Posted on 11/05/2018 5:08:06 AM PST by w1n1
Match bullets have long been the best friend of the target shooter, but that relationship has been taken even further in the last decade with the rising popularity of long-range shooting.
Where once the simple consistency of a match bullet was enough to give the characteristics a competition shooter desired, taking things well out past 1,000 yards has changed the requirements.
Whereas many shooters had no idea what Ballistic Coefficient was, or couldn't explain the difference between a tangent or secant ogive, modern long-range shooters are better educated than ever.
Yes, many of our most popular match bullets are still in use with good effect, I might add but Hornady used modern science to bring some new technology to the table. Using Doppler radar, Hornady discovered that the conventional polymer tips they were using to increase and maintain Ballistic Coefficient actually began to melt from the friction of moving through the atmosphere. The deterioration of that tip resulted in a bullet that lost its advantageous shape downrange, and Hornady aimed to fix the issue.
They modified the polymer used on their meplat and redesigned the bullet, resulting in the ELD (Extremely Low Drag) Match bullet. The Heat Shield tip maintains a consistent meplat much more so than the traditional boat tail hollow point designs allowing the bullet to maintain its shape at ranges well past conventional hunting distances. While a hunting bullet which was Hornady's original design concept will rely on the polymer tip to initiate expansion, the Heat Shield tip worked so well they decided to retain it for the match bullet. Read the rest of Hornady ELD match.
Never have liked the plastic duncecap on a rifle round.
I’ve used Hornady for years; good shooting ammo.
Remington Bronze Points
I agree with you. I shoot the ELD-X 143 grain right now.
But it always seems to me the polymer tip can get bent or dented.
O-give me a break.
Heck. I use FMJ boat tail bullets for long range accuracy. I use polycarbonate tipped bullets for A ) expansion while hunting or B) to use pointed bullets in tubular magazine lever rifles for accuracy and expansion.
BTW love the accuracy of Hornady Leverevoluton .45-70 loads in the Marlin Guide Gun.
The 168 grain Sierra Match King is my go to .308 projectile.
Varget is my preferred powder. Used to be Reloader 12 but thats been discontinued for years. Still have half a pound or so laying around.
L
Just picked up a National Match Garand. Using plinking Ammo I make up with cheap FMJ boat tails from Everglades ammo and 45 grains of imr-3031 this thing groups into a quarter at 100yds off a bench.
Wow. Thats darn good with those cheap bullets. I have a couple hundred black tip .30 pulls that Ive loaded up with W846 I got back when it was cheap. Havent had a chance to check performance though.
L
I’ve found them sensitive to seating depth in multiple calibers.
The ELD match is the only bullet I use anymore. I can use it for long range shooting and because of the polymer tip I can use it for hunting is well. Currently, I shoot a 7 inch group at 1500 yards (1/2 MOA)with them. Last year, I harvested a bull moose here in Alaska at 813 yards, thats about a half mile! The problem for me with normal bullets is that the meplat (bullet tip) is not perfect. I found myself having a grind them flat to make them all the same but I know that I am changing to some degree the ballistics coefficients of a bullet. Most shooters wouldnt know the difference but when youre throwing ultra long-range like I do its certainly does. Every meplat is perfect with the ELD because it is a polymer. Not the kind a polymer that will melt in flight over long distance however!
I have a case of Hornady 158gr tipped that I use in the Henry Big Boy, chambered in .357 magnum, which I found prevents jams as shorter HPs often do. My 1975 Colt Trooper MKIII 6”, also in .357, likes to eat them too, although it’s a revolver. Also use them in my Kimber 1911s.
Had to sight one in the other day, a friend wanted to hunt with it.
They shoot real straight. Always brings a smile when you pull the trigger, then hear the pop at the target a half-second later.
That awesome. What round/rifle are you shooting?
You use 158/.357s or Hornady (.452) bullets in your Kimber 1911? ;)
No, Hornady makes nice 200gr and 230gr HPs for the 1911 Kimber boys. The 158gr/.357cal is for the .357 chambered Henry Big Boy and Colt Trooper, only. I may be dumb, but I ain’t stupid. Heh.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.