.308 Hornady ELD-x for Oryx

[Hilarion Bibicoff]

This is actually for a NM Oryx tag, but my rifle loves the Hornady ELD-X 178gr (.308 rifle). Wanted to know if this would be sufficient for Oryx, or just say screw it and use the 300WM instead.

Accuracy and confidence in both set ups are equal.

 

[CBH Australia]

This is actually for a NM Oryx tag, but my rifle loves the Hornady ELD-X 178gr (.308 rifle). Wanted to know if this would be sufficient for Oryx, or just say screw it and use the 300WM instead.

Accuracy and confidence in both set ups are equal.

My out fitter provided hand loads using Hornady SST projectiles for everything including Kudu

 

[Tgood1]

ive only used eld-x in my .260 for deer mostly. I would not recommend personally. Too many needed additional shots for my liking.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I have a lot of one shot kills with SST and ELD-X Bullets. Having said that, I have never owned a 308 and would use a bit more gun.

 

[shootist~]

The 308 will be fine assuming the usual caveats (shot placement, etc). The 300 will obviously have more reach and distances will likely be on the long side. (I assume you are headed to White Sands.)

A fellow shooter and our ex club president was able to succesfully hunt NM Oryx on private land over a number of years. Several different calibers used with 6.5 CM and factory 143 gr ELD-X being the smallest. His more recent was with a 280 AI.

I should note he was (and still is afaik) a national level competitive shooter in several disciplines and sponsored by Hornady.

 

[Olivier]

I am using ELD-X (max 500m) for Chamois and Wild Boars with very efficient and explosive effects.
I would not use it on games > 100Kgr, but rather Barnes TTSX 168gr (max 300m)

 

[Andrew62]

Your rifle and that ammo will work perfectly!!!

 

[TnKen]

I have used the eld x out of my 7mm rem mag for elk, deer, and antelope. They are fine for the smaller game, but lacked penetration on the elk. I would not recommend them for anything over deer size, at least from the magnum.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Using a 178gr in your 308 could be sufficient, but you also have a 300WM.

I'd recommend the 300WM with 178 grain bullets. Only because, IIRC, my PH had his 300WM on hand when we hunted eland and oryx.

I hunted my oryx in Africa during a combination DG and PG hunts and used my 375H&H with 300 grain, Hornady DGX bullets

 

[mdwest]

My wife took her gemsbok/oryx with a 308 shooting 168gr TTSX… went down within 20 yards of where it got hit, no problem at all..

That said, I haven’t been a big fan of eld-x.. for shooting at distance I suppose they are nice (generally very accurate out of most rifles)… but their ability to kill quickly doesn’t seem to be there when compared to something like TTSX, CX, etc… I’ve seen too many guys have deer and pigs and PG run much further much more frequently with ELD-X… so I’ve avoided them..

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I think you're fine. I killed the big-bodied bull in my avatar with a 180 grain Accubond fired from my .300 Savage. Distance was 170 yards. It did just peachy.

 

[coreydb]

I killed my Oryx with my .308 win, using 180 gr. ELDX.....Texas heart shot that followed the right rib cage to the right shoulder, it the bone and went to the left, shredding the heart in the process (Ripley's Believe it or Not). It's more than enough caliber and bullet. I named the trophy Tex-ass.

 

[pilar]

I will defer to those who use them , I have only cleaned a couple deer shot with them in 6.5 cm and it was a bloody mess inside and on the exit side .
I use 150gr Norma oryx in my .308 and .270win and don’t have a bloody mess

 

[Matfarnsworth]

I have used that exact combo one one big female at just over 200 yards and it worked perfectly.

Also used the 168 eld m on a large bull at just over 500 yards with perfect results.

 

[DocHolliday]

The .308 will be fine. On one of my trips, there was a guy in camp shooting a .308. He had no issues. IIRC, he even took an eland. I have no experience with that bullet. Just remember that most everything over there is built stouter than they look and can absorb some punishment-and lead. I'm a firm believer in the A Frame or North Forks heavy for caliber. In the '06, 200 gr AF's worked very well (including a >200m shot on a big kudu bull).

 

[RedTag]

These discussions really should be framed around projectile construction, target resistance, and impact velocity. The .308 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum will shoot the same projectile but at different velocities, so the real difference is going to be the distance to the intended target as it relates to the impact velocity. In plain terms the magnum will get you more distance. How much more distance depends on the projectile construction and the intended effect on the specific game being hunted, in other words the target resistance. In this instance I’d say your .308 Winchester with the 178gr ELD-X at mv ~2600 fps would be totally sufficient on this game weight up to 200 yards, keeping an impact velocity above 2200 fps. The .300 Winchester Magnum with the same projectile starting out at ~2950 fps can ethically get you out to 400 yards (if you can do your part) with comparable impact velocity. I think this is the practical limit for this particular projectile design on this game weight.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

This is actually for a NM Oryx tag, but my rifle loves the Hornady ELD-X 178gr (.308 rifle). Wanted to know if this would be sufficient for Oryx, or just say screw it and use the 300WM instead.

Accuracy and confidence in both set ups are equal.

@Hilarion Bibicoff
The 308 is more than enough gun for oryx.
My son shot his with a 308 and a 159gn accubond travelling at 2,900fps from his 08.
Don't know about the ELDX they are supposed to be good but at closer ranges they do tend to seperate but hey dead is dead.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I killed my Oryx with my .308 win, using 180 gr. ELDX.....Texas heart shot that followed the right rib cage to the right shoulder, it the bone and went to the left, shredding the heart in the process (Ripley's Believe it or Not). It's more than enough caliber and bullet. I named the trophy Tex-ass.

@coreydb
Looks more like you hit it with multiple shots instead. That bullet must have been coming apart as it skipped along the ribs.
Bob

 

[Tgood1]

I would throw 200 eld x bullets in river to have 2 accubond bullets of same weight, no comparison

 

[dchum]

If you can dial for the .308 the you will be fine.
There can be some long shots on that hunt you are embarking on.

If a 300 win is easier for you to point and shoot out to 350-375 yards without dialing than maybe take it?

Eld-x is a bit soft for my liking. But at 178gr the velocities will be mild enough that it should preform well on that oryx for you.