Feedback on Superformance

[JRWhit]

For a second time I was nearly out the door with a pound of superformance, but again I was plagued with a nagging thought that had me putting it back on the shelf. Why is this stuff cheaper than everything else? Why is it always there even when everything else is gone? And why haven't I heard anyone raving about how super superformance is?

Hodgdon lists data for cartridges from 22-250 to 300 wsm. So who has some feedback on this powder? Anyone found it to be super in any loadings?

 

[jmr40]

I've not tried it, but have read reports from others who have. The reports I've read are mixed. Some report very good results, others just so-so.

It is my understanding that Hornady has several blends of this powder that they load factory ammo with. The powder they sell to the public is the one formulated for 30-06. It can work in other cartridges, but it seems to work best in 30-06 or similar cartridges.

I did try some factory loadings right after it was introduced in 308 and 30-06. I got good accuracy in the 308 with speeds faster than I could come close to with hand loads. The 30-06 ammo wasn't really much faster than my hand loads and accuracy was sub-par.

 

[outlawjw]

Very limited loading data ,have some haven't tried it sorry.

 

[JRWhit]

Yeah I was kinda thinking maybe I just need to be the first one.

 

[243winxb]

Superformance in Gas Operated Firearms (ammo)

Might be wise to avoid, after reading this about there factory ammo. http://www.hornady.com/ammunition/superformance-in-gas-operated-firearms

the gun is still in the process or firing while it’s trying to extract the cartridge case.

Ammo should work in all firearms by SAAMI standard.

 

[ZGunner]

I have 8 pounds of it but haven't tried it. Bought the keg on a Powder Valley order during the the powder scare a year or two ago.

Contacted Hodgdon inquiring about the lack of load data for it. Was told that they only published data for rounds that produced 75 fps faster than other available powders. This is due to a deal with Hornady. I guess since Hornady has their name on it they want to be able to say it faster than everything else out there (as long as its 30-06 and some select short mags...).

I plan to do so work ups for .270 and 6.5 Creedmoor in the future.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The powder was formulated for the Super Short magnums so that the could load the ammo to the same velocities without compressing the powder. It have a very narrow range of cartridges it's useful in.

 

[Kaldor]

Might be wise to avoid, after reading this about there factory ammo. http://www.hornady.com/ammunition/superformance-in-gas-operated-firearms Ammo should work in all firearms by SAAMI standard.

This is a concern if you run a short gas system, like carbine or mid length. I run this stuff out of a 18" with a rifle length gas system which gives the gasses enough time to expand. No problems.

Pic worth a 1000 words:


Also explains why very fast burning powders dont always work in some ARs. 4198 has this problem at times depending on setup of the rifle, because longer gas systems lose port pressure. The opposite is true here, the Superformance is slower burning, which increases port pressure, thus needing an adjustable gas block or a longer gas system.