Range Report Any Problems w/Hornady 147's?

[Deleted member 113831]

Interesting thread over on another accurate shooting site "Things one sees in a match". Several are reporting bullet disintegration at normal speeds (2,800 fps) with standard 1/8 twist barrels.

Video: http://img.gg/m9TAt9y

The rifle here is reportedly a standard 1/8 twist gun, shooting 6.5CM Hornady factory ammo.

 

[Steel head]

I’ve shot about 700-800 of them so far at that speed.

No issues.

Overall I really like that bullet.

 

[Tokay444]

Not seeing any issues with mine at 2820.

 

[Huskydriver]

Seen it happen in an F class match. Guy next to me doesnt have time to handload so he brought factory 147s. At 600 he would get 3-4 in a string of 20 that would just disappear. Hardly any wind that day. Who knows maybe it was a lot with thin underspec jackets. Think he dropped 15 shots total that day from nothing hitting the paper. I spotted a couple of his shots and could see what looked like multiple impacts in front of the target berm.... Who knows...

 

[Longshot85]

I have some of the first production 147's I have been hand loading and sending at 2858 fps

I have had no issues

Shot sub 1/2 moa at 1100 yards, taken it to 1604 yards with stellar performance

Shot a deer at 632 yards cold bore in 2017, stellar results

Buddy ahit some factory 147 march 2016 with zero issues

 

[lte82]

Seen it happen in an F class match. Guy next to me doesnt have time to handload so he brought factory 147s. At 600 he would get 3-4 in a string of 20 that would just disappear. Hardly any wind that day. Who knows maybe it was a lot with thin underspec jackets. Think he dropped 15 shots total that day from nothing hitting the paper. I spotted a couple of his shots and could see what looked like multiple impacts in front of the target berm.... Who knows...

That issue seems to be hit or miss.

 

[BCX]

I have shot almost 500 of the 147 up to 3180 fps from a 5r 1-7 no issues

 

[BCX]

Some guys are still reporting problems. I wonder if the gen 1 bullets are still in circulation.

 

[goosed]

On average 1-2 of every 20 rounds of the 147's go up in a puff of smoke around 300yds never to reach the target from ammo lot#3180567.

Real shame as it consistently shoots sub-1/2MOA when they make it to the target.

 

[BCX]

Im on FB 6.5 PRC page. Ton of problems w 147 and 150. Plenty of bullets hitting the target sideways at 100.

 

[Huskydriver]

I got a 100 to test for myself today.... I'm getting bored with my current load in too damn easy

 

[CavReconScout]

I have shot thousands of them over the last 1 1/2 years with no problems out of several 1/8 twist Howas both factory and reloads at 2650-2725 FPS. Targets out to 1160 yds no problems other than my wind reading skills.

 

[Tokay444]

I wonder if that’s a 3 or 4 groove barrel.

 

[BCX]

I have shot thousands of them over the last 1 1/2 years with no problems out of several 1/8 twist Howas both factory and reloads at 2650-2725 FPS. Targets out to 1160 yds no problems other than my wind reading skills.

Doubt you would see a problem at your RPM level.

 

[b6graham]

@Redeye3

 

[Danale147]

I tried several boxes of these from 1/8 twists and never could get them to shoot well. Recently tried finding a load for my buddies rifle, and out of nowhere had two of the shots impact the target sideways. Gave up on them after that

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

They don't seem to hold up past one shot, for me? What am I doing wrong?

 

[Diver160651]

They don't seem to hold up past one shot, for me? What am I doing wrong?

6.5 A-tips, 147 ELD, 130 Berger’s intact after 1900 yards... lol

Long way for 6.5s

 

[Steel head]

I’m pretty sure I had one go poof yesterday.
Sonic crack was weird and short and I didn’t see an impact.

The missed impact certainly can happen but I’d definitely sounded different.

Besides that one shot the rest were awesome at 1125 and 1791 yards yesterday.

I’ll certainly pay a bit more attention now.

 

[Niles Coyote]

I'm 700+ in, no issues in my creedmoor... 25" 1:8 bartlien 5r at 2800-2820 with handloads.

 

[Tokay444]

Seems to be common in 3 and 4 groove barrels, but not exclusively to 147 ELD-Ms.

 

[jzerfoss]

This started happening at around 200rds and I know several other people that have had the same problem. This was at 100yds and some of them blew up. Hornady said they changed jackets this year at some point.

 

[Tokay444]

This started happening at around 200rds and I know several other people that have had the same problem. This was at 100yds and some of them blew up. Hornady said they changed jackets this year at some point.

How many grooves is your barrel?

 

[jzerfoss]

How many grooves is your barrel?

4 groove

 

[Steel head]

View attachment 7130045

This started happening at around 200rds and I know several other people that have had the same problem. This was at 100yds and some of them blew up. Hornady said they changed jackets this year at some point.

I’ll try take a pic tonight.
Confirming zero for a big weekend shooting trip.

Had 1 go south when someone at the range wanted to try my rifle.

 

[Supersubes]

Weird how they shoot well and some go poof. You’d think there’s be some in between where some would hold together but Cause some unexplained flyer.


Love those bullets myself. Shooting them out of a particularly shagged 8 twist Broughton. Never had anything unexplained myself.

 

[Ledzep]

Most cases I've seen changing the bullet lot fixes it. Anyone have a barrel that will blow up across lots?

From what I've seen, 4-groove barrels almost exclusively, most with tight bores, tight spots, minimal cleaning, fire checking, or a combination of the above.

 

[Steel head]

Most cases I've seen changing the bullet lot fixes it. Anyone have a barrel that will blow up across lots?

From what I've seen, 4-groove barrels almost exclusively, most with tight bores, tight spots, minimal cleaning, fire checking, or a combination of the above.

I have 1000 of the seconds midway was blowing out.
They’ve been perfect.

1 maybe and one for sure bad bullets in a new box a buddy traded me for some 140’s.

My barrel is a 6 grove I think.
Recently cleaned and in quite good shape.

 

[Ledzep]

Yeah I've also shot well over 1000 of the 147's and thousands of 140's in my 6.5 creedmoor and 6.5 SAUM without any issues.

One barrel I saw (not mine) would pop them 2-3 every 20, fed the same lot of ammo in several different rifles and no problems in any of the other rifles. Tried a different lot of 147's in the rifle that was blowing them and had no further issues... Very hard to nail down what was causing it. One 6.5 PRC barrel I slugged that was having issues had a distinct tight spot about 7" from the muzzle. I think it's largely a bore condition thing over-working the jackets. If it's not a 4-groove it's a 6-groove. Still haven't heard of a 5R or 3-groove doing it.

 

[Tokay444]

4 groove

Seems to be common amongst 3 and 4 groove barrels.

 

[Steel head]

After re zeroing and shooting a few groups with 140 BTHP’s and 147’s I let a kid at the range shoot a group on bottom right and saw 1 of the shots go wonky

 

[BCX]

I had issues w a current box of 250 over the weekend in a Bartlein 5R barrel. I had 50 from last years lot w no issues. New lot lost at least 30 out of 100. I had my son shooting while i watched the trace. The ones w no trace also had no dirt signature. At one point i had 4 sets of eyes watching and we all agreed that they weren't making it downrange. Even tested it back at 100. One shot POA next was 1 foot off target. Also the 19 lot shot about 2 feet higher at 800 yards.

 

[BCX]

Can the guys w issues confirm the lot number? I spoke w Hornady today and they said Lot starting w 218...... was the old bullet. Lot 219.... is the current lot w a revised jacket. All 500 of my Lot 218.... i had 0 issues w.

 

[BCX]

My 338 285 ELD I'm having 0 issues w. Must be a Hornady 6.5 issue?

 

[Steel head]

Can the guys w issues confirm the lot number? I spoke w Hornady today and they said Lot starting w 218...... was the old bullet. Lot 219.... is the current lot w a revised jacket. All 500 of my Lot 218.... i had 0 issues w.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Thanks for posting the lot numbers, my current lot is 217, of which I have a little over 100 then I move into the next 1000 which are 218

 

[GIXXER2000]

I have shot about 200 or so with no issue. I am using an AIAX with 26in 1-7 twist barrel and they seem to work fine. I have shot them as far as 1877 this last weekend. Update main are 217xxxx

 

[steve123]

You guys having the problems with 147's, have you had problems with the other brands "heaviest" 6.5 bullets too?

 

[Steel head]

Thanks for posting the lot numbers, my current lot is 217, of which I have a little over 100 then I move into the next 1000 which are 218

I’m positive I’ve shot other boxes of 218’s with absolutely no problems.

I’m going back up the hills this weekend and will keep an eye on the rest of the loads from that box.

 

[Ledzep]

I would say the minority of lots have problems in the minority of barrels, if that makes sense. In other words, I wouldn't write off your '18 lot before you tried them. My bulk box of 147's is lot #2180007 and I am pretty positive someone I've seen on the net had problems with that lot # in their barrel. I'm about 1200 deep with no issues (Brux 4-groove, w/2000-2300 rounds on it). I've seen 2 or 3 cases where switching lot # completely solves the issue (218XXX to another 218XXX lot, not even necessarily going to a '19 lot).

 

[goosed]

You guys having the problems with 147's, have you had problems with the other brands "heaviest" 6.5 bullets too?

Maybe my lot is an odd ball in this group as it's the factory loaded ammo, but for me the heavy Berger's and SMK's run just fine through the very same barrels the 147's failed in.

NOTE: I have not tried Berger's 156 yet.

 

[just browsing]

There have been multiple reports at this point of guys having issues with these. More than a few on the 6.5 SAUM/PRC FB group.

Hornady just continues to deny that there is very clearly an issue with these new jackets.

 

[Steel head]

There have been multiple reports at this point of guys having issues with these. More than a few on the 6.5 SAUM/PRC FB group.

Hornady just continues to deny that there is very clearly an issue with these new jackets.

Interesting as my problems have been with the old bullets according to information posted earlier.

 

[flyright]

Lot #2180... and never a problem. But, my friend's Savage 12 LRP was shooting some sideways last year - not sure of the lot#. I'm thinking it's barrel specific.