6.5 100 grain ELD-VT fragmentation question

[232593]

Anyone know what the minimum velocity is for the 100 grain 6.5 ELD-VT to achieve fragmentation?

Thank you

 

[wyliecoyote]

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?

 

[Ledzep]

For really explosive results, 2200+. They'll open up and do something down to ~1900 or so reliably.

 

[wyliecoyote]

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.

 

[smcfarland]

Using the factory loading in my 20” 6.5 Creedmoor and have been very impressed with it. Farthest kill only around 250m so far but wouldn’t hesitate to use out to 600 on pigs. Should get a much larger sample size this fall/winter. 3096 fps avg for me at muzzle.