my first 6.5 G buck with ELD match bullet

[BL2551]

It's only been about a month since I built my 6.5 grendel upper to be my designated deer rifle. Saturday was the rifle opener here in MO and I was really hoping to get a chance to find out if the new go to rifle was everything I've been dreaming about over the past few years. Well only an hour into the season I got my opportunity. I had to take an unsupported standing shot at 100 yards, with it very slightly quartered away, almost perfect broadside. At first I thought I missed, since the deer ran off with no noticeable problem. I heard a crash that I was afraid was simply him busting through some brush, but I decided to go look anyway. He only made it about 30 yards. Bullet hit about 4" behind the front shoulder, and the bullet passed through the back side ribs, stopping inside the far shoulder. The lungs looked like they were put through a blender. I was able to find the bullet jacket inside the far shoulder. Needless to say I am now a huge fan of the 6.5 G & the Hornady Black with ELDm bullets. So glad I finally built it and had a chance to try it out. If anyone wishes to see pics I have some I could post.

[CJW]

Post pictures please

[BL2551]

1st is obviously the whole buck.
2nd pic is the entrance hole just under skin
3rd is entrance hole after another layer removed
4th is the exit hole where it exited the ribs before stopping inside the back side shoulderblade.
5th is the jacket I recovered

buck down 1.jpgentrance wound 1.jpgentrance hole 2.jpgexit hole 1.jpgjacket side 1.jpg

[gwtx]

congrats on the buck and the pics. You're hooked

[BL2551]

congrats on the buck and the pics. You're hooked

yea, I'm more bow hunter than gun hunter, but when it's rifle season, I see no reason to use anything else. Took me about 3 years of wanting to build it before I finally did it. Now that I've tried it, I'm a firm believer. We have an antlerless season early december, and now I'm looking for places I can take it out again!

[BL2551]

Nice looking buck, is that a blacktail?

I just sold 2 boxes of ELD-X for 308, as we can't use lead in California anymore.

KW

its a MO whitetail

[LRRPF52]

Congrats on harvesting that buck.

123gr ELD-M is a bit softer than 123gr SST, so it provides rapid expansion but still with enough sectional density and core weight to drive deep penetration and continued tissue destruction along the wound path.

What barrel length do you have?

[sundowner]

Congrats on the buck .

[Jake TN]

Nice buck. Congrats

[Double Naught Spy]

But everybody knows you can't hunt with match bullets, LOL.

Nice report. Thanks for sharing.

[Timitus]

Nice hunt. The Grendel can do some amazing things for what it is.

[BL2551]

Congrats on harvesting that buck.

123gr ELD-M is a bit softer than 123gr SST, so it provides rapid expansion but still with enough sectional density and core weight to drive deep penetration and continued tissue destruction along the wound path.

What barrel length do you have?

Mine is a 16" barrel. I knew that would be more than enough performance for the distances I would ever be presented with deer hunting here in MO. I was actually surprised I needed to take a 100 yard shot. I can't imagine any place I have or would hunt that could even possibly present me with a shot greater than 300 yds. But, I will eventually be taking it to a range where I can test out my target shooting range as well.

[BL2551]

But everybody knows you can't hunt with match bullets, LOL.

Nice report. Thanks for sharing.

Ha! of course you can't... but I saw enough anecdotal evidence to believe it was worth a try. What I've heard others say is now what I've seen with my own eyes. I know for sure if I go through ribs on a broadside shot I will destroy the lungs of any deer unfortunate enough to step in front it it. I do wonder with the ELD-m if I hit shoulder blade or other heavier bone, will it just explode and fail to penetrate or will it still get sufficient penetration to result in a fast ethical kill... that I don't yet know.