123 eld-m for varmints

[Kilco]

With my testing thus far using the 123 eld-m going 2460 from a 16" tube, I can safely say they expand exactly like the AMAX.

Few of my hunting friends in the U.K were claiming that they were disappointed in the 140 ELD-M as a replacement of the beloved 140 AMAX round because they were not expanding with the same veracity.

We do have the 143 eld-x now, but apparently it's harder to get bullets over there labeled as "expanding hunting bullets" compared to match bullets?

These are three different examples of groundhogs take. Anywhere from 100-200 yards. Exact same expansion and carnage with all three. Looking forward to putting a couple coyores down with these.

[ty_hooper12]

How do you think the 123 ELD-M would handle whitetail? Where I'm at in Texas I can get the ELD-M a lot easier than AMAX or SST, and for cheaper at most places. I'm new to the forum and just recently finished my Grendel, running an 18" AR Performance barrel, and I'll be taking shots on deer around 200 yards or under, so any help would be great!

[Sticks]

Amax is discontinued (converted into ELD).

You can get anything via online shopping.

Ammoseek is your friend for finding reloading components also.

People swear by SST for hunting but the bottom line is how well the darn thing shoots out of your gun. I can't get it to group consistently under an inch, where ELD I can get below .5, and the occasional ragged hole. But I don't hunt anything but paper (targets and 1 - 1.5 MOA steel plate targets out to 900.

Doublenaughtspy (career pig hunter on this forum) tried ELD and was not impressed with it for hunting, not consistent expansion/damage. IIRC he swears by SST.

[Kilco]

How do you think the 123 ELD-M would handle whitetail? Where I'm at in Texas I can get the ELD-M a lot easier than AMAX or SST, and for cheaper at most places. I'm new to the forum and just recently finished my Grendel, running an 18" AR Performance barrel, and I'll be taking shots on deer around 200 yards or under, so any help would be great!

Based on LRRPF52s recovered 123 eld-m from a whitetail kill, I believe they would be great for whitetail. That's what I'll be using this November for my hunting season.

I'll agree that the 123 eld didn't perform as well as the 123 SST on hogs with DNS testing, but hogs are ALOT tougher than whitetail. And regardless the eld performed respectable, just not as consistent as the SST.

[ty_hooper12]

Thank you both for the input, I really appreciate it! Like I said, I'm new to the forum and to the Grendel, but I already love it, just have a lot to learn still.

[LRRPF52]

Based on LRRPF52s recovered 123 eld-m from a whitetail kill, I believe they would be great for whitetail. That's what I'll be using this November for my hunting season.

I'll agree that the 123 eld didn't perform as well as the 123 SST on hogs with DNS testing, but hogs are ALOT tougher than whitetail. And regardless the eld performed respectable, just not as consistent as the SST.

Must have been some other member's recovered 123gr ELD-M from a whitetail, not mine.

[Kilco]

Must have been some other member's recovered 123gr ELD-M from a whitetail, not mine.

Not you personally, but I thought I remembered a post where you had a picture of the actual bullet a friend sent/gave you of a 123 eld-m recovered from a whitetail kill?

[Kilco]

Must have been some other member's recovered 123gr ELD-M from a whitetail, not mine.

Haha found it!!!!

http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?14668-123-SST-gel-test