A hard composite composition may comprise a binder and a polymodal blend of matrix powder. The polymodal blend of matrix powder may have at least one first local maxima at a particle size of about 0.5 nm to about 30 μm, at least one second local maxima at a particle size of about 200 μm to about 10 mm, and at least one local minima between a particle size of about 30 μm to about 200 μm that has a value that is less than the first local maxima.