Expected consistency from factory ammo

[Wacko]

As always, my maximum range is the range at which I can put 10/10 shots in the 8” circle from a given position under field conditions with that rifle and ammo. The target ultimately determines what controllable factors need more work.

All I'm saying is the ammo can decide for you too. I was shooting at 500 meters with this ammo and was having multiple "misses" high and low with the same dope. Then I switched to different ammo with a much better "lower" ES...what do ya know...my hit percentages increased substantially.

So not choosing a better (more consistent) ammo would limit my range to engage - not necessarily my shooting ability.

 

[Fowl Play]

I’ll just give another data point here. Purchased 1,000 rounds of 6.5 Hornady ELDX for practice/hunting about a year ago. All the same lot. Starting to pick up a box or two here and there as I’m traveling across the country as I’m starting to run low. Most shoot pretty consistently. Last range day I broke into a box I picked up in a small town in Montana. That box shot 5 inches low at 300 yards. No chronograph with me, but definitely an underperforming batch. I was starting to get overconfident on the consistency… definitely worthwhile to check zero with new batches prior to long range shooting.

 

[AirborneEScouter]

Has anyone had any pressure issues with Hornady factory ammo lately? I have a 6.5prc (147 eldm) and a 6cm (108 eldm) that are both new barrels chambered by a local to me gunsmith (tikka actions) and am getting psychotic pressure indicators. The 6.5 prc has given me nearly constant heavy bolt lift and with a couple rounds (different boxes) it was unacceptably heavy, like striking the bolt with my palm to get the bolt open. The 6cm has not been as bad but bolt swipe on many of them and ejector plunger marks on a few. These rifles are suppressed. Both are shooting +/- 1.1ish moa 10 round groups so accuracy is good but it’s a little nuts. I’ll be handloading soon and I’m sure the pressure signs will disappear due to load work up but just curious what folks are seeing. I probably need to do a little more investigation like measure CBTO on factory loaded vs what the chamber tolerates but the gunsmith is very reputable and for both barrels to have the issue I find that curious