Being recognized as “best in class” is much easier said than done, but the companies’ products featured in these stories have outdone themselves, and have truly earned the title.
Ammunition Product of the Year: Hornady Precision Hunter
Most modern bullets use polymer tips, but polymer melts at 320-345 degrees Fahrenheit, while bullets can reach temperatures greater than 800 degrees during flight. To counter this, Hornady created the ELD-X hunting bullet with its Heat Shield Tip, which sports a melting point above 700 degrees and degrades far less, making for a more accurate bullet with a higher ballistic coefficient. The company then loaded it in its Hornady Precision Hunter (“Hardware,” July ’16) ammo line.
AH contributor Mark Kayser tested them, and his conclusion was: “If you have a rig that shoots well now, I have reason to believe it will shoot even better at long range if you feed it ELD-X bullets.”
Editor's Note: Winning products must be tested by the editors, meet or exceed expectations on innovation, and provide hunters and shooters with value for their money. NRA Publications will present the annual Golden Bullseye Awards at an invitation-only breakfast during the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta, Ga., April 28-30.