Hornady Bore Driver Eld-X Range Report

[ElDiablito]

Thanks, I would like to do a little better. I’m not sure how far I’ll be capable of shooting with open sights, I’ll need to start practicing to get a better idea of my capabilities and effective range.

I shot 3 and ran a couple dry patches thru to clean, and shot the next 3. Do you have any recommendations for cleaning between shots? I appreciate the help!

With 777 I’d “spit patch” between every shot. But with Bh209, there’s no need to swab or clean at all. I leave the rifle fouled all season. Now, you do have to use a drill bit to clean out the carbon fouling from the breech plug flash channel every so often (10-20 shots).

 

[BooneHunter]

With 777 I’d “spit patch” between every shot. But with Bh209, there’s no need to swab or clean at all. I leave the rifle fouled all season. Now, you do have to use a drill bit to clean out the carbon fouling from the breech plug flash channel every so often (10-20 shots).

View attachment 897054

That’s a big help thank you.

 

[AaronPage]

Slightly off topic but have any of you shooting the eld-x in the 50 cal CVA notice it is really loose fitting in the bore?

I just picked up a .45 cal Cva and the .45 eld-x seem really loose compared to the power belts. I’m talking it goes down the bore by pushing the rod with my pinky finger. I haven’t done any range testing yet but I worry in a hunting setup and the gun being bounced around on my shoulder or pack could cause it to come off the powder charge..

 

[ElDiablito]

Slightly off topic but have any of you shooting the eld-x in the 50 cal CVA notice it is really loose fitting in the bore?

I just picked up a .45 cal Cva and the .45 eld-x seem really loose compared to the power belts. I’m talking it goes down the bore by pushing the rod with my pinky finger. I haven’t done any range testing yet but I worry in a hunting setup and the gun being bounced around on my shoulder or pack could cause it to come off the powder charge..

There’s a lot of variation in muzzy bores especially among manufacturers. A “Fifty caliber” may be anywhere from .499 to .506+.

On the .50 340 gr ELDX it’s the skirt that grips the bore when loaded (depending on the exact dimensions of your bore) - the bullet is a little undersized .499”. The .45 ELDX is the same way.

There’s a couple things you can try to tighten it up. “Knurl” the body of the bullet with a couple files (to increase its diameter) and/or make a wrap around the bullet with teflon tape.

 

[Hnthrdr]

So finally found a couple hours at my makeshift range at my cabin to shoot. Couple of things.
1. Shooting lots of small caliber suppressed centerfires has made me a puss haha
2. I was shooting 8 year old 209 which had been previously opened did not seem to lose any velocity
3. I might need to get my prescription updated

So all in all I landed on 100 gbv of 209 it was pushing the eldx at an average of 1850 over 17 shots. Was pretty happy with accuracy, I would get 2 with in and inch of each other right at POA then send a flyer 3 inches right or high… I think some of this was trying to anticipate the recoil, like I said I have become a softie. Gonna try to do some field position shooting next week. Totally spaced on getting a picture of the target… it wasn’t that beautiful any how. Good luck with load development. I did Jerry rig my western precision sight. Which I am pretty happy with but man, that target looks small at 100 yards with irons…

 

[taskswap]

So I'm sitting on the fence. Somebody push me off. I have a lot of standard black powder - like 12 lbs of Pyrodex RS, 2 of 777, 2 of Pyrodex Select, etc. I picked all this up locally at various sales a few years ago when BH209 was completely unobtainable. "Not even for ready money."

I know about the general benefits of Blackhorn. My question isn't "would you recommend it". My question is, if any of you guys knew you'd:
a. Be shooting a Hornady ELD-X,
b. Out of a bog-standard CVA Accura V2,
c. Did not yet own either Blackhorn powder at its current price point, PLUS the special breech plug to buy,
d. Had 16+ of various grades of standard black powder.

Would you still switch? Knowing what you know?

 

[Hnthrdr]

So I'm sitting on the fence. Somebody push me off. I have a lot of standard black powder - like 12 lbs of Pyrodex RS, 2 of 777, 2 of Pyrodex Select, etc. I picked all this up locally at various sales a few years ago when BH209 was completely unobtainable. "Not even for ready money."

I know about the general benefits of Blackhorn. My question isn't "would you recommend it". My question is, if any of you guys knew you'd:
a. Be shooting a Hornady ELD-X,
b. Out of a bog-standard CVA Accura V2,
c. Did not yet own either Blackhorn powder at its current price point, PLUS the special breech plug to buy,
d. Had 16+ of various grades of standard black powder.

Would you still switch? Knowing what you know?

So I am shooting 209 out of my cva accura v2. I have a bunch of 777 but decided why not? Is 90 bucks really gonna matter to me in 4 months, probably not. I had an old canister of 209 about half full which is still shooting plenty fast, was just going to use it for fouling but it seems to be keeping good velocity so I will keep the few jugs I bought in reserve. And it’s amazing how clean it is, I’m going with Diablo’s recommendation and only cleaning the plug with a drill bit, I’ll clean post season now, which is so much nicer than having to clean after every shooting session with 777, not a big deal, but when I only get a few min to shoot between the 1 yr old 3 yr old and the pregnant wife needing me I like that I can shoot and just put it up.

 

[ElDiablito]

So I'm sitting on the fence. Somebody push me off. I have a lot of standard black powder - like 12 lbs of Pyrodex RS, 2 of 777, 2 of Pyrodex Select, etc. I picked all this up locally at various sales a few years ago when BH209 was completely unobtainable. "Not even for ready money."

I know about the general benefits of Blackhorn. My question isn't "would you recommend it". My question is, if any of you guys knew you'd:
a. Be shooting a Hornady ELD-X,
b. Out of a bog-standard CVA Accura V2,
c. Did not yet own either Blackhorn powder at its current price point, PLUS the special breech plug to buy,
d. Had 16+ of various grades of standard black powder.

Would you still switch? Knowing what you know?

I would. Bh209 is by far the best powder option available. Alternatively, I’d shoot the 777 you have. It’s the next best thing but you will have to swab between shots and clean well at the end of the day.

I’d throw the Pyrodex in the garbage.

 

[taskswap]

I would. Bh209 is by far the best powder option available. Alternatively, I’d shoot the 777 you have. It’s the next best thing but you will have to swab between shots and clean well at the end of the day.

I’d throw the Pyrodex in the garbage.

Oh no, That's for the cannon.

 

[5MilesBack]

2. I was shooting 8 year old 209 which had been previously opened did not seem to lose any velocity

Here in CO it's dry enough that if the canister is sealed well we really don't see a lot of powder decline. I bought a 5 lb'er of BH in 2017 (so 8 years old as well), and it works as well as when it was new. I keep it in a very dry place that's pretty much 60 degrees year round.

I have a buddy that forgot to clean his rifle a couple years ago after using 777 at the range. I'm not sure if he ever got that thing completely clean after that.

 

[WSMHNTR]

My TC Encore loves the new bore driver shooting sub 1" at 100 with Blackhorn. Terminal performance is better than the old SST as these seem a little softer and open up better in deer sized game. My grandfather took a doe at about 120 yards last year and it was bang flop. On the subject of Blackhorn I have an opened can going on 8 years with no issues or velocity loss.