ELD-Ms Ain't Half Bad . . .

[JLT]

Hornady match bullets rarely get much love, so I figured I'd give them some positive press with an observation and some data.

I just finished loading 50 rounds of .22-.250 AI, topping them off with 75 grain Hornady ELD-M bullets. I set the seating depth to 1.995" CBTO, .010" off the lands and I measured each one after seating. The results demonstrate a remarkable level of consistency for bullets that can be had for about $.20 each. For the data hounds out there, the summary statistics follow:

Values, inches Statistic
0.00044000 Standard Deviation of Population
0.000000194 Variance of Population
1.997 Maximum Value
1.994 Minimum Value
0.000224 Avg. of Absolute Deviations From Pop. Mean
1.99508 Population Mean

2 measured 1.994", 4 measured 1.996" and one measured 1.997". The other 43 were right on 1.995". I measured the remaining 50 in the box for overall length and collected similarly consistent results.

These distance-to-bearing surface measurements are as good as I've seen with any mass-produced match bullet. I've had very good results with these bullets so far, and the observed consistency offers strong objective support for their performance.

Thought I'd pass it along . . .

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Their 140gr ELD match shoot really well out of my 6.5 Creedmoor and a big plus is that I can easily get them!

 

[LVLAaron]

The 75's and 140's are outstanding. They get all kinds of love.

 

[nmkid]

Recently I used 2 different bullets for my new 22 Creedmoor, 80.5 Berger Full Bore vs. 80 gr Hornady ELD. Based on my findings it was really a shoot out with no real winner. I went with the Hornady. They're cheaper!

 

[Liven The Dream]

More Love for 140's

I would add many years back there original 7mm 162 Gr. Match Bullet was a True Gem.
I shot them in a 7.08 HV Barrel Match Rifle Got my Master Card in one Summer .
Scores of 197-10X out of 20 shots at 1000 yards was regular .

 

[grovey]

The 75's and 140's are outstanding. They get all kinds of love.

Ain't no love in my heart for the 75's. A big waste of time and money according to my 3 rifles.

 

[STOMP442]

I used to really like them too until they started coming apart on me. Now I just can't trust them, which is a shame because they shot really well.

 

[boltfluter]

JLT,

Some great info. I shot a lot of the 75 A-max in my .22BR with amazing results on coyotes and paper. Hoping the transition to the newer 75 won't be too bad.

Paul

 

[284winner]

JLT,

Some great info. I shot a lot of the 75 A-max in my .22BR with amazing results on coyotes and paper. Hoping the transition to the newer 75 won't be too bad.

Paul

Great coyote bullet. Knocks the chit out of them...literally !!!

 

[Jacob.A]

Ain't no love in my heart for the 75's. A big waste of time and money according to my 3 rifles.

How much were you jumping them? They like a lot more than most people would use, I've heard as much as 0.075" off the lands. I don't go quite that far, but mine are seated a good ways off the lands and I've had great results (1/4 MOA or better) with three different barrels in two different calibers. Lots of the guys I shoot F class with use them to great effect as well.

 

[grovey]

I'd have to look, but surely not 0.075. 0.010 or 0.015 is where I settled if memory serves. I'm sure I tried them from 0.005 in to 0.0025 off as that's the range I usually work within. Shot some great groups too, but couldn't always back them up. 1/4" would turn into 1/2" or more next time out. Chased my tail thru too many boxes trying to make them work. Switched to a Berger bullet and my troubles were over.

 

[284winner]

How much were you jumping them? They like a lot more than most people would use, I've heard as much as 0.075" off the lands. I don't go quite that far, but mine are seated a good ways off the lands and I've had great results (1/4 MOA or better) with three different barrels in two different calibers. Lots of the guys I shoot F class with use them to great effect as well.

I jump the 162 amax .150. They love to jump.

 

[JLT]

JLT,

Some great info. I shot a lot of the 75 A-max in my .22BR with amazing results on coyotes and paper. Hoping the transition to the newer 75 won't be too bad.

Paul

Paul, I've had no trouble at all with the transition to the ELDs. They have shot very well for me, better than the A-Max in all but one of my barrels. My experience is similar to that of others - they like to jump, sometimes quite a bit. One of my .22-.250 AIs seems to prefer less jump - .010" to .015" seems to work the best - but the rest of them are very happy .020" to .030" off.

I have yet to shoot a coyote with a 75 grain ELD-M, but their performance on groundhogs (and a few NY procupines!) was not altogether different from the A-Max. Maybe not quite as spectacular, but they can speak with authority.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Definitely not trying to belittle your results, but I have to point out that measuring loaded rounds is not necessarily any indication of "outstanding" bullet dimensional consistency. In fact, these numbers are likely be a better indicator of a high degree of consistency of the brass, the reloading press, and/or your skills as a reloader. It would be more informative to know the stats on the dimensions of the [unloaded] bullets themselves. How consistent are the various dimensions of the bullets straight out of the box?

 

[bsekf]

Anybody tried the ELD match on bigger game. I know there is a ELD-X, but I have the 120 ELD-M's shooting great. Thought some of our "Down Under" friends might have tried them on Roo's.

Bill

 

[284winner]

They work well on deer. Same as the Amax. DRT are the typical results. Some have more destruction than others. Depends on where the shot is.

 

[steve123]

Some of us are just looking for 1/2" groups at 100Y, and we are just shooting steel, also as long as the bullet holds together we're plenty happy with the eldm's. Heck, it's usually the wind that gets me at distance anyway.

Maybe some bullet sorting might be in order if one is getting more serious. Set the offenders aside for a fouling shot after cleaning or...

I've done no measuring or weighing, etc, and so far have been very pleased with the 22 cal 88 grainers.

Besides, I bet that all the bullet manufacturers have a had bad lot numbers of bullets.

All that being said I usually shoot Bergers, but I plan on trying more eldm's.

 

[JLT]

Definitely not trying to belittle your results, but I have to point out that measuring loaded rounds is not necessarily any indication of "outstanding" bullet dimensional consistency. In fact, these numbers are likely be a better indicator of a high degree of consistency of the brass, the reloading press, and/or your skills as a reloader. It would be more informative to know the stats on the dimensions of the [unloaded] bullets themselves. How consistent are the various dimensions of the bullets straight out of the box?

I did measure the 50 remaining in the box and collected similarly consistent results - overall length and bullet base-to-ogive. Good stuff.

 

[gme]

Bob Gill made the podium at the 2018 Longrange National Championships shooting the 80ELD's (.223 Palma gun) against all the any rifle shooters

 

[sbhooper]

Anybody tried the ELD match on bigger game. I know there is a ELD-X, but I have the 120 ELD-M's shooting great. Thought some of our "Down Under" friends might have tried them on Roo's.

Bill

On other forums, there are lots of accounts of them working well on everything from deer to moose, caribou etc. I have personally used them on deer and antelope and they work very well. Some people think that they are actually better than the eldx, but I cannot say one way or the other on that, as I have not shot any game with the eldx. I like the 147s in my Creed and plain old 129 Interlocks in my 260. The 120 eldm will work just fine on deer, but I personally would not go bigger than that with that bullet. I just shot an antelope with the 130 ELDM from my 260, and it worked fine.