Horandy ammo velocities

[puddleglum]

I am taking the 6.5 out in the woods this whitetail season. I have had the upper for 4 years now and have never taken it hunting. I also picked up the carbon fiber Howa mini bolt action and put the blind magazine bottom metal in it.

I broke out the chronograph today to get some real numbers so I can start figuring my max point blank range and get it zeroed. This was with Horandy Custom 123g SST ammo. I thought I would share with the class, in case anyone would find it useful/interesting.

Horandy Custom SST 123gr:
Sanders Armory Upper with 16" tapered heavy barrel and mid-length gas tube.
1) 2448
2) 2456
3) 2463
4) 2451
Avg: 2455

Horandy Custom SST 123gr:
Howa Mini Bolt Action 22" barrel
1) 2591
2) 2566
3) 2538
4) 2550
Avg: 2561

I had some of Horandy's Black ELD Match ammo as well, and spun it up as well just to see how it compares, in the name of science.

Horandy Black ELD 123gr:
Sanders Armory Upper with 16" tapered heavy barrel and mid-length gas tube.
1)2350
2)2314
3)2362
4)2341
Avg: 2342

Horandy Black ELD 123gr:
Howa Mini Bolt Action 22" barrel
1) 2508
2) 2523
3) Error
4) 2485
Avg: 2505

Tomorrow I will start looking at what my max point blank range is with each gun.

[vaguru]

Just shot some Hornady 123SST custom and 123ELDm Black factory ammo yesterday. 68* F, overcast with mild switching wind.6-8 mph.

These loads shot out of a 20" AR platform with 1:8 twist. From bench with front rest and rear bag.

The SST Custom load chronoed 2578 fps with ES of 5 fps! I was impressed with the velocity and the ES, but groups were disappointing, not consistent. Some were Very large.

The ELDm Black groups were very consistent and gave 2529 fps with ES of 14 fps.

Then shot both out of another identical upper with better group results. It appears that one barrel likes the ammo, and the other is more picky. The barrel that shot both well has near 600 rounds through it, the other only 160 so maybe the "newer" barrel needs more shooting.

I'm sure there is some lot to lot variation with these loads, but it sure appears that I'm going to use the Black factory load this deer season.

[kmon]

I haven't bouht any in several years but one batch was all over the place 150+ fps from that old lot. I shoot my reloads and get less than 20fps ES