Home » 264 / 6.5 mm » 6.5 Creedmoor » Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 143 Grain ELD-X

Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 143 Grain ELD-X

1

Ammo Reports Team 19 6.5 Creedmoor

SaveSavedRemoved 0

Official Specs

All data verified against Hornady’s official ballistics chart (PDF, two independent sources confirmed).

BC note: Hornady now publishes “200-yard Mach 2.25” BC values rather than single-number averages. The 0.623 G1 figure applies at velocities above 2,500 fps. BC decreases slightly at lower velocities — see hornady.com/bc for the full velocity-dependent table.

Ballistics Table

From Hornady’s official ballistics chart (SKU 81499, 24″ barrel). Zero: 100 yards. Sight height: 1.5″.

Key takeaway: the ELD-X’s BC of 0.623 is the highest in Hornady’s 6.5 CM hunting lineup and among the highest for any factory hunting load in this caliber. At 300 yards the load retains 1,653 ft-lbs with only 20.8 inches of drop from a 100-yard zero — capable across all practical big game hunting ranges. At 500 yards 1,302 ft-lbs is above the threshold for elk. Hornady’s senior ballistician Dave Emary specifically recommends the 143 gr ELD-X for “anything up to the size of elk” from the 6.5 Creedmoor.

The ELD-X Bullet — All-Range Hunting Technology

The ELD-X (Extremely Low Drag — eXpanding) is Hornady’s flagship hunting bullet, designed to solve a problem that limited all previous polymer-tipped hunting bullets: reliable expansion across a wide range of impact velocities from close range through 600+ yards.

Heat Shield tip: verified by Doppler radar, Hornady found that standard polymer tips deform at high velocity due to aerodynamic heating, changing the bullet’s BC mid-flight. The Heat Shield tip resists this deformation, maintaining consistent BC throughout the trajectory.

Dual expansion mechanism: at high-velocity 0–400 yard impacts, the bullet expands continuously throughout penetration with the thick shank and InterLock ring keeping core and jacket together — 50–60% weight retention. At low-velocity 400+ yard impacts, the Heat Shield tip drives rearward to initiate expansion, delivering controlled mushroom with 85–90% weight retention and deep penetration. This dual mechanism is what makes it a genuine “all-range” hunting bullet — not a marketing claim.

Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 PRC 143 Grain ELD-X (Box)

$54.49

in stock

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Elk, mule deer, and whitetail at any practical hunting distance — Hornady explicitly rates this for “ANY hunting situation at ALL practical ranges”
• Open-country western hunting at 300–600 yards where the high BC of 0.623 minimizes wind drift and maintains energy at distance
• Hunters who want one load for mixed species and distances — the dual expansion mechanism handles both close-range high-velocity and long-range reduced-velocity impacts reliably
• Temperature-stable propellants in the Precision Hunter line means consistent velocity from cold morning to midday heat

Not the right tool for:

• Lead-free requirements — ELD-X has a lead core; see Hornady Outfitter CX for California non-toxic hunting
• Precision match competition — ELD-X is a hunting bullet; use Hornady Match ELD-M for target shooting
• Budget-conscious hunters — at $2.75/round, Federal Power-Shok or Remington Core-Lokt deliver adequate deer performance at half the cost

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

The Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X 143 gr has an extensive field record from hunter reports — consistently described as producing clean kills on deer and elk from 100 to 500+ yards. Field accounts note reliable expansion at close range, consistent performance on shoulder shots, and clean exit wounds at typical hunting distances. One long-range hunter documented four elk taken from 100 to 505 yards with recovered bullets showing full mushroom formation and 85%+ weight retention on the longest shots. Temperature-stable propellants are a stated Precision Hunter line feature — all notes reflect manufacturer claims and open-source hunter reports, not structured data.

Competitors

Price Reality

• Typical retail range: $54–62 per box of 20 (~$2.70–3.10/round); case (200 rounds) at approximately $475–490 (~$2.38–2.45/round)
• Per-round cost: $2.75 at the $54.99 price point
• Winchester Expedition AccuBond LR uses a comparable bonded bullet at similar velocity for $7–9/box less — the strongest value alternative in this performance tier
• At $2.75/round the Precision Hunter is priced appropriately for a premium hunting load with the highest BC in its class; above $3.20/round should be considered overpriced given available alternatives

Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.

Where to Buy

Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 PRC 143 Grain ELD-X (Box)

Accuracy and terminal performance are the cornerstones of Hornady Precision Hunter factory loaded ammunition. These match-accurate hunting loads allow the ELD-X bullet to achieve its maximum ballistic potential. Propellants used in this line are clean burning and loaded to uniform capacity for...

$54.49 at Ammunitiondepot.com

Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.

FAQ

Is the ELD-X appropriate for elk?

Yes — Hornady’s senior ballistician Dave Emary specifically recommended the 143 gr ELD-X as his choice “for anything up to the size of elk” from the 6.5 Creedmoor. The dual expansion mechanism handles both close-range shoulder shots (50–60% weight retention, continuous expansion) and longer-range reduced-velocity impacts (85–90% weight retention, controlled mushroom). Multiple field accounts document one-shot elk kills from 100 to 500+ yards. Shot placement remains important as with any hunting bullet.

ELD-X vs ELD Match — what’s the difference?

The ELD-X is Hornady’s all-range hunting bullet — designed for terminal expansion on game with dual-velocity expansion behavior and 85–90% weight retention at long range. The ELD Match is a match-only bullet optimized for accuracy and BC consistency, not terminal expansion. The ELD-X achieves BC 0.623; the ELD Match 140 gr achieves BC 0.646. The ELD Match should not be used for hunting. The ELD-X should not be used as a substitute for a match bullet in competition. Both use the Heat Shield tip and AMP jacket, but for fundamentally different applications.

Why does the ELD-X have two different weight retention specs (50–60% vs 85–90%)?

These figures reflect the two different expansion mechanisms at different impact velocities. At 0–400 yards with high-velocity impact (above ~2,200 fps), the thick shank expands continuously and the jacket peels back aggressively — 50–60% weight retention with a large, violent wound channel. At 400+ yards with reduced-velocity impact, the Heat Shield tip drives backward to initiate a more controlled mushroom — 85–90% weight retention with deeper penetration. Both are intentional designs for the impact conditions expected at those ranges.

How does the Precision Hunter load compare to using ELD-X component bullets in handloads?

The Precision Hunter factory load uses the same ELD-X projectile available to handloaders, loaded by Hornady with temperature-stable propellants and carefully selected brass. For hunters without reloading equipment, factory loads offer consistent quality. Handloaders can optimize seating depth and powder charge for their specific rifle to potentially improve accuracy, but the factory load performs well in most production 6.5 Creedmoor rifles straight from the box.

Is this load California-legal for hunting?

No — the ELD-X has a lead core and does not qualify as nonlead ammunition under California DFW regulations. For California hunting, Hornady makes the Outfitter 6.5 CM 120 gr CX which uses a solid copper expanding bullet and is fully lead-free and California-compliant.

Submit Your Data · Real-World Results

Manufacturer velocity figures are measured under controlled lab conditions — barrel length, temperature, and lot number all affect real-world performance. The data below comes from community submissions tied to specific test conditions and reviewed before publishing.

Once this page reaches 3 approved submissions, aggregate velocity and confidence level will appear here automatically.

Shot this load? Share your results — firearm type, barrel length, average velocity, shots fired, temperature. No account required.

All submissions are manually reviewed before appearing on this page.

Results vary by firearm, barrel condition, ammunition lot, and environmental factors. Submitted data is for reference only. AmmoReports does not guarantee accuracy of user-submitted results.

Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 PRC 143 Grain ELD-X (Box)

$54.49

in stock