ELDM lot-to-lot variation

Bevan · Apr 16, 2025

I'm shooting the 108gr ELDM from a 6mmGT in a Brux barrel. I tested loads with one particular box to check if my barrel liked the bullet - shot 3x 10rd groups around 0.5-.0.6 MOA group size (0.05 - .06MRAD mean radius). Seemed all good, so I purchased 1000 bullets of a different production lot, and now I'm getting 10rd group sizes around 0.9-1+ MOA (mean radius 0.07+ MRAD) with that lot.

This is pretty frustrating, all I can pin it on is lot-to-lot variation in the bullets - the 1K I bought coming from a lot where, for whatever reason, the quality of the bullets is lower.

Anyone else seen a degree of lot-to-lot variation like this?

If that's the problem, what can be done about it? Really hard to test a production lot before buying the same lot in bulk with the market conditions these days

hafejd30 · Apr 16, 2025

I haven’t ran the eldm. I run a ton of ELDX and they seem decent

I had a box back in the day (can’t remember if it was Amax or SST) but it had a .017” difference in a box of 100 bullets from base to ogive. It was very clear when seating before I measured them that they came off different machines even though it was a single box of 100 bullets

Rocketmandb · Apr 17, 2025

spife7980 · Apr 17, 2025

Did you adjust your load to accommodate the new bullets?

hafejd30 · Apr 17, 2025

I wouldn’t say variations are a bad thing just fyi. Obviously my example above was a bit extreme. A box of 175 smk was .003” compared to the .017” of the hornady

Generally if I’m running a bullet .020 off the lands. When I switch lots I remeasure the new lot to seat the same .020 off the lands.

Variation in a single lot is not good. But some variations lot to lot is expected

stello1001 · Apr 17, 2025

It's a hornady, what did you expect? Yes there's gonna be lot to lot variation. ESPECIALLY with hornady.

ShtrRdy · Apr 17, 2025

Do you have a comparison of velocity? And a comparison of physical dimensions?

JR1200W3 · Sunday at 10:38 AM

Hornady would tell you that your first lot didn't shoot 0.5" because you were fooling yourself with small sample sizes. If you would have shot 30rd groups you would have seen their true inside-one-lot variation and would now understand there is no lot-to-lot variation. Just their normal variation.

JB.IC · Sunday at 12:23 PM

There’s likely no lot to lot variation or if there is, then it’s minor and dwarfed by the within lot variation.

Holliday · Sunday at 12:43 PM

Yeah the weight differences within a box of 100, shocked me. The term “match” is used very loosely with them.

03machstock · Monday at 9:48 AM

I came across this with the 75gr eldm’s. I had a load that hammered at a decent speed in my .223 so I bought 1000 more when I ran out. New lot had Terrible accuracy, I tried all different seating depths, powders, Hornady even had me send them some but the came back and said they tested fine for them. The bto measurements on the old lot to new lot were significant when measuring just the bullet. I ended up finding a charge that shot around .5-.6 moa but I had to slow them down to 2550 fps. It got me through an event I needed to shoot but I simply gave up on them (for this gun atleast).

RabbitSlayer48 · 2025-04-24T00:58:40-0400

I shoot the 108 eldm cuz its a lot of bc for the price and they don't ricochet as much as other match type bullets. Perfect for prairie dogs. I have made impacts at 1770 yards and 1k yards is just too easy if it aint too windy. A 20 shot group is .6" at 100. See if you can tune em up.

Got to temper expectations. I think i paid 38 a box on sale. In comparison i just got 190 gr berger LRHT for like 69 a box and that was on sale. Everywhere else was 76 bucks! Yeah, I should hope bergers are better!

Holliday · 2025-04-24T11:02:06-0400

RabbitSlayer48 said:
I shoot the 108 eldm cuz its a lot of bc for the price and they don't ricochet as much as other match type bullets. Perfect for prairie dogs. I have made impacts at 1770 yards and 1k yards is just too easy if it aint too windy. A 20 shot group is .6" at 100. See if you can tune em up.

Got to temper expectations. I think i paid 38 a box on sale. In comparison i just got 190 gr berger LRHT for like 69 a box and that was on sale. Everywhere else was 76 bucks! Yeah, I should hope bergers are better!

I just dropped a steaming pile of crap

that I have labeled high grade fertilizer for your flower garden. It will cost you HALF of what you’d pay for real fertilizer. Just remember to “temper expectations”.

I guess we need to get the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) involved, to define “Match Grade” in shooting.

As far as I am concerned, the Hornady bullet weight differential within a box of 100 and the FPF differential from lot to lot with Hornady ammo, is far from match grade. With no standard in place ,THAT is my OPINION.

If the standard for “Match Grade” was clearly defined, and they did in fact fall within that those parameters, I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

diggler1833 · 2025-04-24T11:36:17-0400

I pay less for Hornady, and I expect less because of it. Sometimes I get great results, and sometimes I'll see more variation than others for sure. If I were paying Berger prices it would irritate me...but I'm $0.15 - 0.25 less per bullet.

As someone who recreationally shoots 250 - 650 yards 99% of the time, this isn't a hindrance...but it does get a touch frustrating at times to have a CBTO variation of .005 or more.

Bonus that the ELD-M has been a critter slayer for me lately...so I just look at them like a thin-skinned hunting bullet. Probably wouldn't try to compete in an F-Class match with them though.

RabbitSlayer48 · 2025-04-24T12:09:45-0400

Holliday said:
I just dropped a steaming pile of crap that I have labeled high grade fertilizer for your flower garden. It will cost you HALF of what you’d pay for real fertilizer. Just remember to “temper expectations”.

I guess we need to get the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) involved, to define “Match Grade” in shooting.

As far as I am concerned, the Hornady bullet weight differential within a box of 100 and the FPF differential from lot to lot with Hornady ammo, is far from match grade. With no standard in place ,THAT is my OPINION.

If the standard for “Match Grade” was clearly defined, and they did in fact fall within that those parameters, I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

View attachment 8671807

If you are triggered by "match grade" with Hornady bullets, you will probably have a seizure with the term when it is applied to rimfire ammo. Half the dang boxes on the shelf say match grade, but they are no better than basic CCI when you start weighing, measuring, and using a chrono. The only ones that are actually any better are the most expensive lapua, eley, rws, and sk.

Jdowns0415 · 2025-04-24T16:27:52-0400

a cursory glance of the threads here on the hide would have shown you that you should only be purchasing Berger Bullets for such uses.

Holliday · 2025-04-24T18:36:58-0400

RabbitSlayer48 said:
If you are triggered

"Triggered" used in that context, is a word used by frail purple haired leftist college students.

When used by men, it usually means an explosion has taken place and there may or may not have been blood but likely beer or whiskey shots follow in the aftermath.....BOOM!

Search

Search

Download Gravity Ballistics

ELDM lot-to-lot variation

Bevan

Sergeant

hafejd30

Supporter

Rocketmandb

Old Salt

spife7980

Luchador

hafejd30

Supporter

stello1001

Professional Newb

ShtrRdy

Gunny Sergeant

JR1200W3

Supporter

JB.IC

Statistical Jackass of the Hide

Holliday

Old Salt

03machstock

Sergeant of the Hide

RabbitSlayer48

Private

Holliday

Old Salt

diggler1833

World's Okayest Rancher and Hog Hunter

RabbitSlayer48

Private

Jdowns0415

Sergeant of the Hide

Holliday

Old Salt

Similar threads