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

[ATL]

yeah I own one of those too, wasn’t this thread about .284 180’s? I’m confused why people keep talking about 6.5 creed and 6.5 PRCs and 147s

The title of the thread:

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

The body of the inquiry specifies .284/180, but based off the title all ELD-M terminal info is fair game, I would think.

My contribution: The farthest I have shot an animal with the .264/147 ELD-M was 460 yards with a 6.5CM. Impact velocity was approximately 2250fps with excellent results - lots of damage internally, bullet exited, animal drt. I would expect good results down to at least 2000-2100fps based off this one example personally.

 

[River Reaper]

I guess I would just point the guy to doing a search for eld-m in the 223 thread, 6mm thread, 6.5 thread, and the magnum thread. The ELD-M is discussed pretty extensively on this site, including a thread specifically for .284 I believe.

 

[River Reaper]

Here is an entrance hole of a .284 180ELD-M at 2400fps, quartered away, right in the crease, the heart completely shredded, fragments found under the hide on the opposite side:

 

[skipper907]

Ryan Avery talked about this on one of the S2H podcast and I believe he was shoot a 7mm one a deer and had eldms not expand
I think he and forum think the minimum is 2k.
This is one downside I see with the eldm they are not test for a minimum expansion velocity like the ELDX is. I understand the eldx minimum is not perfect but they are tested for that minimum velocity

 

[Jordan Smith]

Ryan Avery talked about this on one of the S2H podcast and I believe he was shoot a 7mm one a deer and had eldms not expand
I think he and forum think the minimum is 2k.
This is one downside I see with the eldm they are not test for a minimum expansion velocity like the ELDX is. I understand the eldx minimum is not perfect but they are tested for that minimum velocity

A sample of one or two failures to perform is not alarming. That happens even with the best bullets on rare occasion.

I am speculating here, because I don't have a large sample size at minimum expansion velocity with every model of ELD-M, but I would expect that the minimum impact velocity for reliable expansion likely varies with the specific model.

I have seen good expansion on game from the 147 down below 2000 fps a few times, but it's a small sample size and I haven't tested the bullet much lower.

 

[bigunit]

A sample of one or two failures to perform is not alarming. That happens even with the best bullets on rare occasion.

I am speculating here, because I don't have a large sample size at minimum expansion velocity with every model of ELD-M, but I would expect that the minimum impact velocity for reliable expansion likely varies with the specific model.

I have seen good expansion on game from the 147 down below 2000 fps a few times, but it's a small sample size and I haven't tested the bullet much lower.

It sounded like he shot it 5 or so times with none of the bullets expanding at all.

 

[DroptineNW]

Honestly though most bullets can fail just it matters on what percentage that is. Basically could make a chart of what percentage each bullet fails at xxxyardage or distance. So a 180 Eldm doesn’t expand and stays in contact at a 47.36% odds at 1850 fps. Then multiply that by the caliber. If this was a test that could be done that would be sweet. Would be solid to see how it compares or graphs with other size bullets and speeds. This would be my idea that could be achievable if a guy used ballistic gell covered by cow hide. To get a rough idea and thousands of dollars in testing. Just a thought

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I've shot 4-5 whitetails from 30-90 yards with 6.5PRC eld-m, all had great performance. I shot a pronghorn with a 6 creed eld-m that would have been 1970 fps, similar results to what I've had with all other animals at all ranges in between, positive.

 

[Boliver]

I shot a bear last year with my 7 saum and 180 ELDMS at 1080 yards, impact velocity was 1790 FPS. Bullet entered 2/3 up the body and center of body left to right, quarter size entrance hole and no exit. Chest cavity was liquified and dropped in its tracks.

 

[Stache Attack]

Personally I always look for 2000 on my charts

 

[glock233]

I now use 1800fps for ELDMs and 1600fps for ELDXs of all types.

Why? It’s 100% me guessing. I’ve watched these threads and comments carefully. While they are very soft and have a thin jacket, ELDMs of certain types have a failure profile where the tip breaks off or they have a narrow-lead jammed face. So I try to keep that velocity up a bit.

For ELDX, Hornady publishes 1600 as the engineered floor. And I’ve had good experiences at and slightly under 1700 fps with them.

The lowest velocity this year: a hunting partner hit a bull elk with a 143 ELDX and an impact velocity of 1660. It was a bang-flop. While any bullet would have worked with the placement here, the ELDX had a caliber-sized entry and a softball+ sized area of the exit side that was severely upset by fragments and pieces.

But the issue with picking a velocity is the reliability of expansion. Even at 1400 some are going to expand. By many won’t. So ultimately you’re picking a floor you think is reliable.

 

[blue_ridge]

So many variables you can’t expect any bullet to work every time - which animal, impact location, impact fps can range from 1500 fps to 3500fps! What was the angle? Was the animal moving? Did it hit bone?
How many hunters will admit they had poor shot placement vs blaming the bullet? Too many variables…

I’ve heard hundreds of post mortem reports from hunters and I definitely feel there’s a higher success rate with Berger, ELD’s and TMK’s than bonded or solid copper bullets.

I’m surprised The ELDX has a lower terminal velocity but a thicker jacket than the ELDM. Would think it was the opposite.

 

[Ucsdryder]

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.

I’ve killed with 180eldms below 1800fps.

 

[Pistolpete28]

From what I understand, the eldms work for the most part at 1800 fps or greater. If remember correctly, form stated the 2 Eldms that he has seen not work correctly is specifically the 147eldm and the 180 Eldm. He said it wasn’t common, but it does happen at slower speeds. Ive also seen people on rokslide taking down bull elk with good results, below 1800 fps with the 140 Eldm specifically.

 

[River Reaper]

I’ve killed with 180eldms below 1800fps.

Nice