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Muzzleloader projectiles have come a long way from the patched round ball, and the Traditions Smackdown ELD-X by Hornady is a good example of just how far. This is a full-bore .45 caliber bullet that skips the sabot entirely, so it drops down the barrel and seats quick and easy every time. That translates to less fuss at the range or in the field and more consistency from shot to shot, which is exactly what you want when you only get one crack at it.
The design borrows heavily from Hornady's centerfire ELD-X, a bullet that's earned a serious following among rifle hunters. Up front, the polymer tip drives back into the lead core on impact to kick off fast, controlled expansion. An InterLock ring grips the core to hold weight together, and the tough copper-alloy jacket keeps things in one piece as it punches deep. The result is the kind of terminal performance that leans more toward a modern rifle bullet than an old-school smoke-pole slug.
Down at the base, a polymer gas seal features a post that swells at ignition for better torque engagement from the inside out, while the skirt bites into the rifling to squeeze the most energy out of your charge. At 280 grains with a .449 diameter and a 0.338 BC, this one holds velocity well and stays flat enough to stretch your ethical range out past what a lot of muzzleloader bullets can manage. Reviewers testing the ELD-X in .45 caliber rigs have found it delivers strong accuracy and deep penetration, making shots out toward 300 yards a reasonable proposition with the right setup.
For whitetail, mule deer, and other big game, this is one of the standouts in the Smackdown lineup. As always, plan on some range time to dial in the right powder charge, since every muzzleloader has its own personality and a little load tuning goes a long way toward tight groups.
No, this is a full-bore bullet that loads without a sabot. It's sized to fit the bore of a .45 caliber muzzleloader and seats quickly and easily, with a polymer skirt at the base that seals gas and engages the rifling. That means one less component to fuss with and more repeatable loading.
It's built for big game like whitetail, mule deer, and similar-sized animals. The InterLock ring and tough copper-alloy jacket hold the bullet together for deep penetration, while the polymer tip drives expansion. Testing has shown solid accuracy and terminal performance out toward 300 yards with a dialed-in setup.
The 280 grain Smackdown ELD-X carries a BC of 0.338, which is high for a muzzleloader projectile. A higher BC means the bullet fights wind and drag better, so it holds velocity and shoots flatter downrange. That gives you a bit more ethical reach compared to older-style conicals.
The Smackdown ELD-X is engineered to fit any .45 caliber muzzleloader bore and pairs especially well with Traditions rifles. Like any projectile, it performs best once you spend a little range time matching it to the right powder charge for your gun. Every barrel is different, so a bit of tuning helps you find the tightest groups.
| UPC | 040589031347 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | |
| Manufacturer Part Number | A2016B |
| Caliber/Gauge | 45 Cal |
| Grains | 280 gr |
| Shipping Weight | 0.652 |
| Units per Box | 12 |
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