180 Hornady ELD-M bullets blowing up in air

[tim_w]

My only point about the 195s was as possible indiactions of a trend toward where the issue may be. Some rough lands could have cuased both issues. With more info on everything that does not seem to be the case but we can only work from the imfo as you give it.

Since other seem to have sporatic issues with the hrdy and bergers shoot well for you seems a logical choice. Hope it all works out for ya.

 

[squeeeeze]

Good points Tim. We'll see what Hornady says if they get back to me as well as Proof. Once the rifle gets back together and to the range. We'll see what happens.

 

[Jacob N Brown]

Good points Tim. We'll see what Hornady says if they get back to me as well as Proof. Once the rifle gets back together and to the range. We'll see what happens.

You ever hear anything from Hornady? I'm having my bbl scoped today. If it comes out good, I think I'll be trying to get Hornady to send me something else that works

 

[squeeeeze]

You ever hear anything from Hornady? I'm having my bbl scoped today. If it comes out good, I think I'll be trying to get Hornady to send me something else that works

It had been 2 months and I hadn't heard anything from Hornady yet. I called and finally got the gentleman who took my return. He said they hadn't shot them yet. He did say they just cross sectioned a couple and the jacket thickness looked to be in spec with their parameters. He did bring up the fact that I was trying to "hot rod" them with a hot rod cartridge and that was probably the issue.

I informed him this was happening with slower speeds and held together better and grouped better the faster I pushed them. I let him know others were having this issue with the 7mm mag at sub 3000 fps and that's not a "hot rod" cartridge but he still seemed to think it might be so IDK what their limit is on acceptable speeds to shoot them at, but some people are shooting them a fair amount faster.

He said they'll try to shoot them soon and let me know. That was about week ago.

 

[kiwikid]

Hornady state in their Tenth Edition reloading manual that these projectiles can be used from 2000 to 3200 fps. It is a bit rich for their tech to suggest you are "hot rodding" them when your load hasn't reached their top velocity.

 

[squeeeeze]

Hornady called me back and I spoke to them today. They informed me that they have not shot the bullets yet. The reason they said was because they didn't have a fast twist 7mm barrel. He said they are working on trying to get a .gun put together with a fast enough twist so they can test them. He said they would just replace the bullets with bullets of my choice. I just had him send me 3 boxes of the 143 ELD-X.

I'm not sure when or if I'll hear back from them about their findings, but it would be nice to know if they can be confidently shot in the future.

 

[Theotherdave]

Hornady called me back and I spoke to them today. They informed me that they have not shot the bullets yet. The reason they said was because they didn't have a fast twist 7mm barrel. He said they are working on trying to get a .gun put together with a fast enough twist so they can test them. He said they would just replace the bullets with bullets of my choice. I just had him send me 3 boxes of the 143 ELD-X.

I'm not sure when or if I'll hear back from them about their findings, but it would be nice to know if they can be confidently shot in the future.

I ran into this with numerous bullets on my 7mm RUM.

With 2 barrels:

1-8.5 34"
1-8.75 30"

180gr. ELD-Ms come out at 3,400 - 3,450 fps depending on load and temp, etc.

Interestingly they hold together initially. I have never experienced any barrel get as hot as quickly as those on a 7mm RUM. This is heavy varmint profile .9" diameter at the muzzle.

By the 3rd shot, taking my time, the barrel is hot. Not enough to burn your hand, but you can't hold it comfortably for more than a few seconds.

Usually by shot 4 or 5 the bullet will now impact the target or berm sideways. This I can only assume is due to the heat in the barrel is causing the jacket to heat up on the way down the tube and blow at least part of the jacket off once it hits the air at the end of the muzzle.

I have tested a LOT of bullets found that unless it's a solid or a bonded bullet like a partition they do NOT hold up at velocities above 3,300 -3,400 + FPS and the above twist rates.

When I chopped one of my barrels down to 22" and the velocities dropped down into the 3,000 -3,100 FPS range on the ELD-Ms, the bullets seem to hold up.

Interestingly, I have run match bullets on my 22-243 with a 1-8 twist, 75gr. ELD-Ms going @ 3,600 fps and have never once had a jacket separation.

Even going to the 40gr. VMAX at 4,800 FPS, I do not experience jacket separation.

Bottom line, with longer barrels, the 28 Nosler is probably able, and the 7mm RUM and 7mm AM are definitely able, to drive many bullets at speeds past their design limitations.

Most 7mms don't come in factory twist rates faster than 1-9, therefore manufacturers have not been exposed to this.

 

[tim_w]

Theotherbave,

That actually is in line with hrdy vel range 2000-3200. Makes sense I think some stress can be taken off by using a slight gain twist or .5-1" leaving the last few inches at the final angle. 9 - 8.5/8 twist. The 7 rum is known for being rough on bullets but I had always thought it was from the throat condition after a 100 or so rounds. Seems this maybe at least part of it as they did hold together for you at first.

If the 180 eldm was not sucha good bullet for lr hunting it would not be such a big deal but with that because and term per at the longer ranges its too nice to not use.

 

[Theotherdave]

The issue with the RUM isn't a throat issue, had that checked.

The longer 34" barrel blew jackets off from the very beginning.

The issues are the heat in the barrel that the 7mm RUM generates so fast, and speeds past the design limitations of the bullets.

 

[jasonco]

Hornady state in their Tenth Edition reloading manual that these projectiles can be used from 2000 to 3200 fps. It is a bit rich for their tech to suggest you are "hot rodding" them when your load hasn't reached their top velocity.

Just checked my downloaded Tenth Edition and it has a velocity range of 2000-3100 fps for the 175 ELDX. I had a blow up, when I had to wait for the "AR Fan" to magdump in the stall next to me and while I waited, the 3rd round was heat-soaking in chamber. Finally sent the round down range and impact on target or dirt berm?! In my 28 Nosler 26" 9 twist, I run mine at a conservative 3050-3080 fps, this 3rd round went out at 3210 fps!

 

[lennyo3034]

Shooting a match today with 7 mag. 180eldm at 3060. On one of the "gimmi" targets, no one could spot the impact. Full size ipsc target at 500 yards. Mountain of berm around it and no splash.

I'm guessing the bullet exploded on the way but didn't think to look for a puff of smoke.

 

[venatic]

They came apart in my 28 Nosler as well. Running 3180 always on 3rd Shot so warm barrel.... first two would be great.

 

[Eagle eyes 17]

Have a 28 Nosler and have bullets that have keyholed and came apart as close as 100 yards. A few have completely missed the backstop at 100 and the box was approx. 18"x36" and nowhere to be seen on paper.

This has happened with 2 different people loading with different dies and shooting on their own. Loading Retumbo 78.5-80.5 grains and approx. 3070fps-3180.

Didn't experience this shooting the 195's and all shots always accounted for.

Have seen puffs of dirt randomly on ground or hill away from target to verify they're exploding. So at 300+ yards some seem to just vanish and apparently blowing up in mid air. Anyone else experience this with the Hornady 180 ELD-M? Some have shot pretty good groups at 100 but seem to not want to make it much further.

Full custom from reputable competent smith. Defiance action, Proof carbon fiber w/1:8.44" twist, manners stock, Jewell Trigger, all high end components.

Wow, I've never heard of that before, I would be contacting the manufacturer.
I've loaded alot of 180 SST and 200 ELD-X bullets for my 300 RUM with no problems so far.

 

[257Tony]

Since my previous reply a while back, I've had 2 that failed to show up down range when shooting cliff faces at 800 yards. No sign of a hit anywhere, could be my spotter sucks or they just hit something that didn't show a sign, both times were on a warm barrel. No definitive proof of blowing up, but a little worrisome.