ELDM vs TMK (like for like weight) terminal performance?

[Brandon_SPC]

For the individuals that have a lot of experience with the ELDMs and TMKs, assuming you are comparing like for like weights, like the 6.5mm 130 ELDM vs 130 TMK, etc what has been your experience on the following:
- Penetration
- Bullet neck before expansion
- Terminal performance between the two
- Shoulder/scapula impacts

I've read the TMK jackets are "thicker" with a bigger hollow cavity where the ELDMs are thinner jacket with a smaller hollow cavity. I only have experience with the 123 ELDMs and 108 ELDMs and I'm mainly asking to gauge my expectations if I get a chance to try some 6mm 107 TMKs on pigs this summer.

 

[Kjc103]

I think you’re probably going to have to piece this one together from YouTube videos. I think someone should do one for sure because I too would like to know.

Hopefully someone will chime in that has actualky used both.

For what it’s worth, the 168 TMK was full pass through, broadside and angled, on a whitetail buck for me this year. I don’t know for sure but I suspect the TMK is probably the better bullet for hunting.

 

[MT762]

I haven't used the identical weights in identical calibers (no reason to) but I've killed stuff with 195 TMKs in 30 cal and 77gr TMKs in 223. And used ELDMs in a lot of different weights and calibers. As far as I can tell, they behave more or less identically. Presuming you are running them slow and heavy for caliber, I think you'd have to have a pretty big sample size to tell the difference.

But happy if someone has a different opinion.

 

[Thegman]

For the individuals that have a lot of experience with the ELDMs and TMKs...

Well, I don't exactly fit this description, but from what I've seen so far for 22 caliber 73+ grain bullets, it's something like this:

Terminal Performance/Carnage​

<------ Less More ----->

ELD-M
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

TMK
...............................................xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hopefully this formats correctly... well, it didn't but suffice to say TMK has been about equal or more than ELD-M in general

​

 

[acochran]

More or less the same.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

Thanks guys. I was curious more than anything. Next hunting season, I'll work on getting terminal performance pictures from the 6mm ARC and compare them to the 11 deer I shot with the 108 eldms this year. The lease I am part of just clear cutted some areas so I should be able to get data from 2500 fps down to about 1800-1900 fps.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

Well, I don't exactly fit this description, but from what I've seen so far for 22 caliber 73+ grain bullets, it's something like this:

Terminal Performance/Carnage​

<------ Less More ----->

ELD-M
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

TMK
...............................................xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hopefully this formats correctly... well, it didn't but suffice to say TMK has been about equal or more than ELD-M in general

​

Freaking perfect depiction lol

 

[SloppyJ]

I like the TMK wound channels better for what I do. I dont like to track deer. I havent done apples to apples comparisons across similar weighted bullets. My TMK experience is with 77s and 130s. The 108 eldms worked okay but I prefer the Berger 108 eh for 6mm. The new TMK line in 223 and 6mm looks extremely promising.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

I like the TMK wound channels better for what I do. I dont like to track deer. I havent done apples to apples comparisons across similar weighted bullets. My TMK experience is with 77s and 130s. The 108 eldms worked okay but I prefer the Berger 108 eh for 6mm. The new TMK line in 223 and 6mm looks extremely promising.

What's your experience with the bergers? I want to try them in the 6mm ARC but I see mixed reviews in testing when they get below that 2000 fps threshold.

This is one of those videos to provide context.

 

[ChrisAU]

I thought 80 ELD-Ms in my 22CM were devastating on deer the season (24/25) I shot them. Killed 15ish deer very effectively.

This past season with 77 TMKs was astounding. Its ability to penetrate and then explode while not affecting the inbound or outbound shoulders too much was impressive. 15ish deer again.

Both were great, but the TMK tended to damage less meat on the way in and damage less meat on the opposite side while turning more innards to soup. Both front shoulders on this 210+lb whitetail buck were fine for instance, even though I clipped the inbound side.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

I thought 80 ELD-Ms in my 22CM were devastating on deer the season (24/25) I shot them. Killed 15ish deer very effectively.

This past season with 77 TMKs was astounding. Its ability to penetrate and then explode while not affecting the inbound or outbound shoulders too much was impressive. 15ish deer again.

Both were great, but the TMK tended to damage less meat on the way in and damage less meat on the opposite side while turning more innards to soup. Both front shoulders on this 210+lb whitetail buck were fine for instance, even though I clipped the inbound side.

View attachment 1016618

I like hearing that with the TMKs. My experience with the 108 ELDMs was kind of the same as yours but of course in this 6mm ARC, the impact velocities are alot slower. So I had 100% pass through on broadside shots, which I'm not complaining at all because I don't think lungs could have been anymore demolished. Even in the 2000-2100 fps range, the amount of damage was amazing but I am definitely interested to see how to 107s do.

 

[SloppyJ]

I've used the 77 and 130tmks on whitetail. I have more experience with the 77s but I prefer the terminal performance of the TMKs over the ELDM. I've only used the 108 ELDM on game. Take that with a grain of salt because I don't like to track deer but I figure you're in the same boat if you looking at using either of these. Important to note that these are high velocity impacts.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

I've used the 77 and 130tmks on whitetail. I have more experience with the 77s but I prefer the terminal performance of the TMKs over the ELDM. I've only used the 108 ELDM on game. Take that with a grain of salt because I don't like to track deer but I figure you're in the same boat if you looking at using either of these. Important to note that these are high velocity impacts.

You are correct. I hate tracking deer. It's easier to find a deer body laying on the ground vs trying to find specs of blood. Especially shooting deer in grown clear-cuts, pine plantations, etc.