H- Hornady Superperformance powder, any one try yet?

[T3-OleMan]

Results:
Went to range this morning only problem 38-40 degree like to work loads at 70-80. Any way it performed great. 6mm x 284 using 85 sierra bt. I loaded up 4 strings of 3 going from 57-60 grains of this superperformance powder. First 57 grains vel. 3564 group .641 second 58 grains vel. 3630 group .483. The 58 grains had an ejector mark on case but not that bad. I didnt shoot the 59 and 60 for seeing to much pressure. I will go back next time with thinking 57.5 . Even the 58 with a mark shooting under 1/2" i would keep for deer hunting due to temps are mostly a lot colder than 40 degree. This powder has given me close to 200 fps more than my regular load using 4350.......

Mike,
That's great, group .483 & close to 200 fps increase.
If you don't mind, and since we have similar pet loads going-different cals.( @ max = ejector marks-but not that bad-with your Superformance), and me with my 1 pet load ( @ max = ejector marks-but not that bad)-I would like to learn all I can from your experience with the Superformance. Please feel free to post here or we can go private if you like, cause what you have just learned would HELP me a TON when I get around to developing my second LOAD-which will be using the new Superformance powder.



If so, Correct me please if I get anything wrong.....

1. Did you start with a clean cold barrel?
2. What time to cool between fireings?
3. Was any cleaning done between rounds?
4. You are using IMR4350 (H#112 burn rate) & I am H4350 (H#113 burn rate)-you are just a hair hotter.
5. Looking at my one load - 338WM - Barnes 225gr MRX @ 73.5grains – H4350 - WW brass - GM215M primer = ejector marks- but not that bad, what would you start at for the Superformance testing in my gun......ie. like your starting at 57 grains in your 6mm x 284, where would you start at in my 338WM? I might start 3 or 4 grains below where you would and just load 1 round at those charges just to buy some insurance......cause I beeeeesssss playing with a lot more of the HOT STUFF don't you know!
6. If you can share....how many grains of IMR 4350 would it take, in your gun, using the same 85 sierra bt.-same brass and primer to get the same ejector marks – that too would give me some valuable knowledge as to the relationship of our powders to the Superformance powder?
   
   I will share with you ( In the venue of your choice ) anything that I learn when I get around to loading this powder. Also, since my gun loved the dirty barrel Superformance ammo in 185gr GMX (factory rounds)I may try it as the first choice over the years as I try other bullets. Thanks

 

[mike33]

hey, im no expert on this just started tinkering my self. Comparing to i-4350 it is definity slower but to be safe but not waste barrel, bullets, etc. i would start 1 grain over your pet load with 4350 and go up IMO. I didnt clean because i only shot a few groups. I pretty well fired 3 quick at time of sat. shooting but temps was 38- 40 degree then left barrel cool 5-10 minutes and shot again. When i was testing for pressure friday eve just shooting 2 at a time temps was 72 degree. I started at 50 grains going to 56 grains that evening, cleaned gun after that because it hasent been cleaned for awhile. Sat. morning i shot 1 round to dirty barrel before i sat chronograph up. I currently shoot 54 grains of i-4350 for the 85 sierra bthp but anything past that groups open up but cant remember pressure due to 1 year old testing. I will keep in formed dont know when i will shoot next but let me know how you do. One other thing on the label of superperformance it says 73 grains for hornady 155 a-max for 300 wsm @ 3300. I loaded my son in laws 300 wsm with i - 4350 65 grains for 150 nosler bt getting around 2950. I didnt have time to play with it due to it was a last thing before deer season loading ordeal and the browning a bolt shot around 3/4 " 3 shot group. Told him to take it hunting i would play with it later and it was a freebie of course including me buying dies, bullets, and brass.

mike

 

[mike33]

How is the temp sensitivity supposed to be for this powder and what kind of ES were you guys getting?

as far as temp. sensitive cant say just yet, only tested once. ES was in the 20's.
mike

 

[Iron Worker]

Why do you like the Sierra BTHP ? The BC is so low. Hornady 87gr V-max has .400 ?

 

[mike33]

funny you ask, i have only been shooting 6 x 284's for a little over a year. My good friend and my mentor of this caliber told me how good it was killing whitetails. I have only taken 1 and the only 1 i shot at under 300 yards and it performed well. I have shot the 87 v-max and it does well and the nice thing both bullets has same impact as far as sighting in. Yes the bc sucks but i was shooting sat. night with loosesniper at 1060 yards with my edge. Had this gun with me with previous load of 4350 and out performed his 243 ai with 80 grain berger vlds. Of course sometimes its better to be lucky than good. I also dont consider this a 1k yard hunting rifle either, we brake out the edge and get r dun.
mike

 

[Iron Worker]

Always thought of Maryland as small congested area. Was this private land or BLM land you were shooting at 1,060 yds ? Who makes your 338 edge ? What kind of glass do you have on your rifles ?

 

[mike33]

Your pretty close about md. but i live in the western end 1 mile south of pa. and 3 miles north of w.va. i have a friend loosesniper a member on here we shoot at his farm 40 minutes north in pa. we can get to 1500 but mainly shoot at 1060 and 1300 yards on his private ground. I own 3 nightforces as listed below. 4 or 5 lupy 4.5 x 14 varing from b &c to v. hunter reticle and 1 6.5 x 20 with m-1 turrents. For spotting i use kowa highlanders. Rangefinder leica 1600.
338 edge
trued rem 700
broughton 9.3 fluted with de brake
h s stock with de cheekpiece
flued bolt
nfx 5.5 x 22 50 mm npr-1
nf 40 moa base nfx rings angle ind. with cosine
smithed and stocked by Travis Redell RBOS. Rifles
300 smk 93 grains of H-1000

 

[T3-OleMan]

Mike,

Thanks a bunch. It may be next year before I develop any more loads but you have helped me more than you know. I was glad to find out that you had started at 50 and not at 57!!!!!!!! LOL

I am printing this for my 338 Book and will be in better shape because of you.

Thanks again. This is what it is all about.

I will be in touch.

 

[Iron Worker]

Your pretty close about md. but i live in the western end 1 mile south of pa. and 3 miles north of w.va. i have a friend loosesniper a member on here we shoot at his farm 40 minutes north in pa. we can get to 1500 but mainly shoot at 1060 and 1300 yards on his private ground. I own 3 nightforces as listed below. 4 or 5 lupy 4.5 x 14 varing from b &c to v. hunter reticle and 1 6.5 x 20 with m-1 turrents. For spotting i use kowa highlanders. Rangefinder leica 1600.
338 edge
trued rem 700
broughton 9.3 fluted with de brake
h s stock with de cheekpiece
flued bolt
nfx 5.5 x 22 50 mm npr-1
nf 40 moa base nfx rings angle ind. with cosine
smithed and stocked by Travis Redell RBOS. Rifles
300 smk 93 grains of H-1000

Well a year has passed what's been learned about this powder in the 6x284 ?

 

[mike33]

tested it some time ago and got higher vel. compared to my pet loads from Imr 4350. Its actually slower burning than 4350. I only load for my self and my son in law and his 300 wsm i was able to get more vel. from it. I didn tknow what to use for a load for his 300 wsm 4 days before deer season i get the honor of loading something i didnt have a clue of. I picked the 150 grain nosler Bt and H-414 powder worked teh load and zeroed in. The following year i tried the superperfomance and raised the vel. almost 150 fps. But keep in mind my inital loading of 414 was last minute pulling straws.
mike

 

[danny911]

Mike33,

I think we have the same mentor. How has your chase worked out with the superformance? I am using 52gr of IMR4350 and average 3550 through a 26" barrel with the 1/9.25 twist. Don't quote me on that exact twist rate. But I am finding with that twist I can't push past the 52gr using the 85 Sierra without getting pretty nice plunger marks. I visit our mentors store quite a bit and probably met you. Hopefully you see this reply. Myself and another gentleman is starting the Superformance chase. At 3550fps I'm not sure I will see that big of enough gain to justify another load work up.

Here is my pet load with IMR 4350. Case trim to 2.155. 52gr IMR 4350. 85gr Sierra HPBT seated to cartridge OAL of 2.795.

I can push 52.5 but I'm going to run into pressure issues on warm days and we've had plenty of those during first week of WV Deer season lately.

Danny

 

[danny911]

Continuing the chase. I picked up a pound of Superformance powder the other day and a box of 75gr Vmax. Our local 6mm 284 guru likes bullets that hit, penetrate, and explodes tearing blood vessels and dumping full energy into the deer. Not pass through. And this method has been unbelievably successful for him. So here is my data here in Cumberland Md today. I'm going to list all of my data which does have some IMR 4350 data mixed in as well as 85gr Sierra HPBT.

Model 700 SPS with 26" heavy barrel with 9 1/8 twist. HS Precision Stock with a Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 scope. Pretty sure that's the scopes specs. So here we go.

Trim to 2.155 OAL 2.795
Weather 37*F Overcast

3 shot strings at 100 yards. Chrono about 10' away from muzzle.

85gr Sierra HPBT IMR 4350
52gr Average 3550fps from previous testing.
52.5gr 3604 3608 3617 just starting to show ejector marks
53gr 3640 3654 3638 ejector marks a little more pronounced but not extreme. No primer deformation at all.

75gr Hornady VMax IMR 4350 No pressure signs at all with the following loads. Room to grow.
IMR 4350 53gr 3679 3695 3670
IMR 4350 54gr 3748 3769 3773

75gr Hornady VMax Superformance No pressure signs at all. Speeds were so low at 53gr I moved straight to 57gr. Will pull the unshot bullets for future tests. 57gr showed no signs of pressure and will be testing 58, 58.5, 59, and maybe 59.5.
53gr 3551 3497 3478
54gr
55gr
56gr
57gr 3697 3706 Error

Thus far my most accurate load has been 52-53gr IMR 4350 and 85gr Sierra HPBT. Can shoot a clover leaf on good days with this load. The IMR 4350 with the 75gr VMax are not great groups. Less than 2". Perhaps tinkering with bullet depth and getting the distance from the lands correct could improve that. Groups today could have been a lot of me. Just not on my game it seemed. 57gr of Superformance shows promise. Group is tightening as I pick up speed. One hole on first two shots with a pull on the 3rd shot. Felt it when I fired.

How much ceiling I have remains to be seen with the Superformance as well as the IMR 4350 and these 75gr VMax bullets. I'm hoping 3800-3900fps. I'm almost there with the IMR 4350.

Why 75gr VMax? On paper they beat out my current 85gr Sierra HPBT pet load with Velocity and Energy at 3600fps. I just hit the ceiling with that load. Can I do better with Superformance and the 85, remains to be seen.

If I can reach 3900fps and the groups keep getting tighter and the bullet performs on deer like I think they will, this could be an incredible load. We will see.

I understand many feel this is not a deer bullet. I can tell you from family and friend experience that 75 and 80 grain explosive expansion bullets do wonders on white tail deer in this region. Typical dressed weight from 100-175. 175 being very high on the norm. 6 point I shot last year with my 270wsm dressed at 125lbs. Typical bullet for them is 80gr Remington Power-Lokt. Very explosive on impact.

Anyone else have any new data?

 

[Sargesniper]

Continuing the chase. I picked up a pound of Superformance powder the other day and a box of 75gr Vmax. Our local 6mm 284 guru likes bullets that hit, penetrate, and explodes tearing blood vessels and dumping full energy into the deer. Not pass through. And this method has been unbelievably successful for him. So here is my data here in Cumberland Md today. I'm going to list all of my data which does have some IMR 4350 data mixed in as well as 85gr Sierra HPBT.

Model 700 SPS with 26" heavy barrel with 9 1/8 twist. HS Precision Stock with a Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 scope. Pretty sure that's the scopes specs. So here we go.

Trim to 2.155 OAL 2.795
Weather 37*F Overcast

3 shot strings at 100 yards. Chrono about 10' away from muzzle.

85gr Sierra HPBT IMR 4350
52gr Average 3550fps from previous testing.
52.5gr 3604 3608 3617 just starting to show ejector marks
53gr 3640 3654 3638 ejector marks a little more pronounced but not extreme. No primer deformation at all.

75gr Hornady VMax IMR 4350 No pressure signs at all with the following loads. Room to grow.
IMR 4350 53gr 3679 3695 3670
IMR 4350 54gr 3748 3769 3773

75gr Hornady VMax Superformance No pressure signs at all. Speeds were so low at 53gr I moved straight to 57gr. Will pull the unshot bullets for future tests. 57gr showed no signs of pressure and will be testing 58, 58.5, 59, and maybe 59.5.
53gr 3551 3497 3478
54gr
55gr
56gr
57gr 3697 3706 Error

Thus far my most accurate load has been 52-53gr IMR 4350 and 85gr Sierra HPBT. Can shoot a clover leaf on good days with this load. The IMR 4350 with the 75gr VMax are not great groups. Less than 2". Perhaps tinkering with bullet depth and getting the distance from the lands correct could improve that. Groups today could have been a lot of me. Just not on my game it seemed. 57gr of Superformance shows promise. Group is tightening as I pick up speed. One hole on first two shots with a pull on the 3rd shot. Felt it when I fired.

How much ceiling I have remains to be seen with the Superformance as well as the IMR 4350 and these 75gr VMax bullets. I'm hoping 3800-3900fps. I'm almost there with the IMR 4350.

Why 75gr VMax? On paper they beat out my current 85gr Sierra HPBT pet load with Velocity and Energy at 3600fps. I just hit the ceiling with that load. Can I do better with Superformance and the 85, remains to be seen.

If I can reach 3900fps and the groups keep getting tighter and the bullet performs on deer like I think they will, this could be an incredible load. We will see.

I understand many feel this is not a deer bullet. I can tell you from family and friend experience that 75 and 80 grain explosive expansion bullets do wonders on white tail deer in this region. Typical dressed weight from 100-175. 175 being very high on the norm. 6 point I shot last year with my 270wsm dressed at 125lbs. Typical bullet for them is 80gr Remington Power-Lokt. Very explosive on impact.

Anyone else have any new data?

Hi Danny, I have been searching over the net to find someone who has tried Superformance in the .260 Rem. Any idea of anyone that has tried it? I have gotten nowhere so far. A lot of ,try this, try that, why do you want to use a powder that has no load data? I'm tired of all of this. If it works in the Creedmore cartridge,why not the .260? Any help would be a definite improvement. Thanks in advance. .....SEMPER FI! .....LARRY

 

[danny911]

Larry,

Thanks for the reply. I'm surprised nobody has stopped in and responded at all on my posts. While I am not familiar with the 260, I do have an answer for those who ask why. Because we can! It's the fun of being able to experiment within reason a safe environment.

I have load from disk that I may be able to get some info from but what I've learned from the 6-284 is that grain for grain Superformance is under velocity and under pressure. Shooting 54 grains of IMR 4350 gets substantially higher velocity compared to the Superformance with the same load. My findings verify the original posters findings with that.

Will that shoot that much different out of your 260? Doubtful but I'm not a professional at this stuff. I was safe within those limits starting out and actually will be loading up 58, 59, and 60 grain this morning with the 75grain V-Max in my 6-284. I'm trying to find that perfect load and then put the 6-284 up to save the barrel. I bought a 223 to burn powder in experimenting.

Keep in touch and let me know how things work out.

Danny