Thread: 75gr ELD-M Advice needed

Afternoon all,
After having good Success with my first attempt at Load development, using 77gr TMKs, I was out this morning to test my next 2 creations, with mixed results.
62gr ELD-VT showing good promise at 1 one of the charge weights with 0.529 MOA for 5 shots.

75gr ELD-M however, was a different story. 3 different Charge weights, 5 shots each, groups were 1.863/2.041/2.199MOA.

223 Rem,
24 in Barrel, 1:8 twist

0.050" Jump
Benchmark 2 Powder

Im thought maybe they're not stabilising? Although the 77TMKs were fine, and ive shot that load out to 800m

Any ideas on which direction to head next?
Cheers

What are your objectives?
I'm no expert, but in my observation, if a projectile isn't playing nice in a barrel, no amount of tweaking is likely to improve it significantly. It sounds like the 77TMK was working well.

I've had similar results with those 75's in a 1:8 223 Tikka barrel. The box does say 1:7.5 twist is recommended. Some folks seem to get lucky, but I'm just not sure that a 1:8 gives is quite enough spin.

Originally Posted by earplay

What are your objectives?
I'm no expert, but in my observation, if a projectile isn't playing nice in a barrel, no amount of tweaking is likely to improve it significantly. It sounds like the 77TMK was working well.

The TMKS are doing 0.9MOA for 10 shots, so was hoping for something 1 MOA or under. Yea its good to have the TMK load ready to go, but would be nice to get the ELD-Ms to work, as they're quite a bit cheaper..... Maybe ill try the 73 ELD-M.........
Im suspecting a minor tweak wont fix it, perhaps a powder change..... If only i could find any

My results with ELD 75s are very similar to yours across 4 or 5 different 223s, all 1:8 Twist, nothing remotely satisfactory. My CZ600 is coming back here soon, it's a 1:7 so I'll retry them in it.

Originally Posted by Tentman

My results with ELD 75s are very similar to yours across 4 or 5 different 223s, all 1:8 Twist, nothing remotely satisfactory. My CZ600 is coming back here soon, it's a 1:7 so I'll retry them in it.

Have you had any better luck with the 73s Tentman?

73 ELDM's have a good rep. Actually made for 2.3" magazines and are very forgiving.

I couldn't get 75 ELDM's to work either. 8 twist.

Yes 73s seem to go well in a wide range of rifles . . . Depending on your use there is a short 80gn HPBT bullet I have here that has shot very well in most rifles. I don't know the maker though . . . Must have another go at identifying it.

Hmmmm, it's not an 80, it's a 77, from measuring it at 0.983 long it's probably a Sierra HPBT #9377. Another possibility is te Nosler 77gn HPBT, but it's a bit shorter at 0.980

75 gr eldm in my Howa with 24" barrel 2808 fps average. 25 gr 2208. Shooting under moa at 500 yards with the limited amount of testing i have done. Could not shoot it at 100 yards on that day.

Originally Posted by DeonK

75 gr eldm in my Howa with 24" barrel 2808 fps average. 25 gr 2208. Shooting under moa at 500 yards with the limited amount of testing i have done. Could not shoot it at 100 yards on that day.

Under moa for how many?

Originally Posted by Pommy

I've had similar results with those 75's in a 1:8 223 Tikka barrel. The box does say 1:7.5 twist is recommended. Some folks seem to get lucky, but I'm just not sure that a 1:8 gives is quite enough spin.

That’s weird ae, the box for the 75gr bthp says 1:9 or better

The 75 ELDMs shoot mint from my 1:8" as do the 80s. Tikkas seem not to like either in general for whatever reason.

Try a different powder if you can, 2206H ideally

Originally Posted by Peashooter

That’s weird ae, the box for the 75gr bthp says 1:9 or better

The ELDM has a significantly more aggressive shape

Got the 75s to shoot Ok only took a box of, the 73 eldm sorted in less than dozen rounds. Tikka TX3 1/8 twist