Bullet conundrum; elite hunter, eld-x, ABLR

[amassi]

Normally my rifles give me a hand picking a bullet through sd, es, or accuracy. This go round, no such luck. All 3 shoot exceptionally well and are providing consistency in es/sd that is more than acceptable for my hunting needs, let's say they're providing better accuracy than I'm capable of wringing out of them.

Intended game- elk, deer, black bears
Cartridge 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum
The competitors:
142 Ablr- 3385 avg vel. G7 .315
143 eld-x @3350 g7 .315
140 Berg elite hunter @3380 g7.310

For what it's worth I've used all 3 on big game with satisfying results- quick humane kills, bang flop drtnap

So, which would you pick and why

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[HellsCanyon]

Normally my rifles give me a hand picking a bullet through sd, es, or accuracy. This go round, no such luck. All 3 shoot exceptionally well and are providing consistency in es/sd that is more than acceptable for my hunting needs, let's say they're providing better accuracy than I'm capable of wringing out of them.

Intended game- elk, deer, black bears
Cartridge 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum
The competitors:
142 Ablr- 3385 avg vel. G7 .315
143 eld-x @3350 g7 .315
140 Berg elite hunter @3380 g7.310

For what it's worth I've used all 3 on big game with satisfying results- quick humane kills, bang flop drtnap

So, which would you pick and why

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At that point, I’d buy whatever is readily available and priced right. No worse problem to have then doing load development with components that frequently become scarce. If it was me personally, I’d run the eldx or the berger just because it’s what I know and have had good success with


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[amassi]

I shoot the bergers in 2 other rifles and have enough to last many barrels.
A nice side effect of the 6.5 craze is component support. Honestly I didn't think they'd shoot in the bee it's a factory chamber and long way off the lands. They were finicky in my 260ai and 6.5-257.

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[JP100]

ELDs or the Accubonds

I just dont like Berger haha

Hornadys are probably the cheapest and easiest to get??(they here anyways)

 

[Broz]

If you look at recorded data, the 140 VLD has been a proven performer and that bullet works well for me as well.

I bet if you shoot some long range groups, at the end of your max hunting distance, the Berger may just be the tighter grouping bullet.

Jeff

 

[PowellSixO]

There have been multiple tests on the Accubond LR's, and their listed BC's are exaggerated. So for me they were a no go. I use to shoot bergers, but feel I have upgraded by switching to the ELDX's. They have a similar design, but the ELDX has a retaining belt midway through the bullet to retain more weight as it fragments inside of an animal. I've killed everything I've ever shot with a berger, but I hate not having an exit hole on game. In the case that I have an animal run off after a shot, I'd really like to have some blood to follow if possible.

Edit: I'll also add that, I've seen just as good of accuracy from the ELDX's (if not better), as I've experienced with the Bergers.

 

[Kotaman]

I've used all three of these on big game. My preference: ELD X They'll all do the job, go with what YOU prefer.

 

[wind gypsy]

The barrel is still going strong after developing loads for 3 bullets?

I'd go with the ELDx at those velocities. Honestly I'd probably switch to a solid or accubond for elk.

 

[amassi]

The barrel is still going strong after developing loads for 3 bullets?

I'd go with the ELDx at those velocities. Honestly I'd probably switch to a solid or accubond for elk.

Haha- this is my 2nd 6.5-300 so I had some starting ground. I was hoping the ablr would be tough like its forefather but that hasn't been mu experience so far. Lots of variables

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[amassi]

There have been multiple tests on the Accubond LR's, and their listed BC's are exaggerated. So for me they were a no go. I use to shoot bergers, but feel I have upgraded by switching to the ELDX's. They have a similar design, but the ELDX has a retaining belt midway through the bullet to retain more weight as it fragments inside of an animal. I've killed everything I've ever shot with a berger, but I hate not having an exit hole on game. In the case that I have an animal run off after a shot, I'd really like to have some blood to follow if possible.

Edit: I'll also add that, I've seen just as good of accuracy from the ELDX's (if not better), as I've experienced with the Bergers.

I verify bc, not terribly concerned with advertised bc. Also, it appears nosler bought into hornady ues of dopler. Their ablr nos have dopler bc closer to what I've seen in the field.

Isn't the eld-x cup and core?
I've recover ablr, 68% weight retention on a bad angle and close. A similar shot with the eld-x and we only recovered the base and jacket no lead whatsoever
Both animals, 1 deer 1 pig died in their hoofprints so acceptable I suppose.

I prefer plastic tips over bergers, they always seem to get buggered up banging around in a magazine. 8m sure it doesn't hurt accuracy much
The eld-x is the easiest to load for sure. Not sensitive to depth or velocity so far.
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[mtmuley]

I'd load the "regular" Accubond. mtmuley

 

[amassi]

I'd load the "regular" Accubond. mtmuley

That's a boring old accubond in my profile pic 140gr out of a 270wby. I guess I just wanted to jump on the new train and take advantage of some higher bcs. All 3 buck the wind well

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[mtmuley]

High BC isn't the only factor when killing stuff. mtmuley

 

[PowellSixO]

I verify bc, not terribly concerned with advertised bc. Also, it appears nosler bought into hornady ues of dopler. Their ablr nos have dopler bc closer to what I've seen in the field.

Isn't the eld-x cup and core?
I've recover ablr, 68% weight retention on a bad angle and close. A similar shot with the eld-x and we only recovered the base and jacket no lead whatsoever
Both animals, 1 deer 1 pig died in their hoofprints so acceptable I suppose.

I prefer plastic tips over bergers, they always seem to get buggered up banging around in a magazine. 8m sure it doesn't hurt accuracy much
The eld-x is the easiest to load for sure. Not sensitive to depth or velocity so far.
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Verifying your BC is the best way to do it. No ballistics calculator is going to be perfect. I verify all of my drops out to my max distance. I just don't like that they lied about their BC's to stay competitive in sales with Hornady and Berger. Just a personal issue of mine I guess.

The ELDX will not hold together like an Accubond, no doubt about it. But if you look at a cross cut of the bullet, there is a copper band that was placed in a strategic spot to help with weight retention on the ELDX. The Berger has no band like this that I'm aware of. So in theory, it should (in most instances) hold together better than the Berger. I may be wrong on this, but in theory is sounds good.

I agree 100% with the plastic tips too. I believe this is why they have a slightly better BC over the Berger on most of their bullets. And yes they are super easy to load for. I've had success from .010-.060" off the lands, with no real winner in accuracy (none better or worse than the other).


Picture of the ELDX with the interior copper band


View attachment 74425

 

[2five7]

Can't go wrong with a 140 VLD in any 6.5, proven killer over many years of field testing. I love them in my 264 WM.

 

[AKironhead]

All three kill animals. If they all shoot the equally well I would prioritize them by availability followed by price. The end.

 

[amassi]

All three kill animals. If they all shoot the equally well I would prioritize them by availability followed by price. The end.

Looks like, locally anyway the eld-x is king of availability.
The sportsmans bu my house had 20 boxes so I grabbed 10.
That will get me through this barrel haha


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[cjl2010]

With elk on the menu, have you thought about the 160 from matrix?

 

[amassi]

Hadn't seen the matrix bullets. Very interesting they offer a bonded version.
Have you used them? How do they perform, internal pop a la Berger or do you get a pass thru/exit wound?

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[cjl2010]

I have not used them myself, but with my 6.5ss build about to start I will definitely grab a box. Lots of guys with experience over on LRH have used them successfully for years. From what I’ve read similar results to bergers but maybe a bit tougher?