Hornady ELD-X 103 gr .243 Experiences

[Swaintrain21]

Just curious if anyone has any experience with these. Looking to load a batch or 2 for my sons first hunting season. I shoot the 145 gr out of my .270 and love them but wanted any info you folks may have.

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by Swaintrain21

Just curious if anyone has any experience with these. Looking to load a batch or 2 for my sons first hunting season. I shoot the 145 gr out of my .270 and love them but wanted any info you folks may have.

My savage wouldnt stabilize them well enough. I couldnt get them fast enough using any of the powders I had on hand without pressure signs. The 9.25 twist savage uses is just on the edge of being fast enough... I was getting good tight groups but also getting loose primer pockets after two firings. If I backed down on the charge weight my groups opened up significantly. Went down to the 87gr vmax ( this is my long range coyote/ target rifle)

My wife shoots a 243 (micro midas)as her main rifle and all my boys start out on it as well. 90-100gr partition, 80-87gr barnes are both really good killers if deeper penetration is wanted. Regular old 100gr interlocks work fantastically on deer but we havent used them on elk or moose yet.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by Swaintrain21

Just curious if anyone has any experience with these. Looking to load a batch or 2 for my sons first hunting season. I shoot the 145 gr out of my .270 and love them but wanted any info you folks may have.

The X bullets were quite accurate out of my rifles. I found 100 gr. Nosler partitions did very well, also and were more then enough, for big mule deer or white tail.

[FishOutOfWater]

Haven't tried the 103gr ELD-X, only just started working up a load with the 108gr ELD-M.

I had switced to the 105gr BTHP after Hornady discontinued the 105gr Amax, with moderate success.

I was using about 39 - 39.5 grains of IMR4350 for both 105gr projectiles. IIRC that got me about 2900 FPS, maybe 2950.

* this was all for target loads, not hunting. I'd suggest seeing how well some of the 100gr factory SP ammo shoots from his rifle for that application.

[frenchie125]

I use the 103 ELDx in my 243win with 1/8 twist, 24" barrel.
the load with IRM4350 give me 2904fps. groups are under 1 moa to 400 yards.
I get great results on deer, lungs look like jello after impact. I use ELDx in most of my hunting rifles now. They work, and they are in the Hornady 4DOF library.

[Pointer man]

I’ve had good results with RL17 in my Tikka. Didn’t think it would stabilize with the twist rate but it is.

[Deer_Hunter]

My children have had really good success in using a 80gr ttsx in .243 on a T3.

34gr of H4895

Probably room for a little more load development and slightly hotter but have not really seen the need. Excellent grouping and loads of velocity.

Groups similar to the factory loads

[Steelhorse Cowboy]

I used to run Hornady 100 plain base interlocks thru my 243 778.
Great MOA out of 16.5 " barrel.. 95 Nosler Ballistic tips are "fair", but just hammer deer so the "fair" accuracy is moot.
I am going to throw on a takeoff 24" Rem 700 243 barrel and bought some 105 BTHP Match to play with but am wondering if the 9.50 twist will stabilize them.
Anyone shot those thru their 700's with luck?
thanks

[pikergolf]

The Hornady site recommends 1 in 8 twist as minimum which is what I was expecting to see.