme powders are the way to go for hunting but that's about all I've played with. I figure there are enough changes in variables as it is and if I can eliminate velocity change, well why wouldn't i? But I hear a lot of people using RL22(?) in their magnums.

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I typically shoot h1000 in everything I own from 22-243 to 338 Norma. So I'll probably try it first. It's a very consistent powder, just a bit dirty. I've got the rl26, 8 lbs of it for an awesome deal. I've used a small amount of it with other cartridges and it has excellent velocities. I didn't test it in temps however. If I do test temps I'll keep some in my pocket and a few from the freezer.

CB,
183 smk. Interesting.
Deano

Xdeano said:

CB,
183 smk. Interesting.
Deano

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Yes, shot two elk with em in ‘16, a bull at 500+ and a cow at 970. Both of em bled out before they could make it very far. One and done.

Have a 7RM that I haven’t even fired yet with 162ELDM for coyotes and X for bigger critters. After break in I will try RL25, 26 and 33. Have used H1000 in my 300 ultra with great results so I’ll give it some play with the 7mag as well. Want to keep the speed over 3000fps. God bless hornady for finally coming out with a new 110g ELDX (new bullet period) for my 25-06. Just my opinion but Hornady has really stepped up their game for both target and hunting.

CBM , are you trimming meplats or any other prep on the SMK for hunting? I've used them years ago on deer with very inconsistent expansion.

WeiserBucks said:

CBM , are you trimming meplats or any other prep on the SMK for hunting? I've used them years ago on deer with very inconsistent expansion.

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Nope, just load and shoot.

I've shot deer and hogs with the 162 eldm's and they are a lethal round. With proper shot placement I would not hesitate to shoot an elk with one.

Getting a combo hunt setup in BC for 2019. Moose, Elk, Mtn. Goat, Caribou and possibly a wolf. Planning to shoot the 143eldx out of a 6.5PRC.

OP, what gun? I had a Tikka with a 1-9.5 and 24" barrel.

I was only able to get 2880 or so with the 162eldx and H1000. A little slow but I didn't need more.

I only shot 2 deer with it. Both dropped on the spot. Both bullets passed through and were not recovered. The exit wounds were not particularly large.

I shot 2 elk last year with 162 ELD-X bullets traveling 2900 fps out of my long action .284 Win. First was nice 6X6 bull at about 50 yards. Body slammed him broadside with explosive results. Bullet passed through, but left carnage about like an SST. Second was a mature cow at 680 yards. Hit her broadside right behind the front shoulder. DRT and a passed on through.

I shoot the 162s out of a 1 in 9.5 24.5" tube. A touch over 69 gr of H1000 has me around 2950. Seated with a .06 jump

Found a video of the 162 in action, forgive the heavy breathing, we had to run to make the shot: