What 26 caliber bullet

[zwickeyman]

I just picked up a 6.5 PRC and will be reloading for it. Looking for first hand hunting experience with a hunting bullet in this caliber. I'm a big Partition fan but might raise the BC to the ELDX or Accubond long range

Thanks in advance

[elkaholic123]

Check out the Hornady ELD-M 147 gr.

[Oh Mah]

6.5 Berger Elite Hunter 140 grain.  .606 BC.

[jrebel]

The ELD-X is an underperformer in my experience.....steer clear!!  I have shot 2 moose and 2 bear with a 300 win mag and 212 grain ELD-X's and I will not be using them on game ever again.  They shoot / group great but the are not effective killers. 

Can't speak to the accubond long range but can speak highly of the accubond.  I stretch my creedmoor to 800 yards shooting the accubond and it stupid accurate.  I would not hesitate to whack deer sized game to 600 yards.  If you like the partitions you will love the accubond (standard) as they are devastating on game and perform very well.  I have killed two bear (literally dropped dead in their tracks) and multiple deer with this rifle.  It preforms as expected.  At the range, it is a very accurate bullet and will shoot half MOA or better if I do my part.  I am shooting them out of a Savage Stealth. 

[Oh Mah]

  AFTER 2 DEER AND 1 BEAR THE BULLET COMING APART EVERYTIME,I WILL NEVER HUNT WITH THESE ELDX BULLETS AGAIN. 

[zwickeyman]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm surprised to hear that about the ELDX. I know gel isnt a great test on hunting performance but sure thought the ELDX looked better the Accubond LR. I know the LR isnt as tough as the standard Accubond

[Oh Mah]

The bear was 215 yards,1 deer was at 800 yards and the other was at 475 yards.All came apart and a piece about the size of a dime very thin was all that was left on all 3

[kselkhunter]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm surprised to hear that about the ELDX. I know gel isnt a great test on hunting performance but sure thought the ELDX looked better the Accubond LR. I know the LR isnt as tough as the standard Accubond

I've had zero issues with the Accubond LR.  Performed well on every animal I've used it on.   

[b23]

A lot of guys seem to be very happy with the Berger 156's in their 6.5 PRC, 6.5 SAUM, and 6.5 WSM's.

https://www.longrangeonly.com/forum/threads/berger-6-5-156-gr-terminal-performance-thread.6597/

[zwickeyman]

The bear was 215 yards,1 deer was at 800 yards and the other was at 475 yards.All came apart and a piece about the size of a dime very thin was all that was left on all 3

Even at 800 yards WOW

[zwickeyman]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm surprised to hear that about the ELDX. I know gel isnt a great test on hunting performance but sure thought the ELDX looked better the Accubond LR. I know the LR isnt as tough as the standard Accubond

I've had zero issues with the Accubond LR.  Performed well on every animal I've used it on.

kselkhunter
What velocities you pushing them? and in 26 cal?

[Buckjunkie]

I echo much of what has been said here. I have had two bad experiences with the VLDs and one bad experience with the ELDX. All were shot with the 300RUM. 210 VLD small deer 200 yards broadside. Deer walked away as if I missed. Bullet was in hide on off side. After just walking for 150 yards he laid down and died. 2nd example 185 VLD 325 yards on a big bull. He took a step as I shot and blocked the bullet from a heart shot. 4 shots later the bull finally tipped over. The first shot didn’t even bruise the other side of his front leg. 3rd example 650 yards with the 220 ELDX. Well placed lung shot. Deer bucked. Small blood spot on off side. Four of us looked for that buck for hours in the Wyoming high country. It’s not brushy there. One spec of blood. Saw the buck two days later and he looked fine.

Talked to a buddy that shoots lots of animals and he said the ELDX are crap. They either explode on the on side or don’t expand and it’s like shooting an arrow with a field tip.

I also have a few experiences with the Accubond LR. They do better than the other long range bullets, but I prefer the performance of the partitions, standard accubonds and Barnes LRX bullets.

[highside74]

I ordered Berger 140gr Elite hunters and 156gr EOL. Haven't even bought my 6.5 PRC. Hoping that whatever I get likes one of those bullets at 3000fps or better. It's only for deer and bear so the 140 will be plenty but I'll go with whatever works the best.

[crabcreekhunter]

Wow surprised all the negative reviews on the eldx, have hit many animals at high and low velocity and have performed flawlessly(elk, bear, muleys).  Full pass through, with good expansion never needed a second round.  Very similar to an accubond if not better.

[jrebel]

Wow surprised all the negative reviews on the eldx, have hit many animals at high and low velocity and have performed flawlessly(elk, bear, muleys).  Full pass through, with good expansion never needed a second round.  Very similar to an accubond if not better.

This is what is very interesting about this bullet.  Some have great performance and others have piss poor performance.  I hit a bear in the shoulder broadside with a 212 ELD-X this year and it blew up on the onside shoulder.  Bear is still roaming the hills.  All I had to show for it was a fist full of fur and a meek blood trail for 100 yards.  I watched impact and thought, there is no way this bear is still standing.....well it walked off like I never shot it. 

Bull moose last year...first shot was a complete pass through at 300 yards, worked great.  Next shot was a neck shot to make sure it didn't go into the thick brush.....bullet exploded and we only found fragments.  Super inconsistent.  Fist bull moose a couple years, two shots in the boiler maker.....non exited.  It was a 40 yard shot and all we found were fragments....total disintegration.  The head shot at 40 yards was pretty impressive though.