22 Cal ELD-M bullets

[JMcBurn]

Anyone having any good luck shooting these bullets from a tikka varmint .223?

I tried the 75 and 80 today at mag length and they shot terribly. (mag length is 2.300" and the jump is around .135")

Mainly wondering if people have any suggestions on how much jump and a velocity range they shoot well in?

I was able to drive the 75 up to just shy of 3000 and the 80 to 2950 with 24.4 gr of 8208 without any significant pressure signs other than some primer flattening.

 

[padom]

I'm driving the 75 ELD at 3000 and got them up to 3050 with 8208xbr. I also shot them at 2900 with Varget. All out of 26" 1:7 Shilen prefit. I found them very accurate at touching the lands to .001 off which was 2.47. I'm running MDT mags so I can go to 2.55 or so

 

[Juggerxxx]

I am pushing the 75eld from a Tikka varmint at 2905fps using 24.4gr varget and Lapua brass. Base to ogive is super long at 1.950" and if I remember right the coal is a freakish 2.50". This is only accomished in a modified aics mag in a XLR chassis. I did not find good results with the bullet any further than 0.010" away from the lands. This load works great out to 1000 yards.

 

[Rob01]

I shoot the 75 ELD-Ms pushed by 24grns of Varget from my 20" .223 loaded .020" off the lands and it's very accurate. Would have to check my records but I believe they were about 2750-2800fps. Fit fine in my MDT mags with room to spare.

 

[JMcBurn]

Thanks for the input.

I will have to do some load development single feeding. In my rifle the bullet is at the lands at 2.45" with the 75. Ill try like a .005" jump for the next development when I get my Lapua cases.

Did a 10 rd load development with the 75 BTHP

But this thing seems to shoot.

 

[padom]

I'm 2.47 to lands with 75 and 80 ELD-M. Just got back from the range an hour ago testing H4895 with the 75 ELDM IN Lapua brass, 205M, 0.006" off lands. Best SD's, accuracy and velocity I've tested. 26" Shilen SSM prefit.

 

[JMcBurn]

What were you getting with the H4895?

 

[Citius7]

We have a huge node at 25.3 grain XBR 8208. Just over 3100 fps. Can consistently shoot groups on 8 inch steel at 800 yards if the wind is consistent. 24.5 gr sux. And 24.9 is just before the edge of the node. 26 inch rock creek.

 

[padom]

I had terrible SD's with 8208. I love 8208 in my precision AR's.. velocity was st 3050 with 24.6g 8208.

With H4895 I was in the 2900's with 23.6g and over 3000fps with 24g and above. Haven't even downloaded my Labradar yet. Will in a few hours.

 

[JMcBurn]

We have a huge node at 25.3 grain XBR 8208. Just over 3100 fps. Can consistently shoot groups on 8 inch steel at 800 yards if the wind is consistent. 24.5 gr sux. And 24.9 is just before the edge of the node. 26 inch rock creek.

The hottest Ive loaded was 24.4gr of 8208 which got me just over 3000 fps out of my ~24" tikka varmint. But honestly nothing shot well for me so I have no idea where a node is.

I had terrible SD's with 8208. I love 8208 in my precision AR's.. velocity was st 3050 with 24.6g 8208.

With H4895 I was in the 2900's with 23.6g and over 3000fps with 24g and above. Haven't even downloaded my Labradar yet. Will in a few hours.

My load for the 75 BTHP is going 2890 AVG with a 9 SD using cheap S&B primers and random cases.

 

[Citius7]

The hottest Ive loaded was 24.4gr of 8208 which got me just over 3000 fps out of my ~24" tikka varmint. But honestly nothing shot well for me so I have no idea where a node is.



My load for the 75 BTHP is going 2890 AVG with a 9 SD using cheap S&B primers and random cases.

SDs below 5. Lake city and cheap Russian Primers.

 

[JMcBurn]

SDs below 5. Lake city and cheap Russian Primers.

You got any pictures of what the fired brass?

I assume the cases don't last long, correct?

 

[padom]

Here's my 75 ELD-M OCW test targets I shot today. All shot at 100yds over the LabRadar from the bench, Harris bipod and rear bag.

XLR Evolution Chassis
Bighorn TL3 DLC Coated
Jewel HVR 14oz
26" Shilen Stainless Select Match .223 Wylde Bull Contour
Vortez Razor HD GenII 4.5-27x56
Vortez 0.92" PMR 34MM Rings

Virgin Lapua run through 21st Century TiN expander mandrel leaving 0.0025" Neck Tension
1.916" Base to Ogive for 0.006" Off Lands (2.464" COAL)
Federal 205M

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/UZuUBvd.jpg"}[/IMG2]


[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/izyO3Ot.jpg"}[/IMG2]

 

[sharpshooter437]

Citius 7, how far off the lands are you ? And whats your overall length?

 

[Juggerxxx]

8208 and ARcomp where horrible out of my Tikka varmint for both groups and SDs.
H4895 showed the best groups and speeds but the SDs were on the high side but not horrible.
Varget had great single digit SD and ESs and the groups were good.
These four powders were tested on the same day with the same batch of Lapua brass and BR4 primers. Naturally I stuck with the varget.

 

[JMcBurn]

Padom,

Looks like I might need to try out some of this H4895. You gonna stick with the 24.2 gr load?

 

[Citius7]

You got any pictures of what the fired brass?

I assume the cases don't last long, correct?

Brass is on its Sixth firing. neck sizing so far only. Primer still have a good hold. Brass doesn't look like anything special. Easy bolt lift in my TL3 Bighorn.

 

[JMcBurn]

Brass is on its Sixth firing. neck sizing so far only. Primer still have a good hold. Brass doesn't look like anything special. Easy bolt lift in my TL3 Bighorn.

I will try working up there in .1gr jumps I think.

You know where your lower node was?

 

[gigamortis]

I tried the 80gr ELD-Ms in our Savage .223 model 12 varminter 1:7 twist 26" barrel. I used Varget in Lapua cases. I tried everything from jumping to jamming and could not get a load that beat our proven 80gr Amax load. I did find a node with these ELD-Ms at about 40 fps lower than our Amax load, but it was not as accurate. I would have loved to have gotten the better bc ELD-Ms to run good, but I think the more aggressive secant ogive of these makes them more finicky. The old 80gr Amax had more of a hybrid looking ogive and was very easy to tune in our barrel at 2770fps. The old 80gr Amax was already top dog with its bc for an 80gr bullet for the longest time, and I wish Hornady would have just kept that bullet shape and put the non-melting tips on them.

 

[Citius7]

Citius 7, how far off the lands are you ? And whats your overall length?

I am .020 off the lands. Don't know what my coal is. Base to ogive is 1.845.

Okay. Went and measured it. 2.455 inches. But not worth anything to most folks.

 

[padom]

I tried the 80gr ELD-Ms in our Savage .223 model 12 varminter 1:7 twist 26" barrel. I used Varget in Lapua cases. I tried everything from jumping to jamming and could not get a load that beat our proven 80gr Amax load. I did find a node with these ELD-Ms at about 40 fps lower than our Amax load, but it was not as accurate. I would have loved to have gotten the better bc ELD-Ms to run good, but I think the more aggressive secant ogive of these makes them more finicky. The old 80gr Amax had more of a hybrid looking ogive and was very easy to tune in our barrel at 2770fps. The old 80gr Amax was already top dog with its bc for an 80gr bullet for the longest time, and I wish Hornady would have just kept that bullet shape and put the non-melting tips on them.

Try H4895 with those ELD-M's.. I had the same issue with the 75's then tested H4895. Best accuracy of all the powders I tested, single digit consistent SD's in the node and 100fps faster than Varget. Im running the 75 ELD-M's out of a 26" Shilen 1:7 at 3009fps with 24.2g H4895

 

[NukeMMC]

Somewhat off-track ... but I know PADOM checks this ... I just bought 2 boxes of 100 80gr ELD-Ms, same lot, and I measured the base-to-ogive and found them to be in 2 distinct bands 0.622 +/- .001 and 0.629 +/- .002. Weights were 79.6-80.3gr. The thing is, 70 of the bullets were at the .629 band and were a mix from both boxes.
The Nosler 80s were much better (.602 +/- .001) and the Berger 80s and 82s were best of the bunch, with ogives consistent to .001" and weights within 0.1gr.

Are others' experiences with the ELDMs the same?

 

[JMcBurn]

Try H4895 with those ELD-M's.. I had the same issue with the 75's then tested H4895. Best accuracy of all the powders I tested, single digit consistent SD's in the node and 100fps faster than Varget. Im running the 75 ELD-M's out of a 26" Shilen 1:7 at 3009fps with 24.2g H4895

I just borrowed 1/3 of a lb from a buddy that didnt have luck with it in his 308. If it works I will pick up a couple lbs.

 

[JMcBurn]

Somewhat off-track ... but I know PADOM checks this ... I just bought 2 boxes of 100 80gr ELD-Ms, same lot, and I measured the base-to-ogive and found them to be in 2 distinct bands 0.622 +/- .001 and 0.629 +/- .002. Weights were 79.6-80.3gr. The thing is, 70 of the bullets were at the .629 band and were a mix from both boxes.
The Nosler 80s were much better (.602 +/- .001) and the Berger 80s and 82s were best of the bunch, with ogives consistent to .001" and weights within 0.1gr.

Are others' experiences with the ELDMs the same?

I can try and measure the 80s I have and see what I get. But technically a set of calipers is only really accurate to +/-.002" typically. To really test these discrepancies you really need more accurate measuring equipment.

 

[padom]

I just measured my 80's...measured 30 and yea they were all over the place...measured 30 75's and they were very consistent. Interesting

 

[Citius7]

I will try working up there in .1gr jumps I think.

You know where your lower node was?

Not sure where the low node was. Started at 24.5 cause that's where the 6.5 guys said their node was. It was terrible. SDs were garbage. 25.05 gr is where the start of the high node begins to come together and 25.3 is right in the middle of it. Pretty big node at .3+ or -. Low node I would be at least .3 under 24.5.

 

[gigamortis]

Try H4895 with those ELD-M's.. I had the same issue with the 75's then tested H4895. Best accuracy of all the powders I tested, single digit consistent SD's in the node and 100fps faster than Varget. Im running the 75 ELD-M's out of a 26" Shilen 1:7 at 3009fps with 24.2g H4895

Thanks for the info. It has been quite frustrating trying to get equal or better performance from the 80gr ELD-Ms vs. our tried and true 80gr Amax Varget load. I find it quite intriguing that you were able to pick up velocity with the faster burning H4895 over Varget, especially with the heavies in .223.

 

[padom]

Thanks for the info. It has been quite frustrating trying to get equal or better performance from the 80gr ELD-Ms vs. our tried and true 80gr Amax Varget load. I find it quite intriguing that you were able to pick up velocity with the faster burning H4895 over Varget, especially with the heavies in .223.

I agree, I was very surprised. I found H4895 slower than 8208 and Varget in my shorter barreled AR15's in the 16"-20" range... This 26" bolt gun is a different story.

 

[JMcBurn]

Finally got through 100 rounds of Lapua 55gr. Gonna try and process them and load up some ocw tests that match your test with the varget I just bought and the the H4895 I borrowed from a friend.

Will try and report back.

Padom,

I don't have that same program you have, so was wondering if you wouldn't mind processing it for me.

Thanks

 

[223ai]

Here's my 75 ELD-M OCW test targets I shot today. All shot at 100yds over the LabRadar from the bench, Harris bipod and rear bag.

XLR Evolution Chassis
Bighorn TL3 DLC Coated
Jewel HVR 14oz
26" Shilen Stainless Select Match .223 Wylde Bull Contour
Vortez Razor HD GenII 4.5-27x56
Vortez 0.92" PMR 34MM Rings

Virgin Lapua run through 21st Century TiN expander mandrel leaving 0.0025" Neck Tension
1.916" Base to Ogive for 0.006" Off Lands (2.464" COAL)
Federal 205M

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/UZuUBvd.jpg"}[/IMG2]


[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/izyO3Ot.jpg"}[/IMG2]

I wanted to bump this thread with a tip of the hat to Padom. I have been driving pointed 82 berger's via 8208 for a long time, but have plans to shoot a few PRS matches in the "tactical division" which has a speed and bullet weight limit...which is silly to me...of 77 grains and 3000fps. Knowing this, I bought 1k of the 75 eld-m's, and am at 2930 via 24.5 grains of varget, virgin LC brass, and Wolf .223 primers. My barrel is 26", and I am shooting suppressed.

I doped the gun out to 1000 on sunday, where i was at 9.4 mils, and 2.9 in a full value 3:00 wind. I put 4 shots in an 11.5 inch group, which is good enough for what we do.

fun stuff.

 

[Strike_out]

Tested seating depth with the 75eld at .002 .012 and .022 off the lands with the obvious winner being .002

They want to be right up in there in my 223 tikka