Hornady ELD-X Official Thread

[gohring3006]

This is not good, if the the tip erosion and deformation is really that detrimental to BC.
I noticed they deform slightly when I hex coat them in a tumbler.

 

[aj427ci]

That's what kinda floors me, I don't have any room to put anything in the mag to protect the tips. I'm right at mag length and I thought the magpul magazine was a pretty good design for not allowing the rounds to shift much. I'll have to bug Hornady as well.... I switched to the eldx because I thought they were intriguing and they were on the shelf. Guess I might go back to the tried and trued bergers.

 

[7mmShooter]

Wonder how the Aluminum tips would hold up? A bit of a long shot I know, but those were wicked

 

[elkaholic]

Wonder how the Aluminum tips would hold up? A bit of a long shot I know, but those were wicked

I make aluminum tipped bullets and they are less forgiving than the poly ones because they don't spring back and the poly will (to a degree).......Rich

 

[7mmShooter]

I make aluminum tipped bullets and they are less forgiving than the poly ones because they don't spring back and the poly will (to a degree).......Rich

Yeah I remembered that just after I posted it, we've talked about your designs a bit in the past. Was just about to message you about this, ya beat me to the punch Rich

 

[Texas Republic]

I have been doing load development with the 178 gn ELDX in a tikka 308 using varget. I just learned that the hornady reloading data calls for a max load of 42.4 gn. This seems pretty conservative. i have read some people having good results at 43.9. Any advice on this max load?

 

[Texas Republic]

I have been doing load development with the 178 gn ELDX in a tikka 308 using varget. I just learned that the hornady reloading data calls for a max load of 42.4 gn. This seems pretty conservative. i have read some people having good results at 43.9. Any advice on this max load?

 

[TXAoudadKlr]

Well, I'm 9/9 with the 143gr ELD-X. Had a kid I was guideing use my rifle this morning on a aoudad this morning. Almost put a blemish on my rifle's perfect record. Kid hit it in the lower leg at a distance of 115 yards. Shot was down hill but still not enough to matter. Anyways, It made its way up the canyon and layed down 225 yards yards out. I took over the rifle and drilled the aoudad dead center in the shoulder. It lunged out of sight but wasn't 5 yards from where it had been. Caliber entrance slightly bigger than a quarter exit. Lungs were pretty torn up I might add.

 

[aj427ci]

Yes! Very frustrating. I even did my own drop test of the bullets to test the tips. The dent erythromycin easily!

I placed a strip of 3M thick electrical tape on the inside of my mag, it helped a bit. I just single load it, which sucks when hunting... so that's not really an option. I requested some info from Hornady about it, no response

I emailed Hornady and they responded back asking more questions, I'll keep you updated on there response.

 

[Greyfox]

Tip deformation in the magazine, whether Berger VLD's or any of the plastic tipped affairs , IMO, is something that should be carefully watched, particularly with heavier recoiling rifles. It's the primary reason that I like a muzzle break on even my already, mild recoiling 6.5x284's. I have on several occasions found the plastic tips of the Accubonds and BST's laying in the bottom of one of my, unbraked 300WM's magazine well, or a deformed meplat on a Berger VLD removed from the magazine after firing. When hunting at long range I always check the tips of my bullets from the magazine of a rifle that has been fired. From the prior post I'll be sure to check the ELD-X as well. I just worked up a very impressive load using the 200ELD-x in my 300WM.

 

[parshal]

I have on several occasions found the plastic tips of the Accubonds and BST's laying in the bottom of one of my, unbraked 300WM's magazine well...

I had this happen too frequently with 6.5 130 Scirocco's in my braked .264 win mag. I loved the performance but it was useless to keep working with them. I haven't shot enough of the ELD's to determine if it's an issue worth noting.

 

[Don Titus]

Tip deformation in the magazine, whether Berger VLD's or any of the plastic tipped affairs , IMO, is something that should be carefully watched, particularly with heavier recoiling rifles. It's the primary reason that I like a muzzle break on even my already, mild recoiling 6.5x284's. I have on several occasions found the plastic tips of the Accubonds and BST's laying in the bottom of one of my, unbraked 300WM's magazine well, or a deformed meplat on a Berger VLD removed from the magazine after firing. When hunting at long range I always check the tips of my bullets from the magazine of a rifle that has been fired. From the prior post I'll be sure to check the ELD-X as well. I just worked up a very impressive load using the 200ELD-x in my 300WM.

Would you mind sharing details for your 200 ELD-X load? After experimenting with 4350, 1000, RL22 and H4831 I was able to shoot pretty consistent sub 1/2" groups with 73gr. of 4831sc @ an OAL of 3.600 (.008 off the lands); FPS averaged 2850. I've seen some posts regarding Retumbo, but haven't tried it...not sure the extra 50 to maybe 100 FPS is worth the increased pressure.

 

[Greyfox]

Would you mind sharing details for your 200 ELD-X load? After experimenting with 4350, 1000, RL22 and H4831 I was able to shoot pretty consistent sub 1/2" groups with 73gr. of 4831sc @ an OAL of 3.600 (.008 off the lands); FPS averaged 2850. I've seen some posts regarding Retumbo, but haven't tried it...not sure the extra 50 to maybe 100 FPS is worth the increased pressure.

I use 79 gr of Retumbo, Norma brass, Fed215M primers, seated .025" off the lands. This load produces .25-.3MOA, 5 shots at 200 yards. The velocity is 2890FPS/ES<12FPS in my 24" Remington MilSpec.

 

[Don Titus]

Thanks for sharing your load...I'm going to stay with my load. Incidentally, I just had my barrel cryogenically tempered by 300 BELOW in Illinois. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but as soon as this snowstorm stops and I can get to the range, it will be interesting to see how it has affected accuracy. They claim a 50% reduction in group size plus greater barrel life and easier cleaning...we'll see...My best group was .150" @
200 yards...I guess that might mean a couple in the same hole now! Realistically, though...probably not.