Thread: 7mm ELD-X in a SAUM, what's another projectile option?

Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

I've taken a handful of deer with 162 ELD-X out of my rem mag, they're doing 3060 fps out if the 24 inch barrel.

The closest was a mature fallow hind at about 60 yards, neck shot, nearly decapitated her. Wound was about the size of a softball. Furthest deer was another mature fallow hind at 400 yards, spine shot just above the shoulder start of the neck sort of area, about a golf ball sized wound and went straight through.

Shot a red hind at 320 yards just behind the shoulder, the crease I've heard it called, destroyed the lungs and pulled some out with it on exit, wound a bit larger than golf ball size.

Two more deer taken, both at about 150 yards, one a red spiker and the other a fallow hind, both shot front shoulder area, both dropped on the spot, found the bullet jacket under the skin of the off side shoulder, exactly the same performance for both animals.

I haven't shot a sambar stag, or any stag with them but I would also be cautious using them for normal shoulder shots at close range, they are pretty soft. Might be a neck shot only sort of deal or if you have the time and energy make a slower load, down somewhere around 2800fps for a bush load? A solid copper bullet could quite possibly suite your application, keep your ELD-X for longer shots and use a monolithic for the close stuff?

hey bo, Cheers!
indeed, thanks for the info and that is what i would sorta expect! off topic regarding the 7 mag, but my 7-08 has the Woodleigh 140 ppsn in it, i shot it out 450m today with confidence... there is a 162 SST load i use that works with a similiar POI at 100m, and i might use the burris calculater to see what i can come up with although i think the 140 ppsn will still expand reasonable enough at 450 odd.

but that still doesnt do much the 162 eldx in close ha ha! if im going to sit on the cliff edges or steeo valley sides,i often take the 7 mag, its mostly only if ya were walking in or out that the close range comes about- im feeling like giving it a go about 2 inches behind the CREASE you speak of, giving it 10 minutes, an going to find the deer

shoulders, def not. it happens, but over the years i have used a 270 win with litle 130gr soft points for the biggest sambars ive shot actually, placement an since i movedup to better bonded stuff for the little cals as insurance.

the long range game though, wind drift an big shoulders.... can be a issue i spose!

in a long winded way- the 708 is set up now for the 0-400, an the 7 mag is that 300-500/600 m specialist i guess!