Hornady 6mm ARC ELD-VT Factory Load - Lot to Lot Variations

[dårlig jeger]

I shot two boxes of factory Hornady 80gr ELD-VT through a tikka bolt gun. After a few rounds to get a zero (new barrel) I shot 3, 10 round groups. All were between 3/4 and 1 inch and if overlaid, wouldn't be much over an inch. Good velocity at 3040 (24") and good sd's. Perfect for an upcoming prairie dog trip.

So I picked up 10 more boxes and they are a different lot number. So I measured and pulled 2 or each lot:
Lot 1 (good shooting) col 2.255 - charge 28.5
Lot 2 (haven't shot yet) col 2.260 - charge 31.5

Here are what the powders look like:


They look like the same powder to me. Fwiw, the numerically lower lot number has the higher charge.

Does anyone have an idea what the powder may be? Is it the same as I have estimated or could they be different?

Has anyone seen a 10% variation in charge between factory lots?

I'd like to replicate the load. And ideas or opinions are welcome.

 

[nm.otter]

Shoot it and see how it does.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Agree with above. Shoot it to measure performance if it shoots the same, worry less lol.

If it shoots different then you know why and can chalk it up to Horndays typical variation found in some of their lots.

 

[Taudisio]

I shot two boxes of factory Hornady 80gr ELD-VT through a tikka bolt gun. After a few rounds to get a zero (new barrel) I shot 3, 10 round groups. All were between 3/4 and 1 inch and if overlaid, wouldn't be much over an inch. Good velocity at 3040 (24") and good sd's. Perfect for an upcoming prairie dog trip.

So I picked up 10 more boxes and they are a different lot number. So I measured and pulled 2 or each lot:
Lot 1 (good shooting) col 2.255 - charge 28.5
Lot 2 (haven't shot yet) col 2.260 - charge 31.5

Here are what the powders look like:
View attachment 1069050View attachment 1069051

They look like the same powder to me. Fwiw, the numerically lower lot number has the higher charge.

Does anyone have an idea what the powder may be? Is it the same as I have estimated or could they be different?

Has anyone seen a 10% variation in charge between factory lots?

I'd like to replicate the load. And ideas or opinions are welcome.

Looks like x-terminator or tac.

 

[dårlig jeger]

Shoot it and see how it does.

Agree with above. Shoot it to measure performance if it shoots the same, worry less lol.

The plan is to shoot it and see. I thought it was worth sharing. But, I was a little disappointed by the difference in lots. I was hoping to just take them out west and shoot.

I'm also hoping the earlier 31.5 load isn't too hot, and thats why they went down so far. I bought a case.

Looks like x-terminator or tac.

I have some tac, I'll see if that's the ticket. Thanks!

 

[Taudisio]

I shot two boxes of factory Hornady 80gr ELD-VT through a tikka bolt gun. After a few rounds to get a zero (new barrel) I shot 3, 10 round groups. All were between 3/4 and 1 inch and if overlaid, wouldn't be much over an inch. Good velocity at 3040 (24") and good sd's. Perfect for an upcoming prairie dog trip.

So I picked up 10 more boxes and they are a different lot number. So I measured and pulled 2 or each lot:
Lot 1 (good shooting) col 2.255 - charge 28.5
Lot 2 (haven't shot yet) col 2.260 - charge 31.5

Here are what the powders look like:
View attachment 1069050View attachment 1069051

They look like the same powder to me. Fwiw, the numerically lower lot number has the higher charge.

Does anyone have an idea what the powder may be? Is it the same as I have estimated or could they be different?

Has anyone seen a 10% variation in charge between factory lots?

I'd like to replicate the load. And ideas or opinions are welcome.

Those also appear to be identical photos

 

[sierracharlie338]

The plan is to shoot it and see. I thought it was worth sharing. But, I was a little disappointed by the difference in lots. I was hoping to just take them out west and shoot.

I'm also hoping the earlier 31.5 load isn't too hot, and thats why they went down so far. I bought a case.


I have some tac, I'll see if that's the ticket. Thanks!

Yeah I hear ya. I’ve been disappointed with changes in Hornady lots quite a bit over the years. Also had some Hornady stuff that was mighty hot on the borderline of being too much.

 

[dårlig jeger]

Those also appear to be identical photos

You're right, I uploaded the same photo twice. I have a lot of trouble uploading photos for some reason. It takes 6 tries to get it to load, and when it worked, I ran with it.

I have updated the post.

 

[Taudisio]

You're right, I uploaded the same photo twice. I have a lot of trouble uploading photos for some reason. It takes 6 tries to get it to load, and when it worked, I ran with it.

I have updated the post.

Still looks like a ramshot/accurate powder. I looked at their load data, x-term (aa2230 is the same product), Tac, aa2460 and aa2520 are all in that bullet range on Hornadys data.

 

[JFK]

I wouldn’t put much stock in what the powders “look” like. Ammo manufacturers have access to powders that the public doesn’t. That big of a discrepancy is likely due to them being different powders or they have the ability to test actual pressure of different lots of powder and make charge weight adjustments.

I’d shoot lot #2 and only worry about it if you are seeing pressure or accuracy is lacking compared to lot #1.

Trying to mimic factory loads isn’t worth the effort. Maybe use COL as starting point if the factory load shoots good with a particular bullet, but otherwise I’d just work off load data for a known powder.

 

[doc holiday13]

things like this are why i went to handloads. Consistent loading is something most factory loads are not known for. It must not be easy to set tooling calibration on the big industrial loaders, so teh tech looks at the "receipe" and says "yeah its close enough" and rolls with it

 

[43.6N]

I wouldn’t put much stock in what the powders “look” like. Ammo manufacturers have access to powders that the public doesn’t. That big of a discrepancy is likely due to them being different powders or they have the ability to test actual pressure of different lots of powder and make charge weight adjustments.

I’d shoot lot #2 and only worry about it if you are seeing pressure or accuracy is lacking compared to lot #1.

Trying to mimic factory loads isn’t worth the effort. Maybe use COL as starting point if the factory load shoots good with a particular bullet, but otherwise I’d just work off load data for a known powder.

Yep I think this is it.
It might even be the same powder, but the manufacturer had a different volumetric density tolerance on the second run of propellant.

Shoot them both, see how the velocities compare.