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Hornady Factory Ammo

Dirty D

Dirty D

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Mar 29, 2010
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I started reloading pretty much at the same time that I bought my first rifle because I couldn’t find factory ammo worth a damn. I even started a thread last year about this time on Prime ammo and high SD’s. I just moved and haven’t had time to set my reloading bench back up and wanted to go shoot so I picked up a box of Hornady 140 grain ELD-M’s and was very pleasantly surprised by the results.

1577331514557.jpeg


one 5 round group is good, a 5x5 is pretty damn consistent ammo. The two bottom groups were me futzing with windage and elevation. As LowLight and Padom have said before a group size at 100 really doesn’t mean much, the real proof is in a low ES and SD and this is what my MagnetoSpeed had to say about the factory Hornady ammo.

1577331475164.jpeg


I was very pleasantly surprised, I can and have hand loaded to an SD of 5 so the factory stuff won’t replace my hand loads but will absolutely do out to 7 or 800 yards. I need to get my hands on some Prime from their new non-Norma manufacturer and see how it does.

My test mule is a Bighorn TL-2 with a Shilen SelectMatch barrel.

1577332013053.jpeg
 
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i still need to try their superformance in my .308 gas gun.
 
theLBC said:
i still need to try their superformance in my .308 gas gun.
Click to expand...
I shoot the Superformance 243 95 grain SST’s in my whitetail rifle and it is a pretty hot load but has been very consistent lot to lot, I can mix different lots and make 5 round groups a little under 1/2”.
 
theLBC said:
i still need to try their superformance in my .308 gas gun.
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This may have changed in the last few years, but their Superformance was not known for producing great results from gas guns. There was much discussion here when it first came out, with Rob01 and some of the other at-the-time Hornady sponsored shooters explaining why it was a legit trend of less than stellar precision from gas guns. They may have tweeked it since, and as always ymmv. Their 308 superfirmance had an either love or hate result across my 308 selection.

Doc
 
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Superformance isn't a great plan for gas guns, especially suppressed.
 
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Ledzep said:
Superformance isn't a great plan for gas guns, especially suppressed.
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right, but i read something from them that says it is fine for rifle length gas systems.

www.hornady.com

Superformance in Gas Operated Firearms - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc

Background Superformance ammunition was developed in the Hornady ballistics lab utilizing state of the art test equipment in accordance with SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute) guidelines for pressure, velocity and accuracy ut...
www.hornady.com www.hornady.com
 
Factory Hornie is tough to beat off the shelf, only surpassed by Berger Match and select boutique offerings.

The new Federal Berger offerings are interesting but my 6.5CM just eats and spits the Hornie stuff out with great consistency it's hard to givevit up.
 
I like the Hornady factory ammo in my rifle and I'm not a Hornady fan. The 140 grain Match ammo shoots on par with the 143ELDX. I can ring steel out to 1k so far with no real adjustments between the two. I haven't chrono'ed it, but the results speak volumes for distance shooting.
 
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I'm waiting on weather to firstfire my 20" PA-10 308. I was attracted to this Upper after seeing my Buddy's experience with the 18" version. He had troubles, solved by an adjustable gas block, caused (most likely) by a mid-length(?) gas system. That's why I went with the 20"; it uses a rifle length gas system.

I'm going to be working with IMI M80 equivalent, with IMI 7.62x51 NATO Semi-Auto Match 168gr, and handloads that closely approximate 168 308 FGMM. They are configured to be compatible with gas guns. I shot some of the Superformance 308 in my 24" bolt gun and didn't like the pressure signs on the fired brass. Then I realized upon attempting to reload the brass that the primers are crimped. When various concerns surfaced about pressure, I decided it was great stuff for hunting, but I had better options for any gas 308 when I finally acquired one. That time has arrived.

Now then, if Hornady advertised a semi-compatible Superformance 308 168 (or 175/178, or suchlike), I'd be interested.

Greg
 
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wade2big said:
Factory Ammo will do fine much further than 700-800 yards
Click to expand...

Totally Agree! I do not reload so I only shoot factory ammo and have great results with both of my 6.5cm's out to 1400 yards with Hornady, Prime, and Berger.
 
Greg Langelius * said:
I'm waiting on weather to firstfire my 20" PA-10 308. I was attracted to this Upper after seeing my Buddy's experience with the 18" version. He had troubles, solved by an adjustable gas block, caused (most likely) by a mid-length(?) gas system. That's why I went with the 20"; it uses a rifle length gas system.

I'm going to be working with IMI M80 equivalent, with IMI 7.62x51 NATO Semi-Auto Match 168gr, and handloads that closely approximate 168 308 FGMM. They are configured to be compatible with gas guns. I shot some of the Superformance 308 in my 24" bolt gun and didn't like the pressure signs on the fired brass. Then I realized upon attempting to reload the brass that the primers are crimped. When various concerns surfaced about pressure, I decided it was great stuff for hunting, but I had better options for any gas 308 when I finally acquired one. That time has arrived.

Now then, if Hornady advertised a semi-compatible Superformance 308 168 (or 175/178, or suchlike), I'd be interested.

Greg
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That's suposed to be the Black line. It's reported to be designed for gas guns. On that note, I shoot FGMM 175s out of my 20" PA10 with great results. It likes them much better than the 168's. Go figure.
 
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YMMV but my experience has been that mild loads with faster burning powder tend to be best in semi autos. Superformance is neither.

Now, on the subject of Hornady Factory match ammo in bolt guns, I'm a believer. .5-.8" 10-shot groups at 100 and SDs usually in the 8-12fps range.
 
azbiker said:
Totally Agree! I do not reload so I only shoot factory ammo and have great results with both of my 6.5cm's out to 1400 yards with Hornady, Prime, and Berger.
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Have you tried the 147 or just the 140 Hornady? Or did I miss that? ?
 
I use the 140 ELD-M out to 1400 as well. I got in on the prime group buy, and I’m excited to check that out. May try the Berger 140 Hybrid factory offering too.
 
BytorJr said:
Have you tried the 147 or just the 140 Hornady? Or did I miss that? ?
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Both. One gun likes the 147 more than the other. I also have an AI 26” 6.5cm barrel coming for my AXMC so excited to try that.
 
I’ve seen the 130’s as low as 70 cents a round for Hornady match. Hard to beat match ammo for that price and quality.
 
Always had good result with hornady match ammo.
 
Yep. My RPR 6.5CM likes factory (in no particular order):
  1. Hornady ELD-M 140-gr
  2. Berger Match Target Hybrid 140-gr
  3. Federal Gold Medal Match 130-gr
Sub-MOA all day with all of them and often 1/2-MOA. Occasionally, 1/3-MOA!
 
Maxduty; special thanks for drawing my attention to the 308/168A-Max offering. I had completely overlooked that.

Greg
 
Last edited:
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I run the ELD-M and they shoot great. The one reason I don't reload for my Creed.
 
I’ve shot that ammo too and got 2900fps out of a 30” barrel. I’ve shot a couple matches with it and it did well out to 600 yards.
 
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