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Deleted member 46119
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Because those are "drawings" not engineering prints I wouldn't go by the pictures.
Hornady announcement Oct 27th
- Thread starter the444shooter
- Start date
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Deleted member 46119
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Since I shoot lots of A-Max and V-Max it explains some things.
I will be trying them.
I will run out of A-Max at a point I expect availability.
Better get shooting.
I will be trying them.
I will run out of A-Max at a point I expect availability.
Better get shooting.
stomp442
Well-Known Member
Bullets look good, I especially like the 143gr 6.5 offering. Looking forward to Litz measurements on these.
The 6.5 saum 4s guys are saying there is a strong possibility that the 6.5 ELD-X could be available end of this year. That translates to mid 2016 for us Canadians. I shot the 6.5 Amax at high speeds and wasn't that impressed with accuracy. I'll have to try these out for sure.
Varminator 911
Well-Known Member
All this for a tip that doesn't melt? Berger's tips aren't melting and they have higher bc values. Show me a really pointed tip and a 27 ogive like Sierra's new 183 grain 7mm and I'll be impressed.
I was hoping for a little heaver and higher BC but I'll try them. I don't think the ELD-X will give Amax type performance so I'm not sure how much I'd shoot them. I'd like to see the heavier bullets offered in the ELD's without the interlock. Some of them have two different BC's posted depending on the page you view them on but I'd imagine the BC's are pretty accurate if they are using Dopler radar at long range to get the numbers.
The 212gr .30 with a .673/.685 BC is probably the most interesting for me and not far off the 215 Berger at .691. The weight difference will be some of the difference in BC. Since Berger dropped the BC so much on the 230 target there isn't any real benefit to them over the lighter bullets. A 230-250gr bullet with a .750+ BC would have been the real deal for the large .30 caliber magnums IMO. I like the Amax performance on game so I'd probably prefer the normal ELD rather than the ELD-X. I do think tipped bullets give more consistent expansion on game.
The 212gr .30 with a .673/.685 BC is probably the most interesting for me and not far off the 215 Berger at .691. The weight difference will be some of the difference in BC. Since Berger dropped the BC so much on the 230 target there isn't any real benefit to them over the lighter bullets. A 230-250gr bullet with a .750+ BC would have been the real deal for the large .30 caliber magnums IMO. I like the Amax performance on game so I'd probably prefer the normal ELD rather than the ELD-X. I do think tipped bullets give more consistent expansion on game.
Timnterra
Well-Known Member
Honestly I was hoping for something bigger than a change in plastic tip material. However since I shoot 162 Amax bullets in my 7wsm and the BC has never lined up on any ballistic calculator I'm excited to get my hands on the new bullets. Having a bullet that can compete with Berger at half the price is a big deal and with their claims on improved terminal performance they might have an advantage because is the pin-hole wounding problems burgers have at extended ranges. Hope they hit the shelves soon
gohring3006
Well-Known Member
If they run $35.00 a box, I'll definitely stay with Hornady.
ELD-X bullet line up announced this morning. Looks very promising!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpan-7vTqes&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpan-7vTqes&feature=youtu.be
Varminator 911
Well-Known Member
Cheap is nice but it doesn't take many bullets to shoot game at long range. I'd rather see more very long and sleek bullets similar to the 50 caliber Amax in all the smaller calibers. Hornady seems to want to compete on price and not quality. They offer high quality for their price point. But how about a few more bullets that are the best at a reasonable price. They've proven long ago that they can produce such bullets. But then changed the 7mm 162 Amax to a cheaper, shorter, lower bc bullet with a melting plastic tip rather than the old non-melting aluminum tip.
They don't have to go back to aluminum but why put these stubby new tips on their "best" new bullets.
Compare Hornaday's 175 http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-.284-175-gr-ELD-X
to Sierra's 183 https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1983/284-dia-183-gr-HPBT
Nearly half the bullet length of 750 gn 50 cal Amax is ogive, just what's needed to max bc and with that big tip it should expand at very low velocity: http://www.hornady.com/store/50-Cal-.510-750-gr-A-MAX/
They don't have to go back to aluminum but why put these stubby new tips on their "best" new bullets.
Compare Hornaday's 175 http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-.284-175-gr-ELD-X
to Sierra's 183 https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1983/284-dia-183-gr-HPBT
Nearly half the bullet length of 750 gn 50 cal Amax is ogive, just what's needed to max bc and with that big tip it should expand at very low velocity: http://www.hornady.com/store/50-Cal-.510-750-gr-A-MAX/
Timnterra
Well-Known Member
I doubt that the Sierra bullet is going to expand at all below 2200fps. I think you have to give somewhere when trying to make a bullet "do it all". Ultra high BC is good but there is no use for it in hunting if the bullet will not expand at long range. If your only talking target shooting then BC is everything that's why HPBT designs dominate there. However the more I think about the more I like the advertised "all range" performance of this bullet. One cannot go hunting knowing exactly the range he will end up shooting. For the last three years I've gone out with the intention of killing game at long range but never had opportunities to take a shot beyond 300yds. I like knowing the bullet will perform well at any range and associated velocity.
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Deleted member 46119
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Brain fart.
I think Hornady can produce a quality bullet at the right price. I think they really did a great job with their new design. I don't think going with an aluminum tip would gain much other than a finer tip. I think the Heat Shield Tip offers easier manufacturing but also makes an extremely repeatable and accurate meplat. And as far as the way they changed the 162 A-MAXs, if they knew the plastic melted I don't think they would have gone to it. So your point is illogical compared to what was known at the time. And as far as stubby tips, the engineers said the tip they use is the best meplat design they have tested.
The 175gr ELD-X is in a different league than the SMK. The SMK may be slicker and have a higher BC, but I can guarantee it was not designed as an all purpose hunting bullet. Hornady won some and lost some with their new bullets, but what was lost, is well made up for with their potential and abilities. You also have to consider seating depth with a hunting cartridge, match shooters can have a long overall length because they single shot their rifles. Hunters on the other hand want to have that back up shot and you also have to consider seating depth sensitivity. VLD style bullets like the Bergers and Sierra 183s are finicky to load for, and it would be difficult for Hornady to load their Precision Hunter ammunition so it works in everyone's rifles.
Litz's measurements are inferior compared to the Doppler testing Hornady utilized to test the ELD-X BCs.
