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Hornady

Hornady Precision Hunter 178gr ELD-X .308 Win

The best all-around .308 hunting load. 178gr ELD-X delivers match-grade accuracy with reliable expansion from 100 yards out to 600 yards, where most hunting bullets fail to open at lower impact velocities.

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Quick Specs

Price
Contact for price
Weight
N/A
Brand
Hornady
Category
ammunition

Features

  • 178 grain ELD-X
  • .308 Winchester
  • Heat-resistant polymer tip
  • 2,600 fps

Compatibility Tags

caliber: 308caliber: 762x51

Overview

Hornady Precision Hunter 178gr ELD-X is the closest thing to a do-everything .308 hunting load on the market. The ELD-X (Extremely Low Drag eXpanding) bullet solves the hunter's long-range problem: conventional hunting bullets were designed to expand at 2,000 fps or higher, which means they punch pencil holes through game at the velocities typical of 400-plus-yard shots. ELD-X uses a secant-ogive profile with Hornady's Heat Shield polymer tip and a heavy jacket designed to initiate expansion down to 1,600 fps while retaining 50-60% of bullet weight through bone and hide.

Ballistic performance is match-grade. G1 BC of 0.552 exceeds the 175 SMK and pushes the 178 ELD-X past the 1,000-yard supersonic threshold from a 24-inch barrel. Muzzle velocity of 2,600 fps from a 24-inch barrel generates 2,672 ft-lbs of energy, more than enough for elk-class game inside 400 yards and whitetail-class game well beyond that. Real-world accuracy from factory rifles consistently runs sub-MOA, and weight-sorted brass plus consistent powder charges produce standard deviations in the low teens, rivaling dedicated match loads.

The single tradeoff versus pure hunting bullets like the AccuBond or Partition is weight retention at very close, high-velocity impacts. A 150-yard shot on a heavy-boned bull elk at 2,500 fps impact will see more fragmentation from ELD-X than from an AccuBond, though both will kill the animal cleanly. For shots inside 150 yards on elk-sized game, the 168gr Barnes TTSX or 165gr AccuBond is the more conservative pick. For 200 to 500 yard shots on any North American game short of brown bear, 178 ELD-X is the modern answer.

Key Features

  • 178-grain ELD-X bullet with Heat Shield polymer tip
  • G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.552, highest in its class
  • Reliable expansion from 1,600 fps to 3,000 fps impact velocity
  • Muzzle velocity of 2,600 fps from a 24-inch barrel
  • Muzzle energy of 2,672 ft-lbs
  • Match-grade accuracy, sub-MOA from quality rifles
  • InterLock ring prevents jacket-core separation

Pros

  • +Best long-range hunting bullet in the .308 Winchester price range
  • +Expands reliably at extended ranges where other hunting bullets fail
  • +Match-grade accuracy doubles as a legitimate precision load
  • +Effective on everything from whitetail to elk inside 500 yards
  • +Higher BC than 175 SMK, flatter trajectory with less wind drift

Cons

  • Lead-core construction prohibits use in lead-free hunting zones
  • Slightly more fragmentation than AccuBond on close-range, high-velocity impacts
  • Polymer tips can deform in tubular magazines (not a factor in box-fed .308 rifles)
  • Higher cost than Fusion or Core-Lokt for inside-200-yard deer hunting

Detailed Specifications

caliber
.308 Winchester
bulletWeight
178 grain
bulletType
ELD-X (Extremely Low Drag eXpanding)
muzzleVelocity
2,600 fps (24" barrel)
muzzleEnergy
2,672 ft-lbs
ballisticCoefficient
0.552 (G1)
caseMaterial
Brass (reloadable)
primer
Non-corrosive, standard rifle
intendedUse
Long-range hunting (200-500 yards), match-capable accuracy

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