[TxPhantom]

I am buying a new T/C Venture in 30-06. I now own a Savage 110 pre-Accutrigger.
I hunt with my cousin who is a very experienced hunter (Africa several times, Russia, Alaska, New Zealand and all over the northern states). His trophy room is like a museum. In other words he knows what he is talking about.
We usually hunt in west Tx around Aspermont on his ranch or close to Ozona, Tx at his lease. I've been shooting Remington Core Lokt which he claims is as good as any and can be found nearly anywhere. But I am considering breaking in my new rifle with Hornady Superformance. Am I a victim of a vast advertising program or is the Hornady as good as they claim?

 

[MikeG]

I won't say anything bad about Hornady's ammo, because I've never used it. But all the animals we've shot with Core-Lokts are still dead.

Try a box, who knows, it might be super accurate in your gun?

 

[MontyF]

The best ammo is the type that shoots accurately in your gun with a bullet that's up to the job you need it for. Every rifle has it's own preference it seems. What works well in mine, your's might not like. Back before I started handloading, I shot a lot of Core-Lokts, like Mike mentioned they did the job for what i used them for.

 

[kc outdoorsman]

if you are talking about simply "breaking in" a rifle, the ammo won't be as critical as the proceure. i.e. shot a round, clean the bore, repeat for 50 rds. When I do that I use cheap stuff or reloads with light charge.

Other than that, its important to test several brands. I often find Fiocchi is pretty good...

 

[Tnhunter]

There is nothing wrong with what you've been using, but as already mentioned above something else might shoot better in your new rifle. (and the dependable core-lokt might also shoot like doo-doo). I've read a good bit on the new Superformance, but I have not, as yet, shot any. I have used the old "version", Hornady's Light Magnum and did find it to be good stuff. The Superformance rates better in almost every respect, from independent reports I've read, so it should also be good stuff. Bottom line is that noone knows, before actually shooting, what will do well in their particular rifle. I'm wanting to try the Superformance in .35 Whelen myself as soon as I can.

 

[TxPhantom]

From what I've seen, going by Hornady advertising, the Hornady SST shoots flater, faster, with higher velosity, and holds together better than other ammos. That's the good news, the bad news is the price is about 40% or so higher. Does it really matter on hogs and/or deer? The difference of cost, breaking in a new gun, is substantial!

 

[crazydave]

From what I've seen, going by Hornady advertising, the Hornady SST shoots flater, faster, with higher velosity, and holds together better than other ammos. That's the good news, the bad news is the price is about 40% or so higher. Does it really matter on hogs and/or deer? The difference of cost, breaking in a new gun, is substantial!

NO - cost doesn't matter. Accuracy AND confidence does....

Break-in with the cheap stuff. If you're getting 1-1.5 MOA consistently with your rifle, save the premium stuff for the special hunts....

Consider that you filled the tank, bought the food, paid the guide, drove for days - just to get ONE shot at your dream-animal. Did you scrimp on ammo? Would you gladly pay up to twenty bucks to know FOR A FACT that you're shooting the best ammo you can for this once-in-a-lifetime shot? Get the best you can afford AND SHOOT IT to see if it's accurate and inspires confidence in your rifle.

I have guns that literally "shoot anything" very well. Others I have are very picky. Know your rifle!

 

[GMFWoodchuck]

In regards to cost, the "regular" Hornady ammo costs about the same as the Remington Core-lokts. Not sure about the "super performance" stuff. But like the others said. Choose the one that shoots the best. They both kill animals the same.

Somewhat aside from the point, but I believe that the Remington tipped bullets are the same as the hornady tipped bullets. And made by Hornady as well. I wouldn't be terribly surprised about some of their other bullets as well.

But in the real world, the difference in bullet performance on game between one bullet to the next of similar design and capability will amount to little more than pointless squabbles between "experts." Dead animals are just that. Dead.

Even with the extra 200fps, the useful range of the ammo is nearly the same. Two or three inches difference at best at 400 yards. Still almost not worth noting. That's why accuracy is still king.

 

[tunnels]

I'm a Core-Lokt believer. I've also used Federal ammo with decent results. Always go back to the Rem's though. I have a Savage 99 in .308. Funny thing, though, it shoots the round nose 180 grains just fine but doesn't shoot the pointed soft points with as much accuracy until the gun warms up. That first shot is what counts on a hunt though. Like these guys say, find something that you can be confidant with.

 

[fred243]

I've shot quite a bit of Hornady ammo and it has always been very good. The Superformance i haven't shot yet but do have a box waiting for the range and also if you look around first you most likely will find some on sale, i paid $27.00 for mine from Midway. I agree with the other guys in using something cheap to break in the rifle and then find one that shoots well in your gun. I also agree with cvc944 on the Winchester XP3 load, i've used this on deer and they are very accurate and the performance has been great. Good luck

 

[MikeG]

From what I've seen, going by Hornady advertising, the Hornady SST shoots flater, faster, with higher velosity, and holds together better than other ammos. That's the good news, the bad news is the price is about 40% or so higher. Does it really matter on hogs and/or deer? The difference of cost, breaking in a new gun, is substantial!

The "hold together better" part is where it qualifies as advertising.... better than what?

All the plastic-tipped stuff should work fine on deer, although it can be a bit messy if you hit something you planned on eating. Hogs are a *lot* tougher customers. Get some reliable first-hand reports if you want to use them for hogs. Or try to shoot a smaller one first to see what happens.

I've never seen a 'break-in' process that was dependent on a particular brand of ammo, but it's probably only a matter of time....

 

[big dan]

i agree with mike, plastic tips and meat loss go hand in hand with cup & core bullets. try a tsx or gmx, an e-tip and it's a different story... you might try an accubond to get better expansion than the monolithic bullets as they shouldn't be as explosive on game.

 

[MikeG]

Good point, I should have noted the difference between the lead core and monolithic bullets.

 

[Sandman1]

The best ammo is the type that shoots accurately in your gun with a bullet that's up to the job you need it for. Every rifle has it's own preference it seems. What works well in mine, your's might not like.

This is very true. But in general terms, I think Hornady is the best factory ammo out there. If it shoots well in a rifle of mine, I do not hesitate to use it. Someone else mentioned their cost. It is high if you are comparing it to the cheap stuff. If you compare it to premium factory ammo, it is MUCH cheaper.

 

[MikeG]

Keep in mind that he is just talking about what ammo to use breaking it in. Frankly I'd "break in" on a few pigs, not paper, but that's just my theory on the matter.....

What all do you have to shoot on those ranches?

 

[TxPhantom]

Admittedly I'm not a rifle expert by any means. Most of my gun experience is with pistols so I get whatever information I can from what I see advertised, articles by, so called, gun experts, the small band of hunters I occasionally hunt with, and advise from actual shooters on forums like this. That's why I had so many questions about Hornady vs other major brands.
As far as "break in" I was going by the youtube breakin video by Larry Potterfield at MidwayUSA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjbnYm_HmXg&playnext=1&list=PLC3AA68115468CF99 Someone please tell me it doesn't require 50 rounds to do so since I will have two new rifles to "break in"!
I think I'm going to stick with Remington Core-Lokt for now.

 

[MikeG]

It doesn't. I have several rifles that probably don't have 50 rounds through them as long as I've owned them, and they shoot just fine.

Shoot, clean, repeat.

 

[TxPhantom]

What all do you have to shoot on those ranches?

Usually only hogs and turkeys on the Aspermont, Tx ranch and, as a guest on the lease, I can only shoot spikes, turkeys and javelinas on the lease at Ozona, Tx. Very rugged country down around Ozona but deer, javelina, and turkey everywhere!

 

[Tnhunter]

It doesn't. I have several rifles that probably don't have 50 rounds through them as long as I've owned them, and they shoot just fine.

Shoot, clean, repeat.

+1, I agree!

 

[TxPhantom]

+1, I agree!

Glad to hear you guys say that! What the **** is Larry Potterfield talking about? He must be wanting to sell a lot of cleaning supplies and ammo!
Probably his method is for long distance extreme precision shooting. I don't want to shoot the balls off a knat I just want to make holes kinda close together at reasonable distances!