Ammunition the United States can’t get: Hornday ETX Custom International
You might not have heard of Hornady’s Extreme Terminal Expansion (ETX) unless you live in Europe. The ETX is an extension of the Gilding Metal Expanding (GMX) line from Hornady which is only available to the European market, but why is that?
Hornady ETX vs GMX
The Hornady Custom International line of ammunition is a lead-free alloy bullet. Many countries in Europe have a ban on lead ammunition, so it makes sense to have a line specifically designed with this in mind. With the popularity of the Hornady GMX line with hunters around the world, you might ask, “Why the ETX, and what is the difference?”
The GMX is made from a mono-metal copper alloy that Hornady says is tougher than pure copper and shoots cleaner, fouls less, and delivers consistent, even pressure curves. It has a long profile with double cannelures (rings around the bullet) to reduce drag. The GMX also has a polymer tip that aids in expansion upon impact. It features a boattail and is designed to expand in velocities from 3,400 FPS to 2,000 FPS. For reference, the GMX Superformace 165gr 308 is going 2,000 FPS at 400 yards. Hornady also says that the GMX retains 95% of its weight upon impact with 36″ of penetration and expands up to 1.5 times its original diameter.
The GMX is available in the United States and Europe in multiple options. For this article, we are going to focus on 308 options. In 308 there are 110, 125, 150, 165, and 180-grain options. Drilling down to the 165-grain GMX, you see it has a .447 (G1) ballistic coefficient.Â
This might not mean much to some people, but this is a high BC compared to similar offerings by other companies. The higher the BC, the less drag, and the more efficiently the bullet cuts through the air. So the GMX is a great flying bullet that has expansion out to 400 yards in 308.
The Hornady ETX, as mentioned earlier, is a derivative of the GMX line but with a different shape. The ETX is a round nose that looks like a traditional European bullet. European-cut rifle chambers tend to have longer throats because the traditional bullet design is a round nose, not a pointed bullet like the GMX. So to deliver a bullet that performs better in these rifles, the ETX was designed. There are some reports of the GMX not performing well in the European-cut chambers, and while those are individual reports, this might be another reason for the introduction of the ETX.
Unlike the GMX, the round nose ETX does not have a polymer tip but has a small hollow point cavity for expansion on impact. The ETX uses a copper alloy like the GMX and also has a 95% weight retention.
The most significant difference besides the shape between the GMX and ETX is the performance. The ETX 165-grain 308 has a .221 (G1) ballistic coefficient, which is roughly half of the GMX. At 300 meters, the ETX is traveling 1450 FPS while the GMX is going 2173 FPS.Â
The Same but Different
The main reason for the creation of the ETX was for European rifles with a longer throat. Both bullets are designed to perform well on medium-sized game like whitetail, fallow, and wild boar. However, since both are a copper alloy, they also are very capable options for moose and elk. So which bullet do you choose – ​ the GMX or ETX? Well, as mentioned, the ETX is not available in the United States, but European hunters can choose either the GMX or ETX.Â
The GMX would be a great bullet for longer shots in more open areas. In North America, both elk and moose hunters can benefit from the added velocity. For European hunters in the UK hunting for red deer, the GMX would perform well.Â
Based on the velocity, the ETX makes a great option for close hunts, like driven boar or woodland hunts for deer. It could also be used in hunts where you don’t want the potential of bullet fragments in the meat.
Speaking of boar hunting, Fieldsports Channel recently did a boar hunt in Germany using the Hornady ETX. As you can see from the video below, the performance is undeniable.
Jeremy Mallette is co-founder of International Sportsman. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, he has spent more than a decade in the outdoor industry, from hiking and camping to silencers and hunting. His father taught him to shoot at age six, and he received his first firearm at age eight — a 1942 Colt Commando .38 special revolver. He enjoys yearly trips to Kansas for pheasant hunting, spending time with his children at the deer lease, and collecting unique firearms.