6.5 100 grain ELD-VT fragmentation question
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I'm about to try loading some up here soon in a 20" 6.5 Creedmoor barrel. If the ELD-Xs are supposed to expand all the way down to 1600 fps, I'd imagine these new ELD-VTs would start fragmenting right around there or maybe slower. Most folks will probably be shooting them on the fast side, much like VMAXs. Are you going to shoot them out of a really short barrel? Or really far out?
For really explosive results, 2200+. They'll open up and do something down to ~1900 or so reliably.
Nice! Thanks OP for putting that question out there and @Ledzep for the technical answer. That’s actually something Hornady (maybe they already do, I just haven’t looked it up) and other bullet makers should publish. It’s a key planning factor in determining a max range for hunting. Most big game bullets have well known minimum expansion velocities, but varmint bullets seem like they could use more data.
Oh yeah. Two deer and 20 or so pigs so far. Very impressed with results and is my primary bullet for everything except elk. May actually try it next year for elk.
I see your in Georgetown. That's by the Austin area no?
Deer there should be pretty small still. I know the further north we go, they start getting bigger. I ask because I'm in south texas and if this is working for deer for you, they'll prolly work for me too.
I hunt near Sweetwater in West Texas. No doubt would work on your deer. Just make sure it groups well in your rifle. Some recent pigs killed with it….
Pretty much any hit from 1” below diaphragm and up has dropped within 20 yards. Only thing close in terms of terminal performance that I’ve seen is 120 ballistic tips out of a 6.5 rem magnum. That’s over 35 years of hunting pigs and probably close to 2k dead pigs. I’m a fan, especially for the price. Just hope the QC at Hornady holds up.
Not farther than 200m. Was feeling cheeky and missed at 840m…. Past 600m would switch to 143 ELDX. Should hopefully knock some down in the 2-400m range over next couple trips, maybe even out to 600m. Have access to a new property that hasn’t been hunted much and they’ve been coming out into wheat fields during daylight hours.
