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Hornady Match 22 ARC 88 Gr ELD

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Ammo Reports Team 17 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 81543. Hornady does not publish values beyond 500 yards or wind drift for this table, so no calculated extensions are added.

Key takeaway: Hornady lists 2,820 fps and 1,554 ft-lbs at the muzzle. At 500 yards, the factory table reports 2,040 fps, 813 ft-lbs, and 42.1 inches of drop with the manufacturer 200-yard zero.

The ELD Match Bullet and the 22 ARC Platform

Hornady designed the 22 ARC for AR-15 and bolt-action rifles, with a maximum overall length of 2.260 inches and a 1:7-inch twist specification. Match item 81543 uses the heavy-for-caliber 88 gr ELD Match bullet for precision and long-range target shooting.

The ELD Match bullet uses Hornady’s Heat Shield tip — a polymer insert made from a thermoplastic that resists aerodynamic heating during flight. Standard polymer tips, including earlier Hornady A-MAX designs, were documented to deform at the velocities and distances encountered in long-range competition, altering the bullet’s ballistic coefficient mid-flight. The Heat Shield tip addresses this by maintaining its geometry from muzzle to target, preserving the bullet’s published BC across the full flight envelope.

At 88 grains, this is a heavy-for-caliber .224 projectile. Hornady publishes G1 and G7 ballistic coefficients for the exact ELD Match bullet and positions this factory load for precision and long-range target shooting. It is a match load, not a controlled-expansion hunting load.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Precision rifle competition and long-range target shooting in firearms chambered for 22 ARC
• Long-range target shooting at 300–600 yards where high BC and consistent accuracy are prioritized
• Varmint shooting at extended distances where flat trajectory and wind resistance matter
• Bolt-action bench rest and accuracy testing for the 22 ARC platform
• Shooters prioritizing a heavy-for-caliber .224 bullet with published G1 and G7 ballistic coefficients

Not the right tool for:

• Hunting medium or large game — the ELD Match bullet is not designed for controlled expansion on game animals and is not recommended for deer-sized or larger quarry
• Budget-conscious practice sessions, because this is a match and precision-testing load rather than bulk training ammunition
• Rifles chambered in .223 Remington, .224 Valkyrie, or other .224-caliber cartridges — the 22 ARC is a distinct chambering and is not interchangeable
• Suppressor-focused subsonic applications — this load is designed for full-velocity supersonic performance only
• Hunting areas where current regulations require lead-free projectiles, because ELD Match contains a lead core

Reliability Notes

Hornady describes Match ammunition as assembled under stringent quality control for repeatable accuracy, but no standardized manufacturer reliability-test results were found for exact factory SKU 81543 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 81543 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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