Anyone famileir with Hornady's Superformance ammo?
- Thread starter LeeAdama
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There is a difference in the powder itself. Hornady is toting the SuperPerformance as the result of a newer generation of proprietary powders. They are to replace their old "Light Magnum" line. It is said that the newer SuperPerformance uses less powder than the old "Light Magnum" rounds but as for the actual charge weight you'd have to pull some bullets to find out.
Yes it says less than Light Magnum but what about just regular rounds like a plain old 30-06 vs a superformance 30-06?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
What possible difference does it make??
It uses whatever amount of powder the lab testing indicates it takes to reach the stated performance with that lot of powder.
The next powder lot may require a different amount to reach the same performance.
Anyway, whatever it is, it's a pretty safe bet it's a compressed charge case full.
At least that has been the case of all the other recent "super" calibers released by Hornady and others in recent years.
But it is of little interest to most reloaders anyway, because we can't get the "Unobtaineum" grade powders they are using if we tried.
rc
It uses whatever amount of powder the lab testing indicates it takes to reach the stated performance with that lot of powder.
The next powder lot may require a different amount to reach the same performance.
Anyway, whatever it is, it's a pretty safe bet it's a compressed charge case full.
At least that has been the case of all the other recent "super" calibers released by Hornady and others in recent years.
But it is of little interest to most reloaders anyway, because we can't get the "Unobtaineum" grade powders they are using if we tried.
rc
ArchAngelCD
Member.
It's not a compressed charge but it is totally different powder. (like said above) They developed the new powders because of the problems associated with compressed loads. From what I've read the new powder line they developed delivers near magnum velocities without the excessive pressures associated with magnum rounds and without having to use a compressed charge.
snuffy
Member
Take a look at this from Hornady;
http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/superformance-technology.pdf
What they say doesn't seem possible because we don't have access to the powders they are using. It makes you wonder if we ever will. The one thing they don't say is, who is this mystery powder company? It's a closely guarded secret, because the "other guys" would certainly like to know, ya know the other ammunition companies like Federal, winchester?
They say they're getting higher velocity WITH acceptable accuracy. Well we'll see about that, I doubt I'll ever buy any just to satisfy my curiosity.
http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/superformance-technology.pdf
What they say doesn't seem possible because we don't have access to the powders they are using. It makes you wonder if we ever will. The one thing they don't say is, who is this mystery powder company? It's a closely guarded secret, because the "other guys" would certainly like to know, ya know the other ammunition companies like Federal, winchester?
They say they're getting higher velocity WITH acceptable accuracy. Well we'll see about that, I doubt I'll ever buy any just to satisfy my curiosity.
Hornady Superformance personal test
Here are my own test results. I bought two boxes of Hornady Superformance in 30-06, both SST bullets; one box 150 grain and one box 165 grain. My friend and I split the two boxes and shot 100 yd range on a benchrest-type mechanical rest. We chrongraphed every round. He was shooting a Ruger No. 1 22" bbl and I a Rem 700 22" bbl. Hornady's claim on the ammo box is 3080 fps for the 150 grain bullet and 2960 for the 165 grain. He averaged 3060 fps on the 150's; I averaged 3042. On the 165's he got 2928 and I got 2885. The velocity deviations between rounds at both bullet weights were small. Considering Hornady's test barrel was probably 24 inches, their muzzle velocity claim is right on. For comparison, the stated MV on Hornady Custom ammo, 30-06, 165gr. BTSP is 2800. So, yes, 160 fps higher with Superformance than Custom. But what about accuracy? With the above stated Custom ammo I get 3/4" - 7/8" four-shot groups. With the 165 Superformance my best 4-shot group was 2 5/16". My friend's groups were even worse. So I'll take the accuracy over the velocity. On a 200-yard neck shot the deer probably wouldn't feel the 160 fps difference. If all you want is speed you can get Hornady's results with H4350 and stay within the SAAMI max pressure limits.
Here are my own test results. I bought two boxes of Hornady Superformance in 30-06, both SST bullets; one box 150 grain and one box 165 grain. My friend and I split the two boxes and shot 100 yd range on a benchrest-type mechanical rest. We chrongraphed every round. He was shooting a Ruger No. 1 22" bbl and I a Rem 700 22" bbl. Hornady's claim on the ammo box is 3080 fps for the 150 grain bullet and 2960 for the 165 grain. He averaged 3060 fps on the 150's; I averaged 3042. On the 165's he got 2928 and I got 2885. The velocity deviations between rounds at both bullet weights were small. Considering Hornady's test barrel was probably 24 inches, their muzzle velocity claim is right on. For comparison, the stated MV on Hornady Custom ammo, 30-06, 165gr. BTSP is 2800. So, yes, 160 fps higher with Superformance than Custom. But what about accuracy? With the above stated Custom ammo I get 3/4" - 7/8" four-shot groups. With the 165 Superformance my best 4-shot group was 2 5/16". My friend's groups were even worse. So I'll take the accuracy over the velocity. On a 200-yard neck shot the deer probably wouldn't feel the 160 fps difference. If all you want is speed you can get Hornady's results with H4350 and stay within the SAAMI max pressure limits.
snuffy
Member
jtlgun, thanks for the excellent test, and welcome to the forum. A lot remains to be seen about this "new" ammo. I have no plans whatsoever to try it. I'm seldom interested in getting that maximum speed out of my rifles. I'm much more interested in accuracy, small groups.
I'll be more interested if the powders they are using become available to us handloaders.
I'll be more interested if the powders they are using become available to us handloaders.
New Hornady powder
As an addendum to my "test results" above, I pulled a bullet on the 165 SST Superformance (30-06) and examined the powder. It certainly appears different than most powders. It is not ball, not flake, not cylindrical (extruded) --- it looks like very tiny disks. The powder charge weighed 61.8 grains. I realize you can't make judgements based on weight alone (volume to weight ratio, burn rate, compactability are all factors) but that is getting up toward the max end of the reloading scale for 165 gr. 30-06. The Hodgdon reloading tables show you can get 2938 fps (only 22fps less than Hornady SF) with 59 grains of H4350. Hornady may claim less "felt" recoil. But the only time I ever really notice recoil is at the range - - - about the 30th shot from my 300 mag when I am working up a new load.
As an addendum to my "test results" above, I pulled a bullet on the 165 SST Superformance (30-06) and examined the powder. It certainly appears different than most powders. It is not ball, not flake, not cylindrical (extruded) --- it looks like very tiny disks. The powder charge weighed 61.8 grains. I realize you can't make judgements based on weight alone (volume to weight ratio, burn rate, compactability are all factors) but that is getting up toward the max end of the reloading scale for 165 gr. 30-06. The Hodgdon reloading tables show you can get 2938 fps (only 22fps less than Hornady SF) with 59 grains of H4350. Hornady may claim less "felt" recoil. But the only time I ever really notice recoil is at the range - - - about the 30th shot from my 300 mag when I am working up a new load.
GW Staar
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There is a excellent non-biased review at Realguns.com If Joe likes it, I'm betting I will...
I hope to try it myself soon.
I hope to try it myself soon.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
My standard 30-06 load is 58.0gr H4350 under a 165gr Sierra GameKing bullet. I agree there's no reason to buy expensive ammo in the name of performance if you reload. BUT, if you don't reload I think Hornady's Superformance ammo is worth a good look...
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