Thread: ELD-X - 308 - Bush Hunting

Yep. I wore out a 270 barrel solely using the 130gr Corelokt.

Performance wise on game its what I still judge every projectile I try by.

My 308 shot this big yearling on Sunday evening thru the lower neck at 80 yds.Hornady 150gr ssts did the job,deer didn't know what hit it,all legs n steaks recovered.Zero yr 308 at 50yds with any shop ammo,you shouldn't miss in the bush with carefull aiming.

Hey,

I used Sellier & Bellot 180 grs SP with a round nose profile for a long time for this kind of stuff.
They worked to my linking.
Plain and simple.

But (at least for me) there is one other thing:
Do you hunt with dogs at those close ranges and in the brush?

After I saw two very good tracking dogs killed by shrapnel in recent years and from very odd angles in relation to the animal shot, I switched to lead-free non-fragmenting bullets.
By now there are plenty that work very well: Hornady CX, FOX Classic Hunter, Sako Powerhead Blade, RWS HIT... You name them...

Maybe just something to consider.
I would not have believed the stories if I would not have seen them...
Insane, where shrapnel, ricochets or parts of the jacket and core can go to, once they are let loose.

Cheers
Ben

Pretty sure I've got a box of 150 corlokts in the back of the safe. You can have em if you want to give em a try. No use to me haven't owned a 308 in ages.

Must be doing something right bro, that's a good effert for a new hunter

Eld x are a harder bullet, if going slow they have been known to pencil and not expand

My 2c
I have heard .308 ELD-X is a bit hard to shoot close range so an ELD-M is more suited. Personally I have found the Speer Impact to be a great short - mid range bullet.

Originally Posted by Oropi

My 2c
I have heard .308 ELD-X is a bit hard to shoot close range so an ELD-M is more suited. Personally I have found the Speer Impact to be a great short - mid range bullet.

Nah, they are a lr designed bullet, soft and should expand
readily. In cross section they look super similar to the eldm.

Theres been some talk about them behaving a little erratically, in some batches. rumors about some issues with the tips coming off in flight, causing a nose cavity crumple and pencilling.

Certainly behave like a soft bullet with everything I've shot with them

Found this if it helps



Green circle HILAR, red circle classic neck shot I believe

Watching a hornady podcast yesterday they mentioned the eldx opens much more gradually than the likes of a sst or interlock that rapidly expand to maximum in a few inches vs the eldx that expands more continuously as it penitrates.
So possibly a bit less drop em on the spot than a traditional cup and core.

Originally Posted by 308

Green circle HILAR, red circle classic neck shot I believe

Green circle is way too big, extends too far back.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Green circle is way too big, extends too far back.

Attachment 261142

Right you are and it is exactly where Micky was saying top of the front leg then a third of the way up - I guess the green circle was more what people call engine room?

Just thought I would do a follow up post for anyone interested.

So I've shot 3 animals (1 private fallow in bush, 2 public Kaimai bush reds) since this thread and implemented 2 changes:

1. Started shooting further forward and up a bit on the shoulder (based on the 'Hilar')
2. Swapped to 150gr Federal Blues

Couple of things I have noticed:

1. Federal Blues do wayyyyyy more damage than ELD-X's at close range no doubt about it. Good entry and exit wounds with plenty of blood for tracking. I've never had an exit with the ELD-X's in close range.
2. Hilar shot is deadly. Shot a nice Hind in the weekend at 15m ish, didn't go 5 meters then keeled over. Blood gurgling out of the exit wound.

Special thanks to Flyblown for sending me through some information which really helped with shot placement.

Yip definitely some bits of lung in bottom photo. Awesome result. If you want to try something different and happen to see some older Winchester 180 grn PowerPoint on shelf.you will not be unhappy with terminal performance.at bush ranges point of impact in both my .308s was so close to not matter.

Awesome news!

I guess it's a big enough gun after all





the ELDX is probably making a bigger wound internally if it isn't exiting