Hornady ELD-X Redefines Hunting Bullet Design

Hornady engineers, using Doppler radar to study bullet flight, have discovered that polymer tips melt as they slice through the air, resulting in a varied ballistic coefficient (BC) from the time the projectile leaves the muzzle until impact.

This revelation lead to the development of the Hornady® ELD-X™ with Heat Shield™ Tip, which promises improved match-grade accuracy with the terminal performance of the company's top-performing hunting bullets. 

The new Hornady ELD-X™ (Extremely Low Drag – eXpanding) is really exciting news for long-range hunters and match shooters taking pokes beyond 400 yards. That's because, while the accuracy of the super-tip pill is said to be sub-MOA — something accuracy hounds will appreciate at any distance — the new revelations about changing BC from tip meltdown will really prove beneficial in predicting long-range shots.

“While I have never had the opportunity to witness a melted polymer tip on any of the bullets I've ever used – all that I've recovered have been deformed from impact – this principle unveiled by Hornady certainly makes sense,” said Gun Digest contributor Philip Massaro, author of Understanding Ballistics. “The correction of this heretofore unknown issue will certainly aid in long-distance accuracy by keeping the bullet conformation constant and maintaining the highest Ballistic Coeffiient possible. I look forward to testing Hornady's new bullet.”

The new heat-proof pills are available as component bullets for reloaders or in factory-loaded ELD-X Precision Hunter ammunition. ELD-X bullets are “heavy caliber” — the 7mm offerings are 162- and 175-grain right now — and are designed for maximum ballistic coefficients, highest levels of accuracy, consistency and extreme lethality at all practical hunting distances, according to Hornady.

ELD-X™     EXTREMELY LOW DRAG – EXPANDING

• Best-in-class BCs
  Verified by Doppler radar, the Heat Shield™ tip defies the effects of aerodynamic heating and retains its shape to maintain the highest-in-class BC over its entire trajectory.
• Match-accurate hunting bullet
  Streamlined secant ogive with optimum boattail design + highly concentric AMP® bullet jackets + patent pending Heat Shield™ tip combine for radically superior aerodynamic efficiency.
• Devastating conventional range performance
  With high velocity, 0-400 yard impact, the bullet continually expands throughout its penetration path. The thick shank of the jacket and high InterLock® ring keep the core and jacket together providing 50-60 percent weight retention.
• Best extended range terminal available
  Upon low velocity, 400+ yard impacts, Heat Shield™ tip drives backward into bullet to initiate expansion. Exhibiting expansion with a large and 85-90 percent retained weight provides deep penetration and large cavities. Available as component bullets or in factory-loaded Precision Hunter™ ammunition.

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Understanding Ballistics
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