Hornady 62 eld-vt

[TXCOONDOG]

Here are a couple of shots in the last week with the Hornady 62 grain ELD-VT. Mixed results:
View attachment 11309View attachment 11310

In the first coyote, he ran at least 20 yards, with the second coyote running about 100 yards. This was not what I was looking for in a bullet. My plan now is to get into the Berger VLD line of bullets. I have had amazing luck with the 80 grain Berger VLD's out of my bolt gun, but in the semi auto I used above, going to run 70 grainers. I looks like I got duped by the Hornady Marketing hype. Lesson learned and hopefully others can learn from my mistake.

Good luck and happy hunting friends.

I'm waiting on my 22 creed X-caliber barrel. I have a few questions: 1. How close were they shot? 2. How Fast are you pushing them ? 3. What twist?

Anyway, Half of my hunting areas are thick wooded areas and need a bullet that will anchor them.....you may not find them in this terrain if they don't drop. I know the 75 & 87 grain v-max out of a 243 will drop them 94.5% of them time. However, when I first started using I pushed them too hard and once I slowed them down with better shot placement, I anchored them. This is based on over 100 plus kills.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

I'm waiting on my 22 creed X-caliber barrel. I have a few questions: 1. How close were they shot? 2. How Fast are you pushing them ? 3. What twist?

Good questions: First coyote was taken at 82 yards and the second one at 202 yards. The 62's are traveling at 3,450FPS out of a 22 Creedmoor AR-10. Twist is 1in8.

I get I have a small sample size, but it is the beginning of the season so wanted to share as I went along. I also agree, shot placement is everything and these were not perfect, but damn close, just by inches.

 

[TXCOONDOG]

Good questions: First coyote was taken at 82 yards and the second one at 202 yards. The 62's are traveling at 3,450FPS out of a 22 Creedmoor AR-10. Twist is 1in8.

I get I have a small sample size, but it is the beginning of the season so wanted to share as I went along. I also agree, shot placement is everything and these were not perfect, but damn close, just by inches.

I've heard various reasons why some don't like them. Scott with SD used them and said that they made a big of a mess of things when shot close and many others stating they had spinners and runners. Thanks for the information.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

UPDATE: After switching to the 70 Grain Berger VLD's, I can give contrast between the bullets, but same caliber. I must say that due to the incredible length of these bullets, they offer limited bearing surface to your typical neck. I had increased the neck tension with a 0.248 bushing and it still was unable to hold the bullets adequately. There was round growth after 2-3 firings, so much so that I was able to pull one of the bullets out with my finger. It also caused me to jam my AR-10 during a hunt, since a bullet had become so dislodged, it jammed into the lands something fierce. On the other hand, the Bergers don't move at all and are more consistent in their accuracy. The Hornady's were all over the place.

So in summary, poor terminal ballistics, accuracy, and inconsistent seating depth. I just cannot recommend these bullets at all.

 

[Duhhh]

UPDATE: After switching to the 70 Grain Berger VLD's, I can give contrast between the bullets, but same caliber. I must say that due to the incredible length of these bullets, they offer limited bearing surface to your typical neck. I had increased the neck tension with a 0.248 bushing and it still was unable to hold the bullets adequately. There was round growth after 2-3 firings, so much so that I was able to pull one of the bullets out with my finger. It also caused me to jam my AR-10 during a hunt, since a bullet had become so dislodged, it jammed into the lands something fierce. On the other hand, the Bergers don't move at all and are more consistent in their accuracy. The Hornady's were all over the place.

So in summary, poor terminal ballistics, accuracy, and inconsistent seating depth. I just cannot recommend these bullets at all.

What brass were you using for the 62 grainers? I haven’t had that issue yet with the Alpha OCD brass.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

What brass were you using for the 62 grainers? I haven’t had that issue yet with the Alpha OCD brass.

Alpha OCD brass sir.

I have attached a photo of the nightmare ammo. You will see two rounds that were heavily blackened, indicating to me that the bullet was not held long enough to build pressure, with gas venting around the neck. The other rounds show bullet growth. I was using 0.020 jump to the lands and the barrel was cut by a very experienced gunsmith who was attempting to get the chamber to shoot the 62's accurately. The bullet that got lodged into the neck and did not allow the rifle to go into battery had a tip heavily bent. Those rounds were what was left of a 10 round magazine (prior shots were successful the prior night's hunt.)

Good luck everyone and hope I have given you all some things to consider prior to going this route. But don't get me started about 22 ARC and the utter failure that was. Hornady has really failed a lot of people, me being one of them.

 

[TXCOONDOG]

Alpha OCD brass sir.

I have attached a photo of the nightmare ammo. You will see two rounds that were heavily blackened, indicating to me that the bullet was not held long enough to build pressure, with gas venting around the neck. The other rounds show bullet growth. I was using 0.020 jump to the lands and the barrel was cut by a very experienced gunsmith who was attempting to get the chamber to shoot the 62's accurately. The bullet that got lodged into the neck and did not allow the rifle to go into battery had a tip heavily bent. Those rounds were what was left of a 10 round magazine (prior shots were successful the prior night's hunt.)

Good luck everyone and hope I have given you all some things to consider prior to going this route. But don't get me started about 22 ARC and the utter failure that was. Hornady has really failed a lot of people, me being one of them.

I just used a micrometer on 50 of the 62 VLD-VT and they are consistent in my lot. Man, even if they didn't obturate that brass is dirty, suppressed AR? Do you anneal, if so, how often?

I went back and re-read it and missed the AR 10 the first time. In my AR 10 243, I had similar issue and had to use a heavy crimp (annealed every other firing) to stop the bullet from moving forward.

Anyway, it's obvious that you're done with the VLD-VT's. Let us know how the 70 gr Bergers work in the long run.

 

[Duhhh]

Alpha OCD brass sir.

I have attached a photo of the nightmare ammo. You will see two rounds that were heavily blackened, indicating to me that the bullet was not held long enough to build pressure, with gas venting around the neck. The other rounds show bullet growth. I was using 0.020 jump to the lands and the barrel was cut by a very experienced gunsmith who was attempting to get the chamber to shoot the 62's accurately. The bullet that got lodged into the neck and did not allow the rifle to go into battery had a tip heavily bent. Those rounds were what was left of a 10 round magazine (prior shots were successful the prior night's hunt.)

Good luck everyone and hope I have given you all some things to consider prior to going this route. But don't get me started about 22 ARC and the utter failure that was. Hornady has really failed a lot of people, me being one of them.

Gotcha. Yeah I’m just using them in a bolt
Gun. Is he doing something different than a SAAMI chamber? I’m not well versed in various chamber specs but I’m just curious.

I’ve heard from other guys that are using the same brass for the 22 creed. Supposedly they’re having issues with the brass not gripping the chamber for the first couple firings. I’ve been told to get a bushing die and only size the neck and bump the shoulder for the first couple firings. After the brass grows a bit, then I can full length size. Again, just what I’ve been told.

It’s seems the 22 creed can be a little finicky for some guys. I only have 120 rounds on mine so far with new brass so I’ll see on this next set of reloads.

I was just thinking of maybe necking down some Lapua brass to compare against my Alpha brass.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

I just used a micrometer on 50 of the 62 VLD-VT and they are consistent in my lot. Man, even if they didn't obturate that brass is dirty, suppressed AR? Do you anneal, if so, how often?

I went back and re-read it and missed the AR 10 the first time. In my AR 10 243, I had similar issue and had to use a heavy crimp (annealed every other firing) to stop the bullet from moving forward.

Anyway, it's obvious that you're done with the VLD-VT's. Let us know how the 70 gr Bergers work in the long run.

Yes, it is a suppressed AR. I do anneal, but this was only their 2nd firing, so before I get to the 3rd firing, I will anneal. I was talking with my gunsmith about crimping but with the Bergers, no need as I have measured the 3rd to 4th cartridge in the 5 shot string and no growth at all. They are being held firm enough for me. I cringe when I think about crimping.

The 70 grain Bergers are amazing (at least at 100 yards). Please see attached:

 

[TXCOONDOG]

Let me clarify, Mine didn't move in the mag under recoil, etc., the bullet moved forward when being chambered. It became apparent once I started blowing primers that the bullet was lodge in the lands, so I loaded up some dummy rounds and chambered them (to test my theory) which some moved as much as .006".

Crimping didn't hurt my accuracy, but did improve my ES/SD.

 

[alf]

Let me clarify, Mine didn't move in the mag under recoil, etc., the bullet moved forward when being chambered. It became apparent once I started blowing primers that the bullet was lodge in the lands, so I loaded up some dummy rounds and chambered them (to test my theory) which some moved as much as .006".

Crimping didn't hurt my accuracy, but did improve my ES/SD.

I ran into that last year. After several blank sets chambering the same round every time, the bullet stuck in the lands & dumped powder all over.

Ended my night right there.

I pulled the bullets & went tighter on the bushing.

 

[SupressYourself]

Here are a couple of shots in the last week with the Hornady 62 grain ELD-VT. Mixed results:
View attachment 11309View attachment 11310

In the first coyote, he ran at least 20 yards, with the second coyote running about 100 yards. This was not what I was looking for in a bullet. My plan now is to get into the Berger VLD line of bullets. I have had amazing luck with the 80 grain Berger VLD's out of my bolt gun, but in the semi auto I used above, going to run 70 grainers. I looks like I got duped by the Hornady Marketing hype. Lesson learned and hopefully others can learn from my mistake.

Good luck and happy hunting friends.

The first one was hit low and a bit back, and it's hard to tell, but looks like the second one may have been hit in the guts. Not a criticism on your shooting, it happens... but no bullet can magically make up for poor placement.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

The first one was hit low and a bit back, and it's hard to tell, but looks like the second one may have been hit in the guts. Not a criticism on your shooting, it happens... but no bullet can magically make up for poor placement.

Yes, it is hard to tell, isn't it. "Looks like" is not fact. Those photos were taken after they were flipped over and were meant to show the lack of damage. They were good hits inside vital organs. One of the shots was a through and through even.

I now have a couple more hits on coyotes with the Bergers and there is a stark difference to the Hornady's. But if you really want to believe in Hornady, then proceed and maybe offer something. I offered direct evidence based on personal experience. I let people make their own choices.

 

[Ermine.]

Yes, it is hard to tell, isn't it. "Looks like" is not fact. Those photos were taken after they were flipped over and were meant to show the lack of damage. They were good hits inside vital organs. One of the shots was a through and through even.

I now have a couple more hits on coyotes with the Bergers and there is a stark difference to the Hornady's. But if you really want to believe in Hornady, then proceed and maybe offer something. I offered direct evidence based on personal experience. I let people make their own choices.

How are the 70 grain Berger’s doing on coyotes?

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

How are the 70 grain Berger’s doing on coyotes?

Well, I was thinking about getting a new thread started and not bash on the Hornday bullets anymore, but to answer your question in one ward: Amazing.

Here are a few. The first one was a shoulder shot at 54 yards, absolutely destroyed the coyote. Second one was a straight in chest shot from 73 yards. Third, was a side hit at 202 yards but low, about 3 inches above the bottom of the rib cage. All were DRT. Amazing performance from that bullet.