experience/opinions Hornady ELD-X

[mtwarden]

I'm currently not setup to handload (that might change in the future ) and am looking AT ammunition for my new 6.5 CM- doesn't seem to be a lot out there geared for hunting. The one that looks potentially promising is Hornady's 143 grain ELD-X Precision Hunter. The only other option that caught my eye was Noslers 129 grain LR Accubond-appears to be out of stock everywhere and the few places that did have put in the $60+ range with shipping- Ouch!!!

Any and all opinions welcome on the ELD-X or other option in factory available ammo for the 6.5 CM.

Thanks

 

[BULLBLASTER]

I killed a couple Whitetail's with the 143 eld x this fall and it performed great for me. This was from a 6.5-284 but would expect very similar from the cm

 

[5MilesBack]

You could try Prime Ammo with 130gr Bergers. I tried the 143gr ELD-X's from the start with my 6.5CM and it seemed to not like them at all.......2 1/2" groups at 100. However, after about 50 rounds down the pipe.......she's starting to come around. I think the barrel just needed more fouling to fall into a groove. Now it's just about one hole at 100. Next test 600 yards.

 

[mtwarden]

BB- sounds promising

I looked at the Prime Ammo- looks like a match:tactical hybrid, might work for hunting????

Barnes now has some factory ammo, but nothing in 6.5 CM, maybe this year?

 

[huntsman22]

Hornady has a 139 interlock loading, also.....

 

[mt100gr.]

I can't speak to the long range terminal performance but I can say that at near muzzle velocity they perform really well from my creedmoor. I filled a "grocery trip" doe tag at about 200 inches and the entrance was a .264 sized hole, bashed a rib and cored out about a 2 inch exit. I was impressed by this as there has to be a certain degree of softness to the bullet for it to perform at longer ranges. It didn't appear to have blown apart at higher velocity at all. I hope to test the long range performance any day now on some big MT dogs.

 

[mtwarden]

I got a box of their 129 grain Interlocks with the rifle, will definitely try them out

^ 200" is pretty close

 

[Wyatt G]

this is a 200 grain eld-x from a 300 win mag at about 200 yards on a kansas whitetail. the entrance would is about 6 inches across, bullet was just under the skin at the base of the neck. was shot behind the shoulder, but the bullet didn't stay together very well. they're really accurate but they'll be reserved for steel and coyotes for me.

 

[Bourney]

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(seeing as i've invaded this forum from australia thought I might contribute) 180 yards, ELD-X 143gr 6.5 out of a 260rem on an Australian Fallow, before people question him being in velvet, his feet where massively overgrown and he was having trouble moving around so we took him for meat. Shot through the neck from above the bullet entered top of the throat travelled seemingly along the spine then excited 3/4 down the neck as can be seen in pic 2. Sorry don't have a skin off photo but the damage to the spine and neck muscles where extreme with bruising almost to the shoulder, no recovered bullet. We have been very impressed by these bullets so far.

Yet to stretch them at distance. We will be switching away from the Amax which has been our go to bullet for sometime in the 260. I can't reccomend the 143 ELD/x's enough. In the CM I would think it would be just an awesome deer round.

 

[Boreal]

Used the 143 ELD-X from my 6.5 Creedmoor (Kimber Montana) to take 5 deer between two of us on Kodiak Island last week. All but one were pass through, collected small pieces of lead from the other. Pass through were mostly shoulder/double lung shots at 100-150 yards. The one where the bullet fragmented was short range, around 50 yards.
On paper, the ELD-X don't do as well as my hand loads (130 gr Accubond), nor as well as the Hornady American WhiteTail with 129 gr interlock. For factory ammo, the American WhiteTail did very well, less than 1" groups at 100 yards, and the interlock has proved itself for a while.

 

[mtwarden]

thanks- I have a box of 129 Interlocks that came with rifle, I'll be sure to give it a try

I got a response back from Barnes and they said they are considering adding 6.5 CM to their ammo lineup

there are a couple of outfits that are selling "custom" handloaded rounds, little pricey at ~ $60/box

 

[wind gypsy]

I would give the 140 ELD Match ammo a look too. The 140s have shot great for me in a 6.5x47 and 6.5 SAUM and I've struggled with the 143s in the SAUM. The match bullets are basically the evolution of AMAX bullets which have been used successfully hunting for a while.

The ELD-x hunting bullets actually have a hollow void behind the tip to increase expansion at low speeds and the match bullets don't. I don't see the void as a good thing as they should open just fine without a void because of the tips. If you look at pictures of the ELD-x cut open, the interlock ring is basically non-existent so I wouldn't expect it to make a huge difference holding things together. There have been mixed reports online with quite a few reports of the ELD-x not holding together great at short range.

I am curious about jacket thickness differences between the two.

I know little about the prime bullets but plenty of people do fine with open tip match bullets hunting.

D.O.P.E. - Kyle Lamb Prime Dall Sheep | PRIME Ammunition | primeammo.com

 

[wind gypsy]

For a little more oomph yet, give these a try!

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Rifle :: Choose by Caliber :: 6.5 Creedmoor :: 6.5 Creedmoor 147 gr ELD® Match™

They are basically the 143's but with a match jacket and no lead void in the tip so they weigh more based on having more lead and less copper jacket. I bet they work great as a hunting bullet at 6.5 Creed velocities.

 

[mtwarden]

thanks- I would have never given a match bullet a thought, but you make some valid points; they should be pretty accurate

 

[16Bore]

Probably not much of a need to handload for Creed unless you're just bored. Seems Hornady covered it pretty well outta the gate. Think long and hard about handloading because it's a money and time sucking sesspool of shit. You'll get nickeled and dimed to death and if you like being in and out of rigs, it becomes a damn chore.

 

[mtwarden]

I handloaded a lot 20 years or so ago (no longer have any of the tools left) so it would definitely be an investment getting going again. I do think "factory ammo" has come along ways since I was handloadiing.

 

[Mxracer532]

That statement about reloading nickel and dimeing you and not being worth it now days is complete BS

I'm sorry but this statement makes me think you just don't know how. The fact of the matter is factory ammo isn't nearly as accurate as a handloads. Handloads can be loaded to be the most accurate load in YOUR rifle. Seating depths adjusted TO what YOUR gun likes. The powder charge YOUR gun likes. I'd bet not a single 1000 yard match shooter just goes and buys factory ammo and heads to the shoot.
As far as the ELD-X in your Creedmoor, I'd bet they work great! A good friend of mine and a buddy of his went to Africa this yr and shot mountain zebra and a bunch of other animal all with 6.5 Creedmoors and 143gn ELD-X bullets

 

[mtswampfox]

I handloaded a lot 20 years or so ago (no longer have any of the tools left) so it would definitely be an investment getting going again. I do think "factory ammo" has come along ways since I was handloadiing.

Started reloading back in the late 1950's helping dad crank out shotshells for his weekly shoots. It was an obsession of his , shooting and reloading, which rubbed off on me. Been at it ever since. You are right about factory stuff getting better. Think a big part of it is simply the wider choice of quality bullets they are using. Used to be if you wanted a decent load you had to buy the componets and put them together. Now you can buy specific bullets with specific velocity making for a much better load.

 

[16Bore]

How many 1,000 yard match shooters are lugging their rigs to hunt? How many of your friends African Safari animals were shot at 1,000 yards?

I've been down the reloading rabbit hole, trust me. It ain't rocket science and neither is shooting. But few will kick their own dog.

Factory rigging and factory ammo capable of MOA isn't hard to come by. Nobody shoots shit at 1,000 yards for any other reason than its at 1,000 and they've dumped a pile of time and money into a pile of shit and need a reason to justify it. And if Joe Thousandyards pops him a big'un, he still has to carry his fat ass over to get it.

It's not that complicated.

 

[C Bow]

Very well said 16Bore There are paper shooters and hair shooters in my lifetime I have met very few shooters that can shoot as good as their rifle will