88 gr ELD Hornady bullets in 223 (looking for load data)

[Vmax97]

Has anyone shot the 88 gr ELD (88gr Hornady) bullet in 223 bolt guns? Looking for load data for that or any 90gr bullets as a starting point.

 

[Down South]

A pretty standard load in FTR with guys using .223 bolt guns, 6.5 to 7 twist barrels, Lapua brass and 90 gr VLDs is roughly 24.5 gr Varget give or take a little. Some guys use H4895 instead of Varget but the powder charge will be lower for the same node. This is in chambers throated out long enough for that bullet with the start of the boat tail to be above the neck/shoulder junction.

 

[Ned Ludd]

With the 88s, you need a very long freebore to seat them optimally...IMO, somewhere between ~0.275" to 0.300". With a chamber throated for 90 VLDs, the 88s will have a lot of shank below the neck/shoulder junction. Further, I have had a few jacket failures in a 6.8-twist barrel and pretty much given up shooting them. Don't go faster than a 7-twist, there is simply no need with this bullet. Finally, I experienced the jacket issues running them at ~2825 fps from a 30" barrel with Varget. I would suggest not running them any faster than that with a 7.0-twist barrel, and preferably even slower, so you don't experience the same issues I have had.

 

[manitou210]

Like Ned said bullet way down in case With the 88s, you need a very long freebore to seat them optimally...IMO, somewhere between ~0.275" to 0.300". With a chamber throated
I loaded 5 rounds in new Lapua neck turned brass with 23.4 Varget, 23.7 & 24 gr I seated the the 23.4 gr into lands 10 k the others with a 10 jump
was quite surprised with jam 10k with 23.4 gr Varget but I was stunned how groups opened up with a 10k jump never seen this before.
I had given my friend 10 bullets to try in his Savage Model12 30" Bartlien 4 grove he loaded 23.5 gr and they shot about 3/4" to 1.25"
My gun is a Barnard S with a 1/7 twist 5r at 30.5" both guns use JGS Reamer
Will do some more testing with bullets kissing and 10k into rifling would be nice to get them to work good with same BC as 90 gr Bergers could work out to 1000 in f class, not real optimistic on Hornady bullets but hey maybe there better made now ??
manitou

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Like Ned said bullet way down in case With the 88s, you need a very long freebore to seat them optimally...IMO, somewhere between ~0.275" to 0.300". With a chamber throated
I loaded 5 rounds in new Lapua neck turned brass with 23.4 Varget, 23.7 & 24 gr I seated the the 23.4 gr into lands 10 k the others with a 10 jump
was quite surprised with jam 10k with 23.4 gr Varget but I was stunned how groups opened up with a 10k jump never seen this before.
I had given my friend 10 bullets to try in his Savage Model12 30" Bartlien 4 grove he loaded 23.5 gr and they shot about 3/4" to 1.25"
My gun is a Barnard S with a 1/7 twist 5r at 30.5" both guns use JGS Reamer
Will do some more testing with bullets kissing and 10k into rifling would be nice to get them to work good with same BC as 90 gr Bergers could work out to 1000 in f class, not real optimistic on Hornady bullets but hey maybe there better made now ??
manitou

Very timely report! I just had 500 of them arrive on my porch, and plan to test this weekend.

You get any velocity numbers with your testing?

 

[manitou210]

Very timely report! I just had 500 of them arrive on my porch, and plan to test this weekend.

You get any velocity numbers with your testing?

Did not chrono loads but would estimate 23.5 2740 fps will do next week aS I AM LOADING AS WE SPEAK WITH A 5 TO 1 K JAM

 

[MikeMcCasland]

So just tested where the lands are with this bullet, and looks like I'm at 2.060 with the Hornady tool. That puts me at 2.614 OAL at the lands.

I had a .170 freebore about 2,000 rounds ago. The throat looks amazingly good in the borescope, but the last time I checked the 90gr Bergers needed to be seated our ~.040 further to hit the lands.

I'm going to load up and do seating depth testing first, and will use 23.5 of Varget like you (I'd been running 24.2-24.7 with the 90gr VLDs).

 

[manitou210]

So just tested where the lands are with this bullet, and looks like I'm at 2.060 with the Hornady tool. That puts me at 2.614 OAL at the lands.

I had a .170 freebore about 2,000 rounds ago. The throat looks amazingly good in the borescope, but the last time I checked the 90gr Bergers needed to be seated our ~.040 further to hit the lands.

I'm going to load up and do seating depth testing first, and will use 23.5 of Varget like you (I'd been running 24.2-24.7 with the 90gr VLDs).

I been there at 24.2 to 24.5 Varget its to hot, and lapua brass done in 3 shots

 

[theallcineyes]

I've been shooting the 80 using IMR 4064 and have been very happy.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Just a follow-up, I shot 50 of them at 300y, and could get them to group real well at certain seating depths for 4 shots, but it would seemingly throw a flier ~3" the rest of the group. I don't have a problem accepting blame for pulled shots, but some of these weren't the shooter. Has me thinking the 'bulk packaged' bullets are 2nds or something like that; saw about 1gr of variance in the ~15 or so I weighed.

I could chase it further, but think I'm going to rebarrel the rifle and save the components for the next go-round.

 

[theallcineyes]

You will be just fine. The increased velocity of the 22-250 will stabilize the 73 in 1-9' and the 75 should be just fine in a 1-8" 223.

If you don't think they are stabilized try pushing them faster.

 

[Maxden]

Just a follow-up, I shot 50 of them at 300y, and could get them to group real well at certain seating depths for 4 shots, but it would seemingly throw a flier ~3" the rest of the group. I don't have a problem accepting blame for pulled shots, but some of these weren't the shooter. Has me thinking the 'bulk packaged' bullets are 2nds or something like that; saw about 1gr of variance in the ~15 or so I weighed.

I could chase it further, but think I'm going to rebarrel the rifle and save the components for the next go-round.

How did you do going forward with the 88 Hornady ELDM

 

[Rocketvapor]

I've been shooting the 88s @ 2900 to 600yds with good results.
This is with a 22 Nosler, not a .223
7 twist, 5r, .219, 28" barrel and IMR4350.
NEVER had one come apart.
Am now working on SB6.5 @ 100yds and getting a little more speed and good groups.
Right close to 3000fps and they stay together. At least for 100 yds

 

[xswanted]

Just to throw my 2 cents in I’ve tried the 88’s in a 223AI I had built for the 85.5 Berger with an OAL of 2.485

With a stiff load of H4895 in a 24” barrel I was getting 2825 fps. 7 twist barrel. No issues with jackets and accuracy was good. The Berger shot better as expected but the Hornady is certainly a good choice as well.

 

[Tireguy]

I have noticed that the 88's liked/performed with RL15 better vs H4895 in two different barrels.
88's seem to perform better in a .219 bore vs a .218 bore.
Berger 85s seem to prefer a .218 bore and not too finicky on powder choice.
.....just my $0.02

 

[urbanrifleman]

Just to throw my 2 cents in I’ve tried the 88’s in a 223AI I had built for the 85.5 Berger with an OAL of 2.485

With a stiff load of H4895 in a 24” barrel I was getting 2825 fps. 7 twist barrel. No issues with jackets and accuracy was good. The Berger shot better as expected but the Hornady is certainly a good choice as well.

A very famous shooter told me that the ELDMs don't group as small at short range but shoot the same scores at long range due to the better BC.

 

[xswanted]

A very famous shooter told me that the ELDMs don't group as small at short range but shoot the same scores at long range due to the better BC.

Very possible.

I had a bit better luck with hit percentage with the Bergers vs the Hornady but not by a lot.

 

[Dave Zander]

Loaded and shot these 2 days ago.
88 G ELD-M
23.7G RELODER 15
205M
2.002 CBTO .049" jump
LAPUA BRASS
2726 FPS. 22fps extreme spread
Shoots .161" 3 shot groups out of a Kreiger 28" Barrel with Ultra 7 suppressor, Kelbly Black Bear Action,

 

[JOE360]

88 eld , 300 yards. 10 shots center hold. 24.5 varget. 223 wylde chamber ( pretty crunchy load) .005 to. 000 jump depends on bullet lot. 28 in barrel at 2840fps

 

[Jeff Porter]

I have posted this in another thread by I am getting good results out to 1000 yards with the 88 ELDM with 24.5 8208 in a Wylde chambered Kreiger barrel in a 26” gas gun with +2 gas system. 2800 FPS MV. 1350 FPS at 1000

Below is 800 yard target in a recent iron sight Palma match