TMK vs. Eld-M vs. Berger Elite Hunter terminal ballistics

[TxLite]

We’ve killed probably 25 mule deer/whitetail/blacktail deer with my 6 creed and 108 elite hunters. Every single one was dead within 60 yards max. They all expanded well and did the same thing every single time. I really cannot ask for anything better.

Still using the 108 elite hunters?

Trying to pick a bullet to share between my 6 arc and 6 creed and this one has been the one I keep coming back to.

 

[ID-Muley]

Still using the 108 elite hunters?

Trying to pick a bullet to share between my 6 arc and 6 creed and this one has been the one I keep coming back to.

Yep I see no reason to switch when they do so well!

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I just put 3 108 EHs into a small buck yesterday from 6 PRC, MZ 3140, 265/230/200 yards. One pass through, one caught on offside hide (see photo, 44 gr remaining), third did not find. Have not shot something so small as 6mm or with a Berger on game. No blood trail whatsoever. Animal didn’t make it far, but didn’t drop instantly either.

The wound channels were pretty impressive. The first quartering to shot I placed too far back (trying too hard to stay off shoulder), and it created on overwhelming mess inside. Since the animal ran, I put shots into both side of it. Hide off photo is showing offside with front shoulder removed.

 

[TxLite]

I just put 3 108 EHs into a small buck yesterday from 6 PRC, MZ 3140, 265/230/200 yards. One pass through, one caught on offside hide (see photo, 44 gr remaining), third did not find. Have not shot something so small as 6mm or with a Berger on game. No blood trail whatsoever. Animal didn’t make it far, but didn’t drop instantly either.

The wound channels were pretty impressive. The first quartering to shot I placed too far back (trying too hard to stay off shoulder), and it created on overwhelming mess inside. Since the animal ran, I put shots into both side of it. Hide off photo is showing offside with front shoulder removed.

Are you happy enough with the performance to use them again?

 

[MT_Wyatt]

Are you happy enough with the performance to use them again?

I sure think so. I don’t think I needed to shoot 3 times, but it’s so easy to follow up with that cartridge suppressed I continued till it wasn’t on its feet. I actually had very minimal meat damage, just a touch of bruising under the front offside shoulder.

I’ve always been happy with ELDX terminal performance but in this little hot rod the Berger makes sense to me.

 

[Benjy howell]

I sure think so. I don’t think I needed to shoot 3 times, but it’s so easy to follow up with that cartridge suppressed I continued till it wasn’t on its feet. I actually had very minimal meat damage, just a touch of bruising under the front offside shoulder.

I’ve always been happy with ELDX terminal performance but in this little hot rod the Berger makes sense to me.

Wonder how much difference between the 108 eldm and 108 elite hunter in terminal performance

 

[Marshfly]

I sure think so. I don’t think I needed to shoot 3 times, but it’s so easy to follow up with that cartridge suppressed I continued till it wasn’t on its feet.

This part right here is why I love the 6mm's. It's just so darn easy to keep shooting regardless of the circumstances. And more holes puts animals on the ground faster regardless of caliber. I find myself shooting animals that don't know they are dead yet much more now. LOL.

Add a suppressor and we are doubling up WAY more than I have ever seen before. Twice this year I have had to tear down two animals killed by different hunters that fell within yards of each other. 100% due to shooting suppressed.

 

[gethuntin]

Exactly where I am with them. They shoot amazing and bullet placement is a non issue but performance has been less than expected. Everything died for sure but not as instantaneously as other bullets. That said I don’t think I’d have made several of the shots I took with traditional hunting bullets. I had maybe 15 seconds to range and dial that 505 buck it happened very quickly and my dad mentioned if I had told the story he wouldn’t have believed I made that shot. I was glad he was by my side to witness the “why” as it pertains to load development with consistent velocity and scopes that you can dial. He never would have taken or made that shot and he was shocked when we hiked across the canyon (smoke break along the way for him) and the buck was dead double lunggeg and through the heart. My issue was with the lack of expansion. I had a 6mm entrance and a ~1/2” exit hole and when gutted the deer the bullet clearly hit both lungs and the heart.. just my limited experience though. I could be wrong.

I have used the 95 gr classic hunters in a 243 for my coyote rifle and have shot a couple deer with it. Small sample size as well but 3 coyotes shots from 300-450 yards. All coyotes were recovered after long death runs due to open prairie. The bullets acted like a FMJ. I feel like with this design at those ranges on that thin skinned of game it was the wrong bullet. On deer I had similar results one didn't not have terminal performance that I would like and one it worked well.

 

[TxLite]

No I just loaded them and expected to work. I typically shoot Berger because they are by far the most accurate and I feel confident in bullet placement with them. Again I’ve had great success in larger calibers but in 6mm specifically I feel like the elite hunters are lacking. They will shoot .25-.3” in my rifle which I love but the performance on game has thus far been inconsistent as compared to traditional hunting bullets.

Following up after doing some super scientific testing with ballistically calibrated milk jugs filled with water. 18” barrel, 6 creed, factory 108 eh Berger ammo. MV 2700. Groups fantastic in this rifle.

Shot a couple jugs today at 340 yards and was very unimpressed with performance. At 100 yards it was awesome. Full explosion, scientific jug pieces went everywhere.

At 340 yards results were terrible. .243 entrance and maybe a dime sized exit. Jug slightly moved, stayed upright, and drained.

The second one I did was actually 4 jugs lined up. First jug was penciled on both sides. Second jug was a pencil entrance and obvious tumbling on exit. Jugs 3 & 4 obliterated by obvious tumbling. Between jug 4 and the plywood target backing was a piece of jacket, and in the plywood was an obviously keyholed bullet hole.

I’d planned to use these for antelope this year but it’s looking like I’ll be switching to the 108 eld murders.

 

[eoperator]

I’d planned to use these for antelope this year but it’s looking like I’ll be switching to the 108 eld mumurders.

I liked the 108eh on antelope, minimal meat damage - lung soup - with an exit hole. Others have reported exits on bigger game with 108eh but that was not my experience.

For deer and elk I'm going back up to .25 for that extra few inches of penetration.

 

[Formidilosus]

I liked the 108eh on antelope, minimal meat damage - lung soup - with an exit hole. Others have reported exits on bigger game with 108eh but that was not my experience.

For deer and elk I'm going back up to .25 for that extra few inches of penetration.

Why not 115gr DTAC NR?

 

[eoperator]

Why not 115gr DTAC NR?

To be honest I have no experience with 115's but the long neck length I've seen on other sierra nose ring cut bullets doesn't get me excited, especially at short barrel 6cm and 6dasher velocities on deer.

The 134eldm looked pretty sexy in gel on a small sample size of 1.

 

[Formidilosus]

To be honest I have no experience with 115's but the long neck length I've seen on other sierra nose ring cut bullets doesn't get me excited, especially at short barrel 6cm and 6dasher velocities on deer.

The 134eldm looked pretty sexy in gel on a small sample size of 1.

Ah, yes they do have a longer NL. They aren’t my favorite for deer/antelope/etc- but they have killed well for those in my experience. They are phenomenal in elk though. In all the calibers and bullets we have used- including big magums; we have had more one shot kills, on average fewer shots before elk drop, with less travel after the first shot with 115gr NR DTAC’s than any other combo.

 

[JohnJohnson]

They are phenomenal in elk though. In all the calibers and bullets we have used- including big magums; we have had more one shot kills, on average fewer shots before elk drop, with less travel after the first shot with 115gr NR DTAC’s than any other combo.

What does the NR stand for? Would this ammo below be the NR?

6mm Creedmoor 115gr DTAC RBT – Copper Creek Cartridge Co.

coppercreekcartridgeco.com

 

[Formidilosus]

What does the NR stand for? Would this ammo below be the NR?

Nose ring.

6mm Creedmoor 115gr DTAC RBT – Copper Creek Cartridge Co.

coppercreekcartridgeco.com

No- that’s is the non nose ring version.