You're not wrong. Most 7mm Rem Mag rifles have either 24" or 26" barrels. I know for a fact that Hornady and Federal both advertise their velocities with a 24" barrel, so this stuff should have been shooting close to advertised velocity wise. But like I said in this video (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yuwUA4XcteY.html), everything is just slow out of that particular rifle for me, though the Winchester ammo came pretty close to performing as advertised.
I’ve got a savage 111 in 7 mag with a 24 inch barrel and my garmin caught a 3 shot average of 2985 fps with the hornady 162 PH a couple weeks ago. I would’ve shot more if it didn’t cost $50+ a box. I think he’s right some rifles/barrels spit out ammo at different speeds regardless of same barrel length.
I use this bullet for whitetail in my 7 mag. I have harvested mature doe at 120ish broadside with high shoulder shot. It dropped of course. The entrance was fairly harsh and the exit was very big. But I didn't loose much meat to speak of. And there was no lead or jacket the meat we kept anywhere. I took another shot on doe at basically same distance that was slightly quartering. It went in just in front of nearest leg and traveled through lung, liver, a tad of stomach, along the flank and under the skin. We retrieved the bullet in front of opposite back leg just under the hair in the hide. It was very well mushroomed and in tact. It was over 60% weight retention. It was an handload at about 2850 fps MV. I also have a 2925 and 2980fps loads that are great ES/SD and very impressive accuracy for elk. I like the ELDX.
I don’t hunt ballistics gel, but on elk and mule deer it’s gotten the job done - without exception. Tikka T3x. Most shots in the ~200Y range. Last bull was at 190Y, lungs, pass through, ran ~75Y.
Love the gel tests. I think it would be interesting to show different bullet weights from the same cartridge as a comparison. You do a great job with this RU-vid channel and your podcast. Keep up the good work!
This reminds me of an article I read years ago. The author was an African PH but I do not remember his name. I read it somewhere that was reprinted from wherever it was originally published. The main theme of the article was what the author called the “Green Band” principle. The Green Band was the range of impact velocity at which an expanding bullet performs so that is it effective on game animals. The author was specifically referring to jacketed lead core rifle bullets. He claimed, if my memory serves, that for almost all bullets, regardless of weight or caliber, the green band would be between 2000 and 2600 fps. So when shooting at game, one should restrict their shots to whatever distance put their chosen load -cartridge/bullet weight/mv- in the green band. One would not shoot an animal at very close range with a cartridge with a lighter bullet weight and a very high mv. Correspondingly, one would not shoot at game at very long range with a slower cartridge where bullet impact velocity would have dropped below that 2000 or 1800 fps threshold. It seem like from your test, the 162gr ELD-X bullet might have very similar performance. It might be better to use a heavier (and thus slower) 175gr ELD-X in the 7mm magnums and use the 162gr in slower cartridges like the .280, 7mm-08, or 7mm Mauser.
While a few bullets perform well at lower and faster velocities, I think 2000-2600fps is a good rule of thumb for most of them. With regards to the Hornady ELDX, Hornady advertises a 1600fps minimum velocity threshold.
I’ve had good success with 6.5 ELDX 143s 2670FPS MV at 50-125 yards on wild hogs 100-160 pounds. Always pass throughs and most have dropped on the spot from spine hits or neck area and exiting through an eye/cheek etc.
Well lets see my buddy shot an oryx with 162 in an stw at 275 yrds 2 steps done. I shot a huge oryx bull 185 yrds with 6.5x284 143eldx drt. Shot bull elk at 75yrds 200gr eldx from 30-338 , 50yrds done. Bull oryx same gun 75yrds drt. Bull elk with 338-06 , 230gr eldx 5 steps or so. Shot a barbary sheep 6.5-06 @ 130yrds 143eldx, 25 yrds. Shot barbary sheep @ 653 yrds same gun went 30 yrds and down a cliff 200 ft never recovered sheep . My buddy shot an oryx 6.5-06 143 eldx @ 25 yrds 🤯 ran 25ft . All eldx bullets have yet to have one fail to kill an animal very quickly
In my opinion the 7mm Rem Mag is the best caliber in the easy yo find ammo rounds.The 7mm PRC are harder to find It has a little less velocity but the availability of ammo is far better. The military should consider making some of their sniper rifles in 7mm Tem msg.The 7 has far less wind drift than the 300 win mag and 300 short mag.There is 20 inches difference in winddrift at a thousand yards
I shot a 215 lb whitetail buck with the 145 eldx out of a 270 WSM. High shoulder shot at 200 yards. First bullet fmj’d with zero expansion and the bullet hole looked like a small bruise because it sealed up. But since it went through both shoulder blades and under the spine he dropped Finisher shot at 200 completely grenaded and it looked like lead and copper glitter
I’ve heard this a lot about these rounds and the inconsistency with them a buddy of mine year before last shot a big buck with a 6.5 creed and used these pretty close up hit the deer but didn’t kill the deer he never found it took off and was no where to be found he felt it was poor Bullet construction
As Thomas Sowell likes to say, there are no solutions, only trade-offs. I got a terrific load using 160 gr A Frames in my 280 AI, just under 3k fps. I'd also tested 156 gr Oryx, great accuracy, but given the terrible BC on Oryx, I figured I was going to need 3k+ fps to be able to reach out to 500 yards and still maintain that magical 1500 ft-lbs of energy, and I couldn't get any better than about 2850 or so. I ended up going with 175 gr Partitions because Swift and Norma are just unobtanium anymore.; BTW, I talked to the Rhino guys, their shop is just on the south side of JNB, about 10 or 15 minutes from the hotel we're staying in before heading up to Limpopo in August. I'm planning on buying some Rhinos for my 404J, LMK if you want me to get you any. I'll trade you some bullets for a MagnetoSpeed Sport. ;^)
Can't speak for ELDX but had a 165gr SST in 30-06 explode on a Rusa stag at 350 yards. Though not desired, a fragment did go down into the lung which is why I got him.
The only thing i like about this ammo is availability and accuarcy. I really dont like it for hunting though as I've seen unethical kills with it (aoudad, 4 shots, 6.5 creedmore, 360ish yards). the old ram didn't go down until the third shot. 2 shots hit ribs and didn't seem to penetrate. two hit soft tissue when quatering away and did a lot of damage but we only recovered one bullet jacket...the rest was lost somewhere is the chest cavity and we lost a lot of shoulder meat. federal fusion is in this price range or cheaper and the bullet is constructed better. I'm gonna take those out for the tag I drew this year. I have 7 rem mag so hopefully it will perform better.
I like high shoulder shots with eldx. Less loss of front leg meat and fragments more likely to hit spine and less likely stomach. Iv had great results with precision hunter
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog 7mm08 on goats deer and pig and 270win on goats ( destructive!) modest 2700fps on 7mm08 favours eldx for meat preservation. Tikka trx shoots all honady ammo well
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog from 6yds to 220yds. Up close they punch a gaping wound! At 200yds with 7mm 08 they behave great. Nice mushroom with usually core separation, and accurate
Our animals in NZ are soft skinned and suit simple cup n draw or eldx. Maybe some of our southern wapati or huge otago reds might merit a tougher bullet
Awesome! Sounds like you're using this bullet within its ideal velocity range and it's performing fantastically! How many elk have you taken with it? And how many of those bullets exited?
If they would just group in my Tikka T3x. A completely different bullet, the Barnes TTSX 150’s group all day around 1/2”. I got 2805 fps out of my 23” Tikka barrel. FYI, I cut an inch off for a muzzle break.
Well, the 150gr Barnes TTSX is also an outstanding bullet (Hunting Guns 101 subscribers will receive access to my gel test of that ammo). If that stuff shoots well in your rifle, I wouldn't worry about the Hornady Precision Hunter ammo and would use the Barnes ammo with confidence.
Stick with that ttsx. You won't have all those chips in your meat. It will go through the animal in most cases. Be careful not to kill what's behind it.
That TTSX ammo is superior anyway, substantially. If you really want to try another great factory ammo for 7RemMag, search Norma 165 grain Bondstrike 7RemMag. Basically a near clone of an ELDX or ELDM bullet but bonded. No downside
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog She likes the 168 Berger Classic Hunter loaded by Federal. It shoots .75 with a velo of 2975. I started to use the Hendershots 175 Elite Hunter load in Lapua brass. That load is under .5”, velo of 2750. Another load it hates is the Federal Terminal Ascent. I wish it didn’t because that would be my preferred based on bullet construction.
Man, idk. That would certainly kill something quick if you didn’t hit a bone, but for me, I would use a monolithic or a north fork soft point . I have some 160 grain north forks loaded in my 7mag for this upcoming season.
You’re bang on about the ammo being used at longer range . These things blow into sand size pieces on elk sized game . I read the box and expected the weight retention the box said . It’s not the case at all at 300 and under . Got the job done but a quartering shot could be disastrous
Have a weatherby MK v and a Kimber I'm 7mm rem, , both with 26 inch barrels. Shooting this ammo , it was slower by an average of 80 ft/sec, low was 2863.
just one more reason I swear by federal fusion. of course if that lead is in the lungs or neck, who cares. most important, it will kill game. i have seen this with .270 win and cup and core bullets on whitetail my whole life. rem win and Hornady. 130's don't make it through all the time but the deer is dead on its feet. bullet under the skin sometimes, some jacket in the wound. If the deer wasn't shot in the shoulder, I haven't had to chase much lead, nothing like the gel test might suggest. but the bullets are 55-65% retained weight if they don't fail. 150's, I have never gotten one back to tell you about. some of that is good fortune. my dad would say better aim 😀. a 130 grain to the shoulder at 15 yards is a tragedy. bone and lead through the whole deer. i didnt take the shot but i saw the, carcass. I would rather put a hole through one shoulder than eat tag stew, so I switched to fusions so I sleep better if/when I decide to shoot one in the shoulder. spoiler. my father will say I missed. 😆
I've tested 150gr Federal Fusions in my 308 and they mushroomed great and retained nearly all their mass (over 90% weight retention), but I wasn't impressed with their penetration. Certainly enough penetration for a whitetail most of the time, but I'd like a little more penetration just to be on the safe side. Sounds like the 150gr Fusions from a 270 worked well for you with exits? And the 130gr Fusions exited less often?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog yes but the 150's didn't have to be fusions to get the pass through. I would still see evidence of bullet failure occasionally. a jacket in the wound here, large lead fragment there. I switched to the fusion 150's and I've never found a separated jacket.
Sounds like bullshido to me. How did you know it shattered on a caribou spine? Did you find the caribou? How was your shot placement on the spine at 212 yds? Pretty poor marksmanship to assert that other hunters are non ethical for using a particular bullet brand. I don't put much weight in comments like this.
212 and you spine an animal .... seriously come on serious would expect YOU sir especialy you to do better . But did you recover animal or did you just hit above spine or just below spine in no mans land. I know shit happens but if no recovery of animal its all speculation. Cause if you read my post i have taken african plains game easily with eldx bullets and an oryx i promise is way way more tough than a bou , its not even close .
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog thank you for the videos that you make. Because of you and a lot of the other content providers, I’m going to make a lot fewer newbie mistakes.
You should do a detailed review and gel test with Federal Terminal Ascent. I recently shot an Axis buck at 50 yards with the ELD-X. My experience was using a 6.5 Creedmoor and the bullet had an estimated impact velocity of 2450 fps. The deer only made it 40 yards but no exit and zero blood trail. Luckily he was easy to find. I would say the bullet did its job since he didn’t go far but I prefer an exit wound because some of the areas I hunt are very thick. I have recently switched to the Federal Terminal Ascent but have yet to take an animal with one. I’ve seen a lot of positive feedback on these bullets and the bullet design is great in my opinion.
I used this exact ammo and caliber to take a black bear that ended up scoring Boone and Crockett. First shot was around 275 yards and dropped it. After closing the distance about 25 yards I could see movement so took a second shot to make sure it didn’t get up and run off. One of the shots was a pass through and I found the other round just under the skin on the far side.
Yes and no. It would certainly be tougher, especially if the bullet encountered a bone. One of the interesting things I've learned doing all of these tests is that there is a BIG difference in the performance of different bullet types. Not all bonded bullets are created equal. Neither are all copper bullets equal. Or cup and core bullets, etc.
@Thebiggamehuntingblog the bondstrike is very accurate. It has a high bc and seems very consistent for factory ammo. I don't reload cuz I want to stay married😉. I have not had a chance to use it on game as I can't get drawn. I will get to test it this fall in wyoming. Another norma bullet used worldwide is the oryx. It's a bonded soft point.
I believe this bullet is great at longer range but close, inside of 200 yds, will come apart if it hits shoulder bone of elk or moose, resulting in failure to properly penetrate
@@ThebiggamehuntingblogI can chime in here. Went on a hog hunt in South Georgia and a friend was shooting 30-378. The 150lb pig he shot in the shoulder area looked like a bomb went off. No penetration (kind of to be expected) but it did break the shoulder/leg. Hog required another shot slightly farther back to be dispatched but still ran 75-100ish yards. Shot distance was MAYBE 30 yards.
I just got into reloading a few months ago but unfortunately I work away from home majority of my time and have plenty factory 7wsm ammo so most my time has gone into my 25wssm
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog yes similar, the 270 bullets held together pretty well. I'd have to go back and rewatch his video but it was good. I have about 5 cases of it in 270 Win I got for $24/box at auction
