Hornady ELDX bullets for Moose and Elk?

[Tac Man]

Anyone used these on Moose or Elk? If so what calibre and what velocity? I am experimenting with them now and getting great accuracy and decent velocity out of my 7mm RM.

Looking at trying them in my 300 Weatherby Mag and 257 Weatherby Mag.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Cheers,

Tac

 

[rifleman762]

I had a 200gr ELD-X out of a 300WM at close range disintegrate on an angled shot on a moose's spine. But it broke the spine and dropped the moose (which was already lung shot with a 308). Only the toughest bullets like a Barnes TSX, a Nosler Partition, or a Swift A-Frame are likely to make it through a thick bone at close to 3000 fps. At the angle I hit it (from behind, moose heading uphill) the bullet would have had to penetrate 6-8" of bone.

Judging by it's construction I'd say it's as tough as a standard cup-and-core hunting bullet and a bit tougher than a Berger VLD. As long as you use a heavy weight bullet as you would for a traditional bullet, you'll be fine. And don't shoot through big bones at close range. It has a medium thickness jacket and a soft core.

I'm going to use my 200gr loads on an elk hunt this fall. If I get lucky I'll have an update for you in Sept.

 

[350 Mag]

I would use them but only past 200 yards.

I read alot of guys that hunt with Berger's or Amax carry a different loading for close range....

 

[emerson]

I used a 338 230gr ELD-X on a bear this spring. It hit about 2675fps through the spine and out the chest. The chest cavity was empty, with a 2 1/2” hole through the sternum. Small bear though.

 

[Bare]

I wouldn’t hesitate to use that bullet on either animal. Close range tuck it in behind the shoulder if you wish. Further out aim for shoulder. I know bears are not the same but I shot one at 375 yard with a 162gr eldx and one at 50 yards with the same bullets. Both animals were taken right on the shoulder and both had the same exit wound out the opposite side and dropped in their tracks. You wouldn’t be able to tell which one was shot close range or medium range.
I’m shooting 162gr from my 280ai at 3015fps using reloader 26

 

[Jim870]

They wouldn't be my first choice, but if my rifle shot them well and I expected a longer shot I would hunt them.