Problems dialing in 75gn ELD-M in .223

[whatsupdoc]

Some guys like the 75 ELD's I never have had luck with them on two different barrels.
The regular Hornady 75's have shot way more consistent than the 75 ELD.

Maybe its just my particular lot.

 

[DLT]

Some guys like the 75 ELD's I never have had luck with them on two different barrels.
The regular Hornady 75's have shot way more consistent than the 75 ELD.

Maybe its just my particular lot.

My 223 didn’t like them either. Either that or I give up trying to make it shoot em

 

[Jeffrey Curl]

Kind of odd you cant get a good load. Have you tried going higher with the powder charge? I shoot the 75 ELDs in my match .223 Wylde with a 27” 7 twist barrel and I am at about 2970fps. I am loaded at .020” off the lands and at 2.470” OAL. With a longer OAL you can usually go a little higher with powder charges. Definitely be safe and go slow. I have used Varget and XBR8208.

ETA Just looked and VV lists 26.2 as their max with N140 at SAAMI length. You can probably go up some if you want.

At .020 off lands, I tried 24.26 at 2910 fps and 24.84 at 2992 fps. Both 1" groups. Those were points of interest off the Satterlee based on POI on the target at 200 yards. When I return, I am going to start over with an OCW test before switching bullets or powders.

 

[Jeffrey Curl]

You didn’t say how often you’re cleaning?

Check your firing pin fall. Should be about .205.

I’d load 20 of them up with a medium charge and shoot 10 with that scope and 10 with another scope. Could very easily be the scope.

Is the rifle bedded?

I have cleaned it twice. After the Berger factory rounds, then ran 10 shots through it before testing. Then again later. Always run about 10 rounds through before starting testing if its clean.

It is in a MPA Matrix Chassis so it's not bedded.

 

[jelenko]

Those were points of interest off the Satterlee based on POI on the target at 200 yards.

From RegionRat's post:

"There is no such thing as a Satterlee Velocity Flat Spot, so focus on the target results.​

Nothing wrong with keeping track of the velocity, but not because of a Satterlee thing.​

​

The Audette Ladder is a more valid description of a test that can uncover potential compensation nodes, but even those results need re-test and they only focus on the target while at a distance where the trajectory can spread. The valid test results are not based on velocity, but they are based on the shot-fall on the target. Don't fall for the junk science you find on the internet."​

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Wet Moly the bullets and jam them +.010 -.015
Varget or RL-15

 

[Clancy]

I have cleaned it twice. After the Berger factory rounds, then ran 10 shots through it before testing. Then again later. Always run about 10 rounds through before starting testing if its clean.

It is in a MPA Matrix Chassis so it's not bedded.

I’d clean it. Clean it thoroughly and often.

But, doesn’t sound like that’s your cup of tea so check the sides and bottom of the recoil lug and make sure they’re not contacting that chassis. If they are, have it milled out. That’s not uncommon with a TL3.

If they’re not, I’d try another scope. It’s really hard to get an aftermarket barrel to shoot over half moa. This smells mechanical.

 

[dusterdave173]

I struggled with the 75 ELD --spent a lot of time and powder chasing it --switched to 80.5 Bergers and started smiling right away---I could get close and almost happy then found it hard to repeat--I landed on a load for the Bergers with Varget that has shot well week after week in lots of conditions
My load is at 2710 and hammers out to 600--when I went faster It was just not as good.
I think a lot of folks overlook the lower loads--why? I am not sure because I always seem to get a more stable load in the slower node--once I accepted that my reloading has improved and so have my results
The up side to chasing a load is that you are learning and banking experience--Good luck you will get there

 

[Rob01]

I’d clean it. Clean it thoroughly and often.

But, doesn’t sound like that’s your cup of tea so check the sides and bottom of the recoil lug and make sure they’re not contacting that chassis. If they are, have it milled out. That’s not uncommon with a TL3.

If they’re not, I’d try another scope. It’s really hard to get an aftermarket barrel to shoot over half moa. This smells mechanical.

Highly doubt it’s the scope as it’s an excellent optic or the chassis fit as I have three Zermatts and they are all in MPA Matrix Pros and the recoil lug fit is fine. May just be the barrel doesn’t like the bullet which happens or he isn’t pushing it enough as some barrels like it faster.

 

[Clancy]

Highly doubt it’s the scope as it’s an excellent optic or the chassis fit as I have three Zermatts and they are all in MPA Matrix Pros and the recoil lug fit is fine. May just be the barrel doesn’t like the bullet which happens or he isn’t pushing it enough as some barrels like it faster.

It’s unlikely that it’s the optic, but if you look at the shape of his groups, it suddenly becomes far less unlikely.

Glad the chassis accommodate TL3 now. They used to not, perhaps he has older models.

 

[Rob01]

It’s unlikely that it’s the optic, but if you look at the shape of his groups, it suddenly becomes far less unlikely.

Glad the chassis accommodate TL3 now. They used to not, perhaps he has older models.

Nothing about the groups says bad optic. They are just larger groups than he wants. Starting to go and blame the optic or chassis is a wrong move as other ammo shot good for him. He needs to work on the load or change powder as his barrel may not like the combo.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I have not shot the ELD but I did shoot a bunch of the Amax precursor. I discovered by accident that in my Wylde 1:8 barrel they grouped better jumped …. 0.090”.

I was using 8208 and H4895 then, would try N135 now in your case to get a little more speed.

 

[Clancy]

Nothing about the groups says bad optic. They are just larger groups than he wants. Starting to go and blame the optic or chassis is a wrong move as other ammo shot good for him. He needs to work on the load or change powder as his barrel may not like the combo.

The other load didn’t shoot well for him. He had one group under half moa.

 

[Rob01]

The other load didn’t shoot well for him. He had one group under half moa.

And? lol He needs to change something in the load. Not the hardware.

 

[Clancy]

And? lol He needs to change something in the load. Not the hardware.

you’re right. I think he should shoot another 275 rounds before taking 5 minutes to swap scopes and check for stress in his chassis.

 

[Rob01]

you’re right. I think he should shoot another 275 rounds before taking 5 minutes to swap scopes and check for stress in his chassis.

Your right. He should go buy a new scope and chassis because it could never be as simple load change when other loads with the same set up shoot great.

 

[boltfluter]

At this point I would put the bullet .010 into the rifling and try either Varget or H4895. Just as a test to do something different. This rifle may just not like the powder or bullet. Been there and done that! It can drive you crazy trying to force feed it something you want to work. Good luck and keep us posted.
Paul

 

[CharlieNC]

So all of your groups, including the factory Berger, have a "flyer", perhaps this is representative of your system. Get either 80.5 Berger or 69 SMK for a quick check as they are really forgiving. If not successful consider the barrel is not up to par, as my buds and I have experienced quality problems with CBI since covid.

 

[ELR LVR]

I struggled with the 75 ELD --spent a lot of time and powder chasing it --switched to 80.5 Bergers and started smiling right away---

I was going to make same suggestion
Try some Bergers
-----------
Fighting something that isn't working very well... to me is wasted time, components etc.

 

[SSchnd]

IMHO the H ELDM bearing surface is longer and the profile is different than the SMK80/B80.5.
I have had a box of each H75-80ELDM but just never got around to testing them.
The B/80.5 I jump 10 thou in 223. Just works for 600 in the 20" Service Rifle.

My thought is push the 75 ELDM back in .003 -.005 increments and see if it will start to change group shape and consistency of said group. But on the other hand as many have stated, if your doing quick check in 5 shot groups to see if a charge/seating depth has promise, and you find one you think is it, shot at least ten to twenty rounds to make the group sample more realistic to actual shooting needs.

Do they just need to jump a mile in your chamber, maybe. Push em back incrementally to find out

There is a " your groups are too small" thing out there, that just means we have not fired enough rounds for the sample to be valid. If there is a flyer with everything, that's either a system or shooter issue to be determined. Sadly we do not have test tunnels and conditions can affect our load work up data.
Good luck.

I would likely do as above and see if a different brand SMK80 or Berger 80.5 work better. I have had great success with both.