Hornady ELD-X Bullet for deer?

I have only shot a moose with an ELD-X bullet (143 gr from 6.5 Creedmoor). The frontal shot was only 15 yards, and I could not find the bullet in the blood and shredded lung mess. It did not penetrate past the diaphragm. (Not surprising for a cup and core on such a large animal at this range). The moose only staggered 5 yards from where it stood when shot before going down and expiring.
This ammo is accurate in my rifle, out to 500 yards.
I have recently tried the new Federal Terminal Ascent 136 gr ammo in my rifle, and it shoots better than 1/2" groups, and performed very well in New Zealand for red stag (296 yards), fallow buck (267 yards), and arapawa rams (120 and 122 yards) this spring. Would like to see then produce a load for the Swede!

I too like the 6.5x55 with Partitions (140 gr) for all big game...but have switched mostly over to the AccuBond over the years...but still use the Partitions when I have them, in the 6.5 and other calibers/cartridges. The 120 gr BT's also work well on deer, and with mild to moderate loads will produce even less recoil. (I do not like muzzle breaks for reducing recoil; lighter bullets w/ reduced loads are more ideal for me).

I too had serious shoulder issues. Have you tried installing a LimbSaver recoil pad on your rifle? It will make a significant difference in felt recoil over the factory recoil pads.
Another option would be to get a PAST shoulder recoil pad to wear.

As for the 243, any cup and core bullet will work well on deer, even our large northern variety, which are usually larger than those found south of the border. While I personally have limited experience with this caliber on deer (it has worked for me), I have hunted with several others who have used them successfully on numerous whitetails and mulies, mostly with factory Winchester 100 gr Power Points and Remington 100 gr Corelokts.
Of course, there are lots of hunting shows where the hunters have used the ELD-X bullets on a wide variety of game, and the results are good, so I wouldn't hesitate to develop a load that is accurate in your rifle, and then hunt deer with them, or any of the other bullets you have on hand.
If you find max loads uncomfortable for your shoulder, try backing off a few grains (without getting into under pressure issues) and see what is comfortable and accurate for you.
 
Jim870 said:
No complaints with the eld x or m. I wouldn't expect an exit and I'd plan on trimming a little extra bloodshot meat.

However the .243 isn't really much of reduction in recoil from the 6.5x55. If recoil reduced deer killing is really your goal the 6.5 grendel and 6mm ARC would let you use components you may already have and more noticeably reduce recoil while still being suited to deer. The .350 legend may be worth a gander too if the trajectory is acceptable.
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Chuck Hawks recoil table shows .243 at 8.8 foot-pounds of recoil, 6,5 Grendel at 8.9, 6,5 x 55 10.6 to 12.1 depending on bullet weight and speed.

I actually had a 6.5 Grendel which I loaded for a buddy who had had open heart surgery the summer before the deer hunt. Same issue, the surgeon was worried about recoil damaging the repair. But I no longer have that rifle....and I DO have a nice .243.

Doug
 
BlackRam said:
I have only shot a moose with an ELD-X bullet (143 gr from 6.5 Creedmoor). The frontal shot was only 15 yards, and I could not find the bullet in the blood and shredded lung mess. It did not penetrate past the diaphragm. (Not surprising for a cup and core on such a large animal at this range). The moose only staggered 5 yards from where it stood when shot before going down and expiring.
This ammo is accurate in my rifle, out to 500 yards.
I have recently tried the new Federal Terminal Ascent 136 gr ammo in my rifle, and it shoots better than 1/2" groups, and performed very well in New Zealand for red stag (296 yards), fallow buck (267 yards), and arapawa rams (120 and 122 yards) this spring. Would like to see then produce a load for the Swede!

I too like the 6.5x55 with Partitions (140 gr) for all big game...but have switched mostly over to the AccuBond over the years...but still use the Partitions when I have them, in the 6.5 and other calibers/cartridges. The 120 gr BT's also work well on deer, and with mild to moderate loads will produce even less recoil. (I do not like muzzle breaks for reducing recoil; lighter bullets w/ reduced loads are more ideal for me).

I too had serious shoulder issues. Have you tried installing a LimbSaver recoil pad on your rifle? It will make a significant difference in felt recoil over the factory recoil pads.
Another option would be to get a PAST shoulder recoil pad to wear.

As for the 243, any cup and core bullet will work well on deer, even our large northern variety, which are usually larger than those found south of the border. While I personally have limited experience with this caliber on deer (it has worked for me), I have hunted with several others who have used them successfully on numerous whitetails and mulies, mostly with factory Winchester 100 gr Power Points and Remington 100 gr Corelokts.
Of course, there are lots of hunting shows where the hunters have used the ELD-X bullets on a wide variety of game, and the results are good, so I wouldn't hesitate to develop a load that is accurate in your rifle, and then hunt deer with them, or any of the other bullets you have on hand.
If you find max loads uncomfortable for your shoulder, try backing off a few grains (without getting into under pressure issues) and see what is comfortable and accurate for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. The issue, I think, is not "felt" recoil, it is absolute recoil on the shoulder repair. I am certain that I would have no issues, pain-wise, with most loads but the surgeon did quite a bit of work and i surely do not want to undo any of that. It may be that he says I should not hunt at all, and if that happens then one missed deer season is no biggie. I have killed over a hundred of them over the years and could still participate in the hunt camp fun this fall even if I don't go out with a rifle. In the meantime I am considering alternatives.

Doug
 
Hoyt is on to something.

I am not an expert on this topic, however I have done a bit of reading. It seems to me that "managed recoil" rounds are the way to go. I have a couple of boxes for my Rem 700 7RM (139gr) and the recoil is probably half of 175gr Win powerpoint factory loads.

ELD-X bullets are fairly fragile - they will expand at slower speeds. I plan to load some 200gr Edge TLR's for the 300 PRC on the light side. Any full magnum loads at short range can ruin a lot of meat.
 
Would be one of my top choices for a .243. Will be lightning on them. Fusions on economy end of things, any cup and core 100 gr will do wonderful. Not sure if they have heavier 108 eldm load available but that would be my top choice if so and it groups tight, the eldx would be second choice.

Future consider a ruger American ranch in mdt chassis, Talley rings, Trijicon 3-9x40 accupoint green dot, Magpul ctr buttstock and moe-k grip, strike industries buffer tube. In 6.5 Grendel with either 123 gr sst or eldm and it will be around 8 1/4 lbs with 6.5 ft/lbs recoil and you can watch it happen in the scope. We’ve smashed deer to 420 so far. 15 head of alberta big game in 5 seasons including moose, sheep, black bear, both species of deer etc.
 
Spend the user fees, access your employers health plan if applicable. Go to rehab. Targeted exercises, range of motion, and ultrasound. They kicked my x out after three days, complete knee replacement. Rehab is the way. Often painful and a pita but definitely worth it, a month from the season here (? for Ontario), should be plenty of time.
 
Only experience I had with these bullets was helping recover a bear with a friend that hit it 3 times with a 7-08.

Found fragments of bullet all over.
 
nowarningshot said:
Spend the user fees, access your employers health plan if applicable. Go to rehab. Targeted exercises, range of motion, and ultrasound. They kicked my x out after three days, complete knee replacement. Rehab is the way. Often painful and a pita but definitely worth it, a month from the season here (? for Ontario), should be plenty of time.
Click to expand...

I have been doing rehab since the day after surgery, four times a day for half an hour each time, plus physio once a week. My recovery is going spectacularly well, and I have no doubt that I will have pretty much full range of motion. The issue is the ability of the repaired bits to handle recoil without ANY damage whatsoever to the repairs.
 
remington jim said:
Doug - Get a Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel ! I have one and I really like it . Very LOW recoil and very decent 95-130 gr bullet Specs . JMO RJ
Click to expand...

I had one, and as I mentioned earlier, loaded it for a buddy in a similar situation. Yes, you are right, a great little rifle and a fun cartridge. That rifle is gone, and I am going to use something I have here.
 
well right on, if the future opens up to a new one then the grendel or arc although I prefer grendel speeds for those heavier sst/eldm bullets and making them work their magic, basically from end of barrel to 415 yards with a 16.1" ranch barrel has me from 2386 to 1800 fps impacts, peak efficiency and ranges I will play, 1700 fps lands just under 500 yards and would dummy all deer no prob

going to a 24" barrel gives you another 100+ yards on top for 1800 fps impact, my cz American 23 5/8" barrel did 2552 fps which brings 1800 fps impact to 520 yards and then I had Henry put a 24" proof carbon on it and shot the same factory hornady eldm ammo at 2605 fps! bringing its 1800 fps impact to 550-555 yards at my elevations...and that's at 52,000 psi safe for auto-loaders pressures, likely bump that 100 fps with hand loading into the 62-65,000 psi range but recoil will climb if the gun is too light, I really like the low pressure stuff, game doesn't seem to hear it very far away, less blast/concuss behind the wheel etc.

if 6mm your jam the arc would be a dandy but just feel like the speeds will run a bit out of the efficiency range for all the bullet constructions, the grendel is perfect from muzzle to 500 with zero fat for 123 gr bullets

you'll do great with the .243, compare fusion ammo against everything for group sizes, that's a fairly tough bullet and a great 0-300 yard choice imo, if going further I'd rather faster expansion of eldx/m or 95 Bt's etc. but those fusions sure can shoot tight, would be good moose choice to 300 in the ribs
 
Doug, try 30.0 grains of H4895 with those 140 Partitions, my kids dropped quite a few deer with that combo... does a great job, very light recoil... the 140 NBT worked well too.
 
hoytcanon said:
Doug, try 30.0 grains of H4895 with those 140 Partitions, my kids dropped quite a few deer with that combo... does a great job, very light recoil... the 140 NBT worked well too.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Looks like the NP will expand reliably down to about 1800 fps. This is an elegant solution. I took a look at my load data and have used H4895 previously (but starting with 35.0 grains)

I can get a buddy to dial in my rifle at the range (and save my shoulder), and most years my season is one round fired and that's all she wrote.

Doug
 
and throw a 9-13" Harris swivel bipod on the front swivel stud, adds an easy 3/4 lb to further reduce the recoil, you'll get to watch the entire thing happen in the scope with that reduced load and adding weight out front like that
 
Hi Doug,

I have bought a 6.8 spc from you before and have you thought about using this same caliber?

I don't have experience with the 6.5 eld-x but I shot a black bear with 6.5CM with Silvertip and it was devastating.

Not sure if you have shoot with your other shoulder, one time I there is a buck which I have no shot (behind trees and bushes) and I can't move my body due to couple does were looking right in my directly and I have no choice except take the shot with my left hand sometime you never know unless you try it.

Try to shoot at the range with your other hand / shoulder you may be surprised.
 
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