Mastering Precision: The Hornady 22774 ELD Match 73 gr Bullet for Unrivaled Accuracy

For competitive shooters, long-range enthusiasts, and dedicated reloaders who demand the absolute pinnacle of ballistic performance, the Hornady ELD Match (Extremely Low Drag Match) 22 Cal .224 73 grain bullet, identified by UPC 090255227741, represents a revolutionary leap forward. This meticulously engineered projectile is designed to solve the critical challenges faced by precision riflemen: achieving consistent, sub-minute-of-angle (MOA) accuracy at extended distances, minimizing environmental interference, and ensuring predictable performance shot after shot, lot after lot. Whether you're aiming for the tightest groups on paper, ringing steel at extreme ranges, or dominating in F-Class, PRS, or benchrest competitions, the Hornady 73 gr ELD Match bullet provides the technological edge needed to turn aspirations into achievements.

Why Choose Hornady ELD Match Bullets for Your Precision Shooting Needs?

The quest for ultimate accuracy often leads shooters to scrutinize every component of their ammunition. The bullet, being the primary interface with the air, plays a monumental role in determining trajectory, stability, and terminal performance on target. Hornady's ELD Match series, particularly the 73 grain .224 offering, stands out due to its innovative design features that collectively deliver an unmatched level of consistency and ballistic efficiency.

• Unrivaled Ballistic Coefficients (BCs): At the heart of the ELD Match's long-range prowess is its incredibly high ballistic coefficient, an impressive .398 (G1). This metric directly translates to less wind drift and a flatter trajectory, meaning your bullet spends less time in the air and is less affected by crosswinds. For shooters engaging targets at 600 yards, 800 yards, or even beyond 1,000 yards, a superior BC is not just an advantage—it's a necessity for hitting the mark consistently.
• Extreme Consistency: Precision shooting is a game of consistency. The ELD Match bullets are engineered with strict tolerances and advanced manufacturing processes to ensure that every bullet in a box, and across different production lots, performs identically. This “lot-to-lot” consistency is vital for competitive shooters who rely on predictable performance from their chosen ammunition components.
• Designed for Optimal Accuracy: From its Heat Shield® tip to its AMP® (Advanced Manufacturing Process) jacket, every element of this bullet contributes to its exceptional accuracy potential. It's built for those who won't settle for anything less than pinpoint precision.

Key Technologies Behind the Hornady ELD Match Performance

What makes the Hornady ELD Match bullet so effective? It's the confluence of several groundbreaking technologies, each addressing a specific aspect of bullet flight and performance.

The Revolutionary Heat Shield® Tip

One of the most significant innovations in the ELD Match bullet is its Heat Shield® tip. Traditional polymer tips can deform due to aerodynamic heating as the bullet travels at high velocities, especially over long distances. This deformation, even microscopic, can alter the tip's shape, which is a critical factor in a bullet's ballistic coefficient and flight stability.

• Immunity to Aerodynamic Heating: The Heat Shield® tip is crafted from a special polymer that is immune to the effects of aerodynamic heating. This means it retains its perfect meplat (the very tip point) shape throughout its entire flight path, regardless of velocity or distance.
• Consistent Meplat: By maintaining a perfectly consistent meplat, the bullet's aerodynamic profile remains unchanged, ensuring the ballistic coefficient you calculate for your ballistic solver is the actual BC experienced downrange. This eliminates a common variable that can introduce errors in long-range shooting solutions.
• Enhanced Ballistic Efficiency: A perfect meplat is crucial for laminar airflow over the bullet, reducing drag and maximizing its ballistic efficiency. This translates directly into less velocity decay and less wind deflection.

Optimum Secant Ogive and Boattail Design

Beyond the tip, the overall shape of the ELD Match bullet is meticulously engineered for aerodynamic superiority.

• Optimum Secant Ogive: The secant ogive profile is designed to reduce drag while maintaining a high ballistic coefficient. Unlike tangent ogives, a secant ogive allows for a sharper, more pointed nose, which cuts through the air more efficiently. Hornady’s "optimum" secant ogive balances the desire for extreme slipperiness with the practical needs for reliable feeding from magazines and ease of seating during reloading.
• Streamlined Boattail: The boattail design further minimizes drag by creating a smoother transition for airflow at the bullet's base. This reduces turbulence as the bullet departs the muzzle and travels downrange, contributing to both a higher BC and enhanced stability, especially at longer distances. The combination of the optimal secant ogive and a carefully designed boattail results in a bullet with minimal drag and exceptional flight characteristics.

Advanced Manufacturing Process (AMP®) Jacket

The jacket of a bullet plays a crucial role in its concentricity, uniformity, and overall accuracy. Hornady's AMP® (Advanced Manufacturing Process) jacket technology ensures unparalleled consistency.

• Near-Perfect Concentricity: AMP jackets are formed through a proprietary process that produces jackets with virtually zero wall thickness variation. This near-perfect concentricity is vital because any unevenness in the jacket can lead to imbalances that cause the bullet to wobble in flight, degrading accuracy.
• Uniformity and Balance: A uniform jacket contributes to a perfectly balanced bullet, which is essential for stable flight and tight groups downrange. This level of precision in manufacturing helps ensure that every 73 grain ELD Match bullet behaves identically, allowing shooters to predict and repeat their results with confidence.
• Enhanced Accuracy: The consistency of the AMP jacket, combined with the other design features, directly translates into superior accuracy from the loaded ammunition.

Performance Metrics and What They Mean for Shooters

Understanding the specifications of the Hornady 73 gr ELD Match bullet helps illuminate its performance advantages.

• Bullet Weight (73 grains): This specific weight is an excellent choice for .224 caliber cartridges, particularly for achieving stability and energy retention at longer ranges. Heavier-for-caliber bullets generally perform better in the wind and retain velocity more effectively downrange, making them preferred for precision applications.
• Bullet Diameter (.224"): This standard diameter is compatible with a wide array of popular rifle cartridges, including .223 Remington, 5.56x45mm NATO, .22-250 Remington, .22 Creedmoor, and the new 22 ARC, among others.
• Ballistic Coefficient (BC): The stated G1 BC of .398 is extremely high for a .224 caliber bullet of this weight. This translates to less drop and less wind drift compared to bullets with lower BCs, simplifying long-range shooting solutions.
• Sectional Density (SD): At .208, the sectional density is also very good. Sectional density, which relates bullet weight to its diameter, is an indicator of how well a bullet will penetrate and retain energy. While primarily relevant for hunting, a higher SD also correlates with better downrange energy retention for target shooting.

Who Can Benefit from Hornady 73 gr ELD Match Bullets?

These bullets are designed for a specific segment of the shooting community that prioritizes precision above all else.

• Competitive Shooters: Whether it's F-Class Open, Precision Rifle Series (PRS), National Rifle League (NRL), or benchrest competitions, the consistent accuracy and superior ballistic performance of the ELD Match bullets give competitors a distinct edge. They are engineered to help shooters minimize their group sizes and score higher.
• Long-Range Enthusiasts: For anyone passionate about pushing the limits of their rifle and their skills at distances typically considered "extreme," the ELD Match provides the reliable foundation needed for success. Hitting targets at 800, 1000, or even 1200 yards with a .224 caliber rifle becomes much more attainable.
• Reloaders Seeking Maximum Accuracy: Handloaders who meticulously craft their ammunition to achieve bespoke performance will find the ELD Match bullets to be incredibly consistent components. Their uniform construction simplifies the reloading process and helps ensure that the final cartridge performs precisely as intended.
• Rifle Platforms: Ideal for rifles chambered in .223 Remington (especially with a 1:8" twist rate or faster), 5.56 NATO, 22 ARC, .22-250, or .22 Creedmoor, among others, that are built for precision shooting.

Reloading Considerations for the Hornady 73 gr ELD Match

For handloaders, these bullets offer an excellent foundation for developing highly accurate loads. While specific load data should always come from reputable reloading manuals, here are general considerations:

• Twist Rate: To stabilize a 73-grain .224 bullet, a rifle barrel with a twist rate of 1:8" or faster is generally recommended. Slower twist rates may not adequately stabilize the bullet, leading to reduced accuracy.
• Seating Depth: Experimenting with seating depth (the distance the bullet is seated into the case, affecting overall cartridge length) is crucial for optimizing accuracy for your specific rifle. The optimum secant ogive is designed to provide forgiving seating depth windows.
• Powder Selection: Different powders will yield different velocities and pressure characteristics. Consult updated reloading manuals for recommended powders and starting loads for 73-grain .224 bullets.
• Primer and Brass Selection: Consistent, high-quality primers and brass are also critical components to ensure the full potential of these precision bullets is realized.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hornady ELD Match Bullets

Q: What is the primary advantage of the Heat Shield® tip?
A: The Heat Shield® tip is designed to resist aerodynamic heating, which can deform traditional polymer tips. This ensures the bullet's meplat (tip point) retains its perfect, consistent shape throughout its flight, leading to a stable and predictable ballistic coefficient at all ranges.

Q: Can these bullets be used for hunting?
A: While they are "match" bullets and optimized for target shooting and competition, their construction is not typically designed for rapid expansion necessary for ethical hunting. Hornady offers other bullet lines, like the ELD-X, specifically for hunting applications.

Q: What twist rate is recommended for the 73 gr ELD Match?
A: For optimal stability and accuracy with the 73 gr ELD Match bullet, a barrel twist rate of 1:8" or faster (e.g., 1:7") is highly recommended for .224 caliber rifles.

Q: How does the ELD Match differ from other Hornady match bullets?
A: The ELD Match series distinguishes itself primarily through the Heat Shield® tip, which addresses the issue of aerodynamic heating affecting traditional polymer tips. This innovation ensures an even higher level of ballistic consistency and accuracy, especially at extended ranges.

Q: Where can I find these high-performance bullets?
A: The Hornady 22774 ELD Match 22 Cal .224 73 gr Extremely Low Drag Match bullets, packaged 100 per box with 25 boxes per case, are available at leading firearms and reloading component retailers such as DEGuns.com. Ensure you are purchasing genuine Hornady products for guaranteed quality and performance.

The Hornady 22774 ELD Match 73 grain .224 bullet is more than just a component; it's a meticulously engineered tool for precision. It addresses the core demands of competitive and long-range shooters by delivering superior ballistic coefficients, unparalleled consistency, and innovative features like the Heat Shield® tip, all designed to push the boundaries of what's possible on the target. Elevate your shooting performance and achieve your most ambitious accuracy goals with these advanced match bullets.

Hornady ELD Match 73 gr .224 Bullet Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	Hornady
Model	ELD Match
Bullet Type	Extremely Low Drag-Match
Caliber	22 Cal (.224 Diameter)
Weight	73 grains
Ballistic Coeff.	.398 (G1)
Sectional Density	.208
Bullet Tip	Heat Shield® Polymer
Core Material	Lead
Jacket Material	AMP® (Advanced Manufacturing Process)
Coating	Copper
Cannelure	No
Application	Target Shooting, Competition
Rounds Per Box	100
Boxes Per Case	25
MPN	22774
SKU	23093
UPC	090255227741