100 Grain ELD-VT 6.5mm On Deer

[General RE LEE]

I've been kicking around the idea of getting a box of 100 grain ELD-VT and loading them up over some Varget for my 6.5 Creedmoor.

Would it be too explosive on whitetail if pushed hard? My shots can vary from 20-400 yards. The speed would be nice for a point and shoot solution for typical ranges.

 

[Harvey_NW]

I think they'd be pretty wicked devastating with a lot of meat damage if shot ops weren't perfectly broadside where you could purposely keep well off the shoulder.

 

[General RE LEE]

This is one I should have Googled before posting. Everyone says they grenade and wouldn’t be good unless one can get perfect shot placement.


Too risky in my book. I’ll stick with the 143 ELDX or the 140/147 Match.

 

[Rugger7622]

I've loaded up some Hammer HHT, 80 gr, moving close to 3,600 fps over CFE in my 6.5CM. It's not my main load, but I'm going to try to cull a doe with it in KY next week. Should hold together a bit more than an ELDX, but curious to see how it works.

 

[BFR]

OK, first hand report on Hornaday 6.5CM Eld-VT. Box claims 3200 fps, rifle used Bergara, not chronoed but was probably close to that. Buck broadside 40 yds, double lung, hit was slightly rearward, exit was about a 2” hole. Went about 25 yds and somersaulted. No indication of excess fragmentation but the wound channel was devastating.
They kill but I’m sticking with my 124gr rounds.

 

[The Guide]

This is one I should have Googled before posting. Everyone says they grenade and wouldn’t be good unless one can get perfect shot placement.


Too risky in my book. I’ll stick with the 143 ELDX or the 140/147 Match.

I'm thinking the would be great 6.5 Grendel bullets. I have some 107 TMK to try if I ever run out of the cases of ammo I bought my kids to shoot...

Jay

 

[omicron1792]

Shot a deer with 100gr eld-vt today. 6.5prc at 3335mv. 140 yards hard quartering away.

A little further back than I wanted but the angle took it right into the lungs.

Fist size hole in posterior rib cage. The lungs were absolute jelly.

There was no exit and absolutely no blood until I found deer 40 yards away.

Overall works and causes massive damage. Very little chance of an exit.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Shot a deer with 100gr eld-vt today. 6.5prc at 3335mv. 140 yards hard quartering away.
View attachment 822775
A little further back than I wanted but the angle took it right into the lungs.
View attachment 822778
Fist size hole in posterior rib cage. The lungs were absolute jelly.

There was no exit and absolutely no blood until I found deer 40 yards away.

Overall works and causes massive damage. Very little chance of an exit.

Not sure that’s a fair “assessment”

You shot the most soft bullet for caliber using a magnum at close range. Your impact velocity was close to 3200fps.

That bullet blew up. I have a feeling with a MUCH less impact velocity it would penetrate a bit better and exit with a good trail.

I have them loaded in a Grendel (opposite direction of PRC) and impacts will be closer to 2000fps and I’m confident they will perform “differently”.

I’ve blown up eldx bullets at 3000fps impact and they are much tougher than these.

These are marketed as soft explosive varmint bullets meant to be fast for caliber. We can’t expect them to hold together well at those velocities. My 2 cents.

 

[omicron1792]

Not sure that’s a fair “assessment”

You shot the most soft bullet for caliber using a magnum at close range. Your impact velocity was close to 3200fps.

That bullet blew up. I have a feeling with a MUCH less impact velocity it would penetrate a bit better and exit with a good trail.

I have them loaded in a Grendel (opposite direction of PRC) and impacts will be closer to 2000fps and I’m confident they will perform “differently”.

I’ve blown up eldx bullets at 3000fps impact and they are much tougher than these.

These are marketed as soft explosive varmint bullets meant to be fast for caliber. We can’t expect them to hold together well at those velocities. My 2 cents.

Who said I expected them to?

It did exactly what I expected it to do. Just giving some feedback on how they do with deer. As expected.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Who said I expected them to?

You said very little chance of exit. They will exit if they are slower. That was the expectation I was questioning.

 

[omicron1792]

You said very little chance of exit. They will exit if they are slower. That was the expectation I was questioning.

I doubt many people will be shooting them with a Grendel. The bullets were made to be shot fast.

It’s not the ideal deer bullet. But it got the job done. If using it, I wouldn’t expect an exit. That’s not a requirement for me (or I wouldn’t have used it in the first place).

 

[omicron1792]

You know what. It probably would do well in a Grendel. I use them mainly for coyote so I like them flat and fast.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Fair enough. I’m using em in a Grendel for a kiddo. Really good BC for a light bullet which will reduce recoil and potentially still be lethal. I’ll know in a few months.

Love the PRC slings em like lasers.

Edit. Hoping to get 2600fps out of a 12.5” Grendel. I was getting 2400 with 120g so it isn’t too far fetched.

 

[omicron1792]

When I say the insides were jelly it was crazy. Couldn’t really pull lungs out because nothing to grab.