6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[gabenzeke]

I shot a ram last week with the 108 elf-m at 130 yards from a 243 AI. Muzzle velocity 3100 fps. Neither shot exited, but insides appear to have been obliterated. I shot him late and was solo, didn’t feel like opening him up for pics (gutless). After the shot, they were bunched up so I couldn’t get a quick follow up. He went down approximately 9 secs after first shot. The rest ran away a short distance, he got up clearly sick. He was facing away so I waited for a better shot. Second shot was quartering away, dropped immediately at the shot, then got up again. He went back down before I could shoot again. 2 things; sheep are much tougher than I thought they were, that bullet absolutely wrecked the vitals and gut. Looking forward to killing a bull in a few weeks with it.

What's your barrel length? Load data?

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[Fever Buck]

Has anyone had a bad experience with the 103 ELDX? Just curious as it seems most folks use the 108 ELDM but the posts with ELDX seem to show pretty effective damage as well and it seems appealing to me due to the slightly increased velocity. Will be building my 6CM in December so thinking about picking up some ammo soon.

 

[Hurley88]

DISCLAIMER: This is a summary of everything I’ve read on this forum and heard on the Shoot2Hunt podcast. I haven’t personally shot 50 animals with both the ELDM & ELD-X and compared the data, but it has been done and this is what I gather. If in error, feel free to lambast me. I can take it like a man crying at my keyboard at home. Here goes…

You’d have to shoot 50 animals & document the wounds to really see a difference. But if you did…you’d notice a trend with the ELD-X toward a more “elongated” wound channel than equivalent ELDMs. You’d also notice that at higher impact velocities they tend to be a bit better at maintaining a football-shaped wound channel rather than a basketball-shaped one (hope that makes sense).
So if your 6CM will have a full length barrel & full 6CM velocities many would tend toward the ELD-X anyway.

 

[Fever Buck]

DISCLAIMER: This is a summary of everything I’ve read on this forum and heard on the Shoot2Hunt podcast. I haven’t personally shot 50 animals with both the ELDM & ELD-X and compared the data, but it has been done and this is what I gather. If in error, feel free to lambast me. I can take it like a man crying at my keyboard at home. Here goes…

You’d have to shoot 50 animals & document the wounds to really see a difference. But if you did…you’d notice a trend with the ELD-X toward a more “elongated” wound channel than equivalent ELDMs. You’d also notice that at higher impact velocities they tend to be a bit better at maintaining a football-shaped wound channel rather than a basketball-shaped one (hope that makes sense).
So if your 6CM will have a full length barrel & full 6CM velocities many would tend toward the ELD-X anyway.

Gotcha. So if going for a shorter barrel (18”) then the ELDM may perform better at slower velocities? Is there a specific velocity number you need to stay above for the ELDX?

 

[Hurley88]

Gotcha. So if going for a shorter barrel (18”) then the ELDM may perform better at slower velocities? Is there a specific velocity number you need to stay above for the ELDX?

1800-1850fps for either the ELDM or ELD-X.

And again, the difference is really splitting hairs. Personally (bc I have both on hand) I would just look up book max for both bullets using whatever powder I have on hand or have researched, then go shoot 5 shots in half grain increments working up to that. Velocity tells way more about pressure than other signs, though all signs are useful. Then arbitrarily pick a velocity from one of the shots and load 20 with each bullet. I’d shoot five. Then five more, and on until I have a 20 shot group. If one bullet gives 2.3 MOA and the other 1.4 MOA, then my bullet selection has been made for me. If they’re the same, I’d probably lean ELD-X.

But overall, there isn’t a definitive “this one is better” bc their wound channels are more alike than different.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Gotcha. So if going for a shorter barrel (18”) then the ELDM may perform better at slower velocities? Is there a specific velocity number you need to stay above for the ELDX?

1800 generally but some people use 2000. I have seen posts with lower than 1800 impact velocities and still acceptable performance but I believe 1800 is where you want to be.

 

[Fever Buck]

1800 generally but some people use 2000. I have seen posts with lower than 1800 impact velocities and still acceptable performance but I believe 1800 is where you want to be.

Thank you

 

[sveltri]

What's your barrel length? Load data?

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22” Peterson brass H1000 50 grains coal 2.998. I did just tweak things a bit to get the bullet of the lands .020 and tried h4831 48.2 got another 50 fps and way better ES/SD 3154 ave 9 sd

 

[ljalberta]

I’m not sure if it’s old news, but the 95 TMKs had all but disappeared for awhile it seemed. But they’re back in stock with Sierra for those who like the bullet.

 

[The Guide]

I’m not sure if it’s old news, but the 95 TMKs had all but disappeared for awhile it seemed. But they’re back in stock with Sierra for those who like the bullet.

I can't find the in my usual spots nor on an AmmoSeek search. Where did you see them?

Jay

 

[ljalberta]

I can't find the in my usual spots nor on an AmmoSeek search. Where did you see them?

Jay

.243 Cal 95 Gr. TMK - Sierra Bullets

Sierra has enhanced a segment of the MatchKing line by adding the acetal resin tip, thus crowning the Tipped MatchKing (TMK) bullet line. The major advantage of adding a tip to the bullet is the reduction of drag, producing a more favorable ballistic coefficient. Another benefit is reliable...

www.sierrabullets.com

 

[The Guide]

.243 Cal 95 Gr. TMK - Sierra Bullets

Sierra has enhanced a segment of the MatchKing line by adding the acetal resin tip, thus crowning the Tipped MatchKing (TMK) bullet line. The major advantage of adding a tip to the bullet is the reduction of drag, producing a more favorable ballistic coefficient. Another benefit is reliable...

www.sierrabullets.com

Nice! I'll have to get some to use in the 6 ARC and in the 243W 10 twist rifles we have.

Jay

 

[Bert01]

My youngest son shot 2 this week, buck and a doe, impact velocity was around 2750 on the doe (about 85#’s) and above 2800 on the buck (150#’s). 100 grain speer spbt. Both were bang flops, both quartering away, shot behind the shoulder. The doe exited in front of the off side shoulder. The buck had the bullet under the hide in front of the off side shoulder. Cut out a mangled jacket with a small amount of lead in the base. Both deer were jelly in between the shoulders, neither shoulders were broken. Only have grip and grin pics sorry.

 

[bhylton]

Nice! I'll have to get some to use in the 6 ARC and in the 243W 10 twist rifles we have.

Jay

Website says 1:9 twist. Have you or others had luck with them in a 10 twist?

 

[The Guide]

Website says 1:9 twist. Have you or others had luck with them in a 10 twist?

I've never shot them. I can't see them not working based off from the 1000's of 100 grain 243 bullets I've shot from a 10 twist barrel though.

Jay

 

[Live_weighT34]

Second utah spike killed with my Ruger American predator 6mm creedmoor in a week (posted my young cousins spike last week in here taken with the exact same rifle/ammo) Factory Hornady Precision Match 108 ELDM 2915fps from the muzzle and shot him twice at 810yds. Impact ~1700fps slight quarter away as he was feeding. Both entries were about the size of a 50¢ coin. Little further than I would’ve liked but there was very little wind, he was calm and I had a great prone rest. If someone is on the fence about the effectiveness of 6mm/243 on game bigger than deer (me just a couple months ago) don’t worry just make sure you can shoot decent and you’ll be fine!

 

[HighUintas]

Second utah spike killed with my Ruger American predator 6mm creedmoor in a week (posted my young cousins spike last week in here taken with the exact same rifle/ammo) Factory Hornady Precision Match 108 ELDM 2915fps from the muzzle and shot him twice at 810yds. Impact ~1700fps slight quarter away as he was feeding. Both entries were about the size of a 50¢ coin. Little further than I would’ve liked but there was very little wind, he was calm and I had a great prone rest. If someone is on the fence about the effectiveness of 6mm/243 on game bigger than deer (me just a couple months ago) don’t worry just make sure you can shoot decent and you’ll be fine!

That guy is a spike and a half! Nice bull. Was that on a spike only tag?

 

[justin davis]

Second utah spike killed with my Ruger American predator 6mm creedmoor in a week (posted my young cousins spike last week in here taken with the exact same rifle/ammo) Factory Hornady Precision Match 108 ELDM 2915fps from the muzzle and shot him twice at 810yds. Impact ~1700fps slight quarter away as he was feeding. Both entries were about the size of a 50¢ coin. Little further than I would’ve liked but there was very little wind, he was calm and I had a great prone rest. If someone is on the fence about the effectiveness of 6mm/243 on game bigger than deer (me just a couple months ago) don’t worry just make sure you can shoot decent and you’ll be fine!

Wow that’s crazy long shots! Nice work

 

[BLJ]

.243 Cal 95 Gr. TMK - Sierra Bullets

Sierra has enhanced a segment of the MatchKing line by adding the acetal resin tip, thus crowning the Tipped MatchKing (TMK) bullet line. The major advantage of adding a tip to the bullet is the reduction of drag, producing a more favorable ballistic coefficient. Another benefit is reliable...

www.sierrabullets.com

Showing out of stock at that link for me.

 

[ljalberta]

Showing out of stock at that link for me.

They went fast then.