Hornady 123 gr SST factory loads

[dvrod18]

Anyone seen these yet? Just wondering if they were even out.

[Drifter]

MidwayUSA website indicates mid March availability at ~$22 per box:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/820397/hornady-custom-ammunition-65-grendel-123-grain-sst-box-of-20

[Y85]

MidSouth is taking pre-orders

[7WSM]

Sweet! Just got confirmation that AA is starting on my 6.5 I put in a few weeks ago. Now Hornady factory 123 SST ammo is going to hit the shelves. Great news for me.

[hm2 clark]

Mid March was what was advertised. That's in about 2 weeks. We will see.

[cory]

I've measured my throat using the Hornady OAL Gauge and it seems to be relatively short.

Bullet........................MAX OAL (in).......MAX COAL (in)......Factory COAL (in)
Hornady 123gr SST.......1.665.................2.241............. .......2.242
Nosler 123gr HPBT.........1.709
Nosler 140gr BTip(H) ......1.741
Nosler 100gr Btip(H).......1.701
Barnes 100gr TTSX.........1.729

These are the OALs I've measured in my PF 24" Lilja Barrel.

As you can see the SST Factory Loads are longer than my max COAL. I've measured my OAL several times to insure the short measurement was accurate.

I've gone to the range with the factory loads once. Shooting at 200 yards, my Grendel didn't like them at all.

I'm thinking I should run them through the press and seat them further. I wanted to get y'alls thoughts on this, beforehand.

[ricsmall]

I would have somebody run different lengths through quick load to see what the pressure would be before going too deep. If you're talking .010", you should be fine

[Drifter]

I've measured my throat using the Hornady OAL Gauge and it seems to be relatively short.

Bullet........................MAX OAL (in).......MAX COAL (in)......Factory COAL (in)
Hornady 123gr SST.......1.665.................2.241............. .......2.242
Nosler 123gr HPBT.........1.709
Nosler 140gr BTip(H) ......1.741
Nosler 100gr Btip(H).......1.701
Barnes 100gr TTSX.........1.729

These are the OALs I've measured in my PF 24" Lilja Barrel.

As you can see the SST Factory Loads are longer than my max COAL. I've measured my OAL several times to insure the short measurement was accurate.

I've gone to the range with the factory loads once. Shooting at 200 yards, my Grendel didn't like them at all.

I'm thinking I should run them through the press and seat them further. I wanted to get y'alls thoughts on this, beforehand.

I get best results with 123gr SST's seated to ~2.230 COL in my Grendel-chambered Satern barrel. Like you, the bullet would be kissing the lands at ~2.242. I shoot 123gr Amax's at ~2.250, which is ~0.012 to 0.015 off the lands. My Grendel-chambered Shilen barrel can accept longer COL's, but does fine with shorter loads developed for the Satern.

We've previously debated whether the new SST is the Amax with a cannelure. If that is indeed the case, the manufacturing process to add the cannelure would have to shift the ogive forward a small amount (which seems quite possible considering the stress applied to the bullet when the cannelure is applied). Regardless, the SST holds together better, but I don't think we should assume that our pet Amax loads are also ideal for the SST.

[cory]

I would have somebody run different lengths through quick load to see what the pressure would be before going too deep. If you're talking .010", you should be fine

I was thinking .016" to get it .015" off my lands. Do you think that would raise the pressure that much?

[cory]

I get best results with 123gr SST's seated to ~2.230 COL in my Grendel-chambered Satern barrel. Like you, the bullet would be kissing the lands at ~2.242. I shoot 123gr Amax's at ~2.250, which is ~0.012 to 0.015 off the lands. My Grendel-chambered Shilen barrel can accept longer COL's, but does fine with shorter loads developed for the Satern.

We've previously debated whether the new SST is the Amax with a cannelure. If that is indeed the case, the manufacturing process to add the cannelure would have to shift the ogive forward a small amount (which seems quite possible considering the stress applied to the bullet when the cannelure is applied). Regardless, the SST holds together better, but I don't think we should assume that our pet Amax loads are also ideal for the SST.

I've got some loads done at a 1.650" OAL ~ 2.226 COL. I'll let you know how they do after I get a chance to get to the range.

[denimdeerslayer]

I have some and the results were great straight out of the box!

[LRRPF52]

I get best results with 123gr SST's seated to ~2.230 COL in my Grendel-chambered Satern barrel. Like you, the bullet would be kissing the lands at ~2.242. I shoot 123gr Amax's at ~2.250, which is ~0.012 to 0.015 off the lands. My Grendel-chambered Shilen barrel can accept longer COL's, but does fine with shorter loads developed for the Satern.

We've previously debated whether the new SST is the Amax with a cannelure. If that is indeed the case, the manufacturing process to add the cannelure would have to shift the ogive forward a small amount (which seems quite possible considering the stress applied to the bullet when the cannelure is applied). Regardless, the SST holds together better, but I don't think we should assume that our pet Amax loads are also ideal for the SST.

This is always sound advice whenever we add a new component into the equation. If the SST's ogive requires us to seat a little deeper into the case, using the exact same charge weight from one of our max load 123gr A-MAX recipes can result in increased pressure with a reduced COL. Work the SST up like you would using 123gr published starting loads, or a certain percent reduction based on years of reloading experience.

[cory]

Ok so after reading y'alls responses here's what I'm thinking. Please let me know if I'm asking for trouble.

Seat 4 Factory Loaded 123gr SSTs to 2.232 COL decreasing the factory COL by 0.010".
Seat 4 Factory Loaded 123gr SSTs to 2.226 COL decreasing the factory COL by 0.016".

Next time I go to the range I'll take 4 Factory Loaded 123gr SSTs and send them down range for a reference point.
Send the 2.232 COL rounds down range.
If no signs of pressure, send the 2.226 COL down range.
Gather data and analyze.

So that's the game plan going forward, unless someone with more experience than I thinks I'm asking for trouble.

[LRRPF52]

Interesting...I just went down to the bench, and compared factory Hornady 123 SST to factory 123 A-MAX boxed ammo. Results:

123gr SST Factory Load COL: 2.230"
123gr AMAX Factory Load COL: 2.250"

[stokesrj]

I haven't tried any factory SST loads so I don't know much about them. But my process for any given bullet is to measure the point at which the ogive contacts the lands, move back .020 inches and then do a ladder test with varying powder loads. Once I find a node, then I vary seating depth from touching the lands, to.040 off .080 off, and .120 off. Once I find the jump that bullet likes I vary the primer, and fine tune the jump. At this point I expect to have a load printing .5 MOA or less. If not I move to a different bullet and start over.
Bob