Range Report Hornady 147's coming apart...

[Steel head]

I had one more blow up last Sunday.
218 batch number.
You could hear it go funny as it tried to cross the valley to the target.


The 147?factory seconds I got from midway have not had any issues.

 

[jmornoinf]

No issues observed here.

I have shot 1000+ 147gr at 2820 out of a 1:8 Bartlein barrel with no issues. It is my current goto round for 6.5 Creedmoor while I continue load development on the 135gr A-tip.

 

[Ledzep]

My experience was with a 147, I can't comment on the 140's.

Barrel maker and type of rifling?

Proof/Kreiger/Brux 4 groove seem to be the main offenders.

FWIW, I run a 4-groove Brux 6.5 Creedmoor, but I clean it every 50-100 rounds usually. Have shot 90% 147's out of it with a few 140 hpbt's mixed in, never a blow up (My bulk box of 147's I've seen listed from others on the web as having blow up issues, too). My Proof 4-groove 6.5 SAUM, however, has got hot before and blown a 140 in a match.

I mentioned it on the other thread about this, but it seems if you switch bullet lot #'s in the same barrel, the issue goes away. Also seems that if you shoot the same bullets in a different barrel, there are no blow ups. That's from my limited hands-on experience with all of 2 barrels (neither mine) that I've seen in person that had this problem.

If you watch the 6.5 PRC FB page, too, there are guys having similar issues with 150 sierras. Will be interesting to see how the 156 EOL holds up. Saw the same thing with 7mm 180 Bergers and ELD-M's.

 

[GNCC407]

Kreiger 6.5 Creedmoor 4 groove. I'm not going to stop using them they shoot to damn to give up on them. I am just going to call it a fluke and press on.

 

[Steel head]

Kreiger 6.5 Creedmoor 4 groove. I'm not going to stop using them they shoot to damn to give up on them. I am just going to call it a fluke and press on.

Same
It’s not like an occasional blow up is gonna affect me negatively.

 

[lennyo3034]

I had this happen at a match with the 180eldm from a 7 mag.

3060fps and bartlien 5R barrel.

 

[Bulletsmith]

Lot# ?

Goosed, I’ll take a look and post. Mike

 

[Cascade Hemi]

140's are coming apart too.

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

Was ROing a match and noticed on guy have 3 impacts around a target every so often, didnt ask what he was shooting but they were red tipped bullets in his 2 round holder. When another guy on glass asked me what he was seeing we both assumed his bullets were coming apart. We told the guy but he didnt say anything due to being a bit frustrated with his low hit count.

 

[GNCC407]

Had another one come apart. I'm wondering with a 5R 1:8 twist if its over revving them?

 

[BCX]

I started playing w the Berger 156 no issues. I have 150 from the box of 250 sitting on my bench. I need to send them back or chuck them.

 

[Ranger1107]

I just had two 147’s go crazy on me today. This was not the first time. Shooting proof carbon barrel, 1:7.5 twist, 26”, 6.5 PRC. Only about 150 rounds through the barrel. I’m running them around 3050 FPS. Lot# 2190612. Attached are what the bullet impacts looked like.

 

[GNCC407]

I just had two 147’s go crazy on me today. This was not the first time. Shooting proof carbon barrel, 1:7.5 twist, 26”, 6.5 PRC. Only about 150 rounds through the barrel. I’m running them around 3050 FPS. Lot# 2190612. Attached are what the bullet impacts looked like.

 

[BCX]

Contact Hornady and send the pics to them. Glad it was the 219xxxxx lot.

 

[Ranger1107]

Contact Hornady and send the pics to them. Glad it was the 219xxxxx lot.

I will tomorrow. Thanks. I thought I was going crazy. Glad to hear I’m not the only one experiencing this issue.

Since we’re coming into hunting season, I’m going to start working up a load for the Berger 156’s.

 

[Milo 2.5]

I just had two 147’s go crazy on me today. This was not the first time. Shooting proof carbon barrel, 1:7.5 twist, 26”, 6.5 PRC. Only about 150 rounds through the barrel. I’m running them around 3050 FPS. Lot# 2190612. Attached are what the bullet impacts looked like.

The left pic is amazing. To me it looks like the jacket made it but not the lead core. If on the right pic that is one bullet, 50 yards further and you most likely would have not got anything.

 

[Ranger1107]

The left pic is amazing. To me it looks like the jacket made it but not the lead core. If on the right pic that is one bullet, 50 yards further and you most likely would have not got anything.

What is really interesting is a that each time this has happened, my magneto speed spiked about 100 FPS.

 

[BCX]

I will tomorrow. Thanks. I thought I was going crazy. Glad to hear I’m not the only one experiencing this issue.

Since we’re coming into hunting season, I’m going to start working up a load for the Berger 156’s.

I did the same thing. Ran the 156 today from a 6.5 PRC 3065 FPS average. 1 inch Groups at 300 . Good enough for this years hunting season. Between work and early goose season I'm limited on time.

 

[702shooter]

Had 2 out of 50 rounds I shot today disappeared in mid air, I can clearly hear that right after the bullet exited the muzzle, becuase I was shooting suppressed. I thought it was a baffle strike, I immediately took off my suppressor and bolt to inspect, everything checked out fine, then I fired another three shots impact on target then on the 4th shot again! Loud unusual noise after the bullet exited, then no signs of impact....... two of the bullets had the red tip broken off on one of my 100 box, then the other one of my 100 box was missing 5 bullets lol, I wish hornady has better QC control.

These bullets shoots exceptionally well only if they don’t blow up mid air.

 

[James40004]

Had the same problem with 140's 2weeks ago. 2875 from a 260 8 twist. 75' from muzzle and puff of smoke.

Gentleman that owns range said someone was using factory 6.5 the weekend before during their long range match and had same issue.

It was only one box I bought in July been using them for years and amax before that and never had a problem.

James

 

[702shooter]

I think that their new design tip still melt or explodes during their flight path. I was loading my 6.5cm at 2759 fps in a 24inch tube with 41.4gr of RL16.

 

[acudaowner]

stuff happens , but i definitely would send a few back to the company . Didn't federal have that same problem with the 90 grain smk in 224 ? its the Chinese metal man Its acting strange , maybe they will make it right for you good luck.

 

[Steel head]

I haven’t had any more blow ups with the last two boxes of 100 I’ve shot.

 

[James40004]

It was only one box that acted up on me. Were bought this June from a store. I didn't keep box. Loaded them and tossed package. First issue I've had with them. Just glad I was shooting with wife and not in match.

The long range matches there are 36 total rounds at various known distances scored for points on different size plates. Of the 70 we shot , 16 came apart randomly.

I'm not knocking them but there is an issue. Will still use 73 eld for her 223.

James

 

[Linear1]

I just had two 147’s go crazy on me today. This was not the first time. Shooting proof carbon barrel, 1:7.5 twist, 26”, 6.5 PRC. Only about 150 rounds through the barrel. I’m running them around 3050 FPS. Lot# 2190612. Attached are what the bullet impacts looked like.

I had the exact same thing happen to me also today with 147's on a 26" Proof 6.5 PRC.

 

[Cobblestone]

I had the exact same thing happen to me also today with 147's on a 26" Proof 6.5 PRC.

Been hearing this a lot that the 147’s blow up

 

[MRamsey]

I have been having the same issue with the 140 eld-m. Had at least one per stage at the last match I shot. The worst stage Was three bullet failures. I think it’s related to heat And the speed I’m running but who knows. 26” proof research heavy Palma, Lapua 6.5creed brass, CCI450’s avg velocity is 2850. I have been shooting the 140 for a long time now and haven’t had any issues like this until this lot (#2192408). I shoot at around 5,000’ elevation give or take a little.

 

[Steel head]

I have been having the same issue with the 140 eld-m. Had at least one per stage at the last match I shot. The worst stage Was three bullet failures. I think it’s related to heat And the speed I’m running but who knows. 26” proof research heavy Palma, Lapua 6.5creed brass, CCI450’s avg velocity is 2850. I have been shooting the 140 for a long time now and haven’t had any issues like this until this lot (#2192408). I shoot at around 5,000’ elevation give or take a little.

That’s sad to hear.
I’ve worn out barrels shooting the 140’s
I’ve heard of the 130’s blowing up now as well.

 

[ktmkaratechips]

A few reports of it with 147s and 180s. Some consistently reported conditions are 4-groove and 6-groove rifling with square corners. I have yet to see a report out of a 5r barrel. Brux and Proof care common.

That said I've been running the 140s and 147s in a 4 groove brux and 4 groove proof and have had very few issues. 1 or 2 140s lost in the proof 6.5 SAUM (900 total rounds on it), nothing lost in the brux creedmoor. The brux knots factory match 147s sub .6" @ 100 for 10 rounds.

The 140s I lost were with heavy fouling in a match. Hot barrel. One time occurrence about 600 rounds ago on 1 stage of a match.

Would be a good idea to post barrel maker, rifling profile, twist, groove count, and if you can slug it and get land/groove dia.

I have had this happen with 5r rifling in my 6.5 prc. Only running 2875 FPS

 

[ktmkaratechips]

The big hooked holes on the upper right are the ones that came apart

 

[Steel head]

View attachment 7472145
The big hooked holes on the upper right are the ones that came apart
View attachment 7472146

The truth about the 147,,,,,eventually they will bite you.

 

[Lowlight]

So is that 8.5 twists a new addition to the box ?

So basically the majority of the 6.5 shooting world uses an 8, and now they are saying you need 8.5 for a heavy vs going faster for a heavy, they want you to slow it down.

Gotcha, that appears very "cover your ass after the fact" to have that twist rate printed on the box, so they get to claim operator error

 

[Steel head]

So is that 8.5 twists a new addition to the box ?

So basically the majority of the 6.5 shooting world uses an 8, and now they are saying you need 8.5 for a heavy vs going faster for a heavy, they want you to slow it down.

Gotcha, that appears very "cover your ass after the fact" to have that twist rate printed on the box, so they get to claim operator error

^^^^^
exactly!

 

[ktmkaratechips]

So is that 8.5 twists a new addition to the box ?

So basically the majority of the 6.5 shooting world uses an 8, and now they are saying you need 8.5 for a heavy vs going faster for a heavy, they want you to slow it down.

Gotcha, that appears very "cover your ass after the fact" to have that twist rate printed on the box, so they get to claim operator error

I hadn’t noticed that but yes appears so. Bailing on the 147’s. I’ll finish out the barrel on 140’s and see what happens there.

 

[vh20]

So is that 8.5 twists a new addition to the box ?

So basically the majority of the 6.5 shooting world uses an 8, and now they are saying you need 8.5 for a heavy vs going faster for a heavy, they want you to slow it down.

Gotcha, that appears very "cover your ass after the fact" to have that twist rate printed on the box, so they get to claim operator error

I wondered the same, but after thinking about it I'm going to guess they're recommending that's MINIMUM twist to stabilize that bullet. I believe the 50ct boxes of 300SMKs have 1:10 twist printed on them (my 500ct boxes do not - I checked). That is definitely a "minimum twist" recommendation they are referring to in that case.

 

[scott76179]

I started playing w the Berger 156 no issues. I have 150 from the box of 250 sitting on my bench. I need to send them back or chuck them.

Were you running those 156s out of a PRC? I'm about to order a proof carbon prefit fora ruckus action and I plan on running primarily the berger 156s. I've read that the 4 groove rifling might be an issue but it's always with hornady projectiles and I'll only be running bergers.

 

[db2000]

Were you running those 156s out of a PRC? I'm about to order a proof carbon prefit fora ruckus action and I plan on running primarily the berger 156s. I've read that the 4 groove rifling might be an issue but it's always with hornady projectiles and I'll only be running bergers.

I quit with 147 ELDM’s. Too many coming apart. PRC Christensen 24” 8T CF barrel.
No problem with hundreds of 156’s so far.
2915 fps w/ RL 26,
2870 or so w/ RL 23 and H4831 fyi.

 

[BCX]

Were you running those 156s out of a PRC? I'm about to order a proof carbon prefit fora ruckus action and I plan on running primarily the berger 156s. I've read that the 4 groove rifling might be an issue but it's always with hornady projectiles and I'll only be running bergers.

Correct, Berger 156 from a 6.5 PRC. 0 issues!

 

[Linear1]

I quit with 147 ELDM’s. Too many coming apart. PRC Christensen 24” 8T CF barrel.
No problem with hundreds of 156’s so far.
2915 fps w/ RL 26,
2870 or so w/ RL 23 and H4831 fyi.

156 Berger's had zero issues out to 3050 fps in my proof.....

 

[AllenOne1]

I have shot a lot of 140 ELD-Ms and never had any issue and don't expect to. Just wondering if anyone has noticed if this is happening in a clean vs dirty barrel? If the barrel is dirty are you getting more drag on the bullet and possibly damaging the jacket in the process? My barrel seems to open up if I let it get to dirty, wondering if it could be a related issue.

 

[scott76179]

I quit with 147 ELDM’s. Too many coming apart. PRC Christensen 24” 8T CF barrel.
No problem with hundreds of 156’s so far.
2915 fps w/ RL 26,
2870 or so w/ RL 23 and H4831 fyi.

I don't have RL26 or RL23, I'll be trying H1000 and Retumbo. Just because that's what I have.

 

[scott76179]

Correct, Berger 156 from a 6.5 PRC. 0 issues!

Awesome! Any load data?

 

[Pbgt]

I had 2 new Browning x bolts in 6.5 prc in class Tue ,in 147, one blew the muzzle brake apart. The shooter was on probably his 20-25th round of the day, over a 5hr period.

 

[AllenOne1]

I had 2 new Browning x bolts in 6.5 prc in class Tue ,in 147, one blew the muzzle brake apart. The shooter was on probably his 20-25th round of the day, over a 5hr period.

Are you thinking this was caused by a bullet coming apart? Doubtful.

 

[Pbgt]

I know it was, no barrel obstruction, it twisted apart immediately upon leaving the barrel causing a ring of lead to pepper the surface below the muzzle and the surface that was on his left.