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Hornady Black 22 ARC 75 Gr Extremely Low Drag-Match

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Ammo Reports Team 14 22 ARC

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Data is based on official manufacturer sources. Found an error? Send us the source link.

Official-data note: Product identity, item number, box count, test-barrel length, muzzle figures, and the 0-500 yard trajectory were checked against current Hornady material. BC values are from Hornady bullet data for the exact projectile. The UPC is retailer-listed. Case material, primer type, and reloadable status were not explicitly stated for the exact factory load.

Manufacturer: Hornady. Exact official product pages and technical documents are recorded in the editorial verification log. Any retailer-listed field is labeled.

Ballistics Table

Official Hornady manufacturer data. Test barrel: 24 inches. Manufacturer trajectory: 200-yard zero. Hornady does not list wind drift in the factory table.

Source note: Hornady publishes exact velocity, energy, and trajectory through 500 yards for SKU 81541. Hornady does not publish values beyond 500 yards or wind drift for this table, so no calculated extensions are added.

Key takeaway: Hornady lists 3,075 fps and 1,575 ft-lbs at the muzzle. At 500 yards, the factory table reports 2,129 fps, 755 ft-lbs, and 36.6 inches of drop with the manufacturer 200-yard zero.

The ELD-Match Bullet and the 22 ARC Cartridge

Hornady introduced the 22 ARC as a modern high-BC 22-caliber cartridge designed for the AR-15 platform and bolt-action rifles. Hornady specifies a maximum overall length of 2.260 inches and a 1:7-inch twist to support heavy 22-caliber bullets. This 75 gr ELD Match load is the Hornady BLACK item 81541.

The ELD-Match (Extremely Low Drag-Match) bullet is central to this load’s purpose. Hornady developed the ELD-M line after identifying that standard polymer tips — including their own A-MAX — would deform aerodynamically during flight due to frictional heat at high velocities, altering the bullet’s BC in unpredictable ways. The Heat Shield tip used in ELD-M bullets maintains its shape under aerodynamic heating, producing consistent, repeatable BC values across the full flight path. This makes the ELD-M particularly well-suited to the 22 ARC’s velocity range and the extended distances precision shooters typically engage.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Precision rifle competition where consistent BC performance at 300–600 yards is a priority
• Long-range target shooting from AR-15 platform rifles chambered in 22 ARC
• Load development benchmarking for shooters evaluating the 22 ARC cartridge’s ceiling
• Situations where wind-resistant, high-BC .224 projectiles are needed without stepping up to a larger caliber
• Shooters already using Hornady’s ELD-M ecosystem who want factory consistency across their data

Not the right tool for:

• Hunting applications that call for a controlled-expansion bullet; verify the applicable regulations before use
• Budget-conscious shooters doing high-volume practice, because this is a premium match load rather than bulk training ammunition
• Firearms or magazines not specifically compatible with 22 ARC
• Hunting uses that call for a controlled-expansion projectile, because ELD Match is intended for target and competition use

Reliability Notes

Hornady states that BLACK ammunition is optimized to fit, feed, and function across a variety of platforms, but no standardized manufacturer reliability-test results were found for exact factory SKU 81541 across multiple firearms. Confirm feeding, extraction, ignition, accuracy, and point of impact in the specific 22 ARC rifle before competition use.

Competitors

Price Reality

Retail prices and availability change. Compare the current store listings below and verify item 81541 and the exact 20-round package before purchase. Price is not used to determine the technical data or editorial conclusion.

Where to Buy

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