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.
| Caliber | 6.5mm | 7mm | 7mm | .308 | .308 | .308 | .308 |
| Weight | 143 gr. | 162 gr. | 175 gr. | 178 gr. | 200 gr. | 212 gr. | 220 gr. |
| G1 BC | .620 | .613 | .660 | .535 | .626 | .673 | .650 |
| G2 BC | .311 | .308 | .330 | .271 | .315 | .336 | .325 |
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Maximize Your Deer Season Planning With the 2016 Whitetails Wall Calendar!
From Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine, the 2016 Whitetails Wall Calendar features the work of deer researchers Wayne Laroche and Charlie Alsheimer, who reveal the 2016 whitetail rut prediction, based on years of lunar cycle research. Utilize this deer moon phase calendar to find out which days the deer will be seeking and chasing so you can time the rut for the best time to hunt.
“The DDH wall calendar is one of our most popular annual ShopDeerHunting items,” said Dan Schmidt, DDH Content Director and Editor-in-Chief. “The 2016 calendar, just like the ones before it, features some amazing whitetail deer photography that captures deer in all the seasons. It also provides deer activity charts so you can plan your hunt.”
With the 2016 DDH Whitetails Wall Calendar you’ll learn:
- When the seeking, chasing and tending phases of the rut will occur for North & South
- The predicted dates of Major & Minor deer activity in 2016
- Daily 2016 Moon-phase data