Have you used the Hornady ELD-X?

[Kurt505]

Thinking of testing these out this year, what can you tell me about them? In particular I'm looking at the 162 7mm bullets. I've got a 1:9 twist in my 280, I think it's fast enough to stabilize them.

[fish_e_o]

I shot those exact bullets very well. I never tagged an animal with them unfortunately.

Also the tips may or may not have melted I couldn't tell.

[6MT]

The 208gr work very well in my 11" twist 28" heavy .308.

[Kurt505]

They claim the tips are heat resistant, one of the new technologies they're advertising. They also claim a .619 BC on these bullets, they're pretty long but I think my 1:9 twist will work on them.

[fish_e_o]

I was using 9 1/4" so 9" should work well.

[jayquiver]

I've been looking at them also. Hornady says "best in class BC" 85-90% weight retention at 400 yards + and 50-60% retention -400 yards.

I am hope my rifle likes them. Haven't loaded them up yet.

I think your 1:9 twist will be perfect for the 162gr. I would also try 175 gr with that twist for fun. I know every rifle is different but my Cooper 7mm rem mag has a 1:9 twist and it likes everything in a 175 grain.

[Jjolg123]

i switched to them this year for my 6.5 creedmoor. Before was using berger vld handloads after buying 5 boxes of the eld-x i haven't even tried handloading with them as the stock loads were fantastic in my rifle. Knocked down a elk from 360 yards he dropped and rolled into a deep ravine lol.

[Ranets]

I was using the 285gr in my .338 and they out shot the Berger Hybrid 300gr

[dogslayer403]

212g are working fantastic on paper in my 300wm 10 twist. Have yet to put em in some meat tho.

[James 1]

Ran that exact bullet in my sako 7mmRM. Only got around 1MOA. I still want to play with them some more. Initial WT buck quartering towards me at 150 yards. bang flop.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by fish_e_o

I shot those exact bullets very well. I never tagged an animal with them unfortunately.

Also the tips may or may not have melted I couldn't tell.

There is no way they could have melted. You should know that. Hornady said so.

[Kurt505]

Well I picked up a box, mixed some up with some 4350, going to test out the accuracy this weekend.

[dave99]

I just loaded up a couple batches for ladder testing for my .280AI Kimber Montana. Same as Kurt, in ELDX 7mm 162 gr over IMR 4831 and 4350.

Hoping to try them out in the next few weeks. Only issue I'm seeing is that they need to seat very deep into the case, in order to eject properly when not fired.

I'll post with accuracy results after testing.


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[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by dave99

I just loaded up a couple batches for ladder testing for my .280AI Kimber Montana. Same as Kurt, in ELDX 7mm 162 gr over IMR 4831 and 4350.

Hoping to try them out in the next few weeks. Only issue I'm seeing is that they need to seat very deep into the case, in order to eject properly when not fired.

I'll post with accuracy results after testing.


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I'm sitting at 3.333 oal

[blubullit]

200gr with 42g Varget in my 22" barrel 30-06. 2425fps @ muzzle. Took a whitetail @ 150m, instant death. Never found the bullet.
0.5" accuracy @ 100m on paper. Excellent performer, I would feel confident using this load on larger game at reasonable ranges, < 300m.

[100zero]

I used the 200 eld-x on my moose this year. Excellent results. My BIL (7mm Mag) and FIL (30.06) both took their animals this year. I use the ELD-M for my long range shooting. Sub-MOA groups and have hit 1 mile with my 300win. I really like the ELD line


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[dave99]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

I'm sitting at 3.333 oal

Sounds about right. I'm at 3.330"


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[schreyer]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

Thinking of testing these out this year, what can you tell me about them? In particular I'm looking at the 162 7mm bullets. I've got a 1:9 twist in my 280, I think it's fast enough to stabilize them.

Just got back from Rocky Mountain house and buddy was using these in his 300 win mag. Out to 600 yards the bullet was pretty accurate...under MOA at all distances. I think there was another dude that had the same experience with them there, too.

[6.5 shooter]

Shooting 143 gr. ELD_X out of my Tikka 6.5x55 and they shot as well or even a bit better then the match bullet of about the same weight... Like others never used them on game but I believe they will be great.

[super7mag]

Anyone looking for the Eldx in .308 or.284 someone made a mistake in an order an Wainwright Canadian Tire has several boxes of 100 in both cals, 2 weights in each cal.
Prices for 100 seemed reasonable enough maybe a tad high. 65 for the .284's and 73 for the .308's. Just a heads up , my shelves are full in both cals so I passed but really debated grabbing a box of each that I don't need .. I may still grab some next trip down.

[dave99]

Finally got a chance to do some ladder testing:

Kimber Montana .280AI
ELD-X 162 gr
COAL 3.307"

Tested IMR 4831 and 4350. Started low and worked my way up to near max. I used Nosler load data.

I shot 3-shot groups (normally do 4-shot groups so take this for what it's worth...). Rifle cooled down for 5min between 3-shot strings.

Several groups were better than 1MOA, with average group size of 1.3" with the 4831 powder, and 0.9" with 4350. Best group was 0.6", but it was a pretty hot load (near max) and so bolt lift on ejecting was starting to be an issue (stiff). Several other lighter loads in IMR4350 produced groups near the 0.8" mark, with no pressure signs or heavy bolt lift.

Overall, I'm impressed with the ELD-X. With such a small sample size, it's risky to draw conclusions, but I'd written this rifle off as a 1.5moa gun after fairly extensive testing last year trying different bullet weights and styles.

The fact that I am now seeing sub-moa accuracy with eld-x is a nice surprise. Their suitability for a wide range of velocities, as well as their high BC just makes them more attractive.

At the end of the day, all that matters to me is to have a load/rifle combo whose accuracy I'm confident in, as well as one with good terminal performance. No comment yet on the latter, but so far so good on the accuracy.



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[Hammerhead]

I shot a bull moose and a bull elk with the 200gr ELD-X bullets this past year. I loved them. They shot alot better than the Berger's... But that was in part due to seating depth limitations I think. I went with them after reading an article in field and stream where they compared 6 high end hunting bullets. The Hornady ELD-X out preformed all of them. I would recommend them as I've only had good experiences with them.

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[honker_clonker]

What kind of COAL are you guys loading in your 300 win mags with the 200 grain ELDX and what powder/charge are you putting behind them? I have a box I am wanting to load up here and these results are getting me excited.

[AlbertaAl]

I'm shooting a custom DEFIANCE 6.5x47Lapua sporter with Krieger 1:8 #4 bbl.
The Hornady 143gr. ELD-X has been very accurate on paper and planning to use it for upcoming big game season.
The bullet is seated deep in my case and around 6-9 thou from rifle lands.
My pet load will be from 39.5-39.9 grains RL17, 450 Primer, and produces from 2775-2790 fps
The advertised technology that has gone into this bullet for hunting purposes is hard to ignore. High BC ...excellent expansion... great accuracy.
Time will tell with this product.

[Fowlow]

I had to buy a new seating stem I was getting a crush ring around the top of the bullet but after changing the stem I'm getting sub- moa out of my 7mm saum with reloader 19

[hdf4358]

Honker,

** Disclaimer: use this information at your own risk **

This is my .300 Win Mag load for the 200 grain ELD-X:

- Nosler brass (neck sized)
- 73.4 grains of IMR 7828SSC
- Federal 215 primer
- .015" from lands / 3.504 COAL

Yields .5 MOA 5-shot groups at 100 yards with MV of 2,996 fps and an ES of 15 fps.

[Deer Hunter]

I shoot the 143grers from a 6.5/284. Nice accurate bullet.

[Beeman3]

Originally Posted by AlbertaAl

I'm shooting a custom DEFIANCE 6.5x47Lapua sporter with Krieger 1:8 #4 bbl.
The Hornady 143gr. ELD-X has been very accurate on paper and planning to use it for upcoming big game season.
The bullet is seated deep in my case and around 6-9 thou from rifle lands.
My pet load will be from 39.5-39.9 grains RL17, 450 Primer, and produces from 2775-2790 fps
The advertised technology that has gone into this bullet for hunting purposes is hard to ignore. High BC ...excellent expansion... great accuracy.
Time will tell with this product.

That's great velocity out of a 6.5X47. I have a RBROS X47 that loves the 130 Berger Hunting. Never tried any 140's. Maybe I should.

[Deer Hunter]

how far off the lands are you finding that these bullets shoot the best?

[Smokinyotes]

Bumping this old thread. I tried out some 200gr ELD X in my 300 win mag. Initial load development looks very promising. I loaded up 71,72 and 73 grains of reloader 22. All shot under a 1/2" with 73grains averaging 2860fps with no pressure signs. Next was H4831, 71,72 and 73 grains. The best group was .330" with the worse being .562". Velocities were not quite as good with the H4831 but again no pressure signs so i have room to play and try a few more grains. I am sure that i will be able to get at least 2950 fps. I figured this was pretty good for a 200gr bullet out of a stock Tikka T3.