New Hornady bullet
- Thread starter Ikeepitcold
- Start date
mnhoundman
Veteran member
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
Looks to me like just another marketing ploy to sell more of their product. Some guys buy anything "New & Improved".
The science behind it sounds legit, but at the ranges I shoot, is unnecessary from a ballistic standpoint. For the ultra long range guys that want a bullet designed to keep its BC higher longer, hold together and penetrate, vs a Berger design, this may just be the ticket. I've not looked, but I wonder what it's minimum impact velocity recommendation is.
Since I am not a long range shooter I'm happy with a bullet that lets me hit a milk jug out to 400 yards consistantly, and has good terminal performance. I would say that's a kill zone on any big game animal. That's about as far as I have ever shot at an animal.
I had a 264 win mag built for longer distances and windy days. It seems to always blow around home and on antelope hunts. An employee I know well of the guy who built it wanted to play with loads so I let him. He has it shooting 5 shot groups under .5" and is still tweaking loads for more consistent velocity and a shade more accuracy. I gave him a box of these 143gr eld-x bullets he is loading. I hope to get to try them on game this fall sounds like the rifle can outshoot me.
Yeah, I know what my rifles can do from the bench but the field is different. I practice out to 600yds a lot but have only taken a few animals past 400yds when conditions are very good. I try to get within 300 if I can get a great rest, and inside 200 if I can't. The new rifle won't change that philosophy it will just be a very good performer when the ranges can't shrink as much as I'd like. It isn't a light gun, big scope and #5 fluted barrel. It is meant to fill a niche when walks aren't that long and shots might be. The scope gathers a lot of light too for use on whitetail around home.
With RL33 the guy who is working on loads has it shooting around 3300fps with the 143gr bullets. That's some screaming performance but might be hard on the barrel long term. He only shoots a few rounds a session and then lets it cool. If we are careful there should be plenty of barrel life for him to get done working on loads, me to practice with it out to 600 a fair amount going into each fall, and to hunt for years.
With RL33 the guy who is working on loads has it shooting around 3300fps with the 143gr bullets. That's some screaming performance but might be hard on the barrel long term. He only shoots a few rounds a session and then lets it cool. If we are careful there should be plenty of barrel life for him to get done working on loads, me to practice with it out to 600 a fair amount going into each fall, and to hunt for years.
Mcseal2, I'm curious to hear if you have any field reports on how the ELD-X performed on game? I've shot a truck load of deer with the InterLock 117gr. in a 25-06, at a variety or ranges, and liked what it did. I'm considering the 150 ELD-X out of my 280. My concern is it may be a touch too soft for elk, more like the SST is said to be. Never used the SST myself. My MV is probably 2,900 fps +/-, so even if this is a bit softer than the InterLock, my slower launch speed and a bit higher SD, vs the 117 gr bullet, may give me a possible elk load. Am going to try some at the range soon, if I any of my 280's like them, will use some in 2017 on deer. I'll be cow elk hunting 8/17, tempted to try them...
I'm looking for any actual field reports on how it penetrates and held together, including species harvested, bullet placement, cartridge, approx. distance, and bullet weight used. Thank you or anyone else with ELD-X field experience, for any insight offered.
Calbuck
Active Member
There is not a 150 grain offering of the ELD-X in a .284 at this time. I shot a 5 X 5 bull with the 162 Gr .284 out of my 7 mm mag. One shot thru lungs, dead bull.
Did it exit? What was the distance? Thanks.
They may not be available as loose bullets, ie: as components, but I have two boxes of factory loaded 150 ELD-X's in 280 Rem.
Calbuck
Active Member
Yes it exited..bull went about ~20 yds and fell over. Liquified lungs and left approx 1" exit hole
. Shot distance about 150 yds
Sundowners@5?
Member
Nah, since I don't hand load anymore, it is simply looking at a factory load in 280 that may do all I need for a few $ less than what I'm shooting now. Am happy with the Barnes 145 LRX in my 280, but am paying for it. I want it capable to 600, so at my relatively low MV, vs a big mag, a high BC bullet designed to penetrate and hold together reasonably well appeals.