An anecdote on the 7mm-08 ELD-X for elk

[yakimanoob]

Not wanting to start a debate, just want to offer a performance report from my harvest this year.

Savage 16 Lightweight Hunter in 7mm-08 Rem.

Hornady ELD-X 150gr Precision Hunter ammo.

Young spike, broadside shot at 30 yds.

Entered in the right shoulder between the elbow and shoulder blade, passed through the tips of both lungs, through the aorta, and out a finger-sized exit through the same spot in the left shoulder.  No fragments found.  The only oddity was that the liver was trashed, even though I would have clipped the anterior edge if that.  I guess it was the hydrostatic shock?

He ran about 40 yds before dropping. 


As you can imagine, there was plenty of bloodshot meat in the entry shoulder.  I estimate I lost about 5-8 lbs of good meat (not that I'm complaining -- it was a snap shot after he popped out of some brush so I'm just glad I didn't miss!). 

All in all, I'm really happy with the ELD-X bullet.  At such short range I half expected it to explode and send fragments everywhere, but it held together perfectly, and left a nice 4-5" channel all the way through.  If I had had the time, I would have placed the shot a bit further back to avoid the shoulders meat, but otherwise I couldn't ask for a better result. 

Totally forgot to take photos while I was cutting him up, but here's the heart.  I pulled it out unattached. 

[Bob33]

"  The only oddity was that the liver was trashed, even though I would have clipped the anterior edge if that.  I guess it was the hydrostatic shock?"

More likely from secondary projectiles: bullet fragments or bone.

[yakimanoob]

"  The only oddity was that the liver was trashed, even though I would have clipped the anterior edge if that.  I guess it was the hydrostatic shock?"

More likely from secondary projectiles: bullet fragments or bone.

That makes sense.  There was a 2" section of rib missing on the entry side, which may have shattered into the liver. 

[Stein]

I agree, at 30 yards there is a bunch of violence going on in there.  Glad to hear the bullet stayed together, that is certainly a good thing for an elk round.

[7mmfan]

Bullets do crazy things when they hit animals at close range. Sounds like it did its job.

[Skillet]

Nice shooting!  What is the muzzle velocity of that round out of your Savage?

[Mtnwalker]

Bullets do crazy things when they hit animals at close range. Sounds like it did its job.

Yep, I had a 168 Berger pencil hole right thru a bull at 75 yds last year. Would have expected the exact opposite. I'm loading the 150 eld x as we speak for a new gun, thx for the report

[savagehunter]

2 deer 2 years with 143 gr eldx 6.5x284 one at 20 yd one at 476 both dead cheaper than berger and just as accurate three thumbs up

[7mmfan]

I reload 154gr Interbonds for my 7 mag and have been very happy with them overall. They hold together extremely well and bore a large wound channel. They are extremely accurate out of my rifle. The only thing I've noticed is that, other than my buck this year in Idaho, which I spined, I have only had 1 animal drop in it's tracks. Every other one has run at least a short distance. When I shot Interlocks, which had a propensity to fragment at least somewhat, most animals dropped where they stood.

Only one time have had the Interbond fragment, and it was my blacktail buck last year. I shot him behind the shoulder while quartering to me, at about 30 feet. That bullet did some crazy stuff. There were 3 exit wounds, 1 in line with the entrance, one straight up next to the spine, and 1 out the throat. That buck still managed to walk about 50' up into the brush where I shot him in the neck to finish him. Absolutely could not believe it.

[yakimanoob]

Nice shooting!  What is the muzzle velocity of that round out of your Savage?

Not sure -- I don't have access to a chrono.  It's a 20" barrel so I figure somewhere in the vicinity of 2600-2650?