Hornady Podcast 226 Match Bullets for Hunting

[Coleredding00]

The most important thing i got out of it, is that the cavity behind the plastic point is not QCd in the eldm. They admit that they don’t measure whether the gap behind the tip is consistent, and also that the harness of the lead is not checked. This would lead me to believe the stories of more inconsistent expansion on bullets like the 108 vs the 103.

 

[RME]

Maybe if they were meaning just their BTHP bullets.

I listened to that part again and didn’t get any impression they were calling out other companies bullets. It sounded to me like they were probably referring to their own HPBT match bullets and didn’t think to clarify it. There’s a number of HP Sierra Gamekings and IIRC one of Joyce Hornady’s favorite hunting bullets was the old 25 cal 120 gr HP (flat base though, not a BT) out of a 257 Weatherby.

 

[streamerfish]

I listened to that part again and didn’t get any impression they were calling out other companies bullets. It sounded to me like they were probably referring to their own HPBT match bullets and didn’t think to clarify it. There’s a number of HP Sierra Gamekings and IIRC one of Joyce Hornady’s favorite hunting bullets was the old 25 cal 120 gr HP (flat base though, not a BT) out of a 257 Weatherby.

Yeah, thinking about it more. that could be the case.

 

[DangerRanger]

So I’m supposed to believe that hornady doesn’t care about variability in eldm core makeup to the point that
1. They are unacceptable to hunt game with
2. They are acceptable to be represented by their marketing and examples into ballistic gel for TAP line for law enforcement use

Mmmmmkay sure thing

 

[RancherJohn]

I took my elk this year with the 170 EOL out of my 6.8 Western. I went around talking to different people about it at the Western hunt expo and I got told time after time not to shoot any game in the shoulder. Just so happens that their jaws would hit the floor when I would show them a shattered scapula and a broken leg bone on the offside with an accompanied exit hole. Also having massive amounts of damage, with a blood trail downhill 3 feet away from the elk.

I did get finish listening to the podcast and they did mention their testing of the ELD-M. I had to laugh when they talked about 16" not being enough penetration for elk. When processing the elk, his body width didn't even come up to my knee. In my opinion, I don't think elk are that big, to qualify that, I am around 15-18 hand tall horses every day. I would put an elk around the size of a pony for the vital cavity and all.

Obviously, the podcast is through a marketing lens and informational lens. Still interesting to listen to and look at the comments as they come in.

Most people never think about it to the level you did regarding height relative to your knee on the ground or a horse, let alone taking a tape measure to one (also most aren't carrying a tape measure into the woods).

16" of penetration on a behind the ribs quartering away shot will only get you liver, both lungs, and heart. 16" broadside will get both shoulders and everything in between.

 

[Ratamahatta]

73 grain eldm that I found in the offside rib behind the front shoulder, clean pass through on a doe last season. Didn't even get to see it drop in the scope it was that instant.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Hornady must need to up the sale of ELDXs this week.

 

[Lou270]

Of course they haven't tested it, they just have all the info and pictures regarding it's terminal performance, even going so far as to claim large wound cavities. But definitely not tested.

View attachment 1035596

View attachment 1035595

They said they don’t test for a performance window or regularly QC anything to ensure consistent results bullet to bullet lot to lot. The LE gel tests are showing that eldm does not penetrate deeply and within the fbi min/max window so do not overpenetrate which is a concern with LE ammo, particularly rifle. That is why they use a soft bullet like eldm. A hunting bullet would exceed max penetration desired by LE putting bystanders at risk. They do have some harder bullets in their “hard” barrier ammo.

Lou

 

[Castle Rock]

The most important thing i got out of it, is that the cavity behind the plastic point is not QCd in the eldm. They admit that they don’t measure whether the gap behind the tip is consistent,

The garage that they spew is unbelievable, this is their match bullet, if the gap behind the point varies the only way that could happen is if the cores vary in size and therefore weight, hardly an endorsement for a target bullet

 

[rharbaugh]

The most important thing i got out of it, is that the cavity behind the plastic point is not QCd in the eldm. They admit that they don’t measure whether the gap behind the tip is consistent, and also that the harness of the lead is not checked. This would lead me to believe the stories of more inconsistent expansion on bullets like the 108 vs the 103.

I didn't listen to the podcast, but if what you say is true, i'm calling BS on the QC anecdote on the ELDM. They intentionally put those bullets in the ammo the sell to law enforcement agencies. Hornady is going to try and tell us that they don't QC bullets that are used in life and death situations? Right...