Hornady eld-x field reviews

[Nelsonc0]

Trying to find some real world experience with the new Hornady eld-x bullets. I have a trip planned for next year for a plains game hunt in Africa, and trying to come up with a suitable round for my 300 win mag. I picked up a box of the 200 grain Hornady eld-x and from an accuracy stand point I was very impressed. So right now I am looking at either getting back on the reloading bench to try to come up with something that will match the accuracy or just buying some more of these rounds.

 

[Scott Slough]

Enquiring minds want to know .... somebody step up and kill something with these bullets. I am committed to breaking the blood barrier with my .375 this year, but I am also intrigued with these new bullets. I agree with @Nelsonc0 that an accurate 200 g bullet that expanded well while retaining its mass in the 300 win mag would be a GREAT plains game bullet ... and hey ... I have a 300 win mag too!

 

[CAustin]

NelsonCo where did you get the new bulets?

 

[Nelsonc0]

I seen a box at the local field and stream store. They were the only production rounds I seen over 185 gr. so I picked a box up. I was able to get 1/2" 3 round groups at 100 yards, which is 1/2" better than anything I have put together on my bench. My previous go to round was 180gr scirocco ii on I beleive 68 gr of IMR 4350 and federal primers. I was wanting to get something a little heavier for Africa though.

 

[Divernhunter]

Use Swift A-Frames and you will not need to worry or experiment. I will be using them once again when I go back in 2017.

 

[CAustin]

1

I seen a box at the local field and stream store. They were the only production rounds I seen over 185 gr. so I picked a box up. I was able to get 1/2" 3 round groups at 100 yards, which is 1/2" better than anything I have put together on my bench. My previous go to round was 180gr scirocco ii on I beleive 68 gr of IMR 4350 and federal primers. I was wanting to get something a little heavier for Africa though.

180 gr will do just fine. I've taken most of my plains game with the 300 win mag with Winchester ballistic silver tips 180 gr at 2900 ft per sec.

 

[stug]

From a couple of reports I have seen they are about as soft as the original a-max. Probably be OK at long range but probably over expand and not penetrate well at close range. I would personally go with a stouter projectile, even though I use the a-max extensively deer hunting here in NZ.

 

[Jono Joseph]

180gr is ample but a 200gr is better.... most important is accuracey and practice though.
My suggestion 180gr or 200gr Peregrine VGR-4 , i have said this before i like the results we have with prergrine.
http://www.peregrinebullets.co.za/index.php/vrg1-to-vrg-6#more-info-4

300 wim mag will do everything you need with a 180gr use a premium bullet and you will be fine.
Practice shooting from the "sticks" off your knee and sitting down, stalking plains game gets you into some interesting positions.

Shot Shot

 

[Alaska]

Trying to find some real world experience with the new Hornady eld-x bullets. I have a trip planned for next year for a plains game hunt in Africa, and trying to come up with a suitable round for my 300 win mag. I picked up a box of the 200 grain Hornady eld-x and from an accuracy stand point I was very impressed. So right now I am looking at either getting back on the reloading bench to try to come up with something that will match the accuracy or just buying some more of these rounds.

Suggest give H4831 @ 74.0 with the 200 ELDX in the 300 Win Mag WW Brass Fed 215 primers

 

[Ridgewalker]

To date my only experience was a buddy hunting antelope. He had 2 doe tags, so found a herd with two side by side about 100-125 yards. The first dropped straight down. The second was a bloody mess and required a second shot.
I helped gutless debone them and the second lost a lot of front shoulder from the already expanded 200 grain ELD-X out of a 300 Win Mag.
My observation: if you put it in the right spot from a side angle, it should work, but...I personally wouldn’t take a raking shot on anything large, ie, eland, wildebeest, zebra as examples. At least not very close.
JMO, but others may have results differing.
Best of luck what ever you decide to do and most of all, enjoy your hunt!

 

[Philip Glass]

Use Swift A-Frames and you will not need to worry or experiment. I will be using them once again when I go back in 2017.

Good point.

 

[Philip Glass]

I too am interested in actual observations on the eldx.

 

[TMac]

Used 150gr. ELD-X’s out of a 280 on two deer. Impacts were 25 and 75 yards. 125 lb ish WT doe took one shot through both lungs and dropped in about 25 feet. 225 lb ish Mule deer buck dropped at the shot, slight quartering to angle. In both cases it exited, minimal meat loss due to shot placement.

I would call it a soft bullet, opens fast, lots of damage inside. In my 280, there are better choices if hunting anything larger than our deer, and if I use it again, I will be careful where I place it to avoid meat damage. Performs similar to their SST, possibly even softer, from what I could tell. Suspect it would perform well on bigger game at more modest impact velocities.

 

[Fritz Rabe]

Did a hunt with a client a couple of weeks back and he hunted 14 animals with 180gr ELD heads from a 30-06. I was very impressed with the accuracy and NOT impressed at all with the performance in African game. Recovered every single bullet inside the animal. Not one bullet exited.
Animals hunted varied from Springbok as the smallest to Zebra as the heaviest. If a 180gr bullet from a 30-06 can not exit from a side on shoulder shot on a Springbuck then I worry. Luckily the client was an excellent shot. He hunted 14 animals with 18 shots. Not one was a miss and all were good shots.

 

[Terry Blauwkamp]

I've used the 200 gr on 10 animals in Africa, and would agree with the earlier respondents, that they are SOFT and designed for long range shooting.

If you will send your e-mail address to me by PM I'll reply with some pictures and more information.

 

[ActionBob]

If you want a flashy new bullet in a 200 grain magnum .300, give the Federal Edge TLR a try. Federal reliability, real premium ammo, just quality stuff, not the advertising that Hornady puts out.

I was having trouble getting my Kimber 300 WSM to group, the heavier I went with bullets, the tighter it grouped. I did try the 200 grain ELDX and had 19 out of 20 group as well but not better than the TLR, but true to my Hornady experience, quality control is lacking so not every cartridge can be trusted. Maybe ok hand loading by why not go with known quality for your hunt?

My Ruger 300 win mag does love the 180 grain loads and I always get perfect mushrooms with Trophy Bonded.

 

[Terry Blauwkamp]

I used the 180 gr TLR in my 30-06 last year, and they worked great on a dozen or so animals.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I’ve shot a few animals with eld-x out of the 06,
Works fine on little Texas whitetail but that is where I would draw the line. Shot a big bull elk and the first bullet never made it past the lungs.
Accuracy is good. The 143’s shoot great in the 6.5’s. Remind me of the A-Max, explosive, massive wound channeling on the little penetration that you get. I use A-Max for coues deer and this is a fine bullet for them also where LR accuracy is king on a small deer across a canyon. Definitely would never use one again on large game. So many other premium bullets out there to choose from why risk it.

 

[revturbo9967]

so i take it, there are probably a lot of berger haters in here as well

 

[ShortMag]

1


180 gr will do just fine. I've taken most of my plains game with the 300 win mag with Winchester ballistic silver tips 180 gr at 2900 ft per sec.

Yes, 180 grain is fine. Bullet construction is far more important than weight and a bit of extra weight is a poor substitute for better construction.