Ballistic Coefficient

A-Tip®, ELD® Match, and ELD-X® Ballistic Coefficient Values

Hornady originally published “800 yard”* average Ballistic Coefficient (BC) values for ELD-X and ELD Match bullets. This was done to provide the most usable BC from a trajectory prediction standpoint. Unfortunately, many shooters did not understand that Hornady was listing a more useable “800 yard” BC while other manufacturers list “200 yard”* BCs. When doing pre-purchase research either on the web or at the store, the increased performance of the ELD Match and ELD-X bullets wasn’t always realized in a head-to-head BC comparison.

Newly Published base of comparison

Hornady now publishes “200 yard” Mach 2.25 (2,512 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere**) G1 and G7 Ballistic Coefficient (BC) numbers for all A-Tip®, ELD-X, and ELD Match bullets. Mach 2.0 (2,233 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere) and Mach 1.75 (1,954 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere) BC values are also available.

As Hornady moves the industry to drag coefficient based trajectory calculations for these types of projectiles, the Ballistic Coefficient is becoming somewhat irrelevant. Exceptions are for those still using BC based trajectory calculators or when using BC as rating criteria for bullet performance.

Ballistic Coefficient (BC) values at Mach 2.25 (2512 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere) should be used when comparing to other published BC values within the industry. Ballistic Coefficient values at Mach 1.75 (1954 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere), should be used when calculating trajectories for shooting beyond 600 yds. Ballistic Coefficient values at Mach 2.0 and 1.75 offer comparisons to other manufacturers that publish multiple BC’s based on velocity.

A Positive Gain

In addition to the change listed above, a select few ELD-X and ELD Match bullets initially had BC values that were determined from prototype bullets. As Hornady moved into production of these bullets, the BC value increased (a positive gain) due to the improvements in the manufacturing process from R&D to production machinery.

The Science Behind It

Ballistic Coefficient (BC) values can, and usually do change in value with changes in velocity. Most bullets exhibit a lowering BC as velocity slows. The extent of how much a BC will change depends on each unique bullet shape. When comparing BCs of different bullets, it is important to use an apples-to-apples approach.

To do this, bullets should be compared at a given Mach number (e.g. Mach 1 = 1116.48 fps @ ICAO Standard Atmosphere). Mach number is the velocity of the bullet divided by the speed of sound. If a Mach number is unavailable, velocity can be used if the BCs are corrected to Standard Atmosphere which is fairly typical practice within the industry.

The majority of industry published BCs is measured over relatively short ranges of 100 to 300 yards, which corresponds to velocities around 2500 fps depending on muzzle velocities. Some manufacturers offer BC values at different velocity ranges.

** Hornady BC values have been corrected back to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standard Atmosphere (Sea Level, 59 degrees F, 29.92 inHg, 0% Humidity).

Expanded BC Values for ELD® Match Bullets

  • Mach 2.25 (2512 fps* and above) - Velocities above 2,500 fps and distances out to 300 yards.
  • Mach 2.0 (2232 fps*) - Mid-range shooting where the bullet spends time in flight after slowing down.
  • Mach 1.75 (1953 fps*) - Long-range shooting where much of the bullet flight occurs after velocity loss.
Bullet Mach 2.25 Mach 2.0 Mach 1.75
22 Cal 73 gr. ELD Match 0.398 G1
0.200 G7
0.389 G1
0.195 G7
0.382 G1
0.192 G7
22 Cal 75 gr. ELD Match 0.467 G1
0.235 G7
0.459 G1
0.230 G7
0.441 G1
0.222 G7
22 Cal 80 gr. ELD Match 0.485 G1
0.244 G7
0.477 G1
0.239 G7
0.462 G1
0.232 G7
22 Cal 88 gr. ELD Match 0.545 G1
0.274 G7
0.534 G1
0.268 G7
0.528 G1
0.266 G7
6mm 108 gr. ELD Match 0.536 G1
0.270 G7
0.526 G1
0.264 G7
0.520 G1
0.261 G7
6.5mm 100 gr. ELD Match 0.385 G1
0.194 G7
0.377 G1
0.189 G7
0.369 G1
0.186 G7
6.5mm 120 gr. ELD Match 0.486 G1
0.245 G7
0.465 G1
0.233 G7
0.450 G1
0.227 G7
6.5mm 123 gr. ELD Match 0.506 G1
0.255 G7
0.493 G1
0.247 G7
0.481 G1
0.242 G7
6.5mm 130 gr. ELD Match 0.554 G1
0.279 G7
0.542 G1
0.272 G7
0.535 G1
0.269 G7
6.5mm 140 gr. ELD Match 0.646 G1
0.326 G7
0.637 G1
0.320 G7
0.616 G1
0.310 G7
6.5mm 147 gr. ELD Match 0.697 G1
0.351 G7
0.662 G1
0.332 G7
0.637 G1
0.321 G7
7mm 162 gr. ELD Match 0.670 G1
0.338 G7
0.655 G1
0.329 G7
0.637 G1
0.320 G7
7mm 180 gr. ELD Match
1 in 8.75" Twist
0.777 G1
0.391 G7
0.748 G1
0.376 G7
0.731 G1
0.368 G7
7mm 180 gr. ELD Match
1 in 7.5" Twist
0.816 G1
0.411 G7
0.812 G1
0.408 G7
0.782 G1
0.394 G7
30 Cal 155 gr. ELD Match 0.461 G1
0.232 G7
0.451 G1
0.227 G7
0.439 G1
0.221 G7
30 Cal 168 gr. ELD Match 0.523 G1
0.263 G7
0.516 G1
0.259 G7
0.498 G1
0.251 G7
30 Cal 178 gr. ELD Match 0.547 G1
0.275 G7
0.527 G1
0.265 G7
0.506 G1
0.254 G7
30 Cal 195 gr. ELD Match 0.584 G1
0.294 G7
0.573 G1
0.288 G7
0.566 G1
0.285 G7
30 Cal 208 gr. ELD Match 0.690 G1
0.348 G7
0.683 G1
0.343 G7
0.669 G1
0.337 G7
30 Cal 225 gr. ELD Match
1 in 10" Twist
0.777 G1
0.391 G7
0.752 G1
0.378 G7
0.719 G1
0.362 G7
30 Cal 225 gr. ELD Match
1 in 7" Twist
0.798 G1
0.402 G7
0.782 G1
0.393 G7
0.749 G1
0.377 G7
338 Cal 285 gr. ELD Match 0.829 G1
0.417 G7
0.814 G1
0.409 G7
0.796 G1
0.400 G7

*Velocity at International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standard Atmosphere (Sea Level, 59 degrees F, 29.92 inHg, 0% Humidity).

 

Expanded BC Values for ELD-X Bullets

  • Mach 2.25 (2512 fps* and above) - Velocities above 2,500 fps and distances out to 300 yards.
  • Mach 2.0 (2232 fps*) - Use this for mid-range shooting where the bullet spends time in flight after slowing down.
  • Mach 1.75 (1953 fps*) - Use this for long-range shooting where much of the bullet flight occurs after velocity loss.
Bullet Mach 2.25 Mach 2.0 Mach 1.75
6mm 90gr ELD-X 0.410 G1
0.206 G7
0.402 G1
0.202 G7
0.399 G1
0.201 G7
6mm 103gr ELD-X 0.512 G1
0.258 G7
0.505 G1
0.253 G7
0.498 G1
0.251 G7
25 Cal 110 gr. ELD-X 0.465 G1
0.234 G7
0.457 G1
0.229 G7
0.451 G1
0.227 G7
6.5mm 143 gr. ELD-X 0.623 G1
0.314 G7
0.604 G1
0.303 G7
0.584 G1
0.294 G7
270 Cal 145 gr. ELD-X 0.536 G1
0.270 G7
0.521 G1
0.262 G7
0.512 G1
0.257 G7
7mm 150 gr. ELD-X 0.574 G1
0.289 G7
0.563 G1
0.283 G7
0.558 G1
0.281 G7
7mm 162 gr. ELD-X 0.631 G1
0.318 G7
0.626 G1
0.314 G7
0.615 G1
0.308 G7
7mm 175 gr. ELD-X 0.689 G1
0.347 G7
0.683 G1
0.343 G7
0.678 G1
0.341 G7
30 Cal 178 gr. ELD-X 0.552 G1
0.278 G7
0.543 G1
0.273 G7
0.538 G1
0.271 G7
30 Cal 200 gr. ELD-X 0.597 G1
0.301 G7
0.588 G1
0.295 G7
0.578 G1
0.291 G7
30 Cal 212 gr. ELD-X
1 in 10" Twist
0.663 G1
0.334 G7
0.649 G1
0.326 G7
0.643 G1
0.324 G7
30 Cal 212 gr. ELD-X
1 in 7" Twist
0.702 G1
0.354 G7
0.686 G1
0.345 G7
0.677 G1
0.341 G7
30 Cal 220 gr. ELD-X 0.654 G1
0.329 G7
0.643 G1
0.323 G7
0.643 G1
0.323 G7
338 Cal 230 gr. ELD-X 0.616 G1
0.310 G7
0.616 G1
0.309 G7
0.608 G1
0.306 G7
338 Cal 270 gr. ELD-X 0.757 G1
0.381 G7
0.745 G1
0.374 G7
0.739 G1
0.372 G7

*Velocity at International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standard Atmosphere (Sea Level, 59 degrees F, 29.92 inHg, 0% Humidity).

 

Expanded BC Values for A-Tip® Match Bullets

  • Mach 2.25 (2512 fps* and above) - Velocities above 2,500 fps and distances out to 300 yards.
  • Mach 2.0 (2232 fps*) - Use this for mid-range shooting where the bullet spends time in flight after slowing down.
  • Mach 1.75 (1953 fps*) - Use this for long-range shooting where much of the bullet flight occurs after velocity loss.
BULLET MACH 2.25 MACH 2 MACH 1.75
22 cal 90 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.585 G1
0.295 G7
0.575 G1
0.289 G7
0.556 G1
0.280 G7
6 mm 110 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.604 G1
0.304 G7
0.595 G1
0.299 G7
0.584 G1
0.294 G7
6.5 mm 135 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.637 G1
0.321 G7
0.626 G1
0.314 G7
0.613 G1
0.309 G7
6.5 mm 153 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.704 G1
0.355 G7
0.698 G1
0.351 G7
0.687 G1
0.346 G7
7 mm 166 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.664 G1
0.332 G7
0.653 G1
0.326 G7
0.650 G1
0.325 G7
7 mm 190 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.838 G1
0.422 G7
0.830 G1
0.417 G7
0.823 G1
0.414 G7
30 Cal 176 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.564 G1
0.284 G7
0.552 G1
0.277 G7
0.540 G1
0.272 G7
30 Cal 230 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.823 G1
0.414 G7
0.813 G1
0.408 G7
0.811 G1
0.408 G7
30 Cal 250 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.878 G1
0.442 G7
0.877 G1
0.440 G7
0.872 G1
0.439 G7
338 cal 300 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.863 aG1
0.435 G7
0.860 G1
0.432 G7
0.850 G1
0.428 G7
375 cal 390 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.987 G1
0.497 G7
0.974 G1
0.489 G7
0.971 G1
0.488 G7
416 cal 500 gr A-Tip® Match Bullet 0.976 G1
0.493 G7
0.964 G1
0.484 G7
0.946 G1
0.476 G7

*Velocity at International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standard Atmosphere (Sea Level, 59 degrees F, 29.92 inHg, 0% Humidity).