Well my case of 5000 I bought a few years back is dwindling, time to restock. I noticed the packaging is different than older stuff. Other than load date, is the new stuff made with the exact same ingredients?
SK Standard Plus
- Thread starter johnl
- Start date
Technically, no. By now they will be using a new lot of powder, even though it is the same "type" as they used before, chemically there are minor variations batch to batch. Same goes for the lot of primer compound, lead, and lube being used. Combined with wear/tear and adjustment of the loading machines, of course the ammo company strives to manufacture it as consistently as possible, but it is physically impossible to practically do so at a reasonable cost to the consumer. Just like some barrel makers use 416 stainless steel, each lot they receive will be slightly different than the previous.
I guess what you're really asking is if they did some major overhaul/reformulation to the ammo, and the answer is no, the change was only cosmetic to the packaging. Like your favorite brand of beer getting a new label, still the same suds you love but with a shiny new wrapper (and all the batch-to-batch variation inherent to the product
)
I was given a sample pack when I bought my Anschutz 1712, funny the SK shot the second tightest group out of the sample pack with the Eley Tenex being the tightest and of course the most expensive
Lucky you. SK generally does well for me, but I still have half a brick of Tenex that has done no better than 1/2"-1" out of 6 of my rifles so far. Have yet to try it in my recent custom builds due to winter, but that'll change soon. I always keep a couple bricks of SK handy, chances are one of your rifles will like it well enough.
I was at the Lapua rimfire test site, trying Center-x ammo. Out of 12 lots, 2 made the grade with tight groups. The difference in lots were due to being made on different shifts, and days. Buying a 5000 round case is a gamble. Best solution is to ask the dealer for boxes of 50 rounds with various lot numbers. Good luck!
