Eld-x jacket separation

[Pc5657]

Is this normal

 

[Corvus Corax]

That has been my experience. Recovered this 162gr 7mm Rem mag. From a mule deer buck shot at 286 yards. Impact velocity of 2615 fps. Lab radar chronograph confirmed 2975 fps at the muzzle. Buck was shot through the ribs catching heart and lungs. He ran about 75 yards downhill. Not a great blood trail. Bullet came to rest on opposite hide. But it’s Brought down a couple good bucks. 160gr accubonds shoot almost as well so I may make a switch.

 

[Muley Buck]

For me it has been about a 50/50. Anymore, I don't care about it. As everything I've shot and hit with it as well as the ELD-M's dies, very quickly.

 

[PathFinder]

The only measure of terminal performance that matters is wound channel creation, and the resultant effect that has on the animal. Weight retention and separation are marketing ploys. It means absolutely nothing unless the bullet is for braining dangerous game or piercing armor. Wound channel creation is the only meaningful metric.
The 140 ELD M I've been hunting with separates about half the time (usually at the end of the wound channel, after hitting heavy bone). The wounds channels they create are incredible at all velocities. They make bonded bullets look pretty bad in terms of terminal performance and speed of demise.
I'd put the 73 ELD M out of a 223 up against most bullets and calibers on deer out to 600 yards. They probably "retain" 20%-40% of their mass, but kill like lightning. The wound channels look very similar to mid size calibers with typical bullets that say "hunting" on the label.

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