overload condition factory Hornady Ammo

northmedic2075

northmedic2075

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I picked up a couple of boxes of Hornady's Superformance Match 168gr A-MAX ammo .. and off for a range day. Fired the SASS with my own hand loads, worked out great, then switched to my custom rem 700 308 built by a excellent smith out of Kamloops .. None the less, have shot various ammo out of this rifle with no problems .. Started off with the Superformance and it was a grouping I couldn't believe - approx 5 inches which this rifle holds less than dime sized groupings at 100 yards. When I noticed the final shot was 5 inches high and the large black plume of smoke from the gun. I had to force the bolt open and I noticed the primer had pushed out and the extractor was broken and jammed. I picked up the brass and noticed 2 other cases had the primers missing that ended up sitting the mag. I have talked to Hornady and they are replacing the ammo and will fix the rifle at no cost .. I pulled a couple of the bullets and weighed the powder: 1 at 46.3gr and other 2 at 49.3 gr of their secret recipe. The primer pockets are twice the Normal size now.

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What is the manual say for a max load? I shoot Superperformance through my '06 with no problems so far. I'm curious what Hornady has to say by way of an explanation.
 
emerson said:
What is the manual say for a max load? I shoot Superperformance through my '06 with no problems so far. I'm curious what Hornady has to say by way of an explanation.
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the Max Loads I Can find is 47 gr of BlC 2 But Only they know what kind of powder there using It will not be available to us meer mortals. I have also found info On other forums of overlaod conditons in 308 and 30/06 . with this ammo.
Hornady has been Great about it so far as I mentioned above.
 
Hot loaded factory ammo is best in factory rifles, not custom barrels and chambers... a custom chamber may increase pressures...

Good to hear Hornady will fix it.

A little slow on noticing the missing primers...?
 
guntech said:
Hot loaded factory ammo is best in factory rifles, not custom barrels and chambers... a custom chamber may increase pressures...

Good to hear Hornady will fix it.

A little slow on noticing the missing primers...?
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Factory ammo not something I would worry about so yes didnt pick up on the primer issue at First .. There have been cases in a few factory Guns as well as I research this more.
 
northmedic2075 said:
Factory ammo not something I would worry about so yes didnt pick up on the primer issue at First .. There have been cases in a few factory Guns as well as I research this more.
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Every once in a while this happens to pretty well all of the manufacturers. It reacts differently in different rifles.

Good that it wasn't worse...
 
that looks like the ejector is jammed back the extractor looks fine.

every manufacturer is going to have hot batches now and then. its not good when it damages a rifle. but replacing the spring behind the ejector isn't that bad of a cost. rems are generally pretty strong, seen some take a case that melted down (so much powder it cut the back of the case open and split the side of the case) all it has was a crushed spring under the ejector.

Coyote: pretty much all mass production manufacturers will not warranty a gun with handloads.
 
A very gun savvy friend of mine in the States has had problems with the same Hornady ammo. He tells me that Hormady uses a custom blend of powders, so looking up tables for maximum loads will tell you nothing. The trouble with a manufacturer loading to the upper side of the average maximum SAAMI pressure, I gather this is what Hornady does in this case, is just too sensitive to minor variations in temperature, powder loads (2 grains variation in custom ammo is not good) and chamber size, among others such as freebore and throat condition. Now add variations in primer compound and you're looking for operating on the hairy edge of safety.
 
As always, the manufacturers dont tell the "whole truth".
They say 100-200fps increase in velocity over standard ammo. Without boosting the pressure.

This is B.S.!
Physics dictates you have to have pressure to create velocity.
The old saying that comes to mind is:

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Velocity is equal to pressure over time(time meaning effective barrel length)
If using one single firearm, and you want to increase velocity, there is only two or three ways to do it.
1) boost peak pressure.
2) boost peak pressure for a longer time.
3) boost peak pressure while having a longer barrel ( longer accelleration curve/time).

Number one and two both increase the risk of pressure related ruptures. Potentially excceeding the yield point of both the cartridge and/or chamber.
If you excceed the elastic limit of the brass, and very slightly, excceed the elastic threshhold limit of the chamber, (thus the chamber returns to original cut dimensions after the pressure of the fireing process), you get a sticky case.
The more sticky the case, the closer to total rupture you got!
Scary huh!?

Just be careful guys, I believe the manufacturers dont always really care about the customer at times, they will lie and twist technical information to bolster sales.
I prefer to see "REAL" performance/safety improvements over all that HYPE.

Thats my two cents on the subject.

Have fun and straight shoot'in you gunnutz! 

Number three is the only realistic way to increase velocity.
"BUT", even this can change the burning characteristics of a cartridge load.
 
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Just in closing with an update I was Contacted today By the ballistician from hornady who shared with me the powder used and the testing process in the ammo the Load data is 49.2 gr Non the less only 30,000 rds of this lot was produced and quality testing is done every 9000 rds. I recommend hornady to anyone they stand behind there Product I can vouch for that they are sending new ammo to trial same stuff new lot and are requesting I provide feed back on it . as well the powder used is superformance . Great People to Deal with hands down
 
Superformance (powder) doesnt really increase pressure, it holds its pressure by not "exploding" as quickly. From what i understand the factory ammo uses "blends" of powders (11 different blends between all calibers of superformance loaded ammo) which is where the problem would be.
 
Glad they are stepping up to the plate and asking or feedback. I use Hornady bullets and consistantly find their bullets to out shoot most others in most of the guns I load for.
 
northmedic2075 said:
Just in closing with an update I was Contacted today By the ballistician from hornady who shared with me the powder used and the testing process in the ammo the Load data is 49.2 gr Non the less only 30,000 rds of this lot was produced and quality testing is done every 9000 rds. I recommend hornady to anyone they stand behind there Product I can vouch for that they are sending new ammo to trial same stuff new lot and are requesting I provide feed back on it . as well the powder used is superformance . Great People to Deal with hands down
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Any ideas of batch numbers?
 
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