Hornady ELD-X Official Thread

[Don Titus]

Calculated the stability factor for the 200 and 212 ELD-X in 300 WM in my 700, 1-10" using Berger's Formula...200 is 1.52 and 212 is 1.47 ...anything above 1.5 is considered stable, so the 212 is close enough to not be a problem. So far my groups with the 200's have been noticeably better (.50 to .80) than the 212's (1" to 1.25"),but I'm still refining my loads including COAL so it's too early to draw any conclusions.

Was planning to use the 212's for moose this fall, but I'm sure the 200's will be more than adequate if I decide to go that route.

Comments welcome...

 

[etisll40]

following

 

[7mmFPC]

Do you know what velocity your getting there. I have a t3 in a 30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag I want to try running these in.

I do not have exact velocities as of right now. I'm projecting 2550 to 2650 based off of other data I have. I had absolutely no pressure signs at the current load or the next load up I had tested at 52.5 the groups started opening up so I came back to the 52.3. I'm going to shoot a few strings of these. If my ES is low I will probably stay put. If not then i'm going to work up to higher velocities.

 

[7mmFPC]

My thoughts were the 200 grain would be almost perfect in my 30-06. If I can get them to 2600 fps or above. I would be happy.. Thanks for sharing.

I have used 168 ttsx for the past few years with great results but I just had to give these a try. I do not shoot this particular rifle past 300 while hunting so if I am between 2500 and 2600 they will work just fine. If its faster then i will take it.

 

[7mmFPC]

Finally got to work up some loads on the 200 gr ELD-X in my 300 win mag.
It's a Rem 700p with a Hunters brake on it and has been gone through pretty heavily. Has a Nightforce 5.5-22x56.

Groups tightened up right around 2900 fps. Shot 4 different loads varied from 2840 to 3000 fps with 1.25 down to 0.42 up to 1.5" groups at 100 yards.

We will shoot them out to 1200 this month and see how they are doing. I'll post some groups and results from 400 out.

This was the bread winner and looks pretty solid.

200 gr ELD-x
76.5 gr H1000
WLRM primer
3.555" OAL (.030 off lands)
2903 fps (average)


View attachment 57669

My 300 wm buddies are having good results with H1000 as well.

 

[Don Titus]

My 300 wm buddies are having good results with H1000 as well.

For the 200's I'm using 73.5/H4831sc which gave me 2858 fps using WLR primers. Am now at COL of 3.565" (ogive is .015 off lands). I'm going to nudge her another .005 and and then try 215M's and see what happens. Hornady's published Max is 73.8 gr.

For the 212's I using 70gr. of RL22 which gave me 2766 fps using WLR's...COL is 3.640 (ogive ...015" off the lands). Will "nudge" this one a little tighter as well. Then try 215m's. Hornady's published Max for the 212 is 70.6.

Thanks for your info...I will keep you updated re above.

 

[MTLIVIN]

I did a quick ladder test w the magnetospeed attached to my buddies 300 WBY with the 200 ELD-X, Retumbo & 215M primers (26" barrel). I found the velocity to be very close to the Hodgdon manual for 200 accubonds (24" test barrel in manual). No real pressure signs from 79.0 to a max of 84.5 grains with velocity steady around max and jumping when I loaded 1 grain over to 3050 fps. Nothing else to report now, waiting on a new stock before shooting groups.

 

[Don Titus]

I did a quick ladder test w the magnetospeed attached to my buddies 300 WBY with the 200 ELD-X, Retumbo & 215M primers (26" barrel). I found the velocity to be very close to the Hodgdon manual for 200 accubonds (24" test barrel in manual). No real pressure signs from 79.0 to a max of 84.5 grains with velocity steady around max and jumping when I loaded 1 grain over to 3050 fps. Nothing else to report now, waiting on a new stock before shooting groups.

Interesting! I have been trying to get info on Retumbo loads for the ELD-X bullets but so far, haven't found. Hornady told me they haven't tried it for the ELD-X line. I thought about "interpolating" Retumbo data for the ABLR 200 and 210 bullets but I don't want to use "guesswork" when I'm hand loading.

 

[Pdvdh]

I thought about "interpolating" Retumbo data for the ABLR 200 and 210 bullets but I don't want to use "guesswork" when I'm hand loading.

That's half the fun of it...

 

[Engineering101]

Just for the heck of it I ran a quick incremental powder test with, of all things, a 30-06 and the 178 grain ELD-X and RL-26. Turned out the best 3-shot group was the top load of 62.0 grains of RL-26. Group was 0.766" at 200 yards. Average velocity was 2,908 fps (3,342 ft lbs) which is smokin' in an 06. No pressure signs though. I'm loading up 6 more of these to confirm it wasn't a fluke. It probably wasn't though since the group at 61.0 grains measured 1.359" and that group was tighter than the one at 60.0 grains so there was a nice tightening in group size as the powder was increased. Barrel is a 26" Kreiger on a Sako L61R action. I used a COAL of 3.395" which is a jump of 0.016" in this rifle. Fed 210 primers. Gonna be hard to leave this one home if it continues to shoot this good with this kind of power.

 

[Don Titus]

Just for the heck of it I ran a quick incremental powder test with, of all things, a 30-06 and the 178 grain ELD-X and RL-26. Turned out the best 3-shot group was the top load of 62.0 grains of RL-26. Group was 0.766" at 200 yards. Average velocity was 2,908 fps (3,342 ft lbs) which is smokin' in an 06. No pressure signs though. I'm loading up 6 more of these to confirm it wasn't a fluke. It probably wasn't though since the group at 61.0 grains measured 1.359" and that group was tighter than the one at 60.0 grains so there was a nice tightening in group size as the powder was increased. Barrel is a 26" Kreiger on a Sako L61R action. I used a COAL of 3.395" which is a jump of 0.016" in this rifle. Fed 210 primers. Gonna be hard to leave this one home if it continues to shoot this good with this kind of power.

That "rocks" for an 06! Just curious why you put a new barrel on your Sako? I have an L61 Finnbear in 06 and it is a tack driver!

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

Interesting! I have been trying to get info on Retumbo loads for the ELD-X bullets but so far, haven't found. Hornady told me they haven't tried it for the ELD-X line. I thought about "interpolating" Retumbo data for the ABLR 200 and 210 bullets but I don't want to use "guesswork" when I'm hand loading.

what are you shooting?? I have run a ladder with my 300rum and retumbo; I went to 93 grains and got just over 1" @ 200 yards in cold weather. I need to chrono yet but it seemed to be a full throttle load; which will put it between 3100 and 3200 fps.

 

[Engineering101]

Don,

The reason I put the Krieger on the ole Sako was one too many 100 round days shooting ground squirrels using 130 grain hollow points - burnt the barrel out. A 30-06 will really make a mess of a ground squirrel so there is a fun factor to it. I now have more appropriate varmit armaments so I don't expect to be burning out any more barrels in the 06.

 

[Don Titus]

Got it! Have you tried the 17 HMR yet? I like the way they group out too 200 yards in my A17...they are deadly on groundhogs and would think with head shots on squirrels you might actually have some meat left!