Hornady ELD-X Bullet for deer?
- Thread starter Doug
- Start date
Thanks for this. As I remarked earlier, my surgeon said shooting off my opposite shoulder was a bad idea because I would be extending the repaired arm.
I am going to try the reduced load in the 6.5 x 55.
Doug
I see, perhaps is the rifle you will be using is a wooden or synthetic stock? Will you able to add some weight to it to counter the recoil or even a mercury recoil reducer?
The reduced load will have very little recoil, no need to modify the rifle or buy a new one.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Last year I shot two deer with 162gr ELD-X bullets out of a 28 Nosler. The whitetail weighed 262lbs on the hoof...maybe a hair more because he did bleed some but we weighed him with the guts in. I hit him three times behind the shoulder at 330 yards and recovered one bullet which I have not weighed. The mulie was a little bigger, and I shot him once with the same combination at around 300 yards. He piled up, very dead, and I did not recover the bullet.
Based on what I saw, I would not hesitate to use the bullets again. The would have impacted right around 2600-2700 fps which is still singing right along. The damage done was significant and only one bullet of four was recovered. I would describe them as a bullet tougher than a Ballistic Tip, but without the bonding of a Scirocco (which might be the only thing that would make them a better bullet).
Now, if you can start those slippery little bastards out around 2950fps then they should be impacting right around 2700 to 2500 at 100 to 200 yards. At that speed I imagine that they will hold together just fine. Sure, they haven't got a lot of arse behind them, but that kind of impact velocity is very similar to my experience with the 28 Nosler so, all things being equal, I would think that you're safe using them for whitetails.
Doug, I hear you the absolute recoil your shoulder will experience from firing the rifle. I know that I shot my larger calibers/cartridges less when my shoulder was bad...even sold my 338 Win Mag and built my 338-06.
I experienced the same thing with my shoulder with archery too.
Funny thing is the compound bows bothered my shoulder more than the traditional bows.
It came down to the fact that while they do peak in the draw cycle at 70 lbs(or whatever pundage the bow is set for), and you are only holding 14 lbs at full draw (with 80% let off), the shock that goes through your bones from the hand to the shoulder during the shot cycle upon release, aggravated my shoulder. I did find that a single cam bow (such as Mathews), produced less shock than the dual cam bows. That was until Bowtech came out with their flexing cable guard arm...it produced even less shock on the shoulder during the shot cycle and was greatly appreciated!
Now here is the weird part, because there is less poundage and no let off with a traditional bow, where one is holding the full weight of the draw strength at full draw (50 lbs for me), the shoulder experiences far less shock during the shot cycle. Must be the lower poundage over all...not sure if one can calculate recoil energy in a bow...I know that I don't know how to. Or it could just be the lack of the extra forces that naturally occur in a compound bow that a traditional bow doesn't produce.
I also know that my shoulder is in better shape and less pain overall everyday when I am regularly shooting my traditional bows...and pretty sure the extra exercise for the shoulder helps overall.
You may want to try a low poundage traditional bow for fun and exercise, and experience the same therapy I have with mine.
Glad to hear your recovery is going well.
I experienced the same thing with my shoulder with archery too.
Funny thing is the compound bows bothered my shoulder more than the traditional bows.
It came down to the fact that while they do peak in the draw cycle at 70 lbs(or whatever pundage the bow is set for), and you are only holding 14 lbs at full draw (with 80% let off), the shock that goes through your bones from the hand to the shoulder during the shot cycle upon release, aggravated my shoulder. I did find that a single cam bow (such as Mathews), produced less shock than the dual cam bows. That was until Bowtech came out with their flexing cable guard arm...it produced even less shock on the shoulder during the shot cycle and was greatly appreciated!
Now here is the weird part, because there is less poundage and no let off with a traditional bow, where one is holding the full weight of the draw strength at full draw (50 lbs for me), the shoulder experiences far less shock during the shot cycle. Must be the lower poundage over all...not sure if one can calculate recoil energy in a bow...I know that I don't know how to. Or it could just be the lack of the extra forces that naturally occur in a compound bow that a traditional bow doesn't produce.
I also know that my shoulder is in better shape and less pain overall everyday when I am regularly shooting my traditional bows...and pretty sure the extra exercise for the shoulder helps overall.
You may want to try a low poundage traditional bow for fun and exercise, and experience the same therapy I have with mine.
Glad to hear your recovery is going well.
Thanks for this. Even a low poundage traditional bow would be verboten for me until at least 12 weeks post-surgery. And here in the city, my neighbours might object!
Doug, lots of dudes over on Rokslide killing stuff with 5.56 and 6mm. TMK's are the go-to, but ELD-X and ELD-M's are a close second.
Bullets, not headstamps, are what matter. Get a decent bullet in a low-recoiling rifle, and your hit percentages/kills go up like crazy. Here's a link to the 6mm thread: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/6mm-243-hunting-success-on-big-game.284525/ Lots of real-world experience there. For a real trip, go track down the 223/5.56 thread.
Bullets, not headstamps, are what matter. Get a decent bullet in a low-recoiling rifle, and your hit percentages/kills go up like crazy. Here's a link to the 6mm thread: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/6mm-243-hunting-success-on-big-game.284525/ Lots of real-world experience there. For a real trip, go track down the 223/5.56 thread.
I do NOT have a problem with hits and kills. I DO have a reconstructed shoulder which has caused me to ask about other options. My .264 calibre Nosler Partitions are deadly, thanks.
Doug
I recently was given a handful of the 90gr eldx for the 243 and they shot nearly identical to my 95grsst load with hybrid 100v, if i was you i would try and source some 90gr if possible i doubt if the sako will shoot the 103s very well
Perhaps you wish to read the thread before making comments that have been covered.
Doug
Just another cup and core Horn bullet and it will kill deer FINE off of a 243 Win . JMO RJ
I would suggest a 243 as it's enough gun for deer size game. With cup & core or ballistic silver tips - or other bullet types. I've done it many times. Also, I would suggest picking up a savage axis left hand rifle, shooting off your left shoulder, with a scope and bi-pod. You can always sell it later. Or, use a right handed rifle and shoot off your left shoulder, with a bi-pod. I wouldn't taking a risk on the shoulder you had surgery on. There will likely be a lot of scar tissue and if you damage it again it will not be good.
as has been pointed out the surgeon says shooting off-shoulder would be worse.
Thanks Brad. I had never seen 6.5 NPs in 100 grains until I looked them up, thanks for adding to my knowledge.
Doug
That has also been my experience, NPs of a given calibre and weight will pretty much shoot to the same poi of similar cal/weight bullets, but CHEAPER ones, to spend some trigger time sighting in before hunting season. (And of course, confirm zero with my actual hunting ammo)
Doug
