Hornady 103gr ELD-X 243 Load Dev

Started load development for my Savage LRP 243 with new Hornady 103gr ELD-X and found no support with Hornady last summer. They seem to be chasing the new 6mm Creedmoor market and forgot us in 243 for now. The thought of a super BC AMAX replacement bullet that supports hunting and competition is a dream come true for my savage lrp that shoots sub 1/2 moa with most 105-107gr bullets. Looks like no update for loads in latest Hornady book so guess we must spend the time and $$$ ourselves to find that sweet (1 load does it all ) Load.

Any one find that 1/2 MOA node yet?

I do not believe there is any one magic load. What your rifle likes mine may hate. With that said finding your sweet spot with h4350 is a good place to start

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No twist data on their website. It would probably need a compressed load of nitroglycerin and primers from the devil himself to get it to shoot out of my model 11 short barrel. Maybe I can find someone local to split a box with.

From a review on Midway:
"These are very long bullets, and although the specs don't say so, they may require a faster twist than is standard. My Number 1 has a 1-7.7" twist and a long throat, allowing me to seat them to 2.85". Best accuracy was over a max load of Reloader 26. Hornady doesn't have data yet, but advised me to use 105gr AMax data, so I used that from the 2017 Alliant manual. Not sure if this rifle will make it to the field this season, but if it does these will be aboard."

Also from Midway:
"I have tried these bullets in my Remington 700, 243 Win. I was getting 5-6 inch groups. I don't know if the 1 in 9 1/4 twist rate is too slow to stablize this bullet. I am very disappointed. I bought two boxes of these bullets."

Assuming that you've got the stock 9.25 twist barrel, and not having the actual bullet in hand to measure OAL, as a comparison I ran the Berger 105 VLD through the twist rate calculator and got a very low SG of 1.18 at 3000 fps or "marginally stable". So you can probably expect it to shoot nice "patterns", but not small groups unless your range is at 6500 ft density altitude or higher.

FWIW; I shoot the 105 Berger Hybrid out of my 28 inch 8 twist 6mmBR going 2850 fps ( SG 1.48) and it does OK all the way out to 1000 yds, but not good enough for competition.

Here's a link, in case you've got the bullet in hand and want to check it out for yourself..http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

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Originally Posted by Mtndragon

Started load development for my Savage LRP 243 with new Hornady 103gr ELD-X and found no support with Hornady last summer. They seem to be chasing the new 6mm Creedmoor market and forgot us in 243 for now. The thought of a super BC AMAX replacement bullet that supports hunting and competition is a dream come true for my savage lrp that shoots sub 1/2 moa with most 105-107gr bullets. Looks like no update for loads in latest Hornady book so guess we must spend the time and $$$ ourselves to find that sweet (1 load does it all ) Load.

Any one find that 1/2 MOA node yet?

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A good deal of butt hurt in that post. LOL Relax. The bullet is very new and latest manual came out before it. Use 105 data and just load it about .020" off the lands. Not rocket science and won't take lots of money or anymore time than normally. Even if the book had data you would have to find the load for your rifle.

The Hodgdon 2017 annual manual "Reloading" has 16 different powders pushing a 105 gr A-MAX loads for the .243 WIN. (Well worth the $8.99 for the other loads and articles).

I feel your pain with the Creedmoor line getting all the attention. I'm among the unapologetic .260 REM shooters who reload to hunt, anyway. I have some 156 gr Norma Oryx bullets to play with and I haven't decided where to start, yet. It's like sticking a whole .22 MAG cartridge on the front of the case neck!

You can get all the Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester data on Hodgdon's Reloading site. No need to buy it. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

The Creedmoor is not getting all the attention as Hornady came out with a new .260 load this year too but the bullets were factory loaded in the 6mm Creedmoor so that is the data they put out. The data for other cartridges will be out eventually but as with any new bullet you might have to do a little work up with similar weight bullets. Pretty easy stuff.

All 105-107 gr bullets I've shot in different 243win's have always liked H-4831 / H-4831sc. 40 to 43.5 gr does the job. COAL can make the difference on what powder charge is best.
At 2.800" to 2.850" COAL 42 to 43.5 gr H-4831 always worked for me.
Shorter COAL means less powder needed to generate same pressure.

Thanks for the feedback. Yes I have the 9.25 twist 26" LRP, and the 36gr H4350 is a light load and I presume the lowest accuracy node for my .243 LRP. I am at 5800+ft here(Colorado front range). Shooting a little over 1/4 moa with Hornady 105 Amax & Match and SMK 107 and Berger 105. Since H103gr ELD-x is a hunting bullet I will search for higher accuracy node with higher charge of H4350. I run about 2850fps and presume need above 3000fps at muzzle. Load testing when weather cooperates.

Yeah you can go up from that 36grn. I run 41.6grns with the 105 BTHP in my .243 at 3070fps. Work up slow as you know. With the ELDs I have shot .020" off lands works great.

The 9.25" twist does just fine with 105amax so I assume the 103eldx is not much different.

Several years ago I worked up a load in the winter for a mod-11 in 243win with the 9.25" twist... Starting loads were in the low 2,500 fps range and shot very good. The only other 105grainer I shot in the 9.25" twist was the Hornady BTHP, and it also shot nicely.
I'm shooting at 660' ALS (200 meters).