Thread: 6.5 143 ELD-X, are they THE 6.5 hunting bullet?

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Shot 4 reds today at 436 yards eldx dropped them all on the spot.
Can't complain. @2810fps

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Nice one!

The 143gn ELDX looks like THE Projectile for the 6.5 calibre. I shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor and use factory ammo.

I have been mainly using the Hornady superformance 129gn SST. I recently bought a couple of packs of the Hornady Precision Hunter 143gn ELDX.
I ran these over a chronograph and was dissapointed at the actual achieved velocity of these factory 143gn pills. MV was 2550fps.The rifle is a T3X tikka with 20" barrel.
Perhaps this is a good reason to handload. Just wondering if anyone else has experience with the factory loaded 143gn pills.

Originally Posted by zeropak

The 143gn ELDX looks like THE Projectile for the 6.5 calibre. I shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor and use factory ammo.

I have been mainly using the Hornady superformance 129gn SST. I recently bought a couple of packs of the Hornady Precision Hunter 143gn ELDX.
I ran these over a chronograph and was dissapointed at the actual achieved velocity of these factory 143gn pills. MV was 2550fps.The rifle is a T3X tikka with 20" barrel.
Perhaps this is a good reason to handload. Just wondering if anyone else has experience with the factory loaded 143gn pills.

This sounds about right, i have a t3x 6.5 creedmoor shortend to 18 inches and it shoots the 143gr precision hunter factory ammo at 2459fps average. My partners 16 inch creedmoor shoots them at 2379fps average. 40fps loss per inch of barrel. So yours at 20 inch and 2550 is right on what id expect to see.

I havent developed a load for either of these properly yet, but did do a speed ladder with the 18 inch one, got to 2630fps with a slightly compressed load of 2209 before seeing pressure signs. Going to revisit once im finished with working on loads for other rifles.

Originally Posted by 6.5 CRD

This sounds about right, i have a t3x 6.5 creedmoor shortend to 18 inches and it shoots the 143gr precision hunter factory ammo at 2459fps average. My partners 16 inch creedmoor shoots them at 2379fps average. 40fps loss per inch of barrel. So yours at 20 inch and 2550 is right on what id expect to see.

I havent developed a load for either of these properly yet, but did do a speed ladder with the 18 inch one, got to 2630fps with a slightly compressed load of 2209 before seeing pressure signs. Going to revisit once im finished with working on loads for other rifles.

If you want a bit more speed try Hodgdon superproormance it works well in the Creedmoor and .260 with 143 eldx and 147 ELDM

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

If you want a bit more speed try Hodgdon superproormance it works well in the Creedmoor and .260 with 143 eldx and 147 ELDM

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I have some superformance here that im using in my 300wsm. Been tempted to try it in the creedmoor, maybe i will one day but for now ill stick with the 2209, dont need to get every last bit of speed out of it, for the hunting i do with it, it doesnt need to go far. I did read one of your posts from a different thread about your superformance/creedmoor experiences, impressive speed.

Originally Posted by 6.5 CRD

This sounds about right, i have a t3x 6.5 creedmoor shortend to 18 inches and it shoots the 143gr precision hunter factory ammo at 2459fps average. My partners 16 inch creedmoor shoots them at 2379fps average. 40fps loss per inch of barrel. So yours at 20 inch and 2550 is right on what id expect to see.

I havent developed a load for either of these properly yet, but did do a speed ladder with the 18 inch one, got to 2630fps with a slightly compressed load of 2209 before seeing pressure signs. Going to revisit once im finished with working on loads for other rifles.

Ok so that being the case. I would argue that better performance can be achieved with a 129gn projectile vs the 143gn. At least with factory ammo.
The ballistic calculator tells be that the 143gn at 2550 only just make the magical 1000 foot pounds of energy at 400m. Whereas the 129gn SST still has about just over 1000 foot pounds at 500 metres. Perhaps the 142 or heavier projectile has a place with The 6.5 PRC but not the Creedmoor.

Originally Posted by zeropak

Ok so that being the case. I would argue that better performance can be achieved with a 129gn projectile vs the 143gn. At least with factory ammo.
The ballistic calculator tells be that the 143gn at 2550 only just make the magical 1000 foot pounds of energy at 400m. Whereas the 129gn SST still has about just over 1000 foot pounds at 500 metres. Perhaps the 142 or heavier projectile has a place with The 6.5 PRC but not the Creedmoor.

Yeah i guess it depends on your barrel length & if your hand loading or not. Some pretty decent speeds can be achieved in the creedmoor with powders like superformance which will stretch its legs. For me, my 18 inch 6.5 creedmoor has a thermal scope and i use it out to around 200-250m absolute maximum & my partners 16 inch creedmoor is just a soft shooting short bush - 200m gun for her. Neither of them need to shoot far so the 143gr eldx work well.

Originally Posted by 6.5 CRD

Yeah i guess it depends on your barrel length & if your hand loading or not. Some pretty decent speeds can be achieved in the creedmoor with powders like superformance which will stretch its legs. For me, my 18 inch 6.5 creedmoor has a thermal scope and i use it out to around 200-250m absolute maximum & my partners 16 inch creedmoor is just a soft shooting short bush - 200m gun for her. Neither of them need to shoot far so the 143gr eldx work well.

Yep I agree. It seems that handloading can get a bit more out of the 143 ELDX. It is a bit of an irony that the ELDX is touted as a great long range projectile but for what you are doing at mostly sub 200m it could arguably be a better choice than the 129gn SST due to its slower velocity and its heavier construction which would mean it would hold together better at those shorter ranges. The 129 SST has performed really well for me at longer ranges but I think If I was bush hunting then the 143 ELDX would be my choice.