Hornady Precision Hunter 270 Winchester Ammo 145 Grain Hornady ELD-X Polymer Tip Box of 20

Last reviewed: 2026-04-18 by Jake Terry, FFL07/SOT3, NRA-certified firearms instructor.

For hunters pushing shot distances beyond 400 yards, the Hornady Precision Hunter 270 Winchester 145-grain ELD-X load brings match-grade accuracy and terminal performance into a single hunting cartridge. The 270 Winchester remains one of the flattest-shooting standard-length cartridges in North America, and when paired with the aerodynamically refined ELD-X projectile, you hold wind deflection and energy retention to ranges where most cup-and-core bullets shed velocity and shed weight inconsistently.

Load Profile

The ELD-X (Extremely Low Drag–Expanding) projectile is built around a Heat Shield polymer tip that resists aerodynamic heating, maintaining the advertised ballistic coefficient throughout supersonic flight. Where traditional polymer tips deform at high velocity, degrading BC and shifting point of impact at range, the Heat Shield tip holds its geometry. Hornady verified the 0.536 G1 BC by Doppler radar — not estimation from software models. The secant ogive and optimized boattail reduce drag, while the thick jacket shank and InterLock ring control expansion across a wide impact-velocity window.

This load sits in the middle of the 270 Winchester’s weight spectrum. The 145-grain projectile offers flatter trajectory than 150- or 160-grain options while carrying more momentum downrange than 130-grain variants. At conventional ranges — inside 400 yards — the ELD-X expands aggressively, retaining 50–60% of original weight. Beyond 400 yards, when impact velocity drops, the Heat Shield tip drives rearward to initiate expansion, producing 85–90% weight retention and deep, straight-line penetration. This dual-mode expansion makes the load effective across whitetail, mule deer, antelope, and similar-size game at any ethical distance. For more 270 ammo options, see the full category listing.

Who It’s For

You’re a hunter who zeros at 200 yards and regularly takes game between 250 and 500 yards. You want one load that groups inside MOA from a factory rifle and delivers predictable terminal performance whether the shot is 100 yards or 450. You handload your brass after the season to recoup cost, and you prefer Boxer-primed, non-corrosive cases. You’ve seen polymer tips melt or deform during long strings of fire or high-BC flight, and you want a tip design that maintains advertised BC from muzzle to target.