While hunting rifles in the 21st century operate in the same fashion as they have for decades, ammunition has evolved dramatically. Trends continue to drive towards longer, sleeker, heavy for caliber bullets that provide excellent BC’s and Sectional densities. Likely driven by the accuracy and affordability of modern laser rangefinder technology, cutting edge bullets are expected to perform out to distances previously considered out of range. Leading the charge in this evolution is Hornady’s Extreme Low Drag Expanding bullets, commonly known as the Hornady ELD-X.
Specifications
To start off, let’s take a look at the numbers that make the ELD-X so impressive. For our basic analysis we will look at the 178gr .308 diameter version of the bullet. The ELD-X boasts an impressive BC of 0.552. We chose to use the 178gr because the popular 308 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield have loads chambered in it. However, keep in mind there are higher weight ELD-X’s with even higher BC’s. The other metric is the 0.268 sectional density. While this is the same as any other 180gr 30 caliber bullet, the ELD-X tends to be heavy for caliber which also translates to high sectional densities.
Now that we’ve looked at the quantitative specifications, there are a few qualitative characteristics that bare mentioning. First of all, the ELD-X has a polymer tip to aid in reliable expansion. The copper jacket is not chemically bonded to the core, nor is there a mechanical connection like with the Hornady Interlock. The ELD-X has a long slender profile with an aggressive boat tail to improve aerodynamics.
Accuracy
Accuracy testing is where the ELD-X really shines. We tested a number of different loads with the ELD-X using IMR 4064 and IMR 4350 in the venerable 30-06. The test rifle was a standard Tikka T3X Lite with an upgraded Yodave trigger. Almost all results were sub MOA with the best groups coming in under half an MOA. Unsurprisingly, the heavy ELD-X bullets preferred the slower burning IMR 4350. The best group obtained was a 0.36 MOA group pushed by 57.2 grains of IMR 4350.
Terminal Performance
I shot a number of game animals with the ELD-X during the course of our testing. At the time of this writing, four deer, one black bear, and one moose were shot with the 178gr ELD-X out of the 30-06. Results varied depending on the shot distance and the animal.
The first thing to note is that the ELD-X is fairly inconsistent on terminal performance. It has blown itself apart rapidly and fail to create an exit wound on a small whitetail deer. On the other hand it has also passed clean through large mule deer in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. This is due to the fact that the ELD-X is not a controlled expansion bullet.
Perhaps the most glaring bullet failure that I’ve experienced hunting with the ELD-X was on a Canadian moose in the Cariboo region. On a quartering away shot at a bull moose at 127 yards, the bullet impacted the shoulder of the moose on the right side. After blood trailing the animal for seven kilometers it finally stopped bleeding. From tracking the animal I am certain that the bullet did not pass through and had failed to penetrate to the lungs.
Applications
Based on my experiences with the terminal performance of the bullets, the ELD-X performs similarly to traditional cup and core bullets upon impact. However, the ELD-X has a drastically superior ballistic profile. This has implications for the ELD-X’s utility. Because of the lack of consistent penetration, the ELD-X best suited for thin skinned game. For animals such as the deer species and pronghorn, the ELD-X is a good choice.
In addition, at longer ranges the explosive mushrooming helps the bullet to expand at lower velocities. Combined with the excellent BC’s this makes the ELD-X an attractive option for long range hunting. However, the inconsistent penetration makes the bullet less suitable against bigger game. Personally, for moose and elk I prefer controlled expansion bullets.