Thread: 220 grain ELD-X in 308 win

Hi all, has anyone played with this combo before?

Not looking to reinvent the cartridge or anything, just bought a sample pack without looking for data first

I have a few powders that might be suitable on hand belmont 760, 2208, 2206h, IMR 4895 and IMR 4064.

Just wanted to mess around and see if they'll stabilise, alternatively, if I'm wasting my time (this is fairly likely) does anybody want to swap them for say some 175 tmks or similar? I've got a whopping 15 of them.

TIA

Ask Ben_welder, he's been doing some crazy shit with big projectiles in the 308

@Ben_welder could you shed some light for me?

What twist rate and barrel length?

They should stabilize just fine. I shoot a cast bullet of 220 grains at 1700 fps from a 1in 10 twist.

Originally Posted by Cooper

What twist rate and barrel length?

Sorry I should have mentioned, it's a howa 1500 1 in 10 twist, 20 inch barrel

Originally Posted by Driverman

They should stabilize just fine. I shoot a cast bullet of 220 grains at 1700 fps from a 1in 10 twist.

What powder were you using? Could you give me somewhere to start? I'll probably single feed them in mine, they are verrrrry long.

If you can push them around 2,300fps+ they should stabilise, otherwise marginal.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

If you can push them around 2,300fps+ they should stabilise, otherwise marginal.

I'll definitely be testing them without a suppressor they honestly don't look that ridiculous next to the 168 ELD-M

168 ELD-M on the left and 220 ELD-X on the right.

Very long bearing surface, the 220 is at 2.940 inches which is touching the lands in my 308. Mag fit and function is a bit shorter at 2.880. Once I get some info together on powder charges I'll start tinkering.

they will stabalise BACKWARDS.....bit of a bugger about expansion though LOL.

Stick with those 175tmks or even go 208eldms. 220gr eldx be a bit pointless in a 308 unless you can get reasonable speed. 1. Stabilization as flybown alluded too and 2. Performance on game

gunworks have a box of 178amax too

When I first started shooting heavy cast bullets 50 odd years ago The only powder data I had was IMR4064 and H4350 using 220 grain.
The loads I tried were 40grains IMR4064 and 42 grains H4350. Probably doing well over 2000 fps but very poor accuracy (none) Cast bullets lose the plot over about 1700fps unless extremely well made of the right alloy and lube. Reduced loads produced inconsistent results and on at least one occasion a very heavy recoil,tight bolt removal and a loud report. I have learnt to produce great bullets and powdercoat my projectiles and shoot them slower using pistol powders. My current load uses 30 grains of AR2201 with a filler and a bore riding bullet that is powder coated, sized tempered and dipped in a very thin lube of carnauba wax 2 stroke oil and solvent to produce a very thin hard and transparent coating. I can duplicate this load using 2400 powder but primers start to flatten about 18 grains. I think you could probably use AR2206 with that bullet and start with a reduced load around 32 grains . Boattail bullets can be a problem unless pushed hard so you will need to experiment.

Here’s a reminder to all the naysayers about speed and expansion... stranger things have happened....