Yeah, they clearly indicate that you should expect some degradation at high velocity and low yardage:
With high velocity, 0-400 yard impact, the bullet continually expands throughout its penetration path. The thick shank of the jacket and high Interlock® ring keep the core and jacket together providing 50-60% weight retention.
If I am looking at Bull Moose hunting at 0-50 yards, or Kodiak Bear in heavy Brush...this is just not the bullet, or even the caliber offerings I am going to pick.
That said, from day one of the launch, I questioned in some of their promotional You-tubes....
Why the technology could not be used in the solid GMX line. ?
If their tip material development is superior, there is no reason the other lines won't benefit? The difference in cost has to be mere pennies per bullet.
Its the kind of technology that you immediately pass on to customer across your product line and differentiate your entire brand from the competition.
If I am GM, and I find that can increase mileage by 5% by changing the airflow design (wind ****) on my corvette.... do I only advertise it for that car?
Heck no...it is about 10$ worth of plastic bolted on the underside of any car...of course I immediately implement it on every car I sell.
Just my opinion. This seems like an excellent bullet for what it was designed...but there is no reason not to incorporate the benefits to other bullet lines with different design priorities. The returns might not be dramatic, but they will still be there at almost no cost. Just obvious to me.
Take for example the 7mm Rem Mag 139 gr GMX Superperformance
Starting at 3190 muzzle and ending at 2253 at 500 yards. Compared to the new 162 gr ELD-X:
So it starts out at 250 faster and ends at only 33 faster at 500 yards due to lower weight and worse BC.
However, during this entire flight it is seeing slightly higher temps. the entire flight...it is still cooking along at 500 yards...obviously if the plastic is melting, the accuracy and long range BC of this GMX load is going to be compromised according to the Hornady literature.
The 162 ELD-X is obviously great at the lower drag and greater expansion at long range, but the 139 gr GMX could certainly see every benefit described for the new tip material for people who Need, or want the benefits of solid core.
