We all know the AMAX was a great bullet for thinner-skinned game. Hornady confirmed anything the AMAX did, the ELD-M should do to. There are a ton of threads all over the net that detail the ELD-M taking game and performing very well, with many people preferring them to the ELD-X. What I...
I am using ELD-M 123 gr. bullets in my 6.5 Grendel for hog hunting right now. I would say that they work okay, but are not anything amazing. In other words, for the purpose of killing, there are better options. However, out of the current rifle I am shooting, the accuracy is outstanding, ~ 1/2 MOA.
I’ve taken several animals (Whitetail, Coyotes, pigs) with ELDMs in loaded in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 308 Win and 300 WM at ranges of 70 - 400 yds and had great success. Typical results are:
- Dead animals within 30 yds of the shot
- Shreaded insides
- Jacket/core separation
- Jackets under the offside hide
- No exit wound
Comparing the A-Max to ELDM is easy as bullet construction is similar with the only major difference being the tip material which is irrelevant in the “effectiveness on game” discussion.
Below is a picture of a recovered bullet (168 ELDM at 2750 FPS) from a whitetail shot at 150 yds and the resultant damage. This is typical of the performance.
I've killed a few deer and Elk with ELDMS and would never recommend them for hunting.
They blow apart way too much, you'll be ok if you make perfect shots but it still makes a ridiculous mess of shrapnel
Factory 147gr eldm out of a 24” Tikka CTR are fantastic for hunting. They act similarly to a softpoint in my experience. I have killed 9 or 10 deer over the last couple years using these. At 365 yards they will leave about a 50 cent piece hole. Perfect. At 100 yards they may come apart a little bit but are poison.
The only other match load I have shot deer with were Hornady 140 BTHP. Never again. Had to slit several throats. They explode or pencil depending on distance. Other than the 147gr, it is a soft point for me. In fact, soft points seem to be the best hunting rounds regardless of caliber. Imagine that.
Shot 3 does last year 103-317 yards drt 140 eldm from 6.5 cm, I feel confident using these on Texas does my brother shot a cull 10 pt also at 245 yards it ran 35 yards. They seem to work for us .
We mainly hunt hogs. I have yet to have one walk away from the 147 Tap or the 140 ELDM. Kill ranges are from 50 yds - 400 yds. There is no replacement for shot placement.