Bullet manufacturer options

[DShortt]

So, I do not compete and therefore don't have anyone to ask about questions like these. Stating this so no one questions why I'd ask if this is normal/obvious.

Of late, I've noticed several negative comments regarding Hornady bullets. I would never expect a lot from the FMJ line, and not fine precision from the tipped line. But I presumed the Match line was pretty good, especially for people like myself who aren't competing, but like shooting for group size.

Should I consider looking at other sources? And if so, what/where?

Thanks for looking.

 

[Andy Work]

What are you shooting?

 

[DShortt]

Several calibers. 6mm, 6.5mm, 22cal, 30 cal, 7mm.

I like to experiment, but I don't have the time or resources for competition.

 

[jackieschmidt]

So, I do not compete and therefore don't have anyone to ask about questions like these. Stating this so no one questions why I'd ask if this is normal/obvious.

Of late, I've noticed several negative comments regarding Hornady bullets. I would never expect a lot from the FMJ line, and not fine precision from the tipped line. But I presumed the Match line was pretty good, especially for people like myself who aren't competing, but like shooting for group size.

Should I consider looking at other sources? And if so, what/where?

Thanks for looking.

If you are shooting for group size, then you are competing……with yourself.

 

[DShortt]

If you are shooting for group size, then you are competing……with yourself.

Well yes. I can't dispute that observation. I know 2 guys who compete. One shoots pistols, one shoots PRS. I'm no pistol shooter or PRS shooter. Discovered both the hard way. (Tried and failed.)

 

[K22]

I don't compete if you one means shooting at targets in competition. I do compete against groundhogs and predators, however. So accuracy is important since the vital area is quite small. I also spend a lot of time at the range practicing on paper targets.

The Hornady 60 Vmax in my 223 bolt rifles with 8" twist are capable of 1/2 moa to sub 1/2 moa with H4895 or Varget. I am very pleased with this bullet. However, I am only shooting to 200 yards at the range since that is the range limit of my clubs.

I used the 55 Vmax in 223 Rem bolt rifles for years with excellent results. Also, more recently, I have been using the 75 Vmax in my 243 with excellent results ever since Sierra bullet supplies dried up.

For many years Sierra was my absolute first choice in bullets and still is, but the problem is finding them. So, I gave up on them a few years back and switched to Nosler and Hornady. I found the Nosler 55 BT's to be more consistent than the 55 Vmax's, but the difference is not significant for use in varmint or predator hunting at the ranges I shoot, i.e., under 300 yards.

 

[Webster]

I don't compete if you one means shooting at targets in competition. I do compete against groundhogs and predators, however. So accuracy is important since the vital area is quite small. I also spend a lot of time at the range practicing on paper targets.

The Hornady 60 Vmax in my 223 bolt rifles with 8" twist are capable of 1/2 moa to sub 1/2 moa with H4895 or Varget. I am very pleased with this bullet. However, I am only shooting to 200 yards at the range since that is the range limit of my clubs.

I used the 55 Vmax in 223 Rem bolt rifles for years with excellent results. Also, more recently, I have been using the 75 Vmax in my 243 with excellent results ever since Sierra bullet supplies dried up.

For many years Sierra was my absolute first choice in bullets and still is, but the problem is finding them. So, I gave up on them a few years back and switched to Nosler and Hornady. I found the Nosler 55 BT's to be more consistent than the 55 Vmax's, but the difference is not significant for use in varmint or predator hunting at the ranges I shoot, i.e., under 300 yards.

Same here. I have been shooting the 58 gr Hornady for at least 10 years in my 6BR and 6BRX for GH hunting. Custom bullets and the 60 gr Sierra Varminter clearly shoot better but the Hornady is always in the store at a good price. The Hornady shoots about 1/2". I once had a Hornady 58 gr that had a large part of the jacket missing. I should have taken a pix.

 

[Homerange]

So, I do not compete and therefore don't have anyone to ask about questions like these. Stating this so no one questions why I'd ask if this is normal/obvious.

Of late, I've noticed several negative comments regarding Hornady bullets. I would never expect a lot from the FMJ line, and not fine precision from the tipped line. But I presumed the Match line was pretty good, especially for people like myself who aren't competing, but like shooting for group size.

Should I consider looking at other sources? And if so, what/where?

Thanks for looking.

And what makes you think Hornady after many many decades of projectile production don't know what they're doing ?
Don't listen to the keyboard warriors.....
Instead invest some time here:

Extensive Field-Tested Rifle & Cartridge Research - BallisticStudies.com

Expert rifle & cartridge research, carefully compiled through extensive field-testing & freely offered to the firearms community.

www.ballisticstudies.com

 

[DShortt]

I didn't say I agreed. I'm posing this question in case there's common knowledge I am unaware of. Again, when you aren't part of a group, you miss things.

 

[DShortt]

To extrapolate further, I have never had a shooting mentor. I started out many years ago happy if I could produce a grapefruit-sized group at 100 yards. Then I gained more experience and wanted to break an inch. Then 3/4". Then 1/2". Now I'm interested in under 3/8" consistently. Not on a good day. Every day.
Many here are much better than me, no question about that. Many here have a budget that exceeds mine 10x over. I do not resent that.
I'm simply asking, is Hornady a bad choice? Because that's been suggested rather regularly lately.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

To extrapolate further, I have never had a shooting mentor. I started out many years ago happy if I could produce a grapefruit-sized group at 100 yards. Then I gained more experience and wanted to break an inch. Then 3/4". Then 1/2". Now I'm interested in under 3/8" consistently. Not on a good day. Every day.
Many here are much better than me, no question about that. Many here have a budget that exceeds mine 10x over. I do not resent that.
I'm simply asking, is Hornady a bad choice? Because that's been suggested rather regularly lately.

If you are wanting to stay under 3/8" consistently, every day, you need to start looking into custom bullets to begin with.

And then it will snowball from there.

 

[wildcat3d]

To extrapolate further, I have never had a shooting mentor. I started out many years ago happy if I could produce a grapefruit-sized group at 100 yards. Then I gained more experience and wanted to break an inch. Then 3/4". Then 1/2". Now I'm interested in under 3/8" consistently. Not on a good day. Every day.
Many here are much better than me, no question about that. Many here have a budget that exceeds mine 10x over. I do not resent that.
I'm simply asking, is Hornady a bad choice? Because that's been suggested rather regularly lately.

If you would like a known highly accurate (depending on the shooter/Rig) try this one. They are usually easy to find in all the cal. listed, https://bergerbullets.com/ I like Barts bullets personally. All this is in my humble opinion.

 

[6BRA]

And what makes you think Hornady after many many decades of projectile production don't know what they're doing ?
Don't listen to the keyboard warriors.....
Instead invest some time here:

Extensive Field-Tested Rifle & Cartridge Research - BallisticStudies.com

Expert rifle & cartridge research, carefully compiled through extensive field-testing & freely offered to the firearms community.

www.ballisticstudies.com

Wonder how many Hornady bullets were fired at the Tackdriver?

 

[bpd459]

Good evening,
It comes down to how accurate / precise do you want to shoot? Are you shooting rocks in a clear cut, or BR targets? Look at the posted Gear / Equipment lists from the major matches. I’ll put $$ on the line that you will not see any Red boxed bullets in the top 25% of any major High Power or F Class match.

 

[DShortt]

Good evening,
It comes down to how accurate / precise do you want to shoot? Are you shooting rocks in a clear cut, or BR targets? Look at the posted Gear / Equipment lists from the major matches. I’ll put $$ on the line that you will not see any Red boxed bullets in the top 25% of any major High Power or F Class match.

OK. This is the sort of feedback I was interested in.

If anyone disputes this, I'd like to know.

I would place my equipment in the F class if I were pressed on the issue. I enjoy looking at customs, but I'm a window shopper. Again, time and expenditure restrictions are what they are. I wouldn't place in the top 25%, so perhaps I am right where I should be.

 

[Webster]

Good evening,
It comes down to how accurate / precise do you want to shoot? Are you shooting rocks in a clear cut, or BR targets? Look at the posted Gear / Equipment lists from the major matches. I’ll put $$ on the line that you will not see any Red boxed bullets in the top 25% of any major High Power or F Class match.

Many of the complainers never shoot custom bullets or competed in competition. If mass produced bullets were great just because the have been in business for a long time how come custom bullets always shoot better. I read where Berger has extreme quality control.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I shot the Burger 210 VLD Hunting in a 300 WSM. At 1000BR they were as good or better than the customs I tried. The 300g Berger Hybrid out of my 338 Lapua Imp. is just as, or more accurate than the WSM at 1K+.
The 6ppc and 6 Dasher both shoot customs, hand-rolled here in Pa.

Regards
Rick

 

[William Vogel]

I’ve got load work ups with hornady eld match bullets in 223AI, 6.5 creedmoor and 308 that shoot 1/2 moa at 700 yards. Some days they shoot better and some days maybe 1moa. I’ve got two 6 Dashers that I shoot Berger 105 hybrids exclusively because it’s the easy button. The hornady bullets cost 1/2 as much and I enjoy shooting, therefore I have an extensive inventory of them. I also have lots of Sierra bullets and some of them shoot better than the hornady but I’ll put my above listed hornady loads against anybody. My rifles are either Remington 700 police or ones that I assembled with Kauger actions and various barrels. I have a lathe and chamber my barrels, bush firing pin holes and I bed my H S Precision stocks. I only shoot against myself or with a few of my wonderful neighbors. Brass prep and consistency is more important to me than bullet choice. I don’t sort bullets but I pay attention to seating pressure with primers and bullets. I sort those cases in a separate box but they still shoot great. I just don’t mix them up. My group sizes shrank by this sorting. I also chamber using only a go gauge and walk up on a “0” chamber or maybe slightly less and my brass fits the same in all my same caliber rifles exactly. I set back and reamed my factory barrels just like my new barrels. My dies are set and locked and never change. 1 1/2 thou bump back. Anneal before sizing.

 

[Nvcnvc]

You will have to test on your gun a variety of bullets, powder, and primers to find out what it likes. I think Hornady makes great bullets but they dont work for everyone. I shoot FClass and 99% of shooters use Bergers. Not because of Hornady aren't any good, but because Bergers have been proven to be more consistent. Try them, they may work on your gun.

 

[urbanrifleman]

To extrapolate further, I have never had a shooting mentor. I started out many years ago happy if I could produce a grapefruit-sized group at 100 yards. Then I gained more experience and wanted to break an inch. Then 3/4". Then 1/2". Now I'm interested in under 3/8" consistently. Not on a good day. Every day.
Many here are much better than me, no question about that. Many here have a budget that exceeds mine 10x over. I do not resent that.
I'm simply asking, is Hornady a bad choice? Because that's been suggested rather regularly lately.

The Hornady ELDM is an outstanding target bullet. Don't let anyone tell you different. Others are good too. What caliber and weight were you thinking?