Hornady Eld-m's...what is the minimum terminal velocity threshold?

[peaceful_ruler]

I know the ELD-M wasn't designed to be a hunting bullet but for those of you who have experience taking game specifically with the .284 180's what has been your experience on the low velocity threshold for these to reliably expand on big game?

 

[jonnyviceroy]

1800 fps is the commonly referred to threshold I hear and see people post. I’ve personally used the 147 eldm with great results down to 1925 fps on an elk.

 

[WoolyBugger]

I’ve always heard the same 1800 fps figure. Haven't gone under 2000 fps but have had the 6.5 140gr down to 2100 with zero problems with penetration depth or wound channel.

 

[packgoatguy]

I haven't used a .284 cal in long while, but I use the 80eldx, 108eldm, 109eldm, 140eldm, and 147eldm regularly. My personal rule is a minimum of 2000fps... no real reason why... it just makes me feel better than an 1800fps minimum. I build my rifles and loads with this minimum velocity in mind. Longest shot to date was my son's bull this fall... 640 yards with my 18" 6.5prc, 140eld, 2875fps MV and 2158fps at impact. Broke front shoulder and the bull dropped and slid DRT.

 

[ID-Muley]

I haven't used a .284 cal in long while, but I use the 80eldx, 108eldm, 109eldm, 140eldm, and 147eldm regularly. My personal rule is a minimum of 2000fps... no real reason why... it just makes me feel better than an 1800fps minimum. I build my rifles and loads with this minimum velocity in mind. Longest shot to date was my son's bull this fall... 640 yards with my 18" 6.5prc, 140eld, 2875fps MV and 2158fps at impact. Broke front shoulder and the bull dropped and slid DRT.

What powder? In a short action?

 

[packgoatguy]

What powder? In a short action?

N565, tikka action, bartlein barrel

 

[il_cop]

We always talk about minimums...is there a maximum?

 

[CHGray]

We always talk about minimums...is there a maximum?

I’ve wondered this myself. Two members of our club have 6.5 PRCs. At typical ranges for whitetail in south central AL they’ve had several rounds pencil thru. They don’t seem like they open, do little damage, and result in poor blood trails and tough tracking. Not the DRT I often read about on here.

 

[River Reaper]

The .284 180 ELDM likely hits 1800fps at over 1000 yards out of most cartridges it was designed for. Going to be hard pressed to find someone who has taken them below 2000fps, let alone 1800fps.

For hunting distances, expansion threshold is a non-issue for that bullet out of most cartridges.

 

[House21]

We always talk about minimums...is there a maximum

I shot a whitetail last fall with the 180 at about 20 yards, rushed shot as he stepped out in front of me walking down a trail. Estimated impact at around 2960 and it smashed the front shoulder, destroyed the lungs and exited back of the ribs. Was pretty impressed with it being that close and still exiting.

 

[River Reaper]

You can PM me if you have any questions or want terminal photos. I killed 5 animals with the .284 180 ELD-M this year.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I’ve wondered this myself. Two members of our club have 6.5 PRCs. At typical ranges for whitetail in south central AL they’ve had several rounds pencil thru. They don’t seem like they open, do little damage, and result in poor blood trails and tough tracking. Not the DRT I often read about on here.

And confirmed vital hits? No bone?

 

[LongWayAround]

And confirmed vital hits? No bone?

My one close range hit (40yd ish) with an eld-m on the shoulder was massively destructive. It was pretty much a total loss of the front half.

I don't buy that an ELD-M bullet from a PRC "penciled" through, but I also wasn't there.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I don't buy that an ELD-M bullet from a PRC "penciled" through, but I also wasn't there.

If you start at post #2977 there is some talk about how ELDMs can pencil at times.

Post in thread 'The Shoot2hunt Podcast'

Dec 6, 2025

So did I miss something? I’ve always heard that eldms operating fps is 1800 fps +? On the most recent podcast @Ryan Avery talks about having bullets “pencil through” at 1950 fps with the 180s in a 7mm prc?!

• Pistolpete28

 

[LongWayAround]

If you start at post #2977 there is some talk about how ELDMs can pencil at times.

Post in thread 'The Shoot2hunt Podcast'

Dec 6, 2025

So did I miss something? I’ve always heard that eldms operating fps is 1800 fps +? On the most recent podcast @Ryan Avery talks about having bullets “pencil through” at 1950 fps with the 180s in a 7mm prc?!

• Pistolpete28

Fair enough. I figured PRC speed at what I imagine is fairly close (Louisiana whitetail) would provide reliable expansion. I have only recovered a handful of them, but haven't seen anything to that end.

 

[BigMiss]

My one close range hit (40yd ish) with an eld-m on the shoulder was massively destructive. It was pretty much a total loss of the front half.

I don't buy that an ELD-M bullet from a PRC "penciled" through, but I also wasn't there.

X2. I shot 2 deer with 147's from a PRC this year, MV of 2850. WT buck at about 25 yards (~2815 impact,) slightly quartered to, and hit the point of the shoulder where the shoulder blade meets the humerus. Completely lost that shoulder and the offside lung had 0 damage whatsoever. That would mean I got maybe 4-6" of penetration if I had to guess.

MD buck at 215 yards (~2525fps impact,) hit the top of the shoulder blade and spine. Bullet fragmented violently as far as I could tell, no exit. Some fragments on the offside backstrap, but no exit hole in the hide.

 

[peaceful_ruler]

The .284 180 ELDM likely hits 1800fps at over 1000 yards out of most cartridges it was designed for. Going to be hard pressed to find someone who has taken them below 2000fps, let alone 1800fps.

For hunting distances, expansion threshold is a non-issue for that bullet out of most cartridges.

From a 6.5 CM the 147 eldm is around 2000 fps by approximately 500 yards; depending on muzzle velocity

What’s attractive about the 147 eldm in the 6.5 CM is that it has a relatively low muzzle velocity(2650 fps approximately) that hopefully mitigates terminal disintegration at closer distances.

It also has that high BC for bucking wind and efficiently transferring energy down range. Also, a high sectional density can’t hurt

 

[Jordan Smith]

I shot a whitetail last fall with the 180 at about 20 yards, rushed shot as he stepped out in front of me walking down a trail. Estimated impact at around 2960 and it smashed the front shoulder, destroyed the lungs and exited back of the ribs. Was pretty impressed with it being that close and still exiting.

I watched a 180 ELD-M launched at ~2950 fps driven into a bullet moose on a nearly perfectly frontal shot at ~30 yards. The bullet entered the brisket, left a moderate wound channel, and exited behind the last rib for greater than 4' of penetration. I was extremely impressed.

 

[Jordan Smith]

From a 6.5 CM the 147 eldm is around 2000 fps by approximately 500 yards; depending on muzzle velocity

What’s attractive about the 147 eldm in the 6.5 CM is that it has a relatively low muzzle velocity(2650 fps approximately) that hopefully mitigates terminal disintegration at closer distances.

It also has that high BC for bucking wind and efficiently transferring energy down range. Also, a high sectional density can’t hurt

Agreed. My hunting partners and I have killed a bunch of BG critters up to bull elk in size with the 147 ELD-M from the 6.5 CM. There are a few exceptions where very heavy bone was hit, but we typically see moderate wound channels and ~1.5" exits, even on angling shots involving bone.