Disappointed with 75gr Hornady ELD-M bullets;

11B CIB

11B CIB

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They are longer than the already long 77gr Tipped Match Kings

69gr SMK, 77gr SMK, 77gr TMK, 75gr ELD-M
x5tIKmm.jpg


Dang Hornady, what am I supposed to do with this? Compress even a light powder charge??

No indication they are so long anywhere; only mention twist rate. I might have to use ARComp; typically a lower charge than say RE15
Not sure I can return them because I had to open the box to find this out :mad:
 
The 75gr Amax was known to be too long for AR mags without having some of the ogive below the case mouth. I think it's the same bullet with different tip material.

Sent from my SM-G360V using Tapatalk
 
Maybe I’ll save them for a pay it forward. Didn’t know they’d be that long and I’m not single loading my rifles
 
Myself and two shooting buddies bought/built rifles and did load development on .223Rem bolt guns this year. I could not test the 75gr ELD-M's as my twist rate was not fast quite enough (1 in 8.25"). However both of them tested the 75gr ELD-M's in their 1 in 8" rifles and neither had much luck finding a great load. Both ended up settling on the 77gr TMK's over 23-24gr of Varget.

I focussed solely on the 73gr ELD-M's and WOW what a bullet! I found nodes ~ 1gr apart near 23gr & 24gr of Varget in LC brass. With my 26" barrel I'm running just over 2900fps. I need to do AR load development and will likely investigate IMR XBR8208 as a powder so I can load on my Dillon 550.

All my load development is here:

https://forum.snipershide.com/forum...eloading/6252888-hornady-224-73-eld-m-testing
 
Bunsen said:
Myself and two shooting buddies bought/built rifles and did load development on .223Rem bolt guns this year. I could not test the 75gr ELD-M's as my twist rate was not fast quite enough (1 in 8.25"). However both of them tested the 75gr ELD-M's in their 1 in 8" rifles and neither had much luck finding a great load. Both ended up settling on the 77gr TMK's over 23-24gr of Varget.

I focussed solely on the 73gr ELD-M's and WOW what a bullet! I found nodes ~ 1gr apart near 23gr & 24gr of Varget in LC brass. With my 26" barrel I'm running just over 2900fps. I need to do AR load development and will likely investigate IMR XBR8208 as a powder so I can load on my Dillon 550.

All my load development is here:

https://forum.snipershide.com/forum/sniper’s-hide®-advance-marksmanship-unit/sniper-s-hide-reloading/6252888-hornady-224-73-eld-m-testing
Click to expand...

I'd try out BLC-2 also.
Worked well in my bug hole shooter gas gun (loading on a 550b, so extruded is a pita.)
If I was single stage loading, I'd stick with extruded powder. The crunch always seemed to shrink my groups!
 
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Bookmarked!!

Thanks! Maybe I’ll see if I can return this box and find some 73s.

The 73gr ELD factory rounds I bought to test were phenomenal. If I didn’t hand load, I would probably buy these exclusively for match shooting.

I’ll try AR-Comp, CFE223, and maybe some 4166.


Bunsen said:
Myself and two shooting buddies bought/built rifles and did load development on .223Rem bolt guns this year. I could not test the 75gr ELD-M's as my twist rate was not fast quite enough (1 in 8.25"). However both of them tested the 75gr ELD-M's in their 1 in 8" rifles and neither had much luck finding a great load. Both ended up settling on the 77gr TMK's over 23-24gr of Varget.

I focussed solely on the 73gr ELD-M's and WOW what a bullet! I found nodes ~ 1gr apart near 23gr & 24gr of Varget in LC brass. With my 26" barrel I'm running just over 2900fps. I need to do AR load development and will likely investigate IMR XBR8208 as a powder so I can load on my Dillon 550.

All my load development is here:

https://forum.snipershide.com/forum/sniper’s-hide®-advance-marksmanship-unit/sniper-s-hide-reloading/6252888-hornady-224-73-eld-m-testing
Click to expand...
 
This’ll do nicely!

69SMK, 62TTSX, 77SMK, 73ELD, 77TMK
dvTguL0.jpg



The 73s are considerably shorter than the 75ELDs and should work well in my gassers
 
I too bought a box of the 75gr ELD Match not knowing were too long for the AR magazines.

Looks like I need to get some 73gr pretty soon. Research on them shows some pretty awesome results!
 
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I normally use Berger 82gr MT bullets for 600 yard shooting in my competition rifle, but I bought a box of the 80gr ELD on a whim at the last gun show. Figured I'd give them a try...
 
I heard good things about the Berger 73gn bullets, so I ordered some to try out.
 
Daleo8803 said:
What would be the max gr for a 223 with 1/9 twist? 65gr? Sorry to derail thread ;)
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Is that the actual twist rate or listed rate on the barrel? I have a 26" Savage stamped 1 in 9" that actually measured 1 in 8.25" AND shoots the 73gr VERY well @2900fps!! :D

The new 75gr ELD-M's are probably too long for 1 in 9" and the 73gr Bergers might be pushing it too, but the 73gr Hornady ELD-M's "should be stabilized enough IF you can push them above 2800fps
 
Bunsen said:
Is that the actual twist rate or listed rate on the barrel? I have a 26" Savage stamped 1 in 9" that actually measured 1 in 8.25" AND shoots the 73gr VERY well @2900fps!! :D

The new 75gr ELD-M's are probably too long for 1 in 9" and the 73gr Bergers might be pushing it too, but the 73gr Hornady ELD-M's "should be stabilized enough IF you can push them above 2800fps
Click to expand...

How do u measure twist? The rifle is a savage axis. Shoots 50gr into 1/2" groups at 100yds
 
Hey @11B CIB

I'm just wrapping up load development on a new .223 Wylde chambered rifle with the 73gr ELD-M's and Ramshot TAC powder.

I thought my previous rifle was zippy at 2925fps, in the new rifle with TAC I'm pushing the 73's at 3000fps and the same level of accuracy. :D [EDIT: bolt gun w/26" barrel]

I have a new Aero Precision 18" upper arriving tomorrow so I will be finally starting load development for 73gr ELD-M's in an AR-15.

Where did you end up with your load development?
 
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Shooting a 16” barrel with a suppressor, I don’t push for land speed records, but what shows the best accuracy while delivering a functional velocity downrange (sub MOA is great but not at 2200fps lol)

My RE15 load is just shy of 2800fps (24.0gr). I have almost a grain more to work with before max so I could take it higher, but I’m settling with this load for now :)
 
Just to keep apples to apples...

Everyone is loading mag length right?

Fwiw, my 5.56 gas gun does amazing things with 77gr SMK/Varget just kissing the lands (single loaded.)

Same load at mag length is just meh.
 
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Slacker said:
Just to keep apples to apples...

Everyone is loading mag length right?

Fwiw, my 5.56 gas gun does amazing things with 77gr SMK/Varget just kissing the lands (single loaded.)

Same load at mag length is just meh.
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I load 2.26”, yep. PMag can take 2.263-5” but I use GI 20/30 rounders also.

@chrishf12 I posted this a few days back on my IG account (not saying you should’ve seen it lol ) but it’s recent

vwTtcu4.jpg
 
Everything I've posted up so far has been for a bolt guns. I'm starting load development for my new Aero Precision upper this weekend.

I will make a point to differentiate any future load data posted.
 
11B CIB said:
I load 2.26”, yep. PMag can take 2.263-5” but I use GI 20/30 rounders also.

I posted this a few days back on my IG account (not saying you should’ve seen it lol ) but it’s recent
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Nope I wouldn't have, I don't have IG. Those are pretty noteworthy groups. Have you stretched them out any past 100?
 
chrishf12 said:
Nope I wouldn't have, I don't have IG. Those are pretty noteworthy groups. Have you stretched them out any past 100?
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I plan on it my next session. I ran low on worked-up loads and only shot a few at 300
 
So my load development for a 73gr ELD-M AR-15 load has hit a slight snag. The Aero Precision upper I purchased to develop a load for is unfortunately NOT capable of much precision even though it does come with a "sub MOA" guarantee from AP. I'm going through the RMA process currently for a replacement barrel. If that does not work a beleieve and Odin works or something else is in my future.

Although neither are the 73gr ELD-M's I did recently work up loads for both the 75gr & 80gr ELD-M's for my 26" 1 in 8" Criterion barreled Remage bolt gun.

80gr ELD-M load is LC'06 case, CCI 400 primer, and 24.2gr TAC powder yielding 0.75MOA @2900fps, jumped 0.020"

75gr ELD-M load is LC'06 case, CCI 400 primer, and 23.8gr TAC powder yielding 0.50MOA @2825fps, jumped 0.020"

I was not expecting the 75's to group as well as they have based on both my friends experiences.

Also, I certainly was not expecting the 80's to be right at 2900 fps and sub MOA!

Running number in JBM shows that the 80gr ELD-m's are just have 5 inches more drop and 8 inches more wind drift (10mph wind) at 750yds than my 130gr 6.5 Creedmoore load @2850fps. Nice little mid-range trainer load. :D
 
I got my 300 yard dope confirmed on Thursday

I’ve established charges for:

69gr SMK
73gr ELD
75gr Hornady BTHP
77gr SMK
77gr TMK

I’ll be spending my next range outing at 300 seeing what shakes out.
 
Wish I had seen this post...

I did exactly what the OP did a few months ago, in the first post:rolleyes::oops: so I too have a box of useless to me 75g eld-m’s minus a round:p

I’m also like @Bunsen in that I have a BA barrel that is not as accurate as I expected...

I have a 1:9 twist, 16” dpms barrel that is my “shooter”. It has always impressed no matter the projectile or powder. Super easy to work up accurate loads. Have a load worked up with 50g vmax that when I do my part easily runs under MOA. My general plinking loads using 55g soft points average A hair under MOA. Both loads in several other rifles are still good to decent:cool:

But my “yeah I want to see how precise I can be” BA barrel HATES both loads. It’s not surprising about the 50g since it’s a 1-7 twist but my plinking load that does at least acceptable in many other rifles does 4moa at besto_OSo I’ll have to make a specific plinking load for just the BA.....

Worked up a ladder test with 73g and 68g eld-m. Had a crappy day but regardless the 73g were meh. The best groups were at the bottom of the ladder. Then knocked the ammo box holding the 68g across the bench, mixing it all up:mad: got pissed loaded em all and shot em at two different 4” targets.

Haven’t worked on it since lol. I can’t sign off on it’s being a bad barrel just yet. But it’s a fight to get under MOA....
 
Bunsen said:
So my load development for a 73gr ELD-M AR-15 load has hit a slight snag. The Aero Precision upper I purchased to develop a load for is unfortunately NOT capable of much precision even though it does come with a "sub MOA" guarantee from AP. I'm going through the RMA process currently for a replacement barrel. If that does not work a beleieve and Odin works or something else is in my future.
Click to expand...

So long story short my Aero upper got to make two trips back to Washington state for three barrel swaps in total. I did some load testing last weekend with match grade factory ammo, and it was abysmal. Upon inspection I discovered the gas block was slightly canted and touching the inside of the handguard. :eek: After pulling off the handguard I noticed that the gas block had the same wear markings on the other side as well. Thus Aero had installed the gas block incorrectly at least twice, possibly each time.:mad: I was able to correct the issue and have begun load testing for it FINALLY.

Sadly it appears to HATE the 73gr ELD-M's over TAC or XBR. It is also not too keen on 75gr or 77gr BTHP over 23.0gr -24.0gr of 8208 XBR. o_O

So far it only likes the lighter 55gr VMax over CFE and 69gr BTHP over W748.

An update for the bolt gun ELD-M loads:

Since May I have changed a few components due to pierced primers for the 80gr & 73gr ELD-M loads. These loads are near the top end of 5.56NATO pressure (62k) so work up slowly.

80gr ELD-M load: Lapua case, CCI 41 primer, and 24.7gr TAC powder yielding 0.75MOA @2960fps, jumped 0.010"
73gr ELD-M load: LC'06 case, CCI 41 primer, and 24.9gr TAC powder yielding 0.75MOA @3045fps, jumped 0.015"
 
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