Anyone Used Hornady Precision Hunter 308 Win 178 Grain ELD-X Ammo?

[Fastrig]

Looking at premium ammo for PG using my 308 win. Anyone used the Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X 178 grain ammo? Thanks!

 

[Bullthrower338]

I have shot two animals with 30-06 178 gr ELD-X and had poor bullet performance on both. First was a large bull elk, first shot he didn’t act like he was hit, second which was inches from the first put him down. Recovered the jacket of one bullet in lung tissue and fragments of bullet all over inside of him. Second was an axis a couple weeks ago the bullet went through then followed the hide causing trauma far forward of the exit wound. What was most disturbing is shown in this picture. Entry wound and the obvious fragmenting of the bullet to the rear. Bullet lost almost 50% of its weight. I did shoot a Texas white tail and it worked fine, I will limit my use to whitetail size critters if I ever use it again.

 

[Fastrig]

Thank you very much, doesn’t sound like the round to be using for PG. Will keep evaluating other options

 

[Bullthrower338]

Thank you very much, doesn’t sound like the round to be using for PG. Will keep evaluating other options

Good choice! If you want to stick with a tipped bullet, accubond, TTSX, Trophy Bonded Tipped, Swift Scirocco and a couple others will make a much better choice IMO. The ELD-X shoots extremely well but I sure wouldn’t trust it on a PG hunt. I know some would say that I recovered all three animals that I shot with it and that I did but I expect a bullet to maintain integrity and just disappointed in these.

 

[Fastrig]

Good choice! If you want to stick with a tipped bullet, accubond, TTSX, Trophy Bonded Tipped, Swift Scirocco and a couple others will make a much better choice IMO. The ELD-X shoots extremely well but I sure wouldn’t trust it on a PG hunt. I know some would say that I recovered all three animals that I shot with it and that I did but I expect a bullet to maintain integrity and just disappointed in these.

I'll give the rounds you suggested a whirl....thank you very much!!!

 

[BWH]

I used 168gr TTSX in 30-06. It was great from everything from springbok to Eland.

 

[Fastrig]

I used 168gr TTSX in 30-06. It was great from everything from springbok to Eland.

That round seems to pop up in comments quite a bit, think I’ll give it a shot. Thanks

 

[IA diver]

I too was similarly disappointed with the ELDX out of my 6.5. Deadly, but massive tissue trauma due to fragmentation like a hand grenade went off inside. Much happier with the cheaper SSTs which have proven deadly even on kudu. These or Accubonds have been my choice last few safaris.

 

[Fastrig]

I too was similarly disappointed with the ELDX out of my 6.5. Deadly, but massive tissue trauma due to fragmentation like a hand grenade went off inside. Much happier with the cheaper SSTs which have proven deadly even on kudu. These or Accubonds have been my choice last few safaris.

Sounds like the ELDX perform like the “safety” handgun rounds you can buy for home defense, i.e. designed to hit and explode so they don’t travel through walls and hit someone on the other side. Not what you want in a hunting round for sure.

 

[TMac]

The ELD-X is essentially their SST bullet, likely even softer. I have used the 150gr. ELD-X on deer out of a 280, worked fine, but a bit explosive for my tastes. I prefer the TTSX or better yet for deer the Barnes LRX. I’d hesitate to use the ELD-X/SST on anything much over 300lbs, or driving it through bone, unless I was driving it slow and/or going very heavy for caliber.

 

[35bore]

I usually buy about 6 boxes (of different manufacturers, different gr if same manufacturer) when I buy a rifle . The rifle I just bought in 308 hated the ELD'S , super inaccurate, however one of the other 308s I have loves them, I had some on hand so to speak. I have never used them on game though, just so you know. My opinion, with the accuracy that the other rifle has with them i would not feel uncomfortable hunting with them, tissue damage or not, name of the game is to get the animal in the salt. The new rifle however,,, i guess it's core lokt. You can have the best bullet in the world but if it's not hitting your intended target then it's useless. My 2 cents.

 

[Fastrig]

I usually buy about 6 boxes (of different manufacturers, different gr if same manufacturer) when I buy a rifle . The rifle I just bought in 308 hated the ELD'S , super inaccurate, however one of the other 308s I have loves them, I had some on hand so to speak. I have never used them on game though, just so you know. My opinion, with the accuracy that the other rifle has with them i would not feel uncomfortable hunting with them, tissue damage or not, name of the game is to get the animal in the salt. The new rifle however,,, i guess it's core lokt. You can have the best bullet in the world but if it's not hitting your intended target then it's useless. My 2 cents.

Think I'll buy a box of each of the rounds recommended above and see which shoots the best, except for the ELDX's By the 20th round I would think I should be able to tell if my new rifle likes the rounds or not.