American Rifleman TV Preview: Dec. 30, 2015

Published on December 30, 2015
Duration: 3:20

This video discusses Hornady's ELDX bullet development, highlighting the challenge of maintaining ballistic performance across a wide velocity range. It details the discovery of aerodynamic heating causing increased drag on polymer-tipped bullets between 200-600 yards, a phenomenon previously undetected due to instrumentation limitations. The ELDX bullet is designed for both close-range hunting and long-range accuracy.

Quick Summary

Hornady's ELDX bullet development faced a challenge with aerodynamic heating, causing polymer tips to expand and increase drag between 200-600 yards. This issue, detected via Doppler radar, degrades ballistic coefficient. The ELDX is engineered for both effective hunting terminal ballistics and match-grade accuracy beyond 1,000 yards.

Chapters

  1. 00:07Hornady's Commitment to Quality
  2. 00:35Hornady Team: Hunters & Shooters
  3. 01:04Development of the ELDX Bullet
  4. 01:33Introducing the ELDX: Extreme Low Drag Expanding
  5. 02:01Encountering Aerodynamic Heating Issues
  6. 02:26Impact of Aerodynamic Heating on Drag
  7. 02:42Doppler Radar Testing and BC Degradation
  8. 02:58Widespread Issue with Polymer Tip Bullets
  9. 03:08Instrumentation Limitations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary challenge addressed in the development of Hornady's ELDX bullet?

The primary challenge was maintaining consistent ballistic performance across a wide velocity range, from high close-range speeds to lower long-range speeds. A significant issue discovered was aerodynamic heating, which caused increased drag on the projectile.

How does aerodynamic heating affect polymer-tipped bullets like the Hornady ELDX?

Aerodynamic heating causes the polymer tip of the bullet to expand. This expansion leads to increased drag on the projectile, which in turn degrades its ballistic coefficient and reduces accuracy at certain ranges.

What technology was used to detect the aerodynamic heating issue with the ELDX bullets?

Doppler radar was used for ballistics testing. This technology provided pure numbers that clearly showed the degradation of the ballistic coefficient, revealing the problem of aerodynamic heating that had previously gone undetected.

What makes the Hornady ELDX bullet suitable for both hunting and long-range shooting?

The ELDX bullet is designed for excellent terminal effects at close ranges with high velocities, making it effective for hunting. Simultaneously, its aerodynamic design and ability to maintain accuracy beyond 1,000 yards make it suitable for long-range shooting applications.

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