The problem with hornady light mags

[walking arsenal]

is that it is the only hornady 30-06 ammo i can seem to find in any shop around here.

I'm not sure what to make of it really, the fact that it is a hot load makes me a bit weary of trying it in my favorite hunting rifle.

Ive used hornadys 165 grain sst interlock for a couple of seasons and have had great long range luck with it. My rifle likes it and i like it.

I'm considering buying a box to try it but to save myself some coin and trouble, i figured i would come and ask for opinions here first.

I did a search before i posted but didnt get the answers i wanted.

I want to know.

Is this stuff hard on rifles?

Is it similar in ballistics to the load mentioned above?

How is it for muzzle blast and recoil?

 

[Brasso]

I haven't used them myself, but from what I've read Hornady just uses a very proprietory powder and carefully loads them. They should be fine as long as your rifle is in good working order. As to the blast and recoil, I couldn't tell you, but I assume they will recoil more as they are a more powerful load than normal factory.

 

[dakotasin]

back before i saw the light and started reloading, i used hornady light mags exclusively. i've killed a lot of deer, coyote, fox, badger, antelopes, etc w/ the stuff. it is excellent ammo.

as far as ballistics, the stuff chronies out extremely close to what is printed on the box - and that data changes w/ lot # changes.

so, use it w/ confidence. it is probably the best factory loads out there, it is not hard on your gun, and it is absolutely reliable, and for factory ammo, quite accurate.

muzzle blast and recoil: i'm sure w/ appropriate instruments, it could be measure and shown that those loads have more of both. but, what you will actually feel and hear will be no different. if your normal ammo happens to be something like federal classic, you will probably notice a difference. but if you normally use real ammo, you won't tell a difference (federal greatly exaggerates their figures - the stuff is quite weak).

 

[clange]

No personal experience yet, but my uncle has been using them for years in a mauser based rifle. I'm about to start using them here and there in my 700. If you have a good bolt gun you'll be fine.

Dunno about semis. I think my dads BAR safari .30-06 manual says to not use them. Interestingly hes got another safari that fires 300 win mag out of an aluminum receiver, so apparently they know how to build one to handle hot loads.

 

[Bwana John]

I would only use them in a bolt action. I believe that Hornandy states just that on the box.

The pressure/time curve is very different with the Light-Mag stuff.

 

[HankB]

Hornady Light Mags use a heavy charge of a proprietary slow-burning powder, which is compressed quite heavily. This strongly suggests to me that the pressure curve is probably not good for most gasguns, which generally are "tuned" to operate with gasport pressures in a specific range.

I'd have NO qualms at all about using them in my Model 70 or any other good bolt action rifle.

One of these days, just out of curiousity, I'll buy a box and see how the chrono'd velocity compares with my pet handloads using RL22 or the (unfortunately) long-defunct N205 . . .

 

[thereisnospoon]

Have used (in my bolt gun!)

Will use again

and again...

 

[MM]

I have shot precisely 20 rounds of the Hornady Light Mag 308 thru my PTR-91 when I first bought it and was breaking-in the barrel. I read that it might be a little rough on semi autos, so I have gone to a steady diet of milsurp, either Lake City, Aussie or Argentine. I have not perceived any bad thiings with my personal weapon, just do not want to court the possibility of beating-up this wonderful rifle that makes me smile everytime I shoot it,
SatKong

 

[stevelyn]

I use the Federal Premium High Energy loads in my .30-06. No problems (It's a Ruger #1 RSI).
Don't load them in a semi-auto though. You might get away with it for awhile, but they'll eventually batter your gun to death.

 

[Lonestar.45]

I use the Hornday Light Mags exclusively now in my .270 BDL, with the 140 gr bullet. I've been doing so for several years now. Not so much because I want magnum power or think I need it, but because my gun seriously loves it more than any other round I tried. Accuracy wise, out of my gun, it can't be beat, unless I have someone make up a batch of handloads for me like I used to. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

That said, I don't shoot enough of it to know if it will damage my rifle, but I seriously doubt it. If you have a good quality bolt action, go for it. I have noticed more recoil at the range, but, in the field, in an actual hunting situation, recoil schmecoil-I don't feel it anyway.

 

[Ol` Joe]

SAAMI max pressure is the same in all loads and no company in the states will load ammo exceding it. The Lite Mag stuff (Federal or Hornady) has no more pressure then any other loading from Winchester, Remington, Federal, ect. The difference is that the Lite Mag stuff uses a powder that has a very long pressure curve and the higher pressure is held longer then in other ammo. This is why it is NOT recommended for use in semi-autos, pressure is too high still when the action is bleeding it to work the bolt. Damage can and will occure in them at some point.
I`ve used both brands with no problems and accually have had very good accuracy with the Hornady stuff in 30-06, 270, 708, and 65x55.

 

[foghornl]

OK to use in bolt or single-shot rifles.

Can't find the info right now, but I specifically recall a notice:

DO NOT USE IN THE M1 GARAND. With the very different pressure curve of that ammo, you WILL wreck your M1.


And then the ghost of John C. Garand will haunt your forever..

 

[walking arsenal]

I'd believe it.