Wildcatting

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Last updated: 23/03/2018

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ou can run around in circles chasing the minute advantages offered by each manufacturer’s products, some are true, some are ‘interesting’. But that’s the fun of shooting, the fine tuning and expectation of achieving just that little bit more performance is what keeps it real and fresh!

Bullets have always been the stumbling block when it came to achieving the best accuracy in the past. Close tolerances between individuals or even batches was quite difficult to maintain and when that bullet is the only thing that hits the target, you had better buy the best! That’s why for years the Bench Rest world used hand swaged custom products to achieve top accuracy.

Accuracy speaks

Today, we have both accurate rifles and bullets. Companies have been taking great care to provide all shooting needs with top quality components and ammunition. Hornady have always been at the forefront of this technology, with their A-MAX for target work and V-MAX and SST for vermin and hunting needs; all industry standards! But they have moved on with their new Extremely Low Drag (ELD) projectiles in Match (ELDMatch) and hunting (ELD-X) grades.

The idea was to design a bullet that would work at all ranges; especially at extended distances: beyond 400 yards, where normal bullets would stop expanding and become penetrators, not expanders. Match bullets too can be redesigned to extend their potential.

Common to the A-MAX, V-MAX and SST types are their polymer tips, designed to provide a good ballistic coefficient (BC) and down range performance, reliable expansion and less tip deformation in magazine rifles.

P = Precision

All bullets should have a precision swaged lead core and similarly uniform copper jacket to achieve a perfectly concentric build. The design must be as aerodynamic as possible, but still be easy to reload and shoot without special throat, rifling, leade angle etc. Expansion should be as uniform as possible throughout the whole velocity range, at all distances.

In 2012, Hornady conducted tests using Doppler radar technology to measure a bullet’s BC all along its flight path. These showed that early on in the flight path the BC dropped and affected downrange performance. The polymer tip was melting at the high velocity, so affecting the streamlined nature of the projectile and increasing drag. This was really only affecting bullets with a BC above G1 0.550 and at a high enough velocity for a retained time line, so that heat affected aerodynamic deformation becomes a problem.

A-MAX, V-MAX and SST tips use a conventional soft polymer, which you can mark it with your finger nail! Hornady’s new Heat Shield tip is designed to maintain a consistent BC throughout its flight path. This is because the melting point is at least two and half times greater than the original.

Proving a point

Hornady conducted tests with a 140-grain 6.5mm A-MAX bullet (BC G1 of 0.585) out to 200 yds, but at 800 yards it had degraded to 0.545 due to the melting. Replaced with the new Heat Shield tip and now at 800 yards it is now 0.610, higher than the original before deformation at 200 yards!

However, with the smaller or slower projectiles .224”, 50-grain V-MAX or a .308, 180-grain SST the difference is in the region of 1-2 % so not significant. Truth is, at sensible hunting ranges there appears little advantage, but for the ultimate long range shooters any extra edge you can gain is advantageous, especially in wind. However, Pete Moore told me he uses the ELD-X in his 270 Win (145-grain) and 6.5 Swedish (143-grain) and says he notices significantly improved groups over what he was using before!

A tip is also not only good for superior ballistics and retained BCs down range but also to start the expansion process. It’s superior to a hollow or soft point because it’s driven back into the core violently and consistently. The rate of which is determined by the core hardness, and jacket thickness and if there are any hollow voids behind the tip. Despite being a match bullet, an A-MAX would always expand well in ballistic media!

With any polymer tip, you also have a consistent uniform shape at the point (meplat). Drawn jackets on hollow points are never that consistent and the fact that many meplat trimmers exist to uniform this area speaks volumes!

ELD-X

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The ELD-X is designed as a hunting bullet, but possesses all the aerodynamic qualities of the Match version. These bullets have an inner lead core of precision swage form to ensure uniform weight and concentricity. The jackets are also perfectly concentric for minimal yaw and pitch and are made using Advanced Manufacturing Process (AMP). The jacket has a thicker main section at the rear for integrity and it slowly thins towards the tip to initiate expansion. Mid way along the inside of the jacket is an Interlock spur that ensures the lead core does not slip. Thus, it is designed to be Match accurate, yet still deliver maximum terminal performance, even at long range and at lower velocities.

It has High BC levels for better trajectories and wind bucking abilities also, due to the new Heat Shield Tip. It is difficult to get an expanding bullet to expand at all velocities along its trajectory, as there comes a point where speed drops so low that expansion is not viable; and ballistic tip regardless, it ‘knitting needles’ right on through the animal, with little terminal energy transfer.

High & low

The ELD-X is designed to expand at low and high velocity reliably. Out to 400 yards it will expand rapidly, causing a large wound cavity but the thick jacket on the shank continues to carry momentum and penetrate and still retain about 50% of its original weight. Beyond 400 it still expands but retains 80% of its original weight in a more conventional mushroomed form and has only 25% extra penetration.

Regarding BCs, most are generated at one velocity and at a standard atmospheric condition at sea level but does not account for the change as the velocity changes. Most BCs go down as the velocity decreases. Hornady therefore publish the BCs of the ELD types at down range velocities for a more accurate comparison, not only for the opposition but also to input into computer programs for an accurate trajectory print off.

I had ELD-Match 7mm 162-grain and 6.5mm 143-grain ELD-X bullets that Hornady publish their BCs at three velocity levels. Mach 2.25 (2512 fps +), Mach 2.0 (2232 fps) or Mach 1.75 (1953 fps) so you can accurately calculate performance for your load.

Impressive performance

The 7mm starts at a G1 value of 0.670 then reduces to 0.655 and finally at 0.637 for the three altering Mach values. The 6.5mm similarly for each decreasing Mach value stated at a G1 value of 0.623, then 0.604 at the mid velocity and 0.584 at 1953 fps. G7 values are also listed for very accurate results.

In my 7mm Ackley Improved rifle, this meant I was in a sweet spot of over Mach 2.25 values with a velocity of 2704 fps with a load of 51-grains of Alliant RL19 powder. In a 7mm Rem Mag, with velocities in the 3000 fps range, it would also be excellent or 7mm WSM at 2900 fps.

The ELD Match, starting at 2700 fps with its high 0.670 BC, is at 2189 fps at 400 yards with -25.4” drop and 7.9” drift at 10mph. At 800 yards, the Match still has 1725 fps velocity, with a drop of -170.6” and takes on 36.5” of wind.

Compared with the older A-MAX with a 0.625 BC and at the same starting velocities I was getting a velocity at 400 yards of 2076 fps and drop of -30.3” with 10.8” drift. Out at 800 yards it was trailing the Match with 1604 fps velocity and a drop of 188.4” and 45.1”drift.

Less is more

So, out to 400 yards you already have 5” less trajectory drop and 3” less wind drift too. Beyond this is where the ELD wins, as the Heat Shield Tip protects against deformation and so 18-19” less drop with 5” less wind; all well worth having!

The 6.5mm ELD-Xs proved very accurate and although most deer are shot under 200 yards, as a fox or longer range varmint bullet it really held its own. From a 6.5 Creedmoor you have 2700 fps, so for best results go for a 6.5x284 at 2900 fps! I will test expansion in ballistic putty at differing range too, in a later article.

Conclusion

I take my hat off to Hornady, as they have built a better mouse trap! For closer range use, most people will notice little difference, other than the excellent accuracy of the ELDs. But you will really appreciate what they can do if you shoot longer distances; believe me!