Weird reply from Hornady tech support.

[philip140]

I sent an email to Hornady's tech support with a question regarding the use of .30-30 bullets loaded for a .30-06 as I bought a box of .30 cal 170gr interlocks at a my local gun shop not realizing they are geared towards the .30-30.

Here's my email, a bit vague granted but quite straight forward:

'Hello there,

I mistakenly bought a pack of 170gr round nose Interlock bullets for my .30-06. I now see they are made specifically for the .30-30. Are they still reliable at .30-06 velocities or are they more likely to break apart?

Thank you,

Phil'

Here is the reply:

Mr. Jury



'The bullet design is different. This bullets look the same but the measurements are different we suggest that u don’t load this bullets for your 30-06.



Thank You,'

(no name or signature given).


What does this person mean by 'the measurements are different'? is he confused with the .303 Brit? Also, 'This bullets' and the use of the letter 'u' in stead of 'you' does not inspire confidence in me. Maybe bad grammar and text speak is all the rage now? I don't know. Does anybody have any experience with .30-30 bullets at higher velocities? I was going to work up a load for close range hunting using my Tikka .30-06 and Sightron red-dot in the thick stuff, then my usual accubond handloads with scope where longer shots are possible. I use quick release mounts on both sights.

Phil

 

[243winxb]

I have used 30-30 170 gr. bullets in my 30-06 but a different brand. The thinner jacket may give more expansion. I dont see a problem using them. I have shot deer with the Hornady 110 gr Spire point years ago. Both will do the job. At one time, some 30-30 bullets diameter was .307" but no longer true today.

 

[jonbearman]

I think hornady is nuts.

 

[jsn]

Hornady's reloading manual rates bullet #3060 FP for 2,000-2,500 fps. I agree that the reply with poor spelling, grammar, and comments that seem to relate to unknown issues is somewhat disconcerting.

Try calling the help line and relay what was given to you and see what they say.

If you want to keep them (most places I shop will not take returns for such items) just load them to about 2,500 fps per your reloading data for a factory rifle. If I had them and had no 30-30 that's what I would do.

 

[bigedp51]

I had a 03-A3 30-06 with a rather large diameter chamber and if you loaded it to normal 30-06 pressures the brass would stretch and warp badly. And this is where I first learned about warped banana shaped cases.

Solution, I shot Hornady 170 grain interlocks at lower pressures at 2500-2600 fps out of my 30-06 and the brass lasted much longer.

The bullet is .300 forward of the crimping groove and .308 behind the crimping groove and might be why they told you the measurements were different. The bullet has a softer lead core and will obturate to a oversized worn bore and shoot well in older rifles.

The 03-A3 had a worn two groove barrel and shot these 30-30 bullets very accurately. And any deer hit with these bullets thought they had been shot with a Weatherby 30-30 Magnum and dropped very dead.

The 1943 Remington 03-A3 30-06 was my hunting "rain gun" and served me very well and kept my higher priced scoped rifles dry and rust free. Last year I finished off shooting my remaining 30-06 170 grain ammunition in a new Remington 700 and the rifle and targets didn't complain.

Load your 170 grain bullets up, those Hornady Interlocks act like Nosler partitions and always hold together even at higher velocities.

I lied, I was shooting some out of my M1 Garand last year also.

I had two boxes left, one is marked $7.84 and the other was $10.20, I guess I had them for a while. :

.300 in front of the crimping groove

.308 behind the crimping groove.

 

[CaptainMal]

Recently tried some 160 FTX Hornady bullets in my 30-06 pump carbine. Smoked those 30-30 bullets to 2750 fps with one issue.

They shot terrible.

 

[bigedp51]

Recently tried some 160 FTX Hornady bullets in my 30-06 pump carbine. Smoked those 30-30 bullets to 2750 fps with one issue.

They shot terrible.

Now try the 170 grainers, they have a flat base and more bearing surface, and they worked well in my 760 Gamemaster.

 

[BigDMT]

Even if they were .307" diameter, you could still use them with a .308" groove diameter. Just might not be as accurate as a .308" bullet.

When an AR-15 chambered for 5.56 NATO has the 22LR conversion kit put in it, it is doing the same thing because the 22LR bullet is .223" diameter and the 5.56 barrel groove diameter is .224". Of course that is a lot less pressure you are dealing with...

If the bullets in question were old style bullets purchased at a pawn shop or gun show, then they very well may be .307" diameter. If new, then the 30-30 170gr Interlock FP bullets I found on Hornady's web site are under the .308" section.

 

[philip140]

The 170gr interlocks I bought were definitely new, interesting to see the measurements are different fore and aft of the cannelure. I did note that there were no rifling marks in front of the cannelure when I shot one into wet towels at 1500fps using trail boss, there was no expansion at that speed, just wanted a fun plinking round until I used them up.
Looks like I'll use them next season and report back. I have read of others having success with them after looking through other forums, one guy swears by them but I thought I'd get youus guys perspectives!

Thanks all,

Phil

 

[Lapua40X]

Looks me like a CYA response. In today's litigious society I can't blame them for taking the safe way out when responding to a question like that. They have no first hand knowledge of the accuracy of the information, the skill of the person doing the reloading, etc.. I realize that the question seems straight forward enough and shouldn't be that difficult to respond to with technical feedback, but the slightest misunderstanding in those kinds of communications can open a very large bag of worms.

 

[harloe]

I had two boxes left, one is marked $7.84 and the other was $10.20, I guess I had them for a while. :

Wow, from BEST - they haven't been around in awhile ;D

 

[amlevin]

"Weird reply from Hornady tech support."

That's been pretty much my experience with Hornady Tech Support.

Called once on a shell holder that wouldn't fit my cases (all of them). Response was "well if it's got the right number stamped on it, it's the right shell holder". I finally sent them the old one with a couple of cases so they could see I wasn't full of crap. Turns out they had a batch that was mis-marked by the supplier.

To make it even more interesting, the shell holder I sent them was for a single stage and they sent me a replacement for a LnL progressive.

The fact that your e-mail message had the "u" instead of "you" is the fact that the Tech Rep was one of the "Texting Generation". Too bad that Hornady doesn't see fit to staff their Tech line with some real experienced people.

 

[M-61]

"Weird reply from Hornady tech support."

That's been pretty much my experience with Hornady Tech Support.

Called once on a shell holder that wouldn't fit my cases (all of them). Response was "well if it's got the right number stamped on it, it's the right shell holder". I finally sent them the old one with a couple of cases so they could see I wasn't full of crap. Turns out they had a batch that was mis-marked by the supplier.

To make it even more interesting, the shell holder I sent them was for a single stage and they sent me a replacement for a LnL progressive.

The fact that your e-mail message had the "u" instead of "you" is the fact that the Tech Rep was one of the "Texting Generation". Too bad that Hornady doesn't see fit to staff their Tech line with some real experienced people.

I don't see myself buying their $30.00 reloading manual if this is what they consider acceptable response to inquires. Interesting use of single quotation marks. Maybe they do better with decimals.

 

[snakepit]

I have only had one experience with Hornady Technical Support and it was a positive one. Last spring I purchased a new Hornady Reloading Kit. It was missing a part so I called the Hornady Technical Support telephone number and talked to a very nice and helpful young man. Within a minute he had the part number and the item set up for delivery to me. He also answered several other questions I had about their reloading kit. Within a few days I received the part. About the same time I found the original part which I missed when unloading the kit. I called the representative back and told him about finding part and he told me just to keep the new part as it was inexpensive and not worth the trouble in sending it back. He was very professional during both telephone calls and latter on I sent a email to their Technical Support to inform them of the great experience I had with this issue and their representative.

 

[Varminteer]

Maybe it was just the Hornady night shift janitor reading emails and thought he could help out. ;D

 

[M-61]

Maybe it was just the Hornady night shift janitor reading emails and thought he could help out. ;D

I guess this could be.(lol) However I am not sure that an e-mail is a formal reply. But if you are answering on behalf of your firm it certainly should be held to a higher standard, certainly not informal or personal.
One thing I have noticed in the past year or so is the mistakes in magazines. By mistakes I mean for example Ruger pays for a full page ad and in large print they are mentioning their ROTARY magazine. This ad had rotary spelled ROTARAY. Les Baer has another huge ad talking about their guaranteed group size....this is followed by an asterisk. An asterisk denotes there will be a further clarification or verification of the preceding word or sentence. No where on that page is there a reference to the asterisk.
It's the lack of caring that annoys me. And I'm too old for the texting jargon.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Personally I think Hornadys reply to the OP is lawyer-ese for" we're covering our butt on this one"

30 cal is 30 cal.. Like .308" Doesn't matter . At least to me.. I got this info from my re-loading manuals

Though I am curious as to why Sierra noted a .307 diam on the photo earlier.manuals..

 

[philip140]

Interesting use of single quotation marks. Maybe they do better with decimals.

I put the single quotation marks in there, I can't fault them on that, it's a British thing, we use 'single' rather than ''double''. Just one of the many differences, like aluminum/aluminium, specialties/specialities, color/colour, obamacare/load of shit, handguns/what's that? you get the idea.

Phil

 

[M-61]

Well it was quite some time ago but i was educated in Britain. I recall single quotes (') are used to denote a quote within a quote. I was actually referring to Hornady's answer to you. That's the e-mail that should have been written correctly and of course signed.
LOL at your final explanation, love it. The .307 interested me as I have never run into that. To the point....GOOD SHOOTING..and a Happy Thanksgiving to all.

 

[M14AMU]

Hornady made the same statement to you that I would have made!!