Hornady ELD-X

[ZWCoffindaffer]

I really like Hornady products. I've never been terribly dissatisfied with anything that has their name on it. They make good factory ammunition and good reloading components. However, their SST bullets didnt down game the way I'd like for it too, I had some bullets totally explode on deer from carious calibers at various distances , and their BTSP doesnt shoot as accurately as I'd like for my rifle to. so I've always leaned on Nosler for my bullets. However I'm interested in the new ELD-X

Has anyone gotten their hands on a thing of these bullets yet? They seem like the real deal. I'm currently biased towards Nosler Accubonds and Partitions for sub-moa hunting loads that down game fast, but would really like to give the ELD-X a try to see if they live up to what Hornady has pepped them up to be.

Any reviews from people who have used them would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SwaneeSR]

I noticed that ELD-X's are becoming available. I have used Nossler BT's and Hndy SST's and AMAX. I have not had any problems with bullet performance. I have been loading some Barnes TTSX's and I am developing these for hunting loads to see if these perform well on game. They seem to shoot well, but are expensive.

It is my understanding that the ELD-X only improves long range accuracy 300+ yards.

 

[jmr40]

SST's are soft bullets. Nothing wrong with that if they are used correctly, in fact if they are used right they tend to put game down faster than many other bullets. They are not a good choice for guys who want to go light for caliber and take shots from bad angles. Especially at close range.

The very limited reports I've read about the ELD's is that they perform similar to SST's. But let me emphasize. I've only read of a couple of guys actually taking game and it is too early to say for sure. Both SST's and ELD's are designed for long range shooting. The softer design aids expansion at longer ranges where bullet speed is much slower. A harder bullet such as the Barnes TTSX might perform better at close range, but may not expand at distance. The softer SST bullet may well over expand at close range, but perform better at 300 yards or farther.

It is my understanding that the ELD-X only improves long range accuracy 300+ yards.

Not accuracy, but speed. The muzzle velocity of a round isn't important, it is impact velocity that matters. More aerodynamic bullets are moving much faster down range. If you compare a 180 gr Nosler Partition (.474 BC) @ 3000 fps from a 300 WM to one of the 212 gr ELD's (.626 BC) from a 30-06 @ 2650 fps, the 300 WM has the edge in energy at the muzzle. But the more aerodynamic bullet from the 30-06 will be tied at only 200 yards and at 250 yards or farther the 30-06 will have more energy.

Of course you could also load the ELD's in a 300 for increased performance. But this is a good example of why bullets with high BC's can be an advantage even at moderate ranges.

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

One thing they supposedly improved that I'm intrigued by is the tip. Supposedly it wont melt at high velocity and temperature out of the magnum calibers like traditional ballistic tips have been reported to do.

Every animal takes a shot differently. You can shoot two deer in the identical same spot at same distance, same gun, etc and they will have different reactions, I've never had an unrecovered animal from sst's but I have had "exploded" bullets and had deer run a long way with minimal bleeding due to small entry no exit. Never that problem with nosler. Could just be coincidence. Who knows?

Either way I will try loading some ELD-X when they come available in .284/7mm