I guess I'm a born bullet tester. Always have to try the new ones. I just saw them introduced by one of my suppliers. I have a fall hunt for a smallish big game animal. My SSK Sav. .250 AI did fantastic on my ID rockchuck hunt, so why not?
In testing, I use a new bullet on grondhogs first, then deer at multiple ranges.
A cruise through the local airport where I have exclusive rights showed a 'hog sitting up looking at me at 189 yds. Here's the exit, a little larger than the 85 BTs I use mostly
The hit was a little lower than I wanted. I forgot that at the range the ELD-Xs with their super BCs shot about 1 1/2/-2" lower than everything else.
A short time later an other volunteer showed around 240 yds. I got the trajectory right and hit the larger blood vessels in the neck
Looked good so far. I got my first deer permits, so I'm a happy camper. The first deer I saw was walking through some belly high corn. I hit low in the left shoulder and exited behind the right shoulder. She ran 50 yds. The top of the heart was hit. There was a 1 1/2" exit and 4" of internal damage. It was raining moderately, so one photo of the exit was all I did. I was soaked by the time I got the 350 yds. back to my bronco
The next volunteer was at 257 yds. I double lunged her after going through one shoulder. She ran 40 yds. Here's photos of the entrance, exit, and internal damage
I went to a newly planted soybean field. It They were only 2" high. but the deer were eating away. The farthest one was 417 yds. I'd never shot a deer beyond 250 with my .250. I chickened out and put a 110 gr. AB in. The deer dropped at the shot! The hit was at the top of the shoulder blade. There was a 1" exit and 2 1/2" of internal damage. Wow!
I've taken 5 more deer with the .250. Three were out to 279 yds. with the ELD-X. All ran 50-70 yds. Two were taken with a 100 gr. NPT. out to 179 yds. One dropped. One ran 40 yds.
The damage on all the ELD-Xs were like the photo. The damage from the PTs were about 1/3 less.
So, is the .250 going to be my "new" big game gun this year. Undecided. I don't like my animals to run much. More testing will be done.
I am impressed with the damage this little bullet does. An interesting note. All other ELD-Xs have required fast twists, 1:8 or so. But, on the Nosler box for the .25, it says for 1:10" barrels.
