Hornady 30 Cal 165gr CX

Hornady 30 Cal 165gr CX

The Hornady 30 Cal 165gr CX is a high-performance bullet component tailored for handloaders seeking controlled expansion and precision on medium to large game. At .308‑inch diameter and weighing 165 grains, this CX (Copper eXpansion) bullet incorporates a fully bonded copper jacket surrounding a lead core infused with a polymer expansion controlled tip. This design ensures consistent weight retention, deep penetration, and reliable terminal performance.

Featuring Hornady’s signature Flex Tip polymer insert and a shallow hollow-point cavity, the 165gr CX initiates expansion reliably while maintaining structural integrity. Its boat-tail design and streamlined secant ogive create a G1 ballistic coefficient in the range of 0.475–0.500, promoting flat trajectory and wind drift resistance. The CX profile provides accuracy nearly equivalent to Hornady’s SST line, while excelling in controlled expansion rather than engineered mushrooming.

This 30 Cal 165gr CX bullet is compatible with popular cartridges such as the .30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, and 7.62×51 NATO, typically stabilized by standard 1:10 to 1:11 twist barrels. Its uniform bearing surface and overall consistency enable precise seating depth control and repeatable handloads. The pre-bonded core-to-jacket construction also aids in accuracy by maintaining integrity through the rifling and velocity variations.

In field applications, the Hornady 30 Cal 165gr CX delivers dependable expansion, suitable for game such as whitetail deer, hogs, black bear, and caribou. At typical hunting velocities of 2,650–2,700 fps, it delivers a controlled and uniform bullet expansion with approximately 70–75 percent weight retention. This results in medium-sized mushrooming that maximizes energy transfer without risking over-expansion or early fragmentation, creating effective wound channels for ethical harvests.

Manufactured in Grand Island, Nebraska, the Hornady 30 Cal 165gr CX is sold as a bullet component only and is intended for handloaders who supply brass, powder, and primers. Hornady’s stringent quality standards ensure consistent tip alignment, bearing surface, and weight variation for precision performance with every round. Whether you’re stalking whitetail in thick timber or pursuing elk at longer ranges, the 165gr CX offers dependable performance and ethical terminal results.

Overall, the Hornady 30 Cal 165gr CX combines aerodynamic bullet construction, bonded-core reliability, and controlled expansion design. It is an excellent option for handloaders seeking a balanced bullet component that delivers both accuracy and dependable terminal performance in .30‑caliber hunting cartridges.