Thread: 6.5 143gr ELD-X penetration on 6mm steel plate @500m & @700m

Hi guys,

Thought some people might be interested in seeing some of the dents/holes that these projectiles are putting on 6mm plate steel at
medium ranges with some 140gr NBT 7mm08 and 155gr Amax .308 also shown as a comparison.

First picture shows:

6.5PRC 143gr ELD-X @2900fps mv cutting straight through @500m and @700m

.308 155gr Amax @ 2750fps mv dented half through @500m and barely dented @700m






Second Picture shows:

6.5Creedmoor 143gr ELD-X @2650fps cutting straight through @500m and denting 3/4 through @700m

7mm08 rem 140gr Nosler Ballistic Tip @2750fps denting half through @500m




Take what you want from this info.
I'm seeing that the base of the bullet is holding together awesome combining with the high Sectional density and high BC retaining velocity allowing these bullets to punch through.
I think they are tough as projectiles with tips that expand well. I cant wait to hit some deer at 500m+ through the body to see what they will do.

I have shot some deer from 10m to 400m with the 143gr ELD-X.
3 sika and 1 young red stag with the Creedmoor in the bush (10m-50m), all body shots, all died quick. Exits on the sika were about 2inches. The red i shot through both shoulders and then front of chest @10-15m(1st killed it, 2nd was to make sure it didnt go anywhere in the thick steep scrub.), i dont think the 1st exited. The 2nd exited in front of the off side back leg.
A few fallow all headshot/top of neck (meat shooting)
-6.5CM -1@120m (top of neck), 1@200m, 2@275m, 1@ 400m(my longest shot on a deer to date.)
-6.5PRC - 1@ 270m, 1@370m.
The bullets exited on all of them, they didnt explode on the skull/top of spine like my .243 87gr SP bullets were doing.

Can you try the 150 eldx in the 7/08 please.

Im guessing its mild steel plate a couple of mm thick and that it still rings ok even when penetrated. It's not ideal as target material but I'm a little suprised that at 700 you are still getting penetration.

Cool man. Be good to test like for like in terms of bullet construction and sectional density. Or even different bullets in same cartridge with same sectional density.
Impressive hole punching

Please dont be telling everybody how good the 143eldx are as it will mean less for me!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Couldn’t resist. Had this sitting on the computer for a while

So far they seem to be effective in the 6.5. Been loading them for a mate for a while now. Also load the 145 gr in my own .270 and have been really impressed with the results ranging from 150 yds right out to 640 yds,and everything in between.
Projectiles are a bit like calibres and girlfriends - each to their own, but these things perform extremely well and are better priced than what I had been using

Originally Posted by nor-west

Can you try the 150 eldx in the 7/08 please.

When we get out of lockdown (after i go hunting) i'll be shooting my mates 7mm08 with 162gr ELD-X @2650fps mv which i have just done a load for. Just checking trajectory to at least 500m.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Im guessing its mild steel plate a couple of mm thick and that it still rings ok even when penetrated. It's not ideal as target material but I'm a little suprised that at 700 you are still getting penetration.

I stated in the title that it is 6mm plate steel (mild i assume). I it grabbed from the scrap dealer for $5. i wasnt expecting anything to go through it at 500m. I just wanted it to ding if i hit it.
I'm a bit pissed that they do penetrate as i'm going to have to fork out a fortune for some AR500 targets. Hopefully my cheap practice load 123SSTs wont penetrate it.

Originally Posted by stevodog

Cool man. Be good to test like for like in terms of bullet construction and sectional density. Or even different bullets in same cartridge with same sectional density.
Impressive hole punching

It would be. However i wasnt testing for effects vs steel. I was just surprised while validating ballistics with mates that this was the results on the steel for their loads.

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

Please dont be telling everybody how good the 143eldx are as it will mean less for me!

Everybody these ELD-X bullets are terrible, dont buy them!

Originally Posted by mimms2

Well that should come in real handy for all those deer that hide behind steel plating.

Yep, they'll still be in trouble!

Or i now know that the bullet has a good chance of going through the front leg into the chest on the long shots if the bullet drifts forward a touch more than i guessed for.

I shared a YT video the other day of father daughter Elk hunt with 6.5CM. 300y Elk smoked by 143gn ELD-X.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Im guessing its mild steel plate a couple of mm thick and that it still rings ok even when penetrated. It's not ideal as target material but I'm a little suprised that at 700 you are still getting penetration.

6mm, it's in the title,

very interesting. Definitely one of the projectiles to try in the future 264 win mag project. as long it works in a 1-9 twist?

Originally Posted by csmiffy

very interesting. Definitely one of the projectiles to try in the future 264 win mag project. as long it works in a 1-9 twist?

Hornady recommend a min 1in8" twist with these pills. If you push it fast enough 1-9" might work maybe? (not something i have experience in)

Thought this might be interesting to someone, 6.5 143 eldx from my creedmoor at 2700 fps. Recovered at 1050 yards from soft dirt, still a bit of expansion/mushroom at the tip.

@ JMJW

Good to see the tip still expanding even at that range.

I didnt manage to dig any up from my 6.5CM (2650fps) @ 920m (1000yrds) when i was shooting steel.

Originally Posted by Mistral

6mm, it's in the title,

I really should read more closely eh