ELD-M woes...

chrismc

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As i was running low with my Berger supply for my target rifles, i decided to try the readily avail and somewhat hyped ELDM bullets - 223 (75gr eldm), 6br (108gr eldm), and 6.5cm (140gr eldm).
I did get some 'decent' loads that shot great, but man, lacking consistancy. Verified this year too - always a nice tight group with a flyer. or two. Even tried tuners, same thing. Played with seating 0-100thou, same thing.
To eliminate factors causing this (I assumed it was me), i loaded up some of my best trusted Berger loads as a quick QC check on my gun/scope/me.... lo and behold, all 3 guns shoot great again without flyers.
Bergers are a fair bit pricier than the Hornady's, but the phacking grief and range trips to verify these Hornady's offset any saving and more. Can't explain why this happened, altho there are lots of interweb opinions - and now i don't really care after the Bergers proved their worth.
So back to Bergers i go, and once stocked up, the hornady's will be sold.

I write this as a heads up to anyone that is experiencing something similar. When you read what 'is and what isn't' used in the competition circuits, believe them.
 
Never had the full accuracy potential of my rifles, 308,6.5x47, 6br and 223, so my main bullets right are Berger and Lapuas, Sierra 6mm108 Smk is doing shooting great on my Br
 
I can corroborate your findings. I’ve had the best results with Berger and Lapua. Whenever I need more I’ll pony up as I won’t compromise.
 
I get my ELDM’s to shoot decent, but I found the VLD’s to be easier to tune. They have a wider happy place, I can only imagine how nice Hybrids must be.
 
I’ve had them shooting pretty good in my 223, but like you say there’s always that odd flyer for no reason that doesn’t seem to happen with hybrids. For me it was 1 in 15 or 20 and I’m just spitballing a number, but that’s what it seems like.
 
When I am shooting past 600 meters I worry more about the wind than I do the brand of bullet.
My recent shooting at 700 proves that if I make a good wind call, I am in the bull.
If not? Well, the brand of bullet won't matter much .
Here's two targets shot with 168 ELDM's out of a Bob Jury 308, sling'n'irons
The first target, the high two were after initially coming up from 300, then a sight adjustment for the the second three.
Im the second target I came down too far as you can see by the three ghosted rounds, then came up for the last 5.
The 300 meter target was a 47/50-4V but I didn't save it on my phone .
These were shot with about 45 seconds in between shots in a gusty wind
Cat
 

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I've never had an issue with 140s or 75s. 42.0gr H4350 with 140s seated to factory length (2.200" bto) in Hornady brass with Br2s or 210ms has always given me 1/2 moa in all the barrels I've tried (5 at this point). Haven't shot the 75s in a while but when I did, the same charge I use with 75 BTHPs gives me the same level of precision (<1/2 moa).

Let me know when you sell your 140s and if it's a decent price, I'll gladly take em off your hands.
 
The ELDM line of projectiles is conspicuously absent from the podium of all accuracy-based shooting competitions.
We had one of our reg F open shooters using 180 ELDM s in a 280 and the batch shot well .Next 500 lot shot horrible - totally (uncompetitive) ! 🤷🏼‍♂️ I hear this about ELDM S from MANY target shooters ! RJ
 
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