Superformance

[Brent Drummond]

Has anyone tried using Superformance powder with other brands of bullets than Hornady?

 

[TJAY]

I have used it with Nosler, Sierra, Barnes and Remington bullets in 243, 6mm Rem, 30-06, 300 SAUM and 338 Win.. Like it in 6mm with 90 gr, AB and 225 Sierra, Nosler and Hornady in the 338. It was ok/nothing special in the 300 with 180 and 190 Nosler ab and ablr. Also worked well in the 06 with 168 tsx and 180 bt's. Almost forgot did ok with 225's in a 338-06, accuracy was good but speed was a little low.

 

[reelhardmt]

I've used it in my 260, 6.5 creed and 300 win mag. The 260 I shot 120 grain nosler BT, the 6.5 creed I used 130 bergers and the 300 I loaded 175 TMK. All shot very good with above average velocity.

 

[Brent Drummond]

Where did you guys come up with a starting load?

 

[reelhardmt]

I used a Hornady reloading manual and asked around.

 

[igorts]

Barnes LRX 175 with 57.1 grn gives me one rugged hole with 30-06 load

 

[Brent Drummond]

Do you get a velocity boost over other powders?

 

[.222 ND]

I used it in a long barreled 22-250 improved with 70 grain vld's. I was able to better my velocity by 250 FPS over everything else I tried and I tried a lot of different powders

 

[igorts]

yes. it's still under max load but now i match my scope (Burris BP) marks on reticle. around 2800fps

 

[Brent Drummond]

I am wanting to try it in my .270 & my .308 only with Berger bullets and am trying to figure out a safe starting charge.

 

[igorts]

not sure if it's going to work for .308
i use CFE-223 to boost .308

 

[Canhunter35]

The 'superformance' powder that they market is too slow I'm thinking for 308, it's between 4350 and 7828 if I remember correctly

 

[Brent Drummond]

I have both of those.

 

[SilverbulletMAG]

I have only tried it in 2 rifles so far but both of then have been screaming fast vs previous powders and low/no pressure signs. I have a good load worked up for 6.5 creed using superformance with 129 ABLR, 140 AB and 142 ABLR. Previously I was using RL16 with great results. Also using superformance in 30-06 with 180 AB and Speer HBSP. The superformance replaced H4831SC that was a pretty hot load but also screaming fast and just as accurate.

One key note for those not already very aware of this - the Hornady manual is extremely conservative. Of course you want to be safe and work up but, just know that their advertised "max" has been way lower than actual max that I've personally found or seen posted in other manuals that had this powder listed. I.e. if you reach Hornadys max and see your groups tighten as you go up, don't be afraid to keep going and watch for pressure. Not unique to Hornady but they seem to be a prime example of this vs the Speer manual for instance. My 6.5 is running (off the top of my head, I believe) 46 grains of superformance with Hornady brass. I want to say their published max is around 44.

One disappointment I should have looked at closer upfront however, this isn't listed under Hodgdon "Extreme" powders, which I initially thought it was. All loads were worked up in some pretty cold temps (20-30 degrees) so I may dial the loads back some this summer and work back up again...