Hornady ELD-X

[Nmbowhunter06]

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.

I love the 300 prc with hand loads it will shoot a 2” group at 600 yards and 1/4” at 100 if I do my part. It has killed everything we point at it dead.

 

[YancyW]

I love the 300 prc with hand loads it will shoot a 2” group at 600 yards and 1/4” at 100 if I do my part. It has killed everything we point at it dead.

That with ELDx bullet also?

 

[Trogon]

I completed my first African safari in the South African Eastern Cape with @Nick BOWKER HUNTING SOUTH AFRICA in late April, firing a camp gun .300 Win Mag with handloaded 200 grain ELD-X bullets at ranges of 100 -470 yards on antelope of Springbuck, Blesbuck, Impala, Mountain Reedbuck, Black Wildebeest, Nyala and EC Kudu. Farthest shots were well over 300 yards on a Blesbuck, Springbuck, Warthog, Black wildebeest and a Kudu (470 yards). Short runs or dropped at the shot on these. Kudu ran 30 yards on a broadside shot that penetrated through the lower shoulder, through the heart and ended under the skin behind the off-side shoulder, pretty beat up but did the job. This shot easily could have gone sideways but didn't. From my observations these ELD-X bullets performed as desired.

 

[Nmbowhunter06]

That with ELDx bullet also?

No sir I only shoot ELD-m out of my 300 prc

 

[Nmbowhunter06]

Ye

I completed my first African safari in the South African Eastern Cape with @Nick BOWKER HUNTING SOUTH AFRICA in late April, firing a camp gun .300 Win Mag with handloaded 200 grain ELD-X bullets at ranges of 100 -470 yards on antelope of Springbuck, Blesbuck, Impala, Mountain Reedbuck, Black Wildebeest, Nyala and EC Kudu. Farthest shots were well over 300 yards on a Blesbuck, Springbuck, Warthog, Black wildebeest and a Kudu (470 yards). Short runs or dropped at the shot on these. Kudu ran 30 yards on a broadside shot that penetrated through the lower shoulder, through the heart and ended under the skin behind the off-side shoulder, pretty beat up but did the job. This shot easily could have gone sideways but didn't. From my observations these ELD-X bullets performed as desired.ou

You can’t go wrong with them that’s for sure. I think people knock them because they don’t understand how they are designed to work.

 

[bruce moulds]

whatever you say they would have to be better than berger.
bruce.

 

[Nmbowhunter06]

whatever you say they would have to be better than berger.
bruce.

I like Berger’s but I had a bad experience with a Berger at closer range. But see them knock em dead

 

[shark_za]

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.

This is a ridiculous statement as the ELD-X is a step backwards when it comes to hunting bullets.
They are very accurate and hold velocity for a long time but they are barely passable as hunting bullets, even less so when shooting large African game.
As a meat hunter it taints meat with lead and copper fragments and damages shoulders turning them into lumps of jelly.
Use a bonded or partitioned bullet to secure your trophy, there are many better options than the ELD-X.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

This is a ridiculous statement as the ELD-X is a step backwards when it comes to hunting bullets.
They are very accurate and hold velocity for a long time but they are barely passable as hunting bullets, even less so when shooting large African game.

Real world experience, by many, would suggest otherwise.

 

[Chago]

This is a ridiculous statement as the ELD-X is a step backwards when it comes to hunting bullets.
They are very accurate and hold velocity for a long time but they are barely passable as hunting bullets, even less so when shooting large African game.
As a meat hunter it taints meat with lead and copper fragments and damages shoulders turning them into lumps of jelly.
Use a bonded or partitioned bullet to secure your trophy, there are many better options than the ELD-X.

I made the ridiculous statement? Yet I am the one with a trophy room full of ELD X trophies. And freezers full of meat. Please share your negative experiences but add photos as evidence not just anecdotal stories "from the field". I can back all my claims.

Yes Hornady took a step backwards. Using Doppler radar to test aerodynamics and create the highest ballistic coefficient ever seen in hunting bullets. Using the latest and greatest technology to create a polymer tip that can withstand more heat then most metals. Hornady may as well used a medieval black smith to make these.

And if you are a meat hunter why on earth are you taking high shoulder shots? And even if you do I always cut a fist size of meat out around the bullet entrance and exit. I even do this with bow hunting. The meat is always damaged, bloody and spoils quickly. So I just cut it out.

 

[YancyW]

No sir I only shoot ELD-m out of my 300 prc

The 225 ELDm and 230 berger hybrid both shoot lights out in my rum. I just haven't had any time to work up a load for my prc. I now have brass and some dies from Whidden, but leave in less than a month, so I am just going to run factory.

 

[shark_za]

Yes Hornady took a step backwards. Using Doppler radar to test aerodynamics and create the highest ballistic coefficient ever seen in hunting bullets. Using the latest and greatest technology to create a polymer tip that can withstand more heat then most metals. Hornady may as well used a medieval black smith to make these.

How does this affect hunting outcomes?
Are you one of those guys who snipes at game 500m away?

 

[Red Leg]

How does this affect hunting outcomes?
Are you one of those guys who snipes at game 500m away?

It "affects outcomes" by creating a very accurate bullet. There are many scenarios outside the bushveld of South Africa where longer point blank range is a distinct advantage and the old adage, simply stalk closer, is not a real alternative. The 200 gr ELD-X shoots a clover leaf from my 300 Win Mag barrel on a Blaser R8. In my experience at least, a 300 yard shot (not that unusual in the American West or places like British Columbia) can be taken with far more confidence with a sub-MOA load than something with a 1.5 or 2" MOA that will be shooting patterns at the same distance.

It has become my preferred load for Nilgai on our coastal parries. The Nilgai is roughly a blue wildebeest in size and mimics his tenacity. Shots are often long, and an inadequately hit animal can easily be lost. The ELD-X has been decisive in my and several friends' experiences on the big blue bulls.

Of course other bullets work. You will find many posts from me lauding my experiences with A-Frames and the TSX family. In August, I'll be using a 156 gr Oryx in my .275 in Zambia. But from my actual experience perspective, the ELD-X falls into that same quality category - particularly when used where its merits can be best exploited.

 

[gbflyer]

Having never been plains game hunting I could not verify performance on that subject. I have experienced ELDX performance with the .308 212gr exiting the muzzle at 2850 on broadside elk at 389 lasered yards. One shot in the vitals, bullet diameter entry golf ball sized exit. No bone contact. Animal dropped in its tracks. I suspect nearly any bullet would have done its work in that scenario. Accuracy on par with just about any other cup and core.

Good bullet, I’d use them again.

 

[Chago]

How does this affect hunting outcomes?
Are you one of those guys who snipes at game 500m away?

Red Leg already took you to school on this really ignorant post. Homework is due tomorrow.

 

[revturbo9967]

This is a ridiculous statement as the ELD-X is a step backwards when it comes to hunting bullets.
They are very accurate and hold velocity for a long time but they are barely passable as hunting bullets, even less so when shooting large African game.
As a meat hunter it taints meat with lead and copper fragments and damages shoulders turning them into lumps of jelly.
Use a bonded or partitioned bullet to secure your trophy, there are many better options than the ELD-X.

Except most bonded and maybe all partitioned bullets don’t carry the BC the eldx do. Hornady wanted to create the best flying hunting bullet and I believe they achieved this. My understanding is bonded bullets do not have the quality control as a non bonded and they will not fly as consistently. My experiences prove this to be correct or at least a sound theory and I couldn’t get noslers accubonds to group well in a few rifles. I like sub moa accuracy in all rifles , not just range guns.

 

[Chago]

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.

Group 0.3"...... you might want to check that form of yours. Seems like you could tighten that group up a bit lol. That is incredible shooting and I personally would not change a thing with that rifle and load if you are getting those groupings. 300PRC is an amazing caliber. I plan to retire my 300wm one day and either pick up the 300PRC or the 30 Nosler. I am leaning towards the PRC. I have just seen better data coming from trusted shooters I know.

Yes Brass is going to be a pain in the ass at first. Once it gains more popularity that will get better. But you did the smart thing and bought some ammo. Personally if its shooting that well I would 100% be reloading with the ELD X. Your barrel clearly loves them.

 

[revturbo9967]

How does this affect hunting outcomes?
Are you one of those guys who snipes at game 500m away?

In the western states , 500+ yards may be the only shot you get when hunting for elk. It’s nice to say get closer , but when it will take you 6-8 hours to move from one ridge to the next only to close in 300 yards and you have 45 minutes of daylight with 12 years of preference points and 2 years of preparation on the line, I’m taking the long shot, every time.

 

[YancyW]

Group 0.3"...... you might want to check that form of yours. Seems like you could tighten that group up a bit lol. That is incredible shooting and I personally would not change a thing with that rifle and load if you are getting those groupings. 300PRC is an amazing caliber. I plan to retire my 300wm one day and either pick up the 300PRC or the 30 Nosler. I am leaning towards the PRC. I have just seen better data coming from trusted shooters I know.

Yes Brass is going to be a pain in the ass at first. Once it gains more popularity that will get better. But you did the smart thing and bought some ammo. Personally if its shooting that well I would 100% be reloading with the ELD X. Your barrel clearly loves them.

Just to be clear, that was one group and it was in the middle .4s. A rifle capable of single hole isn't going to be much better than that with me shooting, I am the limiting factor for sure when it come to accuracy. However, your point stands and is well taken.

I have a rum that will outperform the prc, but it is heavy as hell, has a 26" barrel and kicks like a mule with no break on. The difference in performance is small and not at all worth it.

 

[revturbo9967]

I made the ridiculous statement? Yet I am the one with a trophy room full of ELD X trophies. And freezers full of meat. Please share your negative experiences but add photos as evidence not just anecdotal stories "from the field". I can back all my claims.

Yes Hornady took a step backwards. Using Doppler radar to test aerodynamics and create the highest ballistic coefficient ever seen in hunting bullets. Using the latest and greatest technology to create a polymer tip that can withstand more heat then most metals. Hornady may as well used a medieval black smith to make these.

And if you are a meat hunter why on earth are you taking high shoulder shots? And even if you do I always cut a fist size of meat out around the bullet entrance and exit. I even do this with bow hunting. The meat is always damaged, bloody and spoils quickly. So I just cut it out.

I was going to say, even archery shots on deer can make a mess of meat. Bloodshot always gets tossed away.