Hornady 140 ELDM Ammo Lot

[PONYBOY]

Anyone seeing Hornady ammo lose major velocity in recent lots? Out of a 22 inch barrel I've traditionally gotten 2675ish fps over a few lots, I ordered cases.

I ordered a case to get ready for WY mule deer and was really surprised to see consistent averages around 2635 over a few boxes.... Their box still states the same 2710 FPS.

Not the end of the world, just a big difference.

Hope all come back heavy this fall!

 

[Frozenlead]

Sounds about right. Both the 6.5prc and 6.5cm stuff I’ve gotten shoots a fair bit under box speed. There’s been lots of talk in regards to velocity issues since the release of the 7prc. I believe that Hornady has made some statements in regards to shortages in powder supply contributing to the variations.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Keep in mind, most manufacturers pressure test from a minimum spec chamber, throat and do everything they can to get the most velocity out of the published barrel length they are using. Are they publishing the velocity from a 22" bbl or is it 24"".

 

[TK161BOONER]

Is this for a 6.5 CM? Thanks

 

[S-3 ranch]

Typical Hornady antics
My new 6.5cm with 22 inch barrel never fails to underwhelm me with Hornady
Since hornday is the only game in town for my 375Ruger I just have to accept the unacceptable or pay for custom made loads @$125 per 20 count
20years ago I bought a savage 116 300wm that loved Hornady heavy magnums ( a bonded bullet) it was money in the bank killing stuff
I bought a case of same lot # , after I ran out of them and hornday discontinued the line , I sold the gun
I feel sorry for the guys who bought a 7prc and then Hornady changed the formula and it was a bad decision
Now they make nothing but thin jacket stuff that is very inconsistent, some times 150-200fps + below different lots from the OG version

 

[35WhelenAI]

Not going to pull punches here, the new cartridges are simply a way to make money for the manufacturers. Nothing existing rounds won't do the when the gun is built right and the barrel screwed on straight.

Interesting I never read posts about folks buying a Remington or Winchester rifle anymore. It's all about Tikka and other manufacturers. When a round is powder dependent from the manufacturer, it's totally taking advantage of folks thinking they've got something special and they reach for their folding money. Such is the internet age.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Interesting I never read posts about folks buying a Remington or Winchester rifle anymore. It's all about Tikka and other manufacturers.

When companies go bankrupt or have failed product releases, that tends to diminish their popularity. Neither Winchester or Remington are what they once were.


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[35WhelenAI]

You're correct. The rifles I own are from the bygone era. Hadn't thought of it that way but it's absolutely true.

 

[Southern Lights]

Hornady 6.5CM ammo in my 22" Blaser shoots at a paltry 2553fps average. Someone else I know with a 6.5PRC is getting speeds in the 2800-2900fps range max which isn't mind blowing either. The 6.5CM match loads are accurate, but not any better than my 6.5x55 handloads and about 200 fps slower.

FWIW, the 140 and 147 6.5CM Hornady Match shoot almost identical speeds from the same rifle (within about 25fps), but still under 2600 fps which again is weak-as.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Most 270, 30-06, 308, 280 remington, 7 mm Remington mag, 300 Win Mag, et al, clock pretty close to what they're advertised. It's a shame that cartridges folks bought into are powder dependent and not reliable for what they're supposed to be. That's a one-trick pony.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I am not seeing any issues here.

My Hornady 140-grain ELDM’s are 2530-2550 out of a 20” Tikka barrel. The box says 2710 from a 24” barrel.

The same rifle gets 2490 from AAC 140-grain FMJ. The box says 2700 from a 24” barrel.


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[Q_Sertorius]

Keep in mind, most manufacturers pressure test from a minimum spec chamber, throat and do everything they can to get the most velocity out of the published barrel length they are using. Are they publishing the velocity from a 22" bbl or is it 24"".

The standard test barrel is always 24”. And most on the box numbers are remarkably accurate in my experience, when using the same barrel length.

Obviously, the 7 PRC with the powder change and not changing the velocity listed on the box was FUBAR.


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[35WhelenAI]

I asked that question earlier in this thread, what barrel length is the advertised velocity from? If it says 24 in and you're shooting 22 in, that's physics, not manufacturer bashing territory. I didn't say this but a writer years ago said if two inches of barrel length causes you to take a shot or not take a shot, makes that much difference in the rifle you choose there's something else going on.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I asked that question earlier in this thread, what barrel length is the advertised velocity from? If it says 24 in and you're shooting 22 in, that's physics.

If you read the fine print, the advertised velocity for American ammo is always from a 24” barrel, unless the manufacturer explicitly lists a different length.


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[Southern Lights]

My Hornady Superperformance 130gr in 270 is 3155 from the same rifle 22" barrel which is the box spec. The 6.5CM Hornady ammo performance in my and others I know though is just much slower. I was pretty disappointed when I bought the caliber for the rifle as I didn't want to reload to get the correct speed. As it were, it is accurate but just makes it a shorter range caliber.

I'd understand if it is 24" testing in a 22" barrel. But we're talking nearly 200fps off box spec which means 100fps per inch which I don't find believable in a short action cartridge. Should be more like 25fps per inch.

 

[35WhelenAI]

If you read the fine print, the advertised velocity for American ammo is always from a 24” barrel, unless the manufacturer explicitly lists a different length.


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Like I said, and I'll add, get a bigger cartridge case to push the bullet faster if velocity is the end game

 

[Q_Sertorius]

My Hornady Superperformance 130gr in 270 is 3155 from the same rifle 22" barrel which is the box spec. The 6.5CM Hornady ammo performance in my and others I know though is just much slower. I was pretty disappointed when I bought the caliber for the rifle as I didn't want to reload to get the correct speed. As it were, it is accurate but just makes it a shorter range caliber.

I'd understand if it is 24" testing in a 22" barrel. But we're talking nearly 200fps off box spec which means 100fps per inch which I don't find believable in a short action cartridge. Should be more like 25fps per inch.

My Mauser 98 with a 21” barrel gets 2875 versus a box velocity of 3060 with Hornady American Whitetail .270 130-grain ammo. Seems fairly consistent in velocity lost due to using a shorter barrel.

What was really surprising was getting 2509 from my 18” 6.5mm Grendel with 123-grain Hornady black that says 2550 on the box. That ammo performs beautifully in my CZ.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[35WhelenAI]

My Hornady Superperformance 130gr in 270 is 3155 from the same rifle 22" barrel which is the box spec. The 6.5CM Hornady ammo performance in my and others I know though is just much slower. I was pretty disappointed when I bought the caliber for the rifle as I didn't want to reload to get the correct speed. As it were, it is accurate but just makes it a shorter range caliber.

I'd understand if it is 24" testing in a 22" barrel. But we're talking nearly 200fps off box spec which means 100fps per inch which I don't find believable in a short action cartridge. Should be more like 25fps per inch.

You have a point, but you also have an individual firearm that is a rule unto itself. There's no idea if it's a chamber or a barrel that's cut and rifled with components that are new or toward the end of their lifespan and due for replacement, etc.

Superformance ammo is loaded with a different powder than standard stuff, if standard stuff relied on a powder this not available currently, the manufacturer does the next best thing and calls it good. I've had standard 270 or 30-06 ammo from Remington (as an example, weighed the powder and visually looked at it) loaded with a certain charge weight in one lot, and a totally different powder and charge weight in another lot. They got to watch the bottom line.

 

[Southern Lights]

I get it, but my story is not uncommon with others I've spoken to. It's an age old problem and if you don't want to reload then you get what you get. But the 6.5CM Hornady Match is by far the worst I've seen in factory load claim vs. actual.

 

[35WhelenAI]

I get it, but my story is not uncommon with others I've spoken to. It's an age old problem and if you don't want to reload then you get what you get. But the 6.5CM Hornady Match is by far the worst I've seen in factory load claim vs. actual.

I can feel your pain, when you don't reload, You are at the mercy of the manufacturer. Is there a reason you are beholden to that specific ammo? What about other manufacturers that load the same chambering?