My Results with Hornady ELD X bullets. Not Great. Pics.

MustangFrank

MustangFrank

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I thought I would post my results regarding terminal performance on a Moose this fall. The round was a 200 gr factory loading of the Hornady ELD-X for a 300 Win Mag. The range was approximately 80 yds and the shot in question hit the front shoulder. The moose was a young bull approximately 800lbs live weight.

The bullet fragmented and in total I was able to find 80 grains of metal and lead. The shot completely destroyed the shoulder and the picture is after the butcher removed all the damaged meat and bone fragments.

I emailed Hornady and they explained this is how this bullet is designed to preform at high velocities at close range and the bullet is more designed to expand at low velocities at long ranges. Perhaps I might be happier with the GMX line of bullets. This is true if I want to reload or I could just buy the Barnes TSX solids for the 300 Win Mag.

Every shot into live flesh and bone will probably end up differently depending on circumstances, but this is just my own experience with this one bullet. The moose did go down on the spot with two more rounds. One in the upper neck.

Oh yeah. Never ever shoot three rounds with a muzzle brake and no ear protection. Stuff happens though.


 
I have been loading the GMX bullets (almost exclusively) in my big game rifles , and they perform great. I have 3 boxes of them for my .375 Ruger , but I am still burning through lots of TTSX's and other assorted bullets first. My .30-06 and .300winmag LOVE them.
 
That's about what I would expect. Truly long range hunting is a specialty pursuit, with one of biggest issues being that impact velocities are low. When you are dealing with a bullet that partially acts like a big varmint bullet at 1200 yards or so, you have to
Know that you are going to make
a huge mess at powder burn ranges. That's actually one of better possible outcomes .


Most of what we do as hunters is ordinary. Ordinary game, at ordinary distances. Not surprisingly they make
Ordinary ammunition for us ordinary folks. It makes most of
The people happiest most of the time. Once you stray into specialty loads, it's best to
Use them for their limited use. Long range for long range, big and nasty for
Big and nasty and so on. Believe me, if most people were best served with frangible glorified target bullets or monos that can shoot through a rhino Lengthwise they would be the cheap ordinary bullets on sale at Canadian tire and Interlocks , Core locks and power points Would
Be something mysterious that sold
For
4 bucks each.��









The better
 
Not exactly sure what you expected from a long range bullet that is built a bit tougher to hold together at closer ranges?

Really, at <100 yards on a big bone, that's quite impressive performance from a bullet designed to expand at 1000+.....
 
For comparison, a 300gr .416 TSX bullet recovered from a Bull Moose. Using a .416 Ruger Alaskan it was a broadside shot high on the shoulder at about 80 yards. The Moose dropped dead in it's tracks. Good bullets.
tu.gif


ruger416300x1.jpg


ruger416300x.jpg
 
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KodiakHntr said:
Not exactly sure what you expected from a long range bullet that is built a bit tougher to hold together at closer ranges?

Really, at <100 yards on a big bone, that's quite impressive performance from a bullet designed to expand at 1000+.....
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I used up too many of the Barnes trying to sort out a new rifle/scope combo. The only other premium factory rounds left at Cabelas or Wholesale was the ELD. THey have a tremendous marketing program so I just bought two boxes. Only after a lot more research and a letter to Hornady did I learn about their ideal use. I love Hornady products but unfortunately, the moose did not understand I had long range bullets when it popped out on the road. Stupid moose.

By the way, the bullet is not built a bit tougher. It is built weaker than most, so it will expand at longer ranges at velocities over 1600 fps. Everyone now days seems to be focusing on long range shooting, but this moose was having none of that.
 
Slamfire said:
For comparison, a 300gr .416 TSX bullet recovered from a Bull Moose. Using a .416 Ruger Alaskan it was a broadside shot high on the shoulder at about 80 yards. The Moose dropped dead in it's tracks. Good bullets.
tu.gif


ruger416300x1.jpg


ruger416300x.jpg
Click to expand...

Thats exactly why I am going with Barnes as soon as they get back on the shelves. I'll buy several boxes and never need 300 WM again. Just as accurate as the ELD's in my rifle too !
 
Barnes X GOOD! Using these in .358, .416 and .458 on game without that annoying meat-destroying grenade effect and always with impressive performance*.
tu.gif


(*individual results may vary :p)
 
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You cocked it up on a couple of levels...
1) You shot a moose at close range with a bullet designed for long range
2) You launched the bullet out of a magnum cambering
3) You shot a moose in the shoulder. At 80 yards. With a 300 WM. And a LR bullet.

Now you blame the bullet? You are the sole sentient being in the equation (excepting the moose, I'm sure if he had a vote he'd have been elsewhere for the test). And because of your bad decision you had to keep pumping rounds into the animal to kill it, likely destroying more meat in the process. Time to man up and retitle the thread to "My results with ####ty shot placement and an inappropriate bullet".
 
BigUglyMan said:
You cocked it up on a couple of levels...
1) You shot a moose at close range with a bullet designed for long range
2) You launched the bullet out of a magnum cambering
3) You shot a moose in the shoulder. At 80 yards. With a 300 WM. And a LR bullet.

Now you blame the bullet? You are the sole sentient being in the equation (excepting the moose, I'm sure if he had a vote he'd have been elsewhere for the test). And because of your bad decision you had to keep pumping rounds into the animal to kill it, likely destroying more meat in the process. Time to man up and retitle the thread to "My results with ####ty shot placement and an inappropriate bullet".
Click to expand...

Dont'd suger-coat it BUM; tell it like it is. ;)

BTW I totally agree with what you wrote.
 
Slamfire said:
Barnes X GOOD! Using these in .358, .416 and .458 on game without that annoying meat-destroying grenade effect and always with impressive performance*.
tu.gif


(*individual results may vary :p)
Click to expand...

I don't find the TSX &TTSX to be much more meat friendly than other "tough" bullets. I do love how accurate they can be in most of my rifles though. :)

Here is an older picture of a mule deer I shot through the lungs from over 200 yards. The bullet was a 168 gr TSX launched from a 30-06. (This is the entry wound BTW )

126168TSX_entry2.JPG
 
I'd use blue box Federal, Winchester PP or Rem Corelok before I'd use a "premium" long range ELD-X for hunting moose at moose range.

That being said, I use Barnes TTSX almost exclusively for hunting.
 
MustangFrank said:
By the way, the bullet is not built a bit tougher. It is built weaker than most, so it will expand at longer ranges at velocities over 1600 fps. Everyone now days seems to be focusing on long range shooting, but this moose was having none of that.
Click to expand...

My bad. I figured someone who was loading up ELD-X would know that they are built a bit tougher than the Amax, which spawned the ELD-X.

Regardless, for a long range bullet, it did pretty well. Your shot placement was a bit suspect using that particular bullet, but meat is meat.
 
BigUglyMan said:
You cocked it up on a couple of levels...
1) You shot a moose at close range with a bullet designed for long range
2) You launched the bullet out of a magnum cambering
3) You shot a moose in the shoulder. At 80 yards. With a 300 WM. And a LR bullet.

Now you blame the bullet? You are the sole sentient being in the equation (excepting the moose, I'm sure if he had a vote he'd have been elsewhere for the test). And because of your bad decision you had to keep pumping rounds into the animal to kill it, likely destroying more meat in the process. Time to man up and retitle the thread to "My results with ####ty shot placement and an inappropriate bullet".
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Always good to hear from you. I'm not blaming anything. I just wanted to post my results. Everyone I'm sure, can have different resuts under different circumstances. The ELD could be a good bullet under certain conditions but its not always predictable as to what range game is found. Its ridiculous to say I should not expect good results at "close" range from a long range bullet since ranges are pretty hard to predict ahead of time. I would advise a more versatile bullet design unless you know your shots will be all near or all far.

I didn't think it was necessary to tell the whole story regarding the three shots but your assertions are completely incorrect. No other meat damage and the moose dropped right on the road. This was important 15 minutes before dark in a thick jungle in warm weather. Get it ?
 
I have never seen a "premium" designated bullet do well in a 300 win mag or .300 weatherby mag.

I have a hard headed friend that quit hunting with a 300 Weath. mag because everything ran off from shots at 40 to 100 yards.

I never could get him to grasp the velocity vs distance concept of bullet design.

He would constantly ##### about them running off when I'd arrive to help him look for the downed animal(deer). He'd say how in the heck can a deer run away from a 300 Weatherby mag at 40 yards? I'd reply they can't if you'll back the tree stand up 600 more yards or switch ammo or guns.
 
skypilot said:
I have never seen a "premium" designated bullet do well in a 300 win mag or .300 weatherby mag.

I have a hard headed friend that quit hunting with a 300 Weath. mag because everything ran off from shots at 40 to 100 yards.

I never could get him to grasp the velocity vs distance concept of bullet design.

He would constantly ##### about them running off when I'd arrive to help him look for the downed animal(deer). He'd say how in the heck can a deer run away from a 300 Weatherby mag at 40 yards? I'd reply they can't if you'll back the tree stand up 600 more yards or switch ammo or guns.
Click to expand...
If his premium bullet isn't opening an performing at 40 yards it sure as hell won't at 600. I think you have it backwards. A bullet won't fail to open because it's going to fast, quite the opposite, it probably acted like a varmit bullet. Didn't you see the OP? Do you also think that if you speed up in your car and you clip the legs yoill go right under the moose?
 
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