Hornady ELD-X Official Thread

[tbrice23]

I have an elevated blind I Hunt out of and use a large 'bull bag', no rear support.

I found that POI (my zerro) , and load changes slightly even when I use a rear bag and front bench rest,

So, I've resorted to only practicing and even load development on the large bull bag.
Takes discipline, but it takes a lot of surprises out of the equation come hunting time.

 

[Engineering101]

tbrice23

It doesn't take much to introduce a POI shift. If I could shoot worth a crap I'd probably do like you but I need the help. I figure POI shift is better than "what happened to that shot"?

 

[RH300UM]

If it was me I would replicate the test and see the results.
I have redone more the one or two load ladder tests because of "anomalies".

 

[AaronSkipDavidson]

That's slightly concerning, I wonder if it's possible some of the rounds with inconsistent tip colors are really the heat shield tips and that there are errors happening during manufacturing.

They had to change the color to avoid a winchester trademark. Pretty silly, but real. Hornady does not have inconsistent manufacturing problems.

 

[AaronSkipDavidson]

Throw the lead slead away.

You might be shocked when your node changes when you actually shoot the rife.

We have significant data showing a lead sled changing harmonics, and POI. Absolutely do not use. Slick front and rear bags are the way to go.

 

[tbrice23]

We have significant data showing a lead sled changing harmonics, and POI. Absolutely do not use. Slick front and rear bags are the way to go.

I don't go hunting with a rear bag.
I agree using a rear bag actually produces better precision.
I guess I am making it harder on myself.

Sorry for derailing this thread.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

Lets talk about something that is available. I got to the range today with my 28 Nosler and a short ladder test. I noticed in Noslers new data book that they listed RL-50 on top of the velocity heap for the 168 grain pills but they didn't list it at all for the 175 grain pills (like the 175 gr ELD-Xs). I figured RL-50 would be the cat's meow with the 175's so I did some extrapolation and loaded up a few to see what was what. I ended up with the target below. As you can see the first two shots were not so tight but not bad after that. I have no clue as to why #2 landed in another county and didn't want to be with its friends. A bit more data: I also had 2 shots loaded with RL-33 (for which Nosler does provide data). I shot those two after the target below and they landed in the same spots as 1 & 2 (on another target). So the rifle wants to either go left (6 out of 8) or right but nothing anywhere else. I'm going back to the range with 5 each loaded with RL-50 at 88.0, 88.5, 89.0 grains. I'm hoping that there is a pretty wide node around 3,200 fps and the max load all decides to go left. Anybody care to hazard a guess as to what will really happen?

That looks like what was happening with rl33 and 195 bergers for me in my 8" twist 7stw when it got cool out.
Inconsistent ignition caused by a rather slow powder for the amount of load on it...

Go to a faster powder and it will likely go away. With my 7stw I went to 7828... I had similar issues in my 300rum with 200 eld-x/rl33 and went to retumbo. I have, however, had excellent results with both rl33 and rl50 with 225gr. pills in my 300 rum. Rl33 and rl50 want a serious amount of bullet weight on them and I have had no luck getting them stable in my big 7mm's. I have yet to even build a 338 bigger than a 338win so I can not comment about the slow rl powders there.

 

[Axl]

Lets talk about something that is available. I got to the range today with my 28 Nosler and a short ladder test. I noticed in Noslers new data book that they listed RL-50 on top of the velocity heap for the 168 grain pills but they didn't list it at all for the 175 grain pills (like the 175 gr ELD-Xs). I figured RL-50 would be the cat's meow with the 175's so I did some extrapolation and loaded up a few to see what was what. I ended up with the target below. As you can see the first two shots were not so tight but not bad after that. I have no clue as to why #2 landed in another county and didn't want to be with its friends. A bit more data: I also had 2 shots loaded with RL-33 (for which Nosler does provide data). I shot those two after the target below and they landed in the same spots as 1 & 2 (on another target). So the rifle wants to either go left (6 out of 8) or right but nothing anywhere else. I'm going back to the range with 5 each loaded with RL-50 at 88.0, 88.5, 89.0 grains. I'm hoping that there is a pretty wide node around 3,200 fps and the max load all decides to go left. Anybody care to hazard a guess as to what will really happen?

What was your charge weight and velocity with the R33?

 

[Engineering101]

Lots of good info here. I appreciate the warning on the lead sled. As I said I had my suspicions. Also good tip on the really slow powders. I can say in my 338 RUM that RL-33 is pretty impressive. I'm getting 2,750 fps from it in a 26 inch tube - but it is pushing a big bullet - 300 grain Berger. Thanks for saving me a lot of pain and anguish.

 

[cowboy]

They had to change the color to avoid a winchester trademark. Pretty silly, but real. Hornady does not have inconsistent manufacturing problems.

Would you have any guess on what future ELD-X bullets that Hornady might release in the future?

 

[AaronSkipDavidson]

Sounds like factory cartridge compatible 270 and 338 bullets. I think they will need to flesh out the line a bit more before we see any more heavy or heavier for caliber race bullets like the 212 and 175 gr ELD-X bullets for 30 and 7mm respectively.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

Lots of good info here. I appreciate the warning on the lead sled. As I said I had my suspicions. Also good tip on the really slow powders. I can say in my 338 RUM that RL-33 is pretty impressive. I'm getting 2,750 fps from it in a 26 inch tube - but it is pushing a big bullet - 300 grain Berger. Thanks for saving me a lot of pain and anguish.

No problem on the powder thing... You may have saved me a bit of trouble too as I have some 175 eld-x loaded with rl33 in my 7stw as a sort of third strike and you are out test for the powder. I'll be sure to load some with either retumbo or rl25 as a foil to rl33 before I shoot the pills.

 

[RobStar]

...I'll be sure to load some with either retumbo or rl25 as a foil to rl33 before I shoot the pills.

I basically bought RL 25 to load but only because it cross referenced to working in for my 300 WM and soon to be here 7mm RM. Powder selection is a huge question mark for me sort of like closing my eyes and throwing darts. Then I see posted somewhere someplace that it is very temp sensitive and compared to where I live here in Las Vegas a -100 shift in temps is easily possible when it is a 100 degs here and -24 in Wyoming.

~Robert

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I basically bought RL 25 to load but only because it cross referenced to working in for my 300 WM and soon to be here 7mm RM. Powder selection is a huge question mark for me sort of like closing my eyes and throwing darts. Then I see posted somewhere someplace that it is very temp sensitive and compared to where I live here in Las Vegas a -100 shift in temps is easily possible when it is a 100 degs here and -24 in Wyoming.

~Robert

I have shot a couple of thousand rounds of rl25 in 7mmstw rifles with 140 grain Nosler bullets on top. They have always treated me well, no matter the temperature. I can see anywhere from 100+ to 30 below here so I am rather critical that accuracy always stays. Your speed may fall off a bit with rl25, but I have yet to see a serious degradation of accuracy. I have also used a few kegs of rl22 in 300win rifles and never had accuracy issues; sure I loose a few fps, but she still shoots.
I can compensate a bit more if vel. falls off; the rifle becomes a club if she won't hit anything.
rl33 and rl50 can be real winners too, but you need to put serious bullet weight on them to keep them stable accuracy wise. I like rl26, but I don't know the powder well enough and your throwing darts axiom is rather appropriate with rl26 for me.