Hornady ELD-X: Explodes Like A Varmint Bullet?!

[The Big Game Hunter]

I've noticed the Hornady ELD-X bullet catches a lot of flack in some hunting circles. In fact, I don't think I can name another hunting bullet that receives so much criticism.

I would't say I've hunted extensively with the Hornady ELD-X, but I've taken a few animals with that bullet from several different cartridges at ranges from 30 to 200 yards and the results were uniformly good: quick kills, short (or non-existent) tracking jobs, lots of damage to the vitals of the animal, and a freely bleeding exit wound.
 
Even so, I've still heard plenty of stories from other hunters about those bullets "blowing" up on impact. Some of the more colorful negative descriptions of the bullet have even compared the ELD-X directly to varmint bullets in their terminal performance.

On the other hand, other hunters regard the ELD-X as one of the best hunting projectiles ever invented and swear they're the best thing since sliced bread for hunting deer, antelope, and even elk or moose!

Who is right?

You're going to hate my answer but I just have to call it as I see it:

It depends. 

The ELD-X undoubtedly has some strengths that make them an outstanding choice for hunting certain types of big game under certain conditions, but it's also true they are a poor choice for hunting under other conditions.

To help illustrate this point, I conducted a test to see how the 7mm Remington Magnum shooting Hornady Precision Hunter ammunition loaded with the 162gr ELD-X bullet performs in ballistic gel.

You can see exactly what I mean about how that's a great projectile for some uses and a less than ideal choice for others in this video:

[addicted1]

I only used it once, killed a BT about 20-30 yards using 7mm-08. Absolutely left a massive blood trail, died 20 foot or so. Blew out the exiting shoulder. Made recovery pretty fast, would not have found the deer very easily without the massive blood trail. Had to be standing on top of him to see him. No concerns other than my less than stellar shot placement destroying a shoulder, bullet still excited and found no noticeable fragments.

[JakeLand]

I’ve shot mule deer in Montana out to 600+ yards and they did awesome no blown out shoulders or anything BUT I shot a Blacktail at about 60 yards quartering away and blew the *censored* outta the far side shoulder but like said zero tracking needed
It’s all I shoot out of my .270 WSM

[The scout]

I gave them a good shot, killed probably 6 deer and 3 elk. They kill stuff, nothing went more than 20 yds. Inside of 300yds=gross entrance hole and no exit. Outside of that they perform really well. ALL the energy goes into that animal, the lungs get vaporized because of it. Never had bullets do as much internal damage.I was shooting them out of my 300 rum so they just had a little too much speed close. I think where they really work well is past 500 where a bonded bullet really isn’t going to carry enough speed to expand. All that said I don’t use them anymore.

[pickardjw]

Clear synthetic gel does not equal bullet performance in tissue like 10% calibrated organic gel. More penetration and less expansion in the former.

The 143 ELD-X has been consistent for me. Deer in my profile pic got two of them at 325, both exited. First was a CNS shot so no distance travelled.

Black bear my buddy shot with my gun got two as well at 350, both exited. First pic is one exit, about golf ball size. First shot was hard quartering away and went through the femur/hip joint (pulled the shot), second through lungs. Bear went about 100 yards total, 50 after the second shot.

Another buddy with my gun shot a buck in MT at 100, again with two impacts. Four of us were butchering so not sure where one hit or if if exited, but one certainly did. Again, about golf ball size. Less than 50 yards travelled.

I wouldn't hesitate to use it on any game in NA.

[greenhead_killer]

I’m torn on them. I’ve shot animals at 400 yards down to 40 and all result in the same thing. A dead animal with minimal tracking, if any.

 I am also one of the gripers in that they do so much internal damage. On one hand, that’s a great thing  ends in a dead critter. On the other hand, it’s a mess! I never get exit holes but do find fragments everywhere inside when gutting/processing the meat. I even cracked a tooth this year eating a piece of backstrap that had a piece of copper jacket in it.

I’ve shot deer, bear, elk, moose, sheep with the eld-x out of my 7mm and will probably continue to do so. I’ll deal with the mess.

[The Big Game Hunter]

I’m torn on them. I’ve shot animals at 400 yards down to 40 and all result in the same thing. A dead animal with minimal tracking, if any.

 I am also one of the gripers in that they do so much internal damage. On one hand, that’s a great thing  ends in a dead critter. On the other hand, it’s a mess! I never get exit holes but do find fragments everywhere inside when gutting/processing the meat. I even cracked a tooth this year eating a piece of backstrap that had a piece of copper jacket in it.

I’ve shot deer, bear, elk, moose, sheep with the eld-x out of my 7mm and will probably continue to do so. I’ll deal with the mess.

You're using these 162gr ELD-X bullets I used in the gel test on the hunts you've referred to?
Do I understand correctly that you've never had an ELD-X bullet exit?

[Taco280AI]

LRX won't disappoint

[follow maggie]

I gave them a good shot, killed probably 6 deer and 3 elk. They kill stuff, nothing went more than 20 yds. Inside of 300yds=gross entrance hole and no exit. Outside of that they perform really well. ALL the energy goes into that animal, the lungs get vaporized because of it. Never had bullets do as much internal damage.I was shooting them out of my 300 rum so they just had a little too much speed close. I think where they really work well is past 500 where a bonded bullet really isn’t going to carry enough speed to expand. All that said I don’t use them anymore.

How do you think they’d perform under 300 yards out of a .30-06?

[2MANY]

Shot the 6.5 at 500 yards this weekend.
It held a group of 5 about the size of a tennis ball.
The steel plate looked like I threw grapes at it.

I'm gonna grow my hair so I can rock a man bun.

[jrebel]

I have killed two moose with the 30 cal 212 ELD-X.  Performance was very inconsistent.  I have also shot a bear that the bullet didn’t penetrate the shoulder and just exploded blowing hair and meat off the bear.  Based on those results, I won’t shoot them on game ever again.  Very accurate bullet and like most bullets will kill.  That said, there are better bullets on the market that have consistent and reliable performance.   

I shoot accubonds (not accubond long range) and hammer bullets.  I’ve never been let down by either.

The ABLR is in the same class as the ELD-X and are garbage.  I’m pretty sure folks like the ELD-X because the price.  They are half the price of other….better….bullets. 

[pickardjw]

I have killed two moose with the 30 cal 212 ELD-X.  Performance was very inconsistent.  I have also shot a bear that the bullet didn’t penetrate the shoulder and just exploded blowing hair and meat off the bear.  Based on those results, I won’t shoot them on game ever again.  Very accurate bullet and like most bullets will kill.  That said, there are better bullets on the market that have consistent and reliable performance.   

I shoot accubonds (not accubond long range) and hammer bullets.  I’ve never been let down by either.

The ABLR is in the same class as the ELD-X and are garbage.  I’m pretty sure folks like the ELD-X because the price.  They are half the price of other….better….bullets.

Do you have photos or video of the bullet that "exploded" on a bear shoulder?

[jrebel]

I have killed two moose with the 30 cal 212 ELD-X.  Performance was very inconsistent.  I have also shot a bear that the bullet didn’t penetrate the shoulder and just exploded blowing hair and meat off the bear.  Based on those results, I won’t shoot them on game ever again.  Very accurate bullet and like most bullets will kill.  That said, there are better bullets on the market that have consistent and reliable performance.   

I shoot accubonds (not accubond long range) and hammer bullets.  I’ve never been let down by either.

The ABLR is in the same class as the ELD-X and are garbage.  I’m pretty sure folks like the ELD-X because the price.  They are half the price of other….better….bullets.

Do you have photos or video of the bullet that "exploded" on a bear shoulder?

I have pics of the bear a year later still alive.  Huge bald spot on the high shoulder.  I’ll see if I can find the picture.  I didn’t take a picture of the hair / hide I found on point of impact, but it was the size of a softball.

[greenhead_killer]

I’m torn on them. I’ve shot animals at 400 yards down to 40 and all result in the same thing. A dead animal with minimal tracking, if any.

 I am also one of the gripers in that they do so much internal damage. On one hand, that’s a great thing  ends in a dead critter. On the other hand, it’s a mess! I never get exit holes but do find fragments everywhere inside when gutting/processing the meat. I even cracked a tooth this year eating a piece of backstrap that had a piece of copper jacket in it.

I’ve shot deer, bear, elk, moose, sheep with the eld-x out of my 7mm and will probably continue to do so. I’ll deal with the mess.

You're using these 162gr ELD-X bullets I used in the gel test on the hunts you've referred to?
Do I understand correctly that you've never had an ELD-X bullet exit?

yep, 162 gr eldx. I’ve had pieces exit, but never the whole thing. They explode on contact. I’ve made neck shots, shoulder shots etc. never have figured out why no exit hole except maybe it drops all the energy into the animal. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Taco280AI]

I have killed two moose with the 30 cal 212 ELD-X.  Performance was very inconsistent.  I have also shot a bear that the bullet didn’t penetrate the shoulder and just exploded blowing hair and meat off the bear.  Based on those results, I won’t shoot them on game ever again.  Very accurate bullet and like most bullets will kill.  That said, there are better bullets on the market that have consistent and reliable performance.   

I shoot accubonds (not accubond long range) and hammer bullets.  I’ve never been let down by either.

The ABLR is in the same class as the ELD-X and are garbage.  I’m pretty sure folks like the ELD-X because the price.  They are half the price of other….better….bullets.

How do you like the Hammers? Accuracy and performance? I've read they're designed to shed their petals. Ever recover one? Retained weight? I have a box of 153s (IIRC) for the AI, but haven't done anything with them yet. Hard to move away from the LRX with the accuracy and performance they give.


And not an ELDX/M or Berger, but used a 130 ballistic tip from a 270 on a quartering away blacktail that left a huge hole in the side, but was untouched on the off side. Never again, I like my bullets to expand, retain weight and keep going. Not fly apart.