Thread: Factory ammo speed variations

Today I took two packets of hornady precision hunter ammo to the range. 1 purchased about 1 month ago (gold primers)and one a couple of days ago (silver primers).

The original packet has been cruising along nicely at 2903 fps. I chronied them side by side today and ended up with 113fps different. The new packet chronied at 2790fps which seems a big difference. I know it only made a 4 inch difference in drop at 500yards but shows you how repeatable factory ammo can be.

I used that stuff in 270wsm before I started reloading. When I got my reloading gear I pulled a few rounds and weighed the charges and found quite a bit of variation in charge weights. Not so precise really, it’s all about the marketing.

That bigger variation in velocity is more likely due to a change in powder, just like reloaders big manufacturers are struggling to get components as well, note by your own observations different primers between to packs, I'm picking they are different batches (batch number should be on the pack).
It is not unusual for manufacturers to change powders between batches due to unavailability.
Sux they don't change the data on the pack to match but likely it's still just as good albeit a little slower.
Who knows next batch may be faster again.

I use Hornady superformance in my 7-08 which it loves, have chrony'd it and it was super consistant.

Interestingly i have 12 boxes of the stuff left & also have gold & silver primers from box to box - The newer boxes i bought are the silver ones.
May have to shoot them over the chrony to compare....

Greetings,
I suspect that this is why almost all target and long range shooters handload.
GPM.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings,
I suspect that this is why almost all target and long range shooters handload.
GPM.

100 percent, I will reload for this rifle aswell but was quietly impressed when a factory round came back at 2900fps, not so much at 2790fps

I had the exact same thing happen last month with 270 precision hunter ammo. Older packet i had was silver primers was running at a gutless 2660. The newer packet with gold primers is running at 2876. They are as others have said different batch numbers but i wasnt stoked... currently working up a load for the rifle now with the 145eldx and reloader22

Personally i think the ammo companies are hopeless, definitely not interested in putting out a quality product.
If they cant have a product line be within 50fps avg. between batches , even with different powders then they arent trying very hard.
With the variation in velocities just shown here the company needs to put it out as a different product or wait until they can get the components to get it performing to the advertised product spec.

search online hornady have admitted they changed powders on precision hunter ammo,they used to use rl26 they haven't said what they are using now,6.5 prc ammo is terrible the eldx I last used had close to 200fps slower and ranged 100fps difference within the same packet and closest to packet advertised speed was 100 slower.its junk.

It’s not only Hornady ammo as I test some 95 gr Ballistic Silver tips a short while back in my 243. From four shots I got an average speed of 2826 fps and the spread was 156.4 fps, measured on a Garmin chrono. Not a big sample but you get an idea how good it is.

Isn't ignorance bliss bush hunting buy another box or smack out some more reloads, no chronograph etc check at 100 over the ute bonnet a couple inch's high she will do.
Life has got a bit complicated.

The ammunition manufactures could not careless what the velocity/speed of their ammunition is and they do not use the powders that are supplied to the reloaders market , it is an inconsequential aspect to them .
Ammunition is commercially loaded to pressure not velocity and the specs. for military ammunition is in the 4-5 MOA . And the volume of Government contract dwarfs civilian supplies with their inherent petulant customers . You do the maths .

Originally Posted by TroyMclean

I had the exact same thing happen last month with 270 precision hunter ammo. Older packet i had was silver primers was running at a gutless 2660. The newer packet with gold primers is running at 2876. They are as others have said different batch numbers but i wasnt stoked... currently working up a load for the rifle now with the 145eldx and reloader22

What length barrel are you running mate?
How's the load development? Il possibly load the 143s with reloader 23 myself

R22 gives good velocities in the .270. 58.5 gives me close to 3k with the 145 eldx in a 24 inch tube. R22 is a bit hot as temps get over 36C if ammo is in the sun or a hot chamber. But maybe not a NZ issue except up on the tops in summer.


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Originally Posted by Nick.m

What length barrel are you running mate?
How's the load development? Il possibly load the 143s with reloader 23 myself

It’s an older model 70 with a 21” barrel, I’ve worked up to 56gr of rl22 so far with no pressure signs so will go abit higher, it’s shooting moa and loaded just to sammi spec.. if I can find a load anywhere close to 2900 that’s accurate I’ll be happy as.
Not sure on the speed as I need to borrow my friends Garmin chrony again on the next day out shooting.
I was over the moon with the factory stuff doing 2876 out of a 21” barrel and wouldn’t have bothered reloading if I could count on it being consistent.