Thread: 6.5 123gn amax vs 123eldm vs 123sst

Originally Posted by Bagheera

I see Hornady have both a 120gr and a 123gr ELD-M now. Is that right ?
Does anyone know what the difference is ?

I wasn't very impressed with the knockdown power of the factory 123gr SST from my 16" Grendel and 120gr Nosler baliistic tip also doesn't open up very well. I think it has enough ft.lb but velocity is only 1800fps at 200 yd so I need a bullet that fragments well at that speed.

Neck shots that hit bone make any bullet look good. Its those "between the ribs" shots on small goats where I've been embarrassed. Good shot on that spiker at 200m by the way.

If you are mostly using on goats, perhaps give the 100gr Sierra HP ago. They list it suitable for medium game at handgun velocities and a capable varmint bullet in the 264 Win Mag, so I'd say going by that info it could be just right for 6.5G velocities. https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/...65mm-100-gr-HP

Originally Posted by Mathias

If you are mostly using on goats, perhaps give the 100gr Sierra HP ago. They list it suitable for medium game at handgun velocities and a capable varmint bullet in the 264 Win Mag, so I'd say going by that info it could be just right for 6.5G velocities. https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/...65mm-100-gr-HP

I run this in my Grendel
32.3gn cfe223
Cci br4
Lapua case
Oal 2.200”
Shoots under 1/2 inch alday long in my howa

I have tried all three in my wifes 16" Howa Grendel Mini Action on goats to 300m. I also shot 30-40 roos with them and the Grendel SST / AMax were the best projectile / velocity combination for dead right threr performance.

Exits were consistently around the 20-30mm diameter.

In the 100 odd animals I shot including a Fallow spiker, there was NO difference in performance across the three. All are designed for Grendel performance and the match type pills did not suffer blow up at close range (15m) just passed through and opened like the SST do.

If I was chasing reds in the roar i would use the 123 GR SST or the 120 GR GMX.

F

Shot a deer up the ass with 129 grain sst in 6.5 from 100 meters standing, scootched on its ass about 5 meters then rolled over and died. Although good killing power it groups about 3 moa in a howa 1500, about to try some eldx as well

Here’s a billy shot with a Grendel at 295yds. 123gr ELDM Hornady Black ammo. Howa mini with a 20 inch barrel. Shoulder shot and the bullet still exited.
Shot from ridge with arrow above:

Internal damage:

Bullet exit:

This was the exit on a goat quarting too at 415m with the 123gn sst. Impact velocity was about 1800fps.

Shot a bunch of goats. Bang flop. Consistent exit wounds as mentioned above