.264 123 grain ELDM terminal performance pictures

[Brandon_SPC]

Over the last two deer seasons I have been using the 123 grain ELDMs. I know many in here hunt with them and figured since the 6.5 Grendel is in the low end spectrum of the bullet operating velocity, I figured why not post pictures for the long range hunters.

1st Picture: Doe 125 yards impact velocity 2243 fps. Bullet went through both shoulders, exited, she took two steps up hill and stumbled backwards.

2nd picture: Buck from the ground, 30 yards, impact velocity was around 2407 fps. Bullet exit and the buck trotted 10 yards (give or take) and fell over.

3rd picture: Doe from the ground, frontal / quarter to me shot, impact velocity around 2425 fps.

4th picture: Buck from the ground. 1/4 away, entered last rib, exited between his front legs, he was dead before he could take a step. Impact velocity 2346 fps.

5th Picture: Doe, standard behind the shoulder shot. She actually made it 80 yards or so. Impact velocity was around 2251FPS.

6th Picture: doe (entrance is right picture exit is left picture). Impact velocity was around 2150 fps. She made it 40 yards

7th picture: doe, frontal shot. Impact velocity was around 2320 fps

8th picture: Doe standard broadside shot. Impact velocity was around 2200 fps.

Last picture: Was the recovered bullet in the 7th picture.

Overall I have taken about 18 deer with these. All of these have been in the 2430fps down to about 2200 fps. Roughly 90% of the bullets have exited (only ones that didn't were frontal shots). All deer, except two have made it past 40 yards, with most not even making it 20 yards. Out of the 150 whitetails I have taken, using just about every "mainstream" bullet, this bullet has consistently lead to the quickest deaths. I'll be experimenting with the 109s in my 6mm ARC so hopefully I'll be making a post like this at the end of season. Maybe one day Sierra will keep their TMKs in stock so I can actually tries those. Heard amazing things about how well the TMKs perform.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Looks like much better performance than I got from the 123-grain SST. I had already planned to use the ELDM for hunting this year.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Brandon_SPC]

Looks like much better performance than I got from the 123-grain SST. I had already planned to use the ELDM for hunting this year.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

I personally have never used the SST in the Grendel but used them ALOT in the .270 Winchester and .243 Winchester. Most animals barely made it 10 yards but I have heard interesting performance from the SSTs in the 6.5 Grendel. Nothing like what I have experienced but it very well could be due to the impact velocities.

 

[Deputy Dummer]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

Lets keep the Grendel alive

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I personally have never used the SST in the Grendel but used them ALOT in the .270 Winchester and .243 Winchester. Most animals barely made it 10 yards but I have heard interesting performance from the SSTs in the 6.5 Grendel. Nothing like what I have experienced but it very well could be due to the impact velocities.

I have read that the thicker jacket on the SST makes it slightly less effective at 6.5 Grendel velocities than at higher velocities. I think my personal experience with both the deer I shot with the Grendel supports that.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Looks like much better performance than I got from the 123-grain SST. I had already planned to use the ELDM for hunting this year.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

On Grendel forum and this goes back since they’ve been killing about 4 years before the creedmoor came around so there’s piles of sst vs eldm threads and general consensus was anyone that was using the sst and then tried the eldm...they never went back, happier with on game performance. Never really saw anyone who started with eldm then tried sst and stayed with sst. Also there was a guy who did a YouTube gel around 2200 fps impact I recall and the sst went 18” and the eldm went 19” so penetration not an issue, both pretty mushrooms.

Been killing with the eldm since about 2017/18 in Alberta and some 20 plus bug game now over 7 species if you count wolf. Moose, both deer, black bear, antelope, bighorn, wolf. 10-420 yards, average recovery distance about 10 yards, average shot distance around 167 yards, primarily drt, the odd 15 or 50 yard runner. Also almost always exit on anything broadside or slight quartering. Need steep quartering to frontal or large animal slightly quartering to catch jackets etc.

You can count on this bullet and we’ve launched it anywhere from 2386 to 2605 fps. It’s been just pleasant surprises from day 1.

The 6.5 Grendel is the OG of modern 6.5's.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

Lets keep the Grendel alive

Agreed, basically a 3/4 scale 308 168gr with 55% less recoil. Not much could beat its barrel life, or its efficiency for what you can do to game for the powder burned. It could easily handle the majority of kills that happen every year on this continent without any extra fat.

We will never not have Grendels as our base last to leave the safe. I just wish I could get a sako 90 peak in one.