Nosler 70 RDF vs Hornady 73 ELD-M Testing Results

[dstoenner]

In a previous post I had wondered how these 2 bullets fit in the scheme of things. Didn't get much response but since I had bought the bullets, I figured testing was in order. I decided that the testing would test mag length loads and seated as far out as it could be done. I didn't have any of my really good brass ready to load so I used my Hornady cases. These had been fired 3 times and were weight sorted to 95 to 98 (with primer). The primer was BR-4 in these cases.

I choose to use Varget powder as that powder is the best for my 69, 77 or 80 Sierra MatchKings. That would give me something to compare against. For the 70, I used 25 gn for both the mag length and the seated out to 2.410. For the 73 I used 23.5 for the mag length and 24 for the seated out to 2.430.

Those seated out dimensions are my arbitrary decision to not push the boat tail up in the neck. But it also turned out that the 73 was only .015 off the lands in my Wylde chamber with 2454 rounds before the test started.

I always sort my loaded rounds by bullet runout so here are the results for the 4 loads.

Nosler 70 RDF Mag Length
1-17 <= 2 mil
18-24 = 3 mil
25 = 5 mil

Nosler 70 RDF seated long
1-23 <= 2 mil
24 - 25 = 3 mil

Hornady 73 Mag Length
1-20 <= 2 mil
21-24 = 3 mil
25 = 4 mil

Hornady 73 seated long
1-24 <= 2 mil
25 = 3 mil

I used my Remington 700 with 8-32X56 Sightron scope off of my Atlas bipod and sandbag rear. I fired 1 5 shot group from the RDF ML, then ELD-M ML, then the RDF seated out and finally the ELD-M seated out. I started at the worse runout for each class. I kept this up with breaks to keep the barrel cooler till all 100 were fired. Then I fired 5 of my standard 77 SMK in sorted LC cases just to make sure everything was on the up and up with the set up.

Here are the measured 5 shot groups for each class, in the order they were fired on each target for the class.

Nosler 70 RDF ML - .750, .825, .945, .645 and .585 for an average of .750
Nosler 70 Seated Out - .580, .920,.710, .930 and .610 for an average of .750

Hornady 73 ELD-M ML - .790, 1.140, 1.175, .692 and .962 for an average of .952
Hornady 73 ELD-M Seated Out - .905, .835, .810, .368 and .860 for an average of .756

What this showed me, for this combination of factors that the ELD-M was not consistent and at mag length had poor performance. The Nosler RDF was far more consistent and very tolerant of loaded length. I know I haven't tried a work up to see what works best but these were known good recipes for my other bullets that shoot well in all of my guns

So you might say that well these groups are pretty bad and I could have shot better. I even started to question myself about what was going on. Hence the control group of 77 SMK with 23.5 Varget with BR-4 primers in LC case. I shot .375 so no it wasn't any part of the setup that I can pinpoint.

I think I am going to spend more time with the RDF and see what kind of velocity I am getting. With the advertised G1 BC of .412, this could be a game changer in NRA HP. The group average was totally an X ring group even on the average.

Look forward to anybody else's observations that I am missing.

Enjoy.

David

 

[Ironworker]

Thanks for posting,very interesting .

 

[CharlieNC]

May have to try the rdf once I run out of my recent 1000 75amax purchase. I do like the 140RDF for lr steel.

 

[Frankr]

Lets see if I understand what you are saying. You tested this in a REM 700 BOLT GUN ?. plus I do not see at what range you shot your groups.
I have shot a few rounds of the 73gr ELD M out of my Bushmaster QRC AR 16" 1-8 twist.
Now I have only shot a few loads at 100 yards. cheep rifle, cheep 3-9 power scope on it
New Federal brass, CCI 450 primer, lets call it 26.0 grs of CFE 223 seated at 2.250 I shot like three five shot groups at 100 yards and it was impressive now I did not measure them but in my experience I would say I was running close to a 1/2" with a shot that opened me up to 1" on a group or two. But it is stock and has a 6.5lbs very poor trigger and it is hard to get it off. I loaded up 70 rounds and have not shot it until today where we shot at 600 yards..I never chrony'd them so I just guessed the speed and guessed the drop and dialed it up and I was way low..lol...So my plan is to get it chrony'd this week and tweek the powder charge and get a range card and some field practice with it. Do some groundhog hunting and coyote. But my experience tells me it is a hit...but I have not shot it enough to really know much.
I would tell you had 3 shots out of five almost in a hole at a 100 yards and one cutting them and a loose one. witch I feel maybe the low power optic and heavy very heavy poor trigger that shooting much better may not be possible.

 

[dstoenner]

I guess you can try to document everything and miss the obvious. This was indoors at 100 yards. Sorry about that.

FJIM,

I am surprised you are using SR Magnum primers on your load. I shoot 27.5 CFE223 with 52 SMKs and use either CCI-200 or BR-4's with no issues.

I guess before I declare this test fully done I need to try a few in my match AR15 to see if it handles them differently. Both of the barrels are 1:8 and Wylde chambered. The AR15 is only 20 inches while the Rem 700 is 26 inches.

David

 

[Frankr]

Ok I take back what I said. I had a chance to do some more shooting with the 73 ELD M out of the little AR and it was quite poor. like 2" or more at 100 yards. Velocity was like 2,500 FPS with 26.0 CFE 223 so I went to 27 and 28 and it got much worse also I noticed my brass was real dirty and dented up even at 26.0 . I don't like the CFE 223 and I don't like to work with or load it. So I went to RL15 and at 26.0 it was 2,720 FPS and about 1 1/4" 5 shots at 100 yards and the brass was clean and not dented up