Hornady ELD-X

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anyone have any real world target or hunting experiences with these bullets yet? I just loaded my first 10 last night for 7mm rm and have high hopes. I've always been happy with what Hornady bullets do to a target but not so much with their hunting performance. Hoping these things will be the best of both worlds as advertised.
 
Im sure someone will come along with info, i know Morrey likes the 178s in his guns. Ive got the eld match bullets in .30 but havent shot them.

If you dont mind me asking what issues have you had with hornadys hunting bullet performance?
 
I shoot the 200 grain in my 308 Win and 300 WSM. I like them very much. I haven't used them on game yet, hopefully tomorrow will change that.

308 Win 225 yards

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300WSM 340 yards
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I plan to use them for Elk but maybe tomorrow I can put them to work on deer and recover some bullets.
 
I don't like the accuracy of their btsp and I love the way sst shoots but they never leave a good blood trail and I've had quite a few bullets explode and deer run way further than they should after being shot. Granted I've only used them on about 4 deer ranging from 50-300 yards, none of them were desirable results but all were clean shots. I went back to hunting with nosler partition but am excited to try the eld since they are supposed to work efficiently at any reasonable range
 
I've loaded some 200 gr bullets in my 300 WSM with excellent accuracy. Not shot any game, but the word I'm reading on the internet from those who have indicate that they perform just like the SST's. Which is neither good nor bad. The SST's and ELD's both expand quickly which means over expansion at close range if fired at magnum speeds. But performance should be good at longer ranges after the bullet has slowed down. Or at closer ranges from non-magnum rounds like 308, or 7-08.
 
I don't like the accuracy of their btsp and I love the way sst shoots but they never leave a good blood trail and I've had quite a few bullets explode and deer run way further than they should after being shot. Granted I've only used them on about 4 deer ranging from 50-300 yards, none of them were desirable results but all were clean shots. I went back to hunting with nosler partition but am excited to try the eld since they are supposed to work efficiently at any reasonable range
So try a tougher bullet, I don't like the sst out of a 338 wm at 50 yds, your velocity is way higher, splat! Just like bts outta a .243 at 50. At 300 yds they should be great, love the partitions myself, truly I do, but try interbonds or gmxs for your close range work. And accuracy.....I have a softspot for a Sierra on that one, but you shouldn't give up on hornady just yet, they do get the job done, and only an A-frame or partition will ever be a partition, but many animals have dropped to a hornady load.
 
My girlfriend's foster son works for Hornady. I saw him last May and he is really excited about them. According to him the performance is spectacular.
 
Contrary to Hornady's claims, the ELD-X didn't change much in the shooting world. I am sure it is a good bullet for accurate shooting and will make a difference at longer ranges, but it probably won't make any difference of note for hunters at typical hunting distances.

My hunting partner has shot two hogs with his 6.5 Creedmore ELD-X 143 gr. ammo. He is quite pleased with it. Both were under 200 yards.
 
I'd love to try the 178g in my .308 but haven't had any luck finding them in stock
 
I've shot 120 rounds of factory 6.5Creedmoor ELD, and 100 rounds of the factory ELDx stuff ("Precision Hunter" its called) from my Ruger Precision. Accuracy at 100 yards was nice, but further out the Berger 140gr Hybrid handload was more consistent. This was likely due to the higher velocity making the rounds less susceptible to varying wind. I've been messing with some ELDx handloads now, and the bullets WILL shoot as well as a Berger up close. I shot a .327" 4-shot group off a backpack (forgot to bring my scope back to zero after shooting at 650yd..the first shot was over the top of the target and I only had five of this particular load to try).

I'll report back once I take the hotter 143eldx loads out - I am sure they will do well.

Note on the old Amax bullets: I shot a mule deer with a 208gr Amax out of my old 308win (2550ft/s at the muzzle) @280 yards and the animal walked maybe 12 or 15 feet before collapsing. Shot passed all the way through and hit both lungs and a chunk of the heart.
 
Just a follow up on the 200gr ELD-X for hunting. At an impact velocity of roughly ~2530 ft/s a broadside, high shoulder shot will penetrate two deer standing 10 feet apart. I didn't get any photos as it was already getting dark and I had two deer to dress and haul to the truck. The 200 gr is way too much bullet for small whitetail does.
 
I got my hands on a box of 178g .30 cal I want to try in my .308

Anyone had a favorite load as a starting point?
 
Just a follow up on the 200gr ELD-X for hunting. At an impact velocity of roughly ~2530 ft/s a broadside, high shoulder shot will penetrate two deer standing 10 feet apart. I didn't get any photos as it was already getting dark and I had two deer to dress and haul to the truck. The 200 gr is way too much bullet for small whitetail does.


I assume that was out of the 300 WSM at range? That would be pretty stout for a .308, even at the muzzle.

I've had some of the 178's on hand for several months, but haven't had a chance to work up any loads. I've read that the loads run pretty close to the Amaxes, so I'll probably start with data for that bullet.
 
I got my hands on a box of 178g .30 cal I want to try in my .308

What? How? Where?! You can't just drop that on us and not say how you got them. Load data is avaliable on the Hornady website, but I use A-max data interchangeably in 200/208 grain.

I assume that was out of the 300 WSM at range? That would be pretty stout for a .308, even at the muzzle.

Yes, the 300 WSM was the culprit mv@2840ft/s.
 
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