338/378 Weatherby Eld X Opinion/Experience

[Gsprague44]

I was curious if anybody has any experience handloading the 270 grain ELD-X in a Mark V 338/378. Also how they perform, I currently shoot the 225 Barnes ttsx and it is devastating on whitetails, coyotes and the groundhogs here in the Midwest but it’s hard to find bullets for often. I know there isn’t a perfect bullet out there for everything but the 225 has the speed, energy and terminal performance but because of the availability I just don’t want to invest in loading that bullet if I can’t find it and have to restart. With the shorter magazine box that the weatherby has I’ll have to keep my coal saami spec which limits my options as far as bullet weights. The 300 grain pills depending on the shape can be tricky to work with, such as heavy mono bullets to get the velocity and not have to single feed. But if anyone has any experience or load data or any thoughts I’d appreciate it.

 

[TennesseeHunter]

I have no experience loading the 338-378 so no help with loading, but I shoot the 340 weatherby a fair amount.

The 270 eldx is pretty good. Not expensive and available and as accurate as youd ever need in my gun at least. I can’t say not to use them cause they’ll just about kill anything you shoot it at but I’ve never been a fan of how they perform. They basically just come apart. Still a lot of bullet regardless though.

Right now I shoot the 213 grain hammer hunter and I like how they perform and they shoot great. Still a decent bc and high velocity. Even with that bullet it barely fits within the case and still goes in the mag so I can see how some heavy bullets would be tough. I do see load data from nosler and Berger for the 338-378 with 300 grain bullets at 3.75” oal so it seems to be doable.

 

[dlmac]

I have 30-378, but don't shoot ELDs in anything any more after 3 complete pass throughs with no expansion. They are accurate in my rifles but I don't trust the to perform. Just my 2 cents.

 

[dgr416]

My 338-378 weatherby accumarks have 3 love 250 gr nosler partitions .I hsve shot .25 inch groups at 100 and 1.25 inch groups at 300 yards .I have a ton of 250 gr winchester combined trchnolgy coatsd bullets like 2000 have not tried them.My problem is I only used r25 powder which I cant find any more .I have some 200 grain loads that have zero recoil kids can shoot it .I want a long range 200 gr bullet for deer not found right one they blow up at 3400 fps .We shot caribou at 450 yards with 250 paetition it fliped them like mack truck .The boy with me accidently shot two with one shot at 450 yards .I usualky make brass from 30-378 or 378 .I need to put my 50 mm scopes on with 6to 24 power and really shot long range My guns hate hornady bullets .You have to fully clesn the rifling every 50 shots or it sprays bullets .Those guns are awesome for Alaska or elk long range .I put mine through total hell the whole time in Alaska and they csme out shinning .

 

[Choupique]

I like the 230 gr ELDX from a win mag. They fly really well. Terminal performance is good. Pretty nasty at close range but they reliably expand down to 1800 fps or so, which is gonna be way way out there from that rifle.

 

[BourbonTrail]

I’m trying 168 & 180 grain Nosler E-Tips in my 300 Weatherby. I haven’t finished load development yet, but they are another stout option. I would also look at Nosler Accubonds. They shoot well in most Weatherby rifles and they don’t explode like traditional cup and core bullets. I shot a whitetail last year at 50 yds with a hornady interlock, and that was like shooting it with a rpg.

 

[dgr416]

For some reason accubons wont work in 338-378 I guess freebore .I tried 225 and 250 .It loves nosler partitions though .I have a bunch of 275 gr speer bullets they are supose to be awesome in these rifles .

 

[Fotis]

Only load I ever use. This is the best group with it so far. Factory Accumark just bedded by me. Took my moose with it.

 

[dgr416]

Those accumarks are totally awesome mine is super accurate too .They are super tough rifles I used mine in Ak for 12 years loved it .

 

[rifletuner]

The EDL-X is definitely going to come apart more than a Barnes X, but for "whitetails, coyotes and the groundhogs" I dont see how you would need any more bullet? Maybe an issue with meat damage on the white tail?

I have only had limited experience with ELD-X bullets, but they are accurate and have killed pretty emphatically.