178 ELDX 30-06 CAL -NON EXPANDING

[Teckel Hunter]

Hi, wondering if anybody has had any issues with the Hornady 178grn bullets not expanding on impact . I shot a stag a couple of nights ago 250m full broadside shot on the shoulder, shot looked good reaction good, friend who was with me confirmed the same, deer looked hard hit but followed up with another shot, same good reaction, but the deer ran another 50 meters where I put another in, deer dropped on the spot. when we got to the deer and inspected the shot placement was good first 3 shots about 20mm apart good shots.
when we gralloched and inspected the carcass, the shots had gone though the lungs and existed the body but the bullets never expanded ,the same size pencil size hole right through even going through the shoulder. has anybody had any similar issues, I have shot plenty of roe with no issues. these have been a very accurate round and have heard nothing but good review of the ELD x bullets
load data
30-06
Hornady 178 ELDX
Running at 2725

thanks M

 

[Biathlonjimmy]

I had the opposite though I was pushing them 450fps faster. At your MV I have had excellent results. Strange.

 

[scrumbag]

Bad batch maybe? have you changed boxes?

 

[Lateral]

I first used them in SA, on plains game, 300wm.

Dropped Wildebeest, Waterbuck, big Kudu on the spot, zero runners, not even a step.

But I hit an Impala on the shoulder, we could see blood, it barely reacted, and started to walk off. A second shot behind the shoulder dropped it.

I then had it happen to me in the UK, on a cracking Roe buck, hit the shoulder, could see blood, but this time, it ran some 150m back into the wood, with no visible injury.

Looked for it for 2 hours, with no luck.

I have somewhat lost faith in it, unlike the 143’s, in my 6.5PRC, which have never let me down night shooting boar.

 

[Teckel Hunter]

Bad batch maybe? have you changed boxes?

Bad batch maybe? have you changed boxes?

Maybe, the last batch I made about 150, as I had a long range day with Richard Utting. its the first big animal i have shot with them tbh.

 

[Teckel Hunter]

I first used them in SA, on plains game, 300wm.

Dropped Wildebeest, Waterbuck, big Kudu on the spot, zero runners, not even a step.

But I hit an Impala on the shoulder, we could see blood, it barely reacted, and started to walk off. A second shot behind the shoulder dropped it.

I then had it happen to me in the UK, on a cracking Roe buck, hit the shoulder, could see blood, but this time, it ran some 150m back into the wood, with no visible injury.

Looked for it for 2 hours, with no luck.

I have somewhat lost faith in it, unlike the 143’s, in my 6.5PRC, which have never let me down night shooting boar.

they are an incredibly accurate load. But now I have it in my head that they have let me down its making me rethink

 

[Lateral]

they are an incredibly accurate load. But now I have it in my head that they have let me down its making me rethink

I've just loaded some Barnes 175LRX to try. Also very accurate, but I'll see !