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Smk vs Hornady

20Incher

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 28, 2010
298
0
54
Westchester
Is it me or is Sierra way over priced.Im pretty new to reloading and when you start you usually hear try Smk.So I did but have now switched to Hornady do to price.These 68gr shoot a lot tighter then the 69gr for almost half the price.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

for me, 77gr SMK's in .223 shoot better then the hornady 75gr amax. but in .308, the 168 and 175 a-max.s shoot better then the SMK's.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

You might try Noslers too, they are usually a bit cheaper. Plus you can pick up seconds for considerbly less. The Nosler 69gr CCs also shoot a little tighter than the 69gr SMK in my set up.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

Find out what your guns likes and decide if you are willing to pay for it. Hornady is great stuff IMHO but I shoot most any brand if I have a reason to.
Shop the sales.......
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

High price bullets don't necessarily translate into more accuracy. Just like the others said, each firearm has its own liking and it doesn't care if it's cheap or expensive!
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

I did the same thing. Started with SMK's and then as of late I've been using AMAX hornady's that has just as good if not better performance in my rifle for almost $9 dollars less per 100pc of .308 168grn.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

My experience tells me that Sierras consistently shoot well in more rifles than Hornadys do.

I've come across several rifles that had no appetite for Hornady bullets.

Never come across one that wouldn't shoot sierra.

Also, seems to me like Sierra is able to achieve great form factors without resorting to secant ogives.

There again, Hornadys R&D has been working overtime last couple years.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

Where I am at the Hornady 75 bthp is nearly half the price of 77 SMK or Noslers. Took longer to find a load they liked but worth the effort to save money long term. I also shop for the Nosler seconds in both .223 and .308. There are some great prices on seconds but they go fast.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

Just a second to the comments above. I started with SMK's in 223 and 308 and the loads were easy to develop, but I couldn't push them as fast as I like... So I tried the Amax and BTHP. It took a little more work up, but in my savage and my SPR, the Hornady loads win.

Plus, the benefit of shooting more for less $$ is a big plus in my book. Trigger time makes me a better shooter than most gear or ammo ever will.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2ac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You might try Noslers too, they are usually a bit cheaper. Plus you can pick up seconds for considerbly less. The Nosler 69gr CCs also shoot a little tighter than the 69gr SMK in my set up. </div></div>

I had very good luck with Nosler CC's in my 308.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

Nosler custom comps are great .223 bullets, their 30 cal 168s are good too. No difference between them and SMKs.

Hornady 75bthp are kind of picky about seating depth. I find they shoot great between 2.245-2.25 in my rifles but anything beyond that...ugly groups no matter the powder.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

My rifle loves Hornady's 75gr BTHP's. I tried the Sierra 69gr match bullets and couldnt get close to the Hornady's.

I dont have my 308 yet, but I have all the components to reload when it comes. I have a few box's of Hornady and Sierra's to try.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

AND THE ANSWER IS.....the one that performs the best for your rifle. I like both, but its generally been easier to find a sweet spot with Sierra...at least for me. They tend to be less picky about seating depth. I have always believed the tangent ogive has an affect on this.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

My Savage 1:9 223s love the 75gr HPBT...with 24.0gr Varget it shoots better near the lands but isn't a slouch at AR mag length.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

Where are you guys always getting these insane price differences between Sierra and hornady?! Most places online (like midway usa) they are always almost the same. Hornady is usually cheaper by $1 or So for 100, which is literary 1 cent per bullet difference. Are you guys just getting ripped off by yor local gun stores?!
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: timelinex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Where are you guys always getting these insane price differences between Sierra and hornady?! Most places online (like midway usa) they are always almost the same. Hornady is usually cheaper by $1 or So for 100, which is literary 1 cent per bullet difference. Are you guys just getting ripped off by yor local gun stores?! </div></div>

That's what I'm seeing too. Who's got the best pricing for bulk buys on the Hornady 68g and 75g bullets?
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

MidwayUSA ***regular*** pricing

22cal:
69gr Matchking: 21.49
68gr Hornady: 18.29
77gr Matchking: 27.98
75gr Hornady: 17.99

30cal:
175gr SMK: 32.99
178gr HPBT: 31.99

6.5mm
142gr SMK: 35.49
140gr AMAX: 29.99
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BoilerUP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">MidwayUSA ***regular*** pricing

22cal:
69gr Matchking: 21.49
68gr Hornady: 18.29
77gr Matchking: 27.98
75gr Hornady: 17.99

30cal:
175gr SMK: 32.99
178gr HPBT: 31.99

6.5mm
142gr SMK: 35.49
140gr AMAX: 29.99
</div></div>

That sounds about like I've experienced at the stores too.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

Yep. Even on with the SMK's on sale right now...

77 smk $12.79 per 50 (.25c ea)

Nosler 77 Custom Comp reg. price $23.99 per 100 (.24c ea)

Hornady 75bthp reg. price $17.99 per 100 (.18c ea)

Anyone getting the 77 SMK's cheaper than $12.79 per 50?
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

I did get Nosler 168 Custom Comp seconds for $13.95 per 100 and they shoot great.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

I shoot almost exclusively Hornady shit save for some hunting bullets. It's good stuff at good prices. Horn has stepped up big time, in my opinion.
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

I have had ok results with Hornady 68 grain bullets equal to that of Sierra 69's. Hornaday 52's shoot better for me than Sierra 52's. However the 77 grain Sierra's shoot by far better than 75 grain Hornady BTHP bullets in my guns. In fact 75 grain BTHP bullets suck in my guns. Nosler is also very good and the price is much better than Sierra in 1000 lot quanities.
Pat
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xmark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yep. Even on with the SMK's on sale right now...

77 smk $12.79 per 50 (.25c ea)

Nosler 77 Custom Comp reg. price $23.99 per 100 (.24c ea)

Hornady 75bthp reg. price $17.99 per 100 (.18c ea)

Anyone getting the 77 SMK's cheaper than $12.79 per 50?



</div></div>

You need to buy your bullets in bulk. I get 1000 round packs of the Nosler 77 grain BTHP's for $170 from Midway. They also have 77 grain Sierra's for 110 for 500. The 50 round boxes are a total rip off.
Pat
 
Re: Smk vs Hornady

Love Hornaday 52's for 300 and in in three gun. Shot this group the other day my best ever with a rifle. This was with my three gun rifle not with one of my precision rifles.
Noveskegroup.jpg

NoveskeRogueHunter.jpg

That is not typical of that rifle or load at all. That rifle shoots between 1 and 1.5 moa. and that load is averaging 1.2.