Author Topic: Hornady Light Magnum Ammo??????? (Read 660 times)

kenscot · « **on:** March 05, 2005, 02:21:39 AM »

Has anyone tried this ammo and actually ran it over a chronogragh. Just curious as if it comes up to the claimed velocities they claim. I know I have never been able to match those velocities through handloading. How has it preformed in the accuracy department

lilabner · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2005, 04:13:54 AM »

Some time back, I searched this issue and came across a website where they had chronographed three or four different lightmagnum cartridges. In no case did the chrono show velocities as high as those claimed. Bear in mind,though, that different rifles with different chambers and barrels will achieve different velocity results. Hornady may have used 26 inch or longer test barrels. There have been fairly consistent reports of good accuracy from the light magnum loadings so Hornady must be doing some good quality control things. The powder they are using is reportedly not available to handloaders so it isn't possible for us to duplicate their loads.

dave375hh · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2005, 05:00:33 AM »

I toured the Hornady factory back in '99. The engineer that was our tour guide pointed out one machine that he said was making the light magnum loads. I took a closer look and there were two powder measures mounted with a ram between them. The powder measures had a ball powder in one and an extruded powder in the other. I asked him if they were loading a duplex load. His statement was "I didn't tell you that". But I know what I saw, and he wouldn't say anything else about it. The ball powder went in first, then it was compacted by the ram then the extruded powder added on top of that.

The light mags out preform other factory ammo but what they do in an individual rifle or if they meet advertised vel. depends on a lot of factors. Barrel length, barrel condition, temp, humidity, and most importantly the cronograph that times it

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2005, 05:35:32 AM »

Yes they will generally chronograph pretty close to advertised velocity IF the barrel is 24" or 26" long. Like all other they will not do so in 20" or 22" barrels. But the difference in velocity between and standard loads is obvious in all barrels.

Rogue Ram · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2005, 05:48:05 AM »

I can attest to it being the most accurate of any round I've purchased or handloaded for my .30-06 FN bolt rifle with the 98 action.... the 150 grain interlock stuff shoots 5 rounds into an inch @100 yards every time I try. Nothing else comes close. I've had essentially complete penetration on medium sized mulies at 250 -300 yards, recovering a couple beautiful mushrooms under the hide on the opposite side of quartering shots.

Try a box, can't hurt!

RR

Mac11700 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2005, 06:41:28 AM »

Out of the riles I've shot these in...270 and 30-06...from a 22" barrel...the 30-06 was within 30 fps of advertised and the 270 was 10fps faster...and this was at 40 degrees temp.....I haven't killed anything with the 30-06...but took a 6pointer with the 270 and I too have complete penatration...the deer went about 30 yards and piled up...accuracy was good from both..not the most accuarate but very good..

Mac

lilabner · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2005, 06:48:28 AM »

Very interesting, Dave. Maybe they've changed the loadings or maybe somebody is just blowing smoke about the special powder in use. Hopefully, somebody will pull a bullet and report their findings.

Lawdog · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2005, 10:53:57 AM »

Quote from: lilabner

Very interesting, Dave. Maybe they've changed the loadings or maybe somebody is just blowing smoke about the special powder in use. Hopefully, somebody will pull a bullet and report their findings.

I tried their Light Magnum ammo in .25-06 and it chronographed within 20 fps. of stated velocity. I did pull a bullet and the powder looks to be a mixture of at least two different powders. Maybe that's the secret. I was unable to identify the powders or what the mixture percentages were. You think Hornady would release that information? :-D Lawdog

jason burns · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2005, 12:34:58 AM »

I too cannot attest to the actual velocity but it is definitely flatter and more accurate than any other load I have tried in my .270 A-bolt II. This combo has taken a whitetail doe at a WITNESSED 467 yards. Complete penetration and I was duly impressed when she dropped on the spot . . . I just about did too! Needless to say, it is the only thing I feed that .270!!

dave375hh · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2005, 02:19:46 AM »

While I was there I checked the powder drums sitting round and the mix was 50-50 as to canister #'s and unknown non-canister#'s to me. I did notice quite a lot of Viti Vori(SP?) powders in their inventory.

If your ever in Grand Island NB go for the tour. We saw everything but the Boardroom, the President's office and the ladies room. We were everywhere thru 4 buildings. They sell seconds and blems also. You are requested to call a day ahead and make reservations for a tour and
they will assign you an engineer or tech to guide you. We were there for 3 hours.

jason burns · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2005, 07:30:44 AM »

Quote from: dave375hh

If your ever in Grand Island NB go for the tour. We saw everything but the Boardroom, the President's office and the ladies room. We were everywhere thru 4 buildings. They sell seconds and blems also. You are requested to call a day ahead and make reservations for a tour and
they will assign you an engineer or tech to guide you. We were there for 3 hours.

Now THAT sounds like fun . . . now to find an excuse to "pass through" there! :wink:

tanoose · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2005, 03:12:40 PM »

I didn't check velocitys, and i used the 180 grain bullets in my remington 700 30/06 they do kick a little more then the standatd loads But the accuracy in my rifle didn't come close to the federal high energy loads using 180 grain nosler partitions.