ELDM vs ELDX (construction-wise)

The other package came today with a ton more bullets. I can't thank you guys enough for being so generous and supportive. I know some of these are better than gold right now lol.

These all will keep me really busy for a while, but I promise I'll get them done and posted just as soon as I can. That's the whole point. This isn't just for me. It's to be helpful for the whole community and just increase the knowledge base.

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Man those Scirrocco bullets have thick jackets! No wonder they are so tough.

I'd like to see an ABLR sectioned and compared to a similar Accubond.

I also have some Hornady ATips if you'd like to section those.

You mention you'd like to have more monos, I have the following I could donate:

  • Cutting Edge Lazer .308/230
  • Badlands Precision .308/205
  • Barnes LRX .308/212 Bore Rider
  • Barnes LRX .264/127
  • Maker TREX .308/165
  • Cavity Back Bullets .264/105
 
Man those Scirrocco bullets have thick jackets! No wonder they are so tough.

I'd like to see an ABLR sectioned and compared to a similar Accubond.

I also have some Hornady ATips if you'd like to section those.

You mention you'd like to have more monos, I have the following I could donate:

  • Cutting Edge Lazer .308/230
  • Badlands Precision .308/205
  • Barnes LRX .308/212 Bore Rider
  • Barnes LRX .264/127
  • Maker TREX .308/165
  • Cavity Back Bullets .264/105
I have done the 230gr and 250gr .308" A-tips, as well as the 190gr 7mm, and 300gr .338" but I don't think I have 3 of each.

The LRAB/ABLR is one on my list to redo. I've done them, but it's been a while and not to this new standard.

I'd love to get some Cutting Edge, Makers, Cavity Back, and the bore rider LRX. I've done a drive band LRX and a sample of both a Gen 1 and Gen 2 Badlands Bulldozer so far. I've also done a PVA Cayuga, GS Custom, 214gr Hammer Hunter, and perhaps more I'm forgetting.
 
I have done the 230gr and 250gr .308" A-tips, as well as the 190gr 7mm, and 300gr .338" but I don't think I have 3 of each.

The LRAB/ABLR is one on my list to redo. I've done them, but it's been a while and not to this new standard.

I'd love to get some Cutting Edge, Makers, Cavity Back, and the bore rider LRX. I've done a drive band LRX and a sample of both a Gen 1 and Gen 2 Badlands Bulldozer so far. I've also done a PVA Cayuga, GS Custom, 214gr Hammer Hunter, and perhaps more I'm forgetting.
PM me your address and I'll gladly send whatever you'd like to you.

Maybe you can see if the Mods will help make and pin a sticky with a consolidated thread of all the bullets you have done and will be doing on the future.
 
PM me your address and I'll gladly send whatever you'd like to you.

Maybe you can see if the Mods will help make and pin a sticky with a consolidated thread of all the bullets you have done and will be doing on the future.
Here's the list I've made for those I can think of off the top of my head for bullets I'd like to add at some point. Who knows how long it'll take to get them all.

Bullets I'd like to dissect:



Lapua:

  • Scenar
  • Scenar-L
  • DTAC
  • Mega


Nosler:

  • LRAB
  • Custom Competition
  • E-tip
  • Varmageddon


Swift:

  • A-Frame


Hornady:

  • Interbond
  • CX
  • GMX
  • Sub-X
  • Flex-tip (FTX)
  • BTHP
  • Mono-flex


Barnes:

  • TTSX
  • TSX
  • MPG
  • TAC-TX


LeHigh Defense:

  • Controlled Chaos
  • Controlled Fracturing


Sierra:

  • New secant SMK
  • ProHunter


Speer:

  • Hot-Cor
  • Impact


Federal:

  • Fusion
  • Terminal Ascent
  • Premium Trophy Bonded


Cutting Edge:

  • MTH
  • MTAC
  • Raptor
  • Max-imus
  • Lazer


Hammer:

  • Absolute Hammer
  • Power Hammer
  • Sledge Hammer
  • Shock Hammer
  • DeadBlow


Norma:

  • EvoStrike
  • EcoStrike
  • Oryx
  • Alaska
  • Vulkan
  • GTX
  • Diamond Line


Maker:

  • RAX
  • REX
  • TREX
 
It seems like this is always a common debate and topic. So I wanted to make my own thread on the matter, showing the comparisons between the Hornady ELDX and ELDM. They're not the same and are actually both improvements on two other Hornady bullets. The ELDX is simply just an improved SST and the ELDM is an improved AMAX.

The AMAX and ELDM are constructed the same, for all intents and purposes. The jacket thickness is the same (.024"), the core is the same, etc. The only difference is a slight change in the aerodynamic profile to boost the BC on the ELDM and the ELDM has the newer acetyl resin tip rather than just a basic polymer that the AMAX has. The ELDM and AMAX perform the same terminally, the ELDM just boosts max range capability and there are now many more options in each caliber than there were with the AMAX, even before they were discontinued.

The ELDX, like I said, is essentially just an improved SST. The jackets are the same thickness (.051") and taper out thinner the same amount, and both also have interlock rings. The ELDX, however, does not have a cannelure like the SST has, but it does have the newer acetyl resin tip. They're also available in other weights compared to the SST and they have a slightly more aerodynamic profile to boost BC. Not having the cannelure also reduces parasitic drag and thus increases BC as well. Terminally, the ELDX and SST perform the same. The external ballistics of the ELDX are better though.

Note: to my knowledge so far, there is one exception to all this. The 285gr .338" AMAX and now ELDM both are constructed more like an ELDX rather than the typical AMAX/ELDM. They have thick jackets and an interlock ring. They should be treated like an ELDX as far as terminal performance is concerned.

Hunters need to be aware that the ELDX has a significantly thicker jacket than the ELDM, plus it has the interlock ring, but overall the ELDX is still a relatively soft bullet- in that it's not actually fully bonded and the jackets taper in thickness. The ELDM does not taper in jacket thickness, nor does it have an interlock ring.

Even though it's constructed tougher, with too high of an impact velocity the ELDX can still suffer from poor penetration and over-expansion. Where they differ the most from the ELDM is on the lower end of impact velocity. The thicker jacket and interlock ring will really start holding the bullet together more so than the ELDM at impact velocities dipping below like 1800fps, especially with lower resistance upon impact as well. So the ELDM shines the most if you need a bullet that performs very well still at impact velocities around 2000fps and less.

For close range shots, what you need is a sufficient amount of sectional density, which is the amount of mass behind the frontal area of the bullet. How much you need will depend on the bullet construction and your expected impact velocity. An ELDX will still do better with more SD for close range (high impact velocity) shots due to how thin the jackets are at the ogive. If there's not enough mass behind the ogives, there might not be enough bullet left to do the job after the front starts coming apart on impact.

A bullet with thick jackets, but without tapering, would actually be better with less SD. You'd want less SD to lower the amount of penetration so that you can still achieve sufficient expansion. The Sierra TGK is a good example (I'll make a thread on these next). The cores on those are also made of a harder lead alloy and that will lower the rate of expansion as well. That type of bullet will come apart at a slower rate having the same thickness at the ogive as at the bearing surface area. With too much mass, it'll just punch right through before it has a chance to fully expand. Lowering the mass (SD) will lower the rate of penetration and balance out the expansion versus penetration. The same goes for actual bonded bullets too. If you go with a version with too much weight (SD) you'll end up with more penetration than expansion. Lowering the weight helps balance the two. Same concept with copper bullets too, but high impact velocity is even more crucial with those. You want relatively low SD and a high impact velocity for best results with those.

My point here is just things you still need to consider with the ELDX and even the SST if you're still using those.

Below are some side by side comparisons of similar size and weight ELDX and ELDM bullets. There's a pic of an AMAX too showing the jacket is the same thickness as the ELDM.

I have more bullets I can compare like this too, such as the 250gr .308" A-tip, 300gr .338" A-tips, etc. I'm always open to having any other bullets sent my way to cut open and post the results too.

Edit: here's some links to similar threads of mine for those interested:

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/norma-bondstrike-tipstrike-and-j-a-abram-bullets.312663/

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/sierra-tmk-vs-tgk-gamechanger.312653/

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/bullet-construction.283735/

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Great. Thank you. So the Hornady guy did not tell me true. So different thickness in jacket between eldm and x. X has interlock ring. Now please dissect and A-tip. Can you do a hardness test of the core like the lead bullet casters do?
 
Heck of write up, thanks for the time and effort Petey308
Thank you, and to those awesome people that sent me bullets, I'm still working on them. I'm sorry it's taken so long. My life never seems to slow down. I just don't want anyone thinking I forgot or decided not to keep going. This a project that is very important to me and I will finish it just as soon as I can.
 

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