Superformance line of ammuntion by Hornady

[mark-hunter]

I could not find a separate thread on this topic, although some of the superformance ammo was mentioned here and there in specific caliber, or some specific bullet.

So, for you that have tried this ammo in medium calibers, DG calibers, hunting or match applications, what is your opinion on this ammo by Hornady? Does the alleged quality justify the price?

First, on external ballistics - accuracy?
Second, on effect on game, in hunting?
Third, does it give additional velocity when compared to classic loads? How much additional velocity? (By Chrony?)

 

[Chago]

Superformance is a line of hornady preloaded ammo that uses superformance powder. And basically they run pretty hot, as in high velocity. That being said to answer all your other questions you need to be more specific about which model you plan to use. As they come loaded in various bullets like the SST, VMaX, ntx and I believe even the gmx.

If superformance is more available to you in Croatia (I know where you live haha) I would experiment with a box first before you crazy buying a ton of it. See how it groups out of your gun. The idea behind this line of ammo is that it comes out smoking hot. Some rifles love high pressure. Some do not. That is a test you need to run on your rifle. When I get a new rifle I reload bullets with various charges to see what the rifle prefers. Typically I get the best accuracy out of a moderately high load, but never seem to get great results when I get very hot. But again that is just my experience. I know guys who have rifles that perform best at borderline unsafe pressures.

If you can get your hands on them and you don't want to reload. Go for the Hornady accurate hunters. Way more expensive. But worth it. For many reasons.

 

[Shootist43]

I have used Superformance 140 gr. SST(s) in my 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser(s) on White Tails and Hogs (all were one shot kills.) At 2730 FPS it gives non- reloaders a significant boost in velocity over other brands of factory ammo. Groups might be slightly larger than my handloads but very accurate nevertheless.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

I have experience with 2 loads.
First was the 200gr 35 Whelen which was horrible and grouped over 2moa.
Second is the 300 win mag with 165gr gmx. Chronographed at 3180 and so far the best load I've tried in my rifle right at 1moa. Very effective on every hunt I've taken it on.

 

[USMA84DAB]

Wade - thanks for factual feedback on the topic - just giving the data with no ax grinding

 

[BigSteve57]

Never used superformance in hunting.
I have used 5.56 NATO Superformance Match 75gr BTHP in service rifle matches. It's good very accurate ammo but I found it didn't help me in matches. It's a hotter load which helped with wind in slow prone at 600 yards. However what it giveth there it taketh away on the rapid strings. I found the hotter load harder to get back on target as it "bounced" the rifle more.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I have shot Superformance ammo in everything from 6.5x55, 270, 7x57, 7mm Mag and 338WM. They all grouped well (I was likely the weak link) and velocity was as advertised.

For hunting, I was first introduced to the SST bullet from Wik @Game 4 Africa Safaris. I used his Sako 7mm mag with Superformance 162 gr SST. Both my daughter and I had a total of 8 one shot kills. I was sold on the SST. I've used in my 270 to take a record book Wyoming pronghorn, a Yukon Dall Sheep and a NZ Red Stag, all one shot kills. I did put a finishing shot into the stag, from point blank range.

 

[Velo Dog]

Hello mark-hunter,

I’m +1 with Shootist43, regarding this ammunition in 6.5x55 caliber.
My 6.5 is the CZ 550FS / Leopold scope (long discontinued fixed power 3x model that, I had bought from “Mekaniks” here in the world’s greatest forum, several years ago).

My particular rifle is scary accurate with the nearly extinct, Hornady 160 grain round nose bullet (soft and solid both) at 2400 fps.
However, the Hornady Superformance 140 grain SST spitzer groups very nearly as well from my little rifle.
I presume that my 20” barrel causes velocity to drop down around 2600 fps with this factory load but I’ve never shot it through a chronograph.
I don’t really care about velocity as much as I do accuracy so, I’ve never seen fit to buy a chronograph.

Anywhooo, so far I have taken one animal with this ammunition, in the “Swede caliber”.
It was a mule deer doe, near Enis Montana.
The shot was at about 40 yards, after a lengthy stalk, and fired down hill to the animal.
At the last moment, she heard, smelled or saw me.

She “snapped to attention” and glared at me.
I shot off hand at her throat.
The 140 gr SST spitzer hit on center but she was slightly quartering so, I missed the vertebra.
The bullet cut an artery and continued down through the right lung, finally breaking two ribs.
She fell but leaped up again and bolted away, through thick brush.
Ray Charles could have followed that spurting blood trail on the fresh snow.
She lay quite dead, about 30 paces from where I had shot her.

Worth mentioning is that, I have taken a couple wild boar in Hawaii with this same projectile and it worked perfectly each time.
It was however, with a rented 6.5 Creedmore but, I do not recall if the ammunition provided was the “Superformance” version or not.
I only remember that it was Hornady SST 140 grain spitzers.

These left golf ball sized exit holes and both piggies fell to the shot each.
“Hawaiian boar” (Polynesian boar) can get quite large but most adult boars there, seem to be only around 30 to 40 kilos, from the two dozen or so that I have seen over the years, including the two I have shot.

I guess that’s about all the news that’s fit to print.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[crs]

I used the .308 Light Magnum from market introduction to it's replacement by Super Performance and am pleased with both. Both shot less than one MOA in my Pre 64 Model 70 and they both were /are effective killers on game up through elk. My current pet load is the 165 grain bullet and it is the only ammo that I shoot in my .308 hunting rifle.
Cost is not important as I shoot only once at most game, including feral hogs . A box of 20 lasts for many outings as I no longer play at the range with this rifle.

 

[mark-hunter]

Thank you guys, n keep it coming! Appreciate all your input!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Superformance is a line of hornady preloaded ammo that uses superformance powder. And basically they run pretty hot, as in high velocity. That being said to answer all your other questions you need to be more specific about which model you plan to use. As they come loaded in various bullets like the SST, VMaX, ntx and I believe even the gmx.

If superformance is more available to you in Croatia (I know where you live haha) I would experiment with a box first before you crazy buying a ton of it. See how it groups out of your gun. The idea behind this line of ammo is that it comes out smoking hot. Some rifles love high pressure. Some do not. That is a test you need to run on your rifle. When I get a new rifle I reload bullets with various charges to see what the rifle prefers. Typically I get the best accuracy out of a moderately high load, but never seem to get great results when I get very hot. But again that is just my experience. I know guys who have rifles that perform best at borderline unsafe pressures.

If you can get your hands on them and you don't want to reload. Go for the Hornady accurate hunters. Way more expensive. But worth it. For many reasons.

Chago
Hornaday load superformance with a special blend of powder that gives higher velocity with similar pressure. It is a blend not available to the public. The powder gives a different pressure parameters curve to standard powder and maintains the pressure longer.
It definitely is not hot loaded hornaday could not afford the lawsuit if it was.

 

[PaulT]

I tested some 225gn .338 ammo a few weeks ago.

The Superformance chronographed 2900, as advertised and gave good accuracy, certainly good enough for my hunting purpose.
At the same time I also tested some plain-Jane Remington ammo.
It also returned 2900fps (shocked) and grouped in under 3/4". Superb.

The Remington ammo is loaded with Nosler accubonds and as I am hunting deer with this rifle it is more than adequate and at 30% less cost than the Hornady it's a no-brainer for me.

 

[PaulT]

Apologies for an error in my above post.

The second lot of ammo tested was in fact Winchester loaded with Accubonds and not Remington as noted above.

My apologies.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

I tried the Superformance .243 58 Grain V-Max close to ten years ago. It was spectacularly accurate. Shot a coyote and the bullet tore it up. I switched to a much heavier bullet because of how often I encounter hogs at night when predator hunting so the rifle would have dual use. But the Superformance performed as advertised.