Can someone please help me with starting point load data for the Hornady 175 eld-x in my new 7LRM. I've planing on using hornady brass, cci primes and h1000. I've got Retumbo and fed primes if need be but based on my research this far the h1000 and cci's are a better choice. I'd love to hear any recipes or advice you have/can give. Even a Quick Load work up would be great but I don't know what my coal will be yet. My gun will be done by the end of the week and I'd like to start somewhere working up some loads. Thank you all!!
-Dan
Sneekeehunter, I feel your pain! Reading thru your prolonged and frustrating attempt to get the ELD-X bullets to shoot well exactly mirrors what I just went thru with 162 gr ELD-X in a 7mm Rem Mag.
Groups at 100 yds were 1.5"-3.5"! I tried everything as you did from accurizing the rifle to different dies, annealing, neck turning, various charges and seating depths to shooting fundamentals. Nothing worked.
A few days ago I decided to try some old Berger 168 gr VLD Hunting reloads just for fun. The 3 shot group was .34"!Wow! The next day I shot .45", .54" and .85" 4 shot groups.
Today, I shot .60", 1.0", .75" and .60 4 shot groups with 3 different charges, cases and dies. At least one of the shots in the 1" group was me.
All I can say is I'm done with trying to get the ELD-X's to shoot in my rifle. I've also read about some marginal terminal performance which is the last thing I want. I originally got away from the Berger's because of the potential for massive meat damage, but on elk, with good shot placement, I'm not as concerned about that.
BTW- I weighed 10 random ELD-X bullets and they all weighed exactly 162.0 grains.
10 Bergers weighed 167.7-168.1 grains.
Good luck hunting!