Hornady ELD-X

[Uncompahgre]

162 in 7mm Rem Mag running 3,000+ (won’t say actual velocity). Extremely accurate load out of a custom built rifle.
April 2019 Namibia 14 animals from warthog to eland. Range from 50 yards to 200 yards. No pass through on any animal. Only 5 fragments found with the largest weighing 57 grains.
Same load used on a mountain goat in 2018 at 350 yards. No pass through. Shoulder shot and goat dropped in tracks. No fragments found and shoulder was completely ruined with blood shot.
I believe the 2900 FPS threshold is holding true.

 

[RStien321]

For me, I’m still experimenting with the 143 grain bullet. I’m shooting it at 2750fps and it shoots sub 1/2” with boring ease.

I’ve taken three pronghorn in from 60-250 yards and all three dropped in their tracks with exit wounds. I’ve taken one mule deer at 220 yards - when dressing that deer, there was copper jacket strewn all over the cavity.

I’m going to use my 300 win mag with 180 grain Swift Scirocco’s on mule deer this year. I used 200 grain partitions in Africa and was very happy with those.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Has anyone here used the Hornady ELD-X for plains game? Heading out in April for another plains game hunt with my son and have been working hard to find the right combo for his 308. The ELD-X in 178 grain shoots well but i have read some reports of the jacket separating from the case. Just wondering if there is any first hand experience here on the bullets performance. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

Outdoorbound
One member of our group used a 300 win mag with ELDX enough every animal he shot he experienced core separations, yes the animals all died. One took 3 shots tho.
My 15year old son use a Howa 308 loaded with Nosler 150 grain accubonds. A lot of people will tell you that you need 180 grain projectiles but we found the 150gn accubonds to be more than enough. 99% of the animals he shot were one shot kills. Only 2 required 2 shots. So based on his experience I'd recommend the 140gn accubonds. Listen to your PH on shot placement and watch the trophies pile up.

He shot everything from impala up to Oryx and zebra no problems with the accubonds.
Cheers mate
Bob Nelson

 

[Areaonereal]

180 gr Accubond from a 30 06 has been magic on over 100 head of PG for me from Steinbok to Zebra. Always retained 60 % or more.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Outdoorbound
My son's 308 accubonds were handloads using hogdon cfe223, chronoed muzzle velocity 2,900 fps and consistent 0.3 inch 100 yard groups.
I would give the accubonds another go. Call me old fashioned I don't like bullets that come apart. The longest shot my son had in Namibia was 200 yards on his Oryx. One wart hog was 70 yards bang flop.
I like a bullet to hold together at all ranges not come apart at short range where you need penetration.
Bullets are cheap trophies aren't.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[superdutch]

I have a HS Precision 300 win mag. When they built it they test shot it with the 200 grain eldx Hornady load and it met their guaranty (1/2 at 100 yards). I bought several boxes and couldn’t duplicate the accuracy - I sent them the rifle with my ammo and they said that my batch had a huge standard deviation in the loads. It shoots other loads well. Poor quality control, at least in the boxes I purchased. I guess I am done with Hornady again!

 

[Chago]

Not my first recommendation for Africa...
Rather invest in something with a proven track record...penny wise pound foolish...

Lead balls out of muskets have a phenomenal record. I guess we shouldn't have ever left those.

You do realize this conversation happens everytime there is change. Fixed broad heads vs expandable Broadhead is the same story.

 

[Chago]

My rule of thumb. And go ahead and flame me. Majority of "bad bullet stories" are due to guys who made terrible shots. Then blamed there bullet. It is an easy scapegoat. Even caliber debates. "my friend shot a moose 5 times with a 270 and it didn't go down, so you need a 300 rum at minimum for a moose". Your friend can't hit the broadside of a barn and probably gave that moose 1 gut shot and 4 hair cuts.

Eld X is a great bullet. It has taken down many large animals, thicken skinned animals, heavy boned animals and even stubborn animals. But as everyone has mentioned. Shot placement of course is most important. And of course using the bullet for what it was designed for. So yes keeping eld X under 3000fps is ideal. So if you load it at 3300fps and shoot an eland at 50 yards. Don't complain about the bullet. You just didn't use it correctly. At the same time. Don't use a A frame and shoot it at 500 yards and say it won't group worth shit. Use the tool as it was designed to be used.

 

[sgt_zim]

I have a HS Precision 300 win mag. When they built it they test shot it with the 200 grain eldx Hornady load and it met their guaranty (1/2 at 100 yards). I bought several boxes and couldn’t duplicate the accuracy - I sent them the rifle with my ammo and they said that my batch had a huge standard deviation in the loads. It shoots other loads well. Poor quality control, at least in the boxes I purchased. I guess I am done with Hornady again!

I found similar issues with .366 Accubonds. Bought 2 boxes, maybe 15% actually weighed 250 gr. The rest, as I recall, were generally about 244 - 248 gr. I still shoot respectable groups with them, but QA issues aren't unique to Hornady. Elevation is always my issue (when I have issues), no matter what I shoot (slight variations in powder, primers, case volume, etc). As long as windage is consistent and I am comfortable with distance, I can always get a double-lung.

I shoot 178s out of my 308W, and 143s out of my 6.5x55. I can stack 100 yard, 5 shot groups with both of those with the predictable monotony of gravity.

 

[Areaonereal]

My limited experience with most bullets since I started reloading in 1965 has been the bullet must be mated with the velocity of the firearm...duh. Shoot a cup and core at 1800 FPS and it can do its job as designed, but...shoot a Barnes TSX at 1800 FPS and you may be disappointed. Just match the muzzle velocity with bullet depending on the range that you anticipate your shots will be. I used a Nosler 200 and 220 partition on Zebra..200 gr and the 220 on Giraffe on a management hunt in Limpopo last November with excellent results...220 gr on a mature female giraffe thru the heart lung on offside with 60 per cent retention travelled 40 yds down dead, two other giraffe neck shots...dead drop. But with longer shots in Namibia a 180 Accubond has been perfect from my 30 06 at 2750 muzzle, have also used the 180 swift scirocco with fine results, just seem to be a little tweaky to get the best accuracy for my rifle.

 

[PeteG]

Honady quotes it at 2850. I have not measured it. The frontal was at a slight angle. The bullet entered the chest and exited the flank past the last rib. The range, as I remember, was around 150 yards on that one.

I’ve put the 200gr ELDX through my 300wm and measure 2,750 fps. Factory loads say 2,850fps.
The few I’ve shot through seem accurate enough. No animals with them yet.
I’m sure that will change this season though.

 

[cagkt3]

Have shot whitetail, axis, hogs, addax and a corsican sheep with the 143gr out of my 6.5. No issues, very accurate out of my gun

 

[IvW]

Suppose we would still be shooting four bores? Seems like an excellent load. I have at least actually fired them.

Any first hand experience with the round? Any particular reason you wouldn't recommend? I have always been puzzled when someone says a bullet shoots a ragged hole at 100 and then get a response to find a better bullet. Isn't it all about shot placement? For me personally the only true failure i have ever had was with a nosler round, wouldn't ever go back and wouldn't ever recommend but it was based on a personal experience with an accubond. Can you share any personal experience with the eld-x that would have caused you to think they may not be suitable for plains game hunting.

No need to go that far back.

They are very accurate, they are designed for long range hunting which mostly excludes them for use in Africa, they are too soft and over expand at shorter range and when used on African PG. It is designed to retain only 50% of its weight at shorter ranges.

I would not use or recommend them for African DG, unless someone is planning on only hunting Springbuck and Blesbuck at long range, I would most certainly want and recommend a bullet with a track record on larger PG species, and not a bullet that looses half of it's weight at close range especially when used against tougher animals such as gemsbuck, eland, blue wildebeest etc. Unless the bullet is good enough to take shots at these with the knowledge and experience that they will smash through the heavy bones on the point of the shoulder and penetrate in a straight line and retain most of it's weight on a quartering frontal shot, I cannot recommend them.

As with all things each can use what they want, I will not use these on African PG..

There are more than enough proven premium grade bullets available and personally I have not found the need to experiment or change for that matter.

Good varmint bullet.

Some other reports can be viewed here. Or Google Hornady ELD-X failure and then decide if you want to use them on tough African PG.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/hornady-eld-x-field-reviews.28760/

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/hornady-eldx-bullets.31057/

 

[Chago]

No need to go that far back.

They are very accurate, they are designed for long range hunting which mostly excludes them for use in Africa, they are too soft and over expand at shorter range and when used on African PG. It is designed to retain only 50% of its weight at shorter ranges.

I would not use or recommend them for African DG, unless someone is planning on only hunting Springbuck and Blesbuck at long range, I would most certainly want and recommend a bullet with a track record on larger PG species, and not a bullet that looses half of it's weight at close range especially when used against tougher animals such as gemsbuck, eland, blue wildebeest etc. Unless the bullet is good enough to take shots at these with the knowledge and experience that they will smash through the heavy bones on the point of the shoulder and penetrate in a straight line and retain most of it's weight on a quartering frontal shot, I cannot recommend them.

As with all things each can use what they want, I will not use these on African PG..

There are more than enough proven premium grade bullets available and personally I have not found the need to experiment or change for that matter.

Good varmint bullet.

Some other reports can be viewed here. Or Google Hornady ELD-X failure and then decide if you want to use them on tough African PG.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/hornady-eld-x-field-reviews.28760/

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/hornady-eldx-bullets.31057/

Those are the same sort of threads as this one is. A bunch of guys who have never used it saying not to. And then a few guys who actually have saying they work perfectly fine. Since all the naysayers get there data from hunter stories that can not be fact checked. Here are mine, I have killed a 2000lb Canadian Moose from 78 meters. 212 grain ELD X out of a 300 win mag. I have taken 900-1100lb Canadian Elk, the closest was 50 meters the furthest was 800m. All died immediately. And yes I have used them on PG, some of the bigger species being Sable, Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, zebra etc. You are correct the bullet does lose mass inside the body cavity. But that is by design. It is designed to expand inside the animal and do what is a called a kinetic energy dump. When this happens it is devastating inside the animal. If aimed correctly would dispatch the animal as fast as possible. A solid bullet is not exactly the deadliest, ie a full metal jacket.

Now in regards to DG, I have never done this and know nothing about it in regards to Africa. And I can totally appreciate the need for a different bullet for DG in Africa as it is normally all very very close shooting. But that being said, most countries minimums are .375 and most on here from what I read argue you should be going even heavier. That being said, Hornady doesn't even make a ELD X in those sizes. So I don't get why all the Hornday haters keep bringing up DG in these threads. As I said before, use the tool for what it was designed for. ELD X are designed to be a very accurate long range shooter. IF you know shots inside 100 may be possible. Simply load under 3000fps and you can shoot at point blank and all will be fine. Because that is what the manufacturer recommends and how it was designed. When Robby Reloader ignores this and loads a 140 grain at 3300 fps out of his 7mm rem mag. Then shoots a Eland at 30m. Don't complain. And yes if fictitiously speaking, Hornady had decided to create DG sized ELD X bullets. I would not use them on DG. Or wait, maybe that is exactly why they didn't make them in those sizes...... those clever engineers I tell you. Always out smarting us.

 

[slad68]

Has anyone here used the Hornady ELD-X for plains game? Heading out in April for another plains game hunt with my son and have been working hard to find the right combo for his 308. The ELD-X in 178 grain shoots well but i have read some reports of the jacket separating from the case. Just wondering if there is any first hand experience here on the bullets performance. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

I use ELD-X on my 7x57 with great success, I have shot everything from Honey Badger to Kudu bull with the ELD-X.
I have found that in my gun the 162gr bullet works the best and accuracy is great over longer distances

 

[Outdoorbound]

Over the last year since booking my upcoming trip i have tested dozens of rounds out of the boys 308. I personally believe a well placed bullet regardless of the manufacture will take care of business. the 178 eldx at about 2500fps at the pipe (20 in barrel) has proven to be incredibly accurate, stacking them in 1/2" at 100 all day. At the slower speeds i have a lot less concern with the shorter distance that Africa typically offers. I will keep detailed notes of the performance of this round on the upcoming trip and make sure to give a full review of the rounds performance. Risky, maybe, but many of the rounds mentioned in this thread were shooting 2 inch groups out of this particular rifle and that isn't acceptable for me as a shooter. For every negative review you read on the ELD-X there is one that's singing words of praise. I agree if your shooting at speeds in excess of 3000 this isn't the short range bullet you are looking for in Africa but at 2500 and under i am confident that the round will perform as designed.

 

[Hearties]

I think the key to the Eld-X on bigger game and / or shorter distances is to use a heavy bullet for caliber which will have the effect of reducing impact velocities. The high sectional density should then provide sufficient penetration to do the job as intended.

 

[IvW]

Those are the same sort of threads as this one is. A bunch of guys who have never used it saying not to. And then a few guys who actually have saying they work perfectly fine. Since all the naysayers get there data from hunter stories that can not be fact checked. Here are mine, I have killed a 2000lb Canadian Moose from 78 meters. 212 grain ELD X out of a 300 win mag. I have taken 900-1100lb Canadian Elk, the closest was 50 meters the furthest was 800m. All died immediately. And yes I have used them on PG, some of the bigger species being Sable, Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, zebra etc. You are correct the bullet does lose mass inside the body cavity. But that is by design. It is designed to expand inside the animal and do what is a called a kinetic energy dump. When this happens it is devastating inside the animal. If aimed correctly would dispatch the animal as fast as possible. A solid bullet is not exactly the deadliest, ie a full metal jacket.

Now in regards to DG, I have never done this and know nothing about it in regards to Africa. And I can totally appreciate the need for a different bullet for DG in Africa as it is normally all very very close shooting. But that being said, most countries minimums are .375 and most on here from what I read argue you should be going even heavier. That being said, Hornady doesn't even make a ELD X in those sizes. So I don't get why all the Hornday haters keep bringing up DG in these threads. As I said before, use the tool for what it was designed for. ELD X are designed to be a very accurate long range shooter. IF you know shots inside 100 may be possible. Simply load under 3000fps and you can shoot at point blank and all will be fine. Because that is what the manufacturer recommends and how it was designed. When Robby Reloader ignores this and loads a 140 grain at 3300 fps out of his 7mm rem mag. Then shoots a Eland at 30m. Don't complain. And yes if fictitiously speaking, Hornady had decided to create DG sized ELD X bullets. I would not use them on DG. Or wait, maybe that is exactly why they didn't make them in those sizes...... those clever engineers I tell you. Always out smarting us.

I was giving my personal opinion, which I ques I am entitled to.

Anybody can of course use what they prefer.

I will stick to premium grade expanding bullets that do not over expand and lose weight, well not 50% anyway and keep penetrating in a straight line. Shot placement with such a combination has always worked for me on all manner of game and I will take that any day of the week rather than a kinetic energy dump that may not reach where it should if the shot is not exactly broadside.

Yes I reread my post and somehow one DG slipped in there which should have been PG...

If all shots were 300 yards plus I ques there may be room for testing but unfortunately on African PG this is not the norm so I also do not understand the need for a bullet designed for long range hunting for use on African PG.

Again my opinion.

 

[Nmbowhunter06]

Old thread but wanted to share my experience. I killed an oryx in white sands here in New Mexico with a 143gr eldx out of a 6.5 creedmoor. Shot was 200 yards and went through both shoulders she went 50 yards but was dead before she hit the ground. I also shoot the 225 eld-m out of my 300 prc and that’s what I’m planning to take with me for plains game next April. I had a client kill a Barbary ram at 580 yards stone dead, wife killed a mule deer at 305 dead right there, son killed a mule deer at 900 dropped him, my son also shot an oryx at 400 yards which was a little far back and anchored that oryx to give him time for a second shot which he made a little to far back and she went 100 yards and done. I killed a Barbary ewe this last February at 550 yards bullet entered and left a nice 3” home on the exit and she fell dead right there. I love the hornady Eld-x and eld-m bullets. They are designed to dump a massive amount of energy into the animal and they perform their job well.

 

[YancyW]

Old thread but wanted to share my experience. I killed an oryx in white sands here in New Mexico with a 143gr eldx out of a 6.5 creedmoor. Shot was 200 yards and went through both shoulders she went 50 yards but was dead before she hit the ground. I also shoot the 225 eld-m out of my 300 prc and that’s what I’m planning to take with me for plains game next April. I had a client kill a Barbary ram at 580 yards stone dead, wife killed a mule deer at 305 dead right there, son killed a mule deer at 900 dropped him, my son also shot an oryx at 400 yards which was a little far back and anchored that oryx to give him time for a second shot which he made a little to far back and she went 100 yards and done. I killed a Barbary ewe this last February at 550 yards bullet entered and left a nice 3” home on the exit and she fell dead right there. I love the hornady Eld-x and eld-m bullets. They are designed to dump a massive amount of energy into the animal and they perform their job well.

I am taking a 300 PRC with me next month. I had a hard time finding brass, so I bought a few boxes of of factory eldx to see how they did. The 3rd, 4th and 5th shots out of the rifle ever, measured just over 4/10ths. Once it settles in a bit, it may be shooting in the .3's, which is the best I can do under any circumstance.