Hornady 195 ELDMs in a .308 Win?

[MikeMcCasland]

Hey Guys,

Before anyone says anything, I'm not migrating away from the 20x. I just wanted a lower cost .308 bullet for practicing in a backup rifle, and something to use as range fodder when I need to fireform brass.

I bought ~500 of the 195 ELDMs (.294 G7) because they were dirt cheap, and was wondering if anyone out there had played with them? If so, you have any luck? How does the bearing surface relate to a 20x, or other common bullets in that weight range?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mike Conroy]

These are wonderful bullets. I have shot them very great results, using them for F Class matches.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

How's the bearing surface relative to other 200gr bullets?

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I couldn't find much info about these online despite them being out for a while (probably for good reason), so figured I'd post up a quick comparison without having shot them.




Left to Right:
175 Sierra Match King, 195 Hornady ELDM, 195 Sierra TMK, Berger 200.20x, Hornady 208 ELDM

Base to ogive:
175 SMK = .6630
195 ELDM = .7865
195 TMK = 7615
200.20x = .7270
208 ELDM = .8070

OAL on the 195 is 1.450"

Planning to use these to break in a new bartlein next week, and to fire form cases. Will try them with N140/N150/Varget/H4895.

 

[dskogman]

I would shoot them for fun but not in a match I cared about. I’ve seen too many 6.5 and 7mm’s score zeros in a match. One of the 7mm’s was mine in a state match. They shoot really well till they don’t

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I would shoot them for fun but not in a match I cared about. I’ve seen too many 6.5 and 7mm’s score zeros in a match. One of the 7mm’s was mine in a state match. They shoot really well till they don’t

#MeToo.

These are just for messing around with.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Figured I'd post an update...These bullets are truly amazing; they are legitimately the worst shooting bullet I've ever shot in my entire life, which is really saying something.

I've tried them in 3 different rifles, behind 4 different powders, and they just don't shoot well for me. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I was using these to break a rifle in; it was printing 5-6" groups at 200 yards. I actually thought something was loose it was shooting so bad. Nope! After inspecting everything I tossed in a 200.20x/Varget load from another rifle, and it put 5 of them into a ragged hole.

They also sit very deep in the case relative to the 200.20x and 200 Hybrid; so much so that it diminishes available case capacity.

I'll probably put these up for sale, but figured I'd give a report.

 

[No i deer]

Have you tried them just touching the rifling..??
I'd be intrested in the results if you decide to try this..!!

 

[davidjoe]

I would shoot them for fun but not in a match I cared about. I’ve seen too many 6.5 and 7mm’s score zeros in a match. One of the 7mm’s was mine in a state match. They shoot really well till they don’t

it’s happened to me too at a state midrange match prior to their move to Houston. Interesting note regarding the evolving etarget rules, though. I reviewed rules in reassuming 2020 club match director role on the NRA site.

10.17.8 says that if an etarget fails to register a shot, AND the competitor has “all his previous shots” in the black, then he will be directed to take another shot, and if it registers, that shot takes the place of the missing shot.

So to my reading rare bullet blowups (and unclaimed crossfires) are now going to be basically redo’s by that rule. If so, beware the ELDM’s at 600 and closer.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

it’s happened to me too at a state midrange match prior to their move to Houston. Interesting note regarding the evolving etarget rules, though. I reviewed rules in reassuming 2020 club match director role on the NRA site.

10.17.8 says that if an etarget fails to register a shot, AND the competitor has “all his previous shots” in the black, then he will be directed to take another shot, and if it registers, that shot takes the place of the missing shot.

So to my reading rare bullet blowups (and unclaimed crossfires) are now going to be basically redo’s by that rule.

Now you've gone and done it!

Happened to me when I was setup to get my MR HM. Blew up a 147; only problem was the guy to my right saw it happen.

I'm done with anything ELDM in a match.

 

[davidjoe]

Now you've gone and done it!

Happened to me when I was setup to get my MR HM. Blew up a 147; only problem was the guy to my right saw it happen.

I'm done with anything ELDM in a match.

It’s just going to be one of those gaps. Under present rules, the proper shooter is credited with the higher score if two shots appear on his target. Undoubtedly, that has resulted in erroneous points.

If TR and Open shooting friends next to each other wanted to boost the score of the TR shooter on a very windy relay, they could just synch up firing but switch targets. Although harder to pull off on etargets, but simpler on paper.

 

[T-shooter]

I've never used the 195's but like the 208's

 

[T-shooter]

I've never used the 195's but like the 208's. (I hit the wrong button and sent this too early) The drawing below shows the same jump distance at .025" on both loads in my .308. The Hornady sits deeper in the case restricting the maximum powder charge but has full contact in the case neck.

 

[BP1]

Figured I'd post an update...These bullets are truly amazing; they are legitimately the worst shooting bullet I've ever shot in my entire life, which is really saying something.

I've tried them in 3 different rifles, behind 4 different powders, and they just don't shoot well for me. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I was using these to break a rifle in; it was printing 5-6" groups at 200 yards. I actually thought something was loose it was shooting so bad. Nope! After inspecting everything I tossed in a 200.20x/Varget load from another rifle, and it put 5 of them into a ragged hole.

They also sit very deep in the case relative to the 200.20x and 200 Hybrid; so much so that it diminishes available case capacity.

I'll probably put these up for sale, but figured I'd give a report.

Come on Mike..you can do it

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Come on Mike..you can do it

Don't you worry your pretty little head. I'm sitting on a nice stockpile of 20xs

 

[BP1]

Don't you worry your pretty little head. I'm sitting on a nice stockpile of 20xs

I’ll be ready for my beat down this weekend..

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Bumping this to see if anyone has played with these since Jan.

I'm getting ready to screw on a new 308 barrel to start load deving on, and have ~400 more of these bullets to use just to speed the barrel up. Even though they're just fodder, I'd still like them to be accurate fodder.

That said, I can't get these things to shoot in any of my .308s...like they shoot so bad you think something is loose, or you have major scope problems etc.

If anyone has had luck with these in a .308 setup for FTR, I'd love to hear what velocity/depth they seem to tune in for you. I've tried them from 2550-2700 (very hot) and they'll hold a 1000 yard X ring at 100 yards....75% of the time.

 

[OKBoomer]

I couldn’t get consistency out of them. They shot OK after I did quite a bit of load dev. Ended up with 3shot groups at 100yds in the high 2s to 3s. But I used them in a 600yd FTR match and 20% dropped low. Maybe those were me, or the (lack of) tune. I didn’t have a chance to tune farther than 100yds. Maybe bullet sorting would help eliminate some inconsistencies.

I tested seating from +.005 to -.020” from touch and velocities from 2550 to 2730. The best load was .010 off at 2600-2620. This was in a 30” HV 10tw Krieger. Fed LR match primer in new ADG brass with IMR-4064.