Expected consistency from factory ammo

Boon321

FNG
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Jan 11, 2024
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So, I have been getting my setup together for my 300wm. A 24.4" barrel with an RXD30TI suppressor. Considering I usually hunt in PA and NY, shots over 100 yards are about nonexistent. This was to get ballistic data for a 2026 western hunt. Terminal ascent 200 grain groups nicely in my rifle, and I wanted to get some more exact velocities. I grabbed a deal on a Caldwell G2 chrono. The first box I shot was purchased about a year ago when I got the rifle. That box performed as I would expect from what I have read, with velocities a bit above what was on the box. I recently picked up three more boxes. I cracked one, and the results were much lower in velocity, by over 100fps difference. I have not opened the other two boxes yet.

Is that normal in factory ammo or did I mess something up? This was my first time using a chronograph.

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That is not out of the norm but I'd also say it's not acceptable. 2725 FPS MV with a 200 grain bullet is pretty darn pedestrian in a 24"+ 300 wm barrel. This is why you'll see people saying to buy up a bunch of a certain lot of ammo if it is proven because this kind of variance seems to be ever more common lately.

Only factory 300WM ammo i've shot is berger 215s (which i think is discontinued) and 200 Gr hornady precision hunter. The 215s were 2890 FPS and 200g hornady was 2950+ in 26" barrels.
 
That is not out of the norm but I'd also say it's not acceptable. 2725 FPS MV with a 200 grain bullet is pretty darn pedestrian in a 24"+ 300 wm barrel. This is why you'll see people saying to buy up a bunch of a certain lot of ammo if it is proven because this kind of variance seems to be ever more common lately.

Only factory 300WM ammo i've shot is berger 215s (which i think is discontinued) and 200 Gr hornady precision hunter. The 215s were 2890 FPS and 200g hornady was 2950+ in 26" barrels.
Maybe it's just a very slow barrel? The recent 18" 6CM barrel I'm trying out seems a bit slow too, or maybe Hornady factory ammo is just slow as hell in 6CM. Two different lots of 108gr ELD-M, one was 2760 and the next was 2715 average which seems a bit slow even for an 18" barrel. I'm hoping to get a velocity gain (only 60 rounds through the barrel right now) but we'll see with the 103gr ELD-X ammo I'm trying out in a couple days if it's a trend.
 
Maybe it's just a very slow barrel? The recent 18" 6CM barrel I'm trying out seems a bit slow too, or maybe Hornady factory ammo is just slow as hell in 6CM. Two different lots of 108gr ELD-M, one was 2760 and the next was 2715 average which seems a bit slow even for an 18" barrel. I'm hoping to get a velocity gain (only 60 rounds through the barrel right now) but we'll see with the 103gr ELD-X ammo I'm trying out in a couple days if it's a trend.

He said a different lot is over 100 FPS faster so clearly there is ammo lot variance. Maybe one lot was hot and one was slower than avg but that is still a big swing. 24.4" sounds like tikka to me so yeah i'd expect them to be a bit slower.

2760 Sounds close to what i've experienced with 108 6CM factory hornady in an 18" tube but there's been other reports here of turd/slow lots of that lately too.
 
Thanks for the feedback. It is a Tikka Roughtech.

Are any factory loads known for being a bit more consistent? For a one-time long-range hunt, I am not looking at starting to reload.
 
Thanks for the feedback. It is a Tikka Roughtech.

Are any factory loads known for being a bit more consistent? For a one-time long-range hunt, I am not looking at starting to reload.

IMO your best bet without paying disproportionately for custom loaded ammo is to find a lot that does well and buy a pile of it. If you want to buy 20-100 rounds at a time, there's a fair bit of likelihood you'll continue to experience significant variance.
 
IMO your best bet without paying disproportionately for custom loaded ammo is to find a lot that does well and buy a pile of it. If you want to buy 20-100 rounds at a time, there's a fair bit of likelihood you'll continue to experience significant variance.
Good advice! I checked on custom ammo from Unknown Munitions. I am sure they are great but at $190 a box, I may have to rethink my reloading stance.
 
Good advice! I checked on custom ammo from Unknown Munitions. I am sure they are great but at $190 a box, I may have to rethink my reloading stance.
At $190 a box I would expect it to use unicorn farts instead of gun powder and have zero drop for the first 500 yards. Is that for a box of 50?
 
Good advice! I checked on custom ammo from Unknown Munitions. I am sure they are great but at $190 a box, I may have to rethink my reloading stance.
Check out Hendershot's out of Maryland. I have had good luck with their custom ammo for my 325 wsm.
 
He said a different lot is over 100 FPS faster so clearly there is ammo lot variance. Maybe one lot was hot and one was slower than avg but that is still a big swing. 24.4" sounds like tikka to me so yeah i'd expect them to be a bit slower.

2760 Sounds close to what i've experienced with 108 6CM factory hornady in an 18" tube but there's been other reports here of turd/slow lots of that lately too.
Recently spun an 18” 6cm barrel on one of my tikkas and finally got it to the range. Over 20 rounds it averaged 2673 fps with Hornady 108 factory ammo (SD in the teens, can’t recall exact). New barrel so should improve but dang was that disappointing. Will definitely be handholding for this one regardless
 
Ive gotten 2960 with one lot in 108 ELDM and 2795 with another lot of 108 ELDM. a couple lots in between. It sucks but I don;t really have a choice. in a 7mag i've surprisingly gotten single digit sds with 150gr Remington core lokt tipped and the one buck we shot with it performed well. I think finding bullet info to input it into a solver was a little challenging though because I don't think its in ABs system so ymmv but that may be worth a look.
 
Tried out some factory ammo today. Only 5 shot groups, but was pleasantly surprised by the SD’s. Speeds were not great.
6 CM, 16.5” barrel
 

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Over the years I have found most of the newer factory ammo to be very consistent. The one rifle I own shoots federal fusion so well that there is no reload that’s going to make it any better. It is the benchmark.
 
I reload for many of the rifles I own but if I find factory ammo that a rifle loves I buy a case of the same lot #.
 
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