Hornady Bore Driver Eld-X Range Report

[JasonWi]

I have mule deer and elk muzzy tags this fall and will be trying a similar combo in a cva accura did the 110 yield the best group?

It was the most accurate but by a very small margin. The 90V was 2.1”, 100V was 2.2” and the 110V was the 1.9” before my pulled shot.

The recoil has definitely stepped up significantly at the higher charge. The 90V was 1686 fps and 100 was right at 1790 and 110V was 1840

 

[Hnthrdr]

It was the most accurate but by a very small margin. The 90V was 2.1”, 100V was 2.2” and the 110V was the 1.9” before my pulled shot.

The recoil has definitely stepped up significantly at the higher charge. The 90V was 1686 fps and 100 was right at 1790 and 110V was 1840

Awesome appreciate the info, I’ll work up some loads and report back on what I am seeing hopefully later this summer

 

[JasonWi]

Thanks for the feedback! Do you put any stock in some of the reports of poor terminal performance at short/long ranges? Obviously any projectile can have that but there are anecdotal claims of folks reporting excessive fragmentation/poor penetration. But nothing very data-driven, and everything I can find is on the 290gr FTX, not the heavier ELD-X...

I think it’s like anything bullet — there’s going to be failures and some exceptional results. I’d heard the same thing for years on Bergers and our group has killed a bunch of animals with them from deer, elk, mountain goats and nothing has been wounded/lost.

I will need to shoot a few animals with these BD bullets to truly have an opinion on them. I’m not expecting the same level of penetration as my 460 grain NE bullets but think the volatility of these should cause shorter blood trails in theory

 

[ElDiablito]

It was the most accurate but by a very small margin. The 90V was 2.1”, 100V was 2.2” and the 110V was the 1.9” before my pulled shot.

Interesting. I’d call that “they all shot the same.” Unless those were 10-20 shot groups….

 

[LFC911]

Plan on using the ELD-X in NM this year. Just got my Williams ML sight for my T/C Encore and will report on groups/load development in the coming weeks.

 

[taskswap]

Gravitating towards the ELD-X for elk here in CO this year as well.

 

[elkivory]

I had given up on eld x and had stocked up on borlocs. Shot borlocs in 2 guns last week, omega and accura v2. Not happy with accuracy. I have bore driver eld x's coming this week and if they shoot good, I will use them for Colorado elk this year. I posted a pic of fragments we recovered out of bull in 2023. I've decided maybe we did not recover the main part of that bullet, that it went on through leg.

 

[ElDiablito]

I had given up on eld x and had stocked up on borlocs. Shot borlocs in 2 guns last week, omega and accura v2. Not happy with accuracy. I have bore driver eld x's coming this week and if they shoot good, I will use them for Colorado elk this year. I posted a pic of fragments we recovered out of bull in 2023. I've decided maybe we did not recover the main part of that bullet, that it went on through leg.

You may already know this, but, your Omega may have an off-center QLA (unless you’ve had it removed.) It may not shoot any full bore well without using a separate sub-base.

 

[BooneHunter]

I shot a few last week:

3 at 100v/77gn = 1796fps
3 at 110v/85gn = 1980fps

Velocities were very consistent, accuracy wasn’t great, recoil was stiff. I had 3 loaded up at 120v/92gn and after the 110v loads I didn’t bother shooting them. Gonna try a few more +/- 100v and see what happens. CVA accura V2, BH209.

 

[ElDiablito]

I shot a few last week:

3 at 100v/77gn = 1796fps
3 at 110v/85gn = 1980fps

Velocities were very consistent, accuracy wasn’t great, recoil was stiff. I had 3 loaded up at 120v/92gn and after the 110v loads I didn’t bother shooting them. Gonna try a few more +/- 100v and see what happens. CVA accura V2, BH209.

Pretty consistent with published data.

 

[5MilesBack]

Velocities were very consistent, accuracy wasn’t great, recoil was stiff. I had 3 loaded up at 120v/92gn and after the 110v loads I didn’t bother shooting them. Gonna try a few more +/- 100v and see what happens. CVA accura V2, BH209.

The accuracy in my Accura V2 was the best I've seen of any projectile I've ever shot in a ML. I've shot Powerbelts, both copper and lead Bor-Lock's, regular Boredrivers, Thor's, Fury's, and No Excuses in the Accura and my T/C Omega. The Omega shot 338gr Platinum Powerbelts to about 2" at 100. These ELD-X were better than that. But 90 and 100gr (volume) seemed like the sweet spot with BH and CCI 209M primers.

 

[BooneHunter]

The accuracy in my Accura V2 was the best I've seen of any projectile I've ever shot in a ML. I've shot Powerbelts, both copper and lead Bor-Lock's, regular Boredrivers, Thor's, Fury's, and No Excuses in the Accura and my T/C Omega. The Omega shot 338gr Platinum Powerbelts to about 2" at 100. These ELD-X were better than that. But 90 and 100gr (volume) seemed like the sweet spot with BH and CCI 209M primers.

Thanks that’s helpful to hear! I’m gonna do some more shooting in that area. I was a little under 2 MOA for the first 3, which isn’t too bad I guess. Hoping for a little better. It will be a CO elk setup. Also shooting CCI 209M.

 

[JasonWi]

Swapped my gun from scope to the Williams western setup.

Got it sighted in high at 50 currently (LT to RT is perfect) and will shoot again next week at 100 to verify my POI and make final adjustments.

Ended up shooting 90gV and my three shot group was 0.97” with Fed 209a primers

 

[BooneHunter]

Swapped my gun from scope to the Williams western setup.

Got it sighted in high at 50 currently (LT to RT is perfect) and will shoot again next week at 100 to verify my POI and make final adjustments.

Ended up shooting 90gV and my three shot group was 0.97” with Fed 209a primers

Good to know thank you, I’m on the same path

 

[JasonWi]

Good to know thank you, I’m on the same path

I agree with your statement about 110 V being stiff, I get about 150 fps faster with 110V over 90V, I’m debating if the additional recoil is worthwhile for the distances I’m shooting.

The accuracy was basically identical, but the flatter trajectory might be worthwhile for unknown ranges in a quick situation with the higher charge

​

 

[Hnthrdr]

I shot a few last week:

3 at 100v/77gn = 1796fps
3 at 110v/85gn = 1980fps

Velocities were very consistent, accuracy wasn’t great, recoil was stiff. I had 3 loaded up at 120v/92gn and after the 110v loads I didn’t bother shooting them. Gonna try a few more +/- 100v and see what happens. CVA accura V2, BH209.

My same rifle and powder I will use, I think I’m going to start at 80v or 90v 209 and see what that looks like, I reckon all shots on elk will be sub 100, if I get a crack at a buck it will probably be the same so not too worried about trying to really stretch distance

My BC calculations says if I can get it around 1800… with a 125 yard zero the load is basically hold dead on to about 175 before you really have to start worrying, so maybe it will be the 100v

 

[BooneHunter]

Shot 6 more yesterday at 100gv, still right around 2MOA.

Velocities 1808,1799,1790,1844,1859,1852.

May call it good here and switch to open sights and spend the rest of summer practicing. Think that’s a good move or should I consider more testing?

 

[JasonWi]

Shot 6 more yesterday at 100gv, still right around 2MOA.

Velocities 1808,1799,1790,1844,1859,1852.

May call it good here and switch to open sights and spend the rest of summer practicing. Think that’s a good move or should I consider more testing?

Honestly I’d stop right there if it was me, swap over to open sights and spend the time on reps.

If you’re still interested in group size after the swap over and the gun is sighted in. You could always shoot a few groups in the 105,110V range.

 

[ElDiablito]

Shot 6 more yesterday at 100gv, still right around 2MOA.

Velocities 1808,1799,1790,1844,1859,1852.

May call it good here and switch to open sights and spend the rest of summer practicing. Think that’s a good move or should I consider more testing?

You oughta be able to do a little better than 2 moa with that load and a scoped rifle. But if you’re satisfied with that….

Only gonna get worse (bigger groups) with open sights. Depends on how far you plan to be able to shoot though.

 

[BooneHunter]

You oughta be able to do a little better than 2 moa with that load and a scoped rifle. But if you’re satisfied with that….

Only gonna get worse (bigger groups) with open sights. Depends on how far you plan to be able to shoot though.

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!