[KameronTKelly]

1. Hornady claims you get 100-200 FPS more out of this ammo.

2. Hornady admits that although there is no increase in recoil the pressure peak is different so it may not work properly in all semi autos. They specifically warn against carbine length gas systems (DI) due to over pressure signs on the cartridge.


Those are the facts. For more information please visit the link. Superformance in Gas Operated Firearms - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc

I am wondering if any of you guys have used this ammo in your 17 (165gr GMX) and if it worked without signs of over pressure? This could be especially beificial to you guys running 13" barrels. Why not get some of your lost velocity back? Especially since they claim that it doesn't increase muzzle blast, flash or recoil. There is more information on that on hornadys site. It's intreaguing to me to say the least. Please advise.

 

[Brett B]

I haven't shot it in my Scar, but I have shot their 5.56mm Superformance in a Sig 556. It shot fine but the increased pressure/dwell definitely does increase the bolt carrier velocity, which leads to more felt recoil as the BCG slams into the back of the receiver. It would cause some additional wear if you shot it all the time. Accuracy was better with regular Hornady and Prvi match rounds, I didn't measure velocity but the Superformace was definitely a hotter round.

I doubt you will get an extra 200FPS out of the 16" barrel, but I suppose an additional 100FPS is possible. You could probably put the Scar on it's suppressed setting but without a can to decrease the gas and BCG velocity and still have it not short stroke with the Superformance stuff.

 

[KameronTKelly]

I'm looking for the optimal hunting round and this was a contender. The last two deer I shot still managed to make it 20 yards despite being double lunged with Barnes TTSX 168gr. I'm thinking that it might be a possibility no matter which round you use unless you hit spine or neck. It definitely expanded without hitting bone and it definitely knocked them off thier feet but they ran. Derailing my own thread :-D

 

[Kev]

I'm looking for the optimal hunting round and this was a contender. The last two deer I shot still managed to make it 20 yards despite being double lunged with Barnes TTSX 168gr. I'm thinking that it might be a possibility no matter which round you use unless you hit spine or neck. It definitely expanded without hitting bone and it definitely knocked them off thier feet but they ran. Derailing my own thread :-D

We had similar results with Hornady Superperfomance early in the season so a buddy of mine and I switched to the Hornady 150gr White Tail soft tip rounds and had great success. The superperformance just went straight through and we had to track one deer. Everything we shot with the WhiteTail rounds dropped where it stood. Good expansion and they ran great in my 17 and in his 700. Definitely check them out.

 

[KameronTKelly]

Those white tail rounds are soft points right? I suppose it wouldn't be too much of an issue except for the deformation of the tip. But if they worked for you than that is what I like to hear. Problem is I'm looking for an ammo type I can just throw in my rifle and not have to dick with the scope. Because I'm lazy. So I need a 168 or 165gr weight bullet.

 

[Brett B]

Kev beat me to it. Go with the Hornady 150 grain SP Interlock (sold as the White Tail ammo) or the Hornady match 165 BTSP Interlock. Both are bonded core soft lead tip and are devastating on deer and pig sized animals. The 165 has a boat tail design so its ballistics are a bit better and may fit what you are looking for. I have shot both through my Scar 17 with good accuracy and no feeding problems whatsoever.

I've heard too many guys talk about the "TSX 100 yard sprint" that their deer have made after making a clean shot with them. I've even seen it happen on pigs with my own eyes. Everything I have shot with one of those Hornady rounds has been an instant pop-flop, never moved a step. Certainly there are some animals where the additional penetration of the TSX rounds can be an advantage, but for a soft hide animal like a deer I would go with those Hornady rounds every time.

I bet you are going to have a real POI shift going from a conventional lead core match 168gr bullet to a 165 GMX bullet anyway, especailly if you go with the higher velocity/pressure Superformance stuff.

 

[KameronTKelly]

Excellent Brett and Kev. You guys are awesome and I really appreciate your advice. One more question. Do those Hornady 165 grain billets you mention explode inside of the deer? I would really like if the bullet remained in one or two pieces.

 

[Kev]

Those white tail rounds are soft points right? I suppose it wouldn't be too much of an issue except for the deformation of the tip. But if they worked for you than that is what I like to hear. Problem is I'm looking for an ammo type I can just throw in my rifle and not have to dick with the scope. Because I'm lazy. So I need a 168 or 165gr weight bullet.

You mean you want to use your scopes reticle for what it was designed to do? :mrgreen: What fun is that

 

[HK SD9 Tactical]

As Kev and Brett B indicated, our hunting group also had to drop to the 150gr for White Tail for better results in the field. I personally use the Interlocks. The Hornady Super P may be better suited for Elk, Caribou, Moose or Bison.

 

[Brett B]

Glad to help! I'm gearing up to smack some hogs in GA with the SCAR next month and am already getting excited!

The last hog I shot with the 150 grain Interlock did break up quite a bit, but it also struck square on a rib bone on the way in at a distance of about 60 yards. I don't know many rounds that will hold completely together in that case but still offer the expansion you want if you only hit soft tissue. I've posted that entrance wound pic here before, looks like I hit it with a hand grenade and not a .30 cal bullet. :mrgreen:

 

[KameronTKelly]

Glad to help! I'm gearing up to smack some hogs in GA with the SCAR next month and am already getting excited!

I know the feeling. I haven't been home since July which means I haven't pulled a trigger since July. I have a shiny new Saker 762 sitting an FFL waiting for me to pick up too. I am itching to hunt some large four legged critters! Dropping them in their tracks is preferred :-D!

Kev yeah the BDC was designed for 168. As far as not wanting to change turret settings, I know it makes absolutely zero sense seeing as how I paid 2800 bones for an optic and in light of your slap back to reality I am going to suck it up and drop to the 150gr and actually use the damned turrets how they were designed. First I will have to return to Lefthanded for a lesson in MK6 turretology and once they are zeroed where they sit I will adjust them to 150gr White tails or the other ones Brett mentioned and write it down. Then I will print the turret positions, laminate it, and tape it inside the butler creeks. However, I still haven't gotten an answer on the bullet's weight retention :biggrin:

 

[Kev]

I know the feeling. I haven't been home since July which means I haven't pulled a trigger since July. I have a shiny new Saker 762 sitting an FFL waiting for me to pick up too. I am itching to hunt some large four legged critters! Dropping them in their tracks is preferred :-D!

Kev I know it makes absolutely zero sense seeing as how I paid 2800 bones for an optic and in light of your slap back to reality I am going to suck it up and drop to the 150gr and actually use the damned turrets how they were designed. First I will have to return to Lefthanded for a lesson in MK6 turretology and once they are zeroed where they sit I will adjust them to 150gr White tails or the other ones Brett mentioned and write it down. Then I will print the turret positions, laminate it, and tape it inside the butler creeks. However, I still haven't gotten an answer on the bullet's weight retention :biggrin:

Just giving ya a hard time cause I'm envious of your scope :mrgreen: I shoot a ton of 145 gr surplus and didnt have to make much of an adjustment at all when I moved to the 150gr bullet. When I shoot 168 gr though I have to make a larger adjustment but I rarely shoot those since I don't like them for hunting and I rarely bench shoot or shoot past 300 yards.

 

[Brett B]

Kam you should really try these 165's then:

Hornady Custom Ammo 308 Winchester 165 Grain InterLock Spire Point

Out of my bolt gun they had no POI shift at all compared with the Hornady 168 AMAX I had zereod with. Check out the ballistics info on the Hornady page, they also have an identical path in terms of drop out to 300+ yards, and only differ by about 3/4" at 400 yards. They were designed to be an easy swap out when going between a 168 match round and a bonded hunting round. They are the most accurate hunting round I have used. I just switched to the 150 grain for pigs out of my Scar because I got 400 of them free with my reloading press.

 

[Brett B]

In stock at Bud's:

Hornady 308 Winchester 165 Grain Boat Tail Soft Point $25.29

 

[KameronTKelly]

You know how I said you guys were awesome earlier. Well I take that back. Because somehow I went from talking about some theoretical Hornady bullets for some future hunting... To buying 250 rounds. This place sucks :-D!

sincerely though thank you guys for helping me out with this useful info. I feel like I should reiterate that there isn't anything wrong with Barnes TTSX 168. They are a killer round. They are also 2+ dollars a box. They just weren't built for hunting the size of game that I hunt. Now I'm going to go back into the shadows and not ask anything about anything so I don't end up buying anything else before that PS90 that I have already Man Caved out without even owning.