168 or 178 Eld-m in the .30-06?

[Moose83]

Curious if anybody out there has experience with either of these bullets in the .30-06 for hunting. Game will be anything from deer sized up to moose sized. Rifle is a t3x battue with 20" barrel. Ranges at this point will be from 0-400 yds. However, after a scope upgrade I would like to work on stretching my effective range out to 600 yds. Both bullets are available to me locally and are somewhat reasonably priced so I can work on laying in a supply of them for practice. Thanks for any info you're willing to share I'm really new to the match bullets for hunting game!

 

[SteveALA]

I don’t shoot a 30-06 but I will say that you shoot whichever bullet gives the best and most consistent accuracy. Either bullet placed straight the leg middle of the body will definitely do the job.

 

[Bluumoon]

My .308 win (18" barrel) round this year was 168gr eldm, hits 1800 fps right around 550 yards with pretty conservative loading. No terminal ballistics to share.

 

[schmalzy]

May not help you but I’ve used 178 eldx in my 06 with success. Very accurate in my rifle. Great performance at 2-300 yards. A little much sub 50 but devastating never the less.


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[Mojave]

I had really good luck with a 165 Accubond in my Tikka 30-06.

I wish I still had that rifle, it was awesome!

Shot a couple of hunting rifle matches with it.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Don't overthink it. Run the numbers on any ballistic program. Based on the ranges you stated, which one, if any, has an advantage in trajectory. BC's aren't much different. From my experience with the '06 and similar bullet weights, velocity probably won't be more than 100 fps different with loads you work up.

It's encouraging to hear you say reasonably priced and local in the same breath! Merry Christmas!

Get a good supply of each. Work up loads, pick the best one for your endgame and practice away with the one that doesn't make the cut.

Food for thought. From a hunting perspective I think more bullet weight is better, all else equal once it reaches the target. Bullet weight is a constant, the more constancy the better, IMO.

 

[Tbonespop]

Look at the Nosler 165 grain Accubond's as noted above. Its their Trophy Grade (not Long Range Trophy Grade). Ballistics are slightly better in the 165 than the 168s. Its a small gain, but when stretching it out, every little bit helps.

 

[Moose83]

I appreciate the info so far guys. For those that recommended nosler that's pretty much a no go for me. They are at least twice the price of hornady's here in Canada and availability is not nearly as good. I want to go with the 168's as they are $10 a box cheaper here in town but I would go with the 178's if there is a measurable increase in terminal performance being heavier for caliber. This is also for handloading only. Thanks!

 

[HighUintas]

Bringing this one back up. Considering the 168eldm in my 30-284 (30-06). Looking at numbers in a ballistic app, if I can hit 2950 with the 168, it would have 10" less drop and similar drift at 800yd to what I currently have with a 185 juggernaut moving at 2825fps from the muzzle. It would also extend the range due to higher required terminal velocity of the jugg.

And I'd get a bit less recoil and it's cheaper bullet.

What are you guys getting for 168 eldm out of an 06? What powder?

 

[ZWA]

I am building an 18” 300WSM and the 168 eldm is on my short list. In the eldm family there is not a giant leap in BC until you go to the 208gr. So the 168 with velocity looks to shine. 4 more months until the build is finished sorry I cannot share more.

 

[Bluumoon]

Put a load together for a friends -06, 168 TMK at 2960 out of a 20” barrel. IMR 4350, 1 gr under max book load. Would have to look up BCs to compare

 

[Guy]

Loaded the 178 gr ELD-X in my 30-06 with Ramshot Hunter. Muzzle velocity was 2790 fps. Accuracy was excellent. I zeroed the rifle at 200 yards and took it on a cow elk hunt in Oregon.

Long stalk followed by a 405 yard shot in a stiff crosswind. The shot broke her foreleg, then penetrated the heart. I was surprised when she managed to make it another couple of hundred yards before I could catch up to her and finish her with another shot at modest range.

I was reasonably impressed, and am now working with the 212 grain ELD-X which is also shooting well from my 30-06 rifle.

Regards, Guy

 

[General RE LEE]

Loaded the 178 gr ELD-X in my 30-06 with Ramshot Hunter. Muzzle velocity was 2790 fps. Accuracy was excellent. I zeroed the rifle at 200 yards and took it on a cow elk hunt in Oregon.

Long stalk followed by a 405 yard shot in a stiff crosswind. The shot broke her foreleg, then penetrated the heart. I was surprised when she managed to make it another couple of hundred yards before I could catch up to her and finish her with another shot at modest range.

I was reasonably impressed, and am now working with the 212 grain ELD-X which is also shooting well from my 30-06 rifle.

Regards, Guy

Guy I based a load off the one you shared on UR. I had some Hunter and 178 grain ELD-X. Superb accuracy and 2750 fps out of my late dad’s 1:10 twist Interarms Mark X. May the 30-06 continue for another 100 years.

 

[Guy]

Guy I based a load off the one you shared on UR. I had some Hunter and 178 grain ELD-X. Superb accuracy and 2750 fps out of my late dad’s 1:10 twist Interarms Mark X. May the 30-06 continue for another 100 years.

View attachment 662135

Cool. Glad that worked out well for you! Thanks for letting me know.

Regards, Guy

 

[HighUintas]

Loaded the 178 gr ELD-X in my 30-06 with Ramshot Hunter. Muzzle velocity was 2790 fps. Accuracy was excellent. I zeroed the rifle at 200 yards and took it on a cow elk hunt in Oregon.

Long stalk followed by a 405 yard shot in a stiff crosswind. The shot broke her foreleg, then penetrated the heart. I was surprised when she managed to make it another couple of hundred yards before I could catch up to her and finish her with another shot at modest range.

I was reasonably impressed, and am now working with the 212 grain ELD-X which is also shooting well from my 30-06 rifle.

Regards, Guy

Funny... I just happened to read your hunt report article on another site. Nice work.

What velocity are you getting with the 212 and what load? I'd considered the 200eldx or 208eldm but would need to have my barrel throated farther out

 

[BearMeat]

Loaded the 178 gr ELD-X in my 30-06 with Ramshot Hunter. Muzzle velocity was 2790 fps. Accuracy was excellent. I zeroed the rifle at 200 yards and took it on a cow elk hunt in Oregon.

Long stalk followed by a 405 yard shot in a stiff crosswind. The shot broke her foreleg, then penetrated the heart. I was surprised when she managed to make it another couple of hundred yards before I could catch up to her and finish her with another shot at modest range.

I was reasonably impressed, and am now working with the 212 grain ELD-X which is also shooting well from my 30-06 rifle.

Regards, Guy

Guy! I just got done reading about this on UR. I created a clone of your load before I found an good price on an 8# jug of Hunter on Midway. My Ruger is happy. Thanks for the info.

 

[Ohiohuntr]

I used the 178 eldx in my 308. 42 grns of varget and took a mule deer at 425 yards no problem, I’ve since upgraded to a 6 creed for deer

 

[112Savage]

I currently load the 178ELDX in Lapua 30-06 brass in a 24” Blaser with a very healthy dose of H4350. It’s super accurate and very consistent and give way better velocity than it should. I would have no problems using it on animals up to moose and eland

I have doubted the 178ELDX but recently used that bullet in factory Hornady precision hunter from a 300WM on everything from Vaal Rhebuck to Cape Eland and it was spectacular. The cape eland was quartering to me downhill at between 5 and 12 degrees at 357ish yards. He went less than 25 yards, got wobbly and fell. The bullet made it into the off-side lung.

In my 308 though, I use the 168ELDM with a strong dose of Varget (max). I feel like the velocity I get out of it would make the BC difference a wash. For deer up to elk, just pick the most accurate. And yes I know this is an old thread. I’m just trying to add anecdotes to the collective knowledge

 

[Stinky Coyote]

some 168 eldm terminal info, just started using them recently so this is most of it so far

recovered bullet from quartering black bear boar at 20 yards from 308 launched at 2592 fps, dead there but was following up on hit too far back broadside mini rodeo that ended quickly as it wasn't far from where rodeo started, got out of sight in a few hops but not before taking one more in a rear quarter directly from behind, as we walked up to that point it was in sight again, close and struggling for the finisher, just found the finisher easy while skinning, front of rear leg to hide at back of opposing shoulder, retained 90 gr (54% retention) and was quite a big flat pancake of a mushroom with very little shank peeking out from under it, no jacket/core separation (~2560 fps impact)

recovered bullet from another black bear boar at 225 yards same shot placement as finisher above, drt, no rodeo, pretty much same penetration and found by skinning again, retained 117 gr (70% retention) and similar big mushroom but a bit more shank left under it than the point blank example, roughly 1/4"-1/3" of shank under the mushroom, also no jacket/core separation (~2256 fps impact)

a 200 yard broadside trophy antelope drt exit

a 275 yard mature Alberta cow moose broadside, all 3 exited, 1 low lungs, 2 shoulders (went down but still head up), 3 spine at hump as she thought about trying to get back up shortly after hitting the ground, all three shots back to back, was hesitating slightly on shot 3 and she prolly wouldn't have been able to get back up but just sent it when it looked like she was gonna try, died within few yards of shot one, gutless method solo so didn't necropsy internals

a 175 yard broadside-ish whitetail buck made it 15 yards, exit, lots of mess around heart plumbing and chunk of heart gone, ribs hit etc.

zero checked a coyote at 215 but not worth mentioning other than drt broadside, not huge fur damage as bullet still prolly thinking about opening up by the time it left the flea bitten mongrel

pretty happy with what's been seen so far and there is not even a thought or concern that it it has any limitations for what we hunt and to as near or far as we can hit em