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August 25th, 2011
 The August 2011 digital edition of Shooting Sports USA is available online — free for the reading. This issue contains a “must-read” expert symposium on the subject of Eye Dominance, as it affects both rifle and pistol shooting. No matter whether you have normal dominance (i.e. your dominant eye is on the same side as your dominant hand), or if you have cross-dominance, you’ll benefit by reading this excellent article. The physiology and science of eye dominance is explained by Dr. Norman Wong, a noted optometrist. In addition, expert advice is provided by champion shooters such as David Tubb, Lones Wigger, Dennis DeMille, Julie Golob, Jessie Duff, and Phil Hemphill.
Development of the 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge
Also in the August Edition of Shooting Sports is a feature on the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. This story covers the origin of the cartridge and its performance both as a match cartridge and as a hunting round. Hornady Chief Ballistician Dave Emary explained: “the original intent of the cartridge was as an across-the-course match cartridge. We envisioned it as an off-the-shelf round that would produced the accuracy and ballistics to compete in all match disciplines right out of the box. At the same time we realized that the same characteristics would make an exceptional hunting cartridge with the right bullets.”
 6.5 Creedmoor Brass No Longer Washed After Annealing
Here’s an interesting update on Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor brass and loaded ammo. In a move to improve case quality and neck uniformity, Hornady recently changed the 6.5 Creedmoor production process, eliminating the case-washing step after annealing. So now you will see annealing coloration on 6.5 Creedmoor brass, just like on Lapua brass. Dennis DeMille of Creedmoor Sports wanted to improve the consistency/uniformity of 6.5 Creedmoor case-necks. At Dennis’ suggestion, Hornady conducted tests which showed that the “standard industry practice” of washing brass could potentially alter the necks in undesirable ways. Bottom line, unwashed annealed brass was determined to have an accuracy edge over washed brass. Looking at these results, Hornady decided to forgo the post-anneal washing process. As a result, the latest 6.5 Creedmoor brass now displays the distinctive coloration left by neck/shoulder annealing. Learn something new every day, eh?
August 12th, 2011
Grafs.com is having a big sale on certain Hornady reloading products. The Lock N Load Auto Charge Scale/Powder Dispenser is now just $199.99, marked down from $224.99. Reports on this unit have been generally positive. This sale makes the Hornady scale/dispenser much less expensive than an RCBS Chargemaster, which typically sells for about $330.00.
Next, the price of the Hornady Lock N Load Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine has been knocked down to $84.99 from $99.99. That makes the machine cheaper than “no-name” alternatives sold on eBay. This is similar to the machine we used for our original ultrasonic cleaning tests. It should do the job, unless you have large quantities of brass, in which case we recommend the larger Hornady Magnum Sonic Cleaning Machine, which has twin transducers and a larger immersion bay.
Grafs.com has also slashed the price of the Hornady Concentricity Gauge from $94.99 to $79.99. This tool can measure bullet run-out, and it has the capacity to straighten bullet alignment in the neck. Be aware, however, that because this tool supports a cartridge at both ends (like holding the two ends of a jump-rope), you will typically get a different run-out reading than with a traditional tool, such as the Sinclair Concentricity Gauge, which supports the case body only (without touching the bullet tip). Both tool designs give meaningful results, but the read-outs will not normally be the same.
 Hornady Reloading Handbook $10.00 with Bullet Purchase
In addition to the tool sales, Grafs.com is now offering the lastest Hornady Reloading Handbook for just $10.00 if you purchase five (5) boxes of in-stock Hornady Bullets. If you could use the book, we recommend Hornady’s V-Max bullets for varmint hunters, and the new BTHP match bullets for target shooters. The new BTHP match bullets feature AMP (Advanced Manufacturing Process) jackets for greater dimensional uniformity.
July 26th, 2011
 At the 20th Annual Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence awards (held last week in Kentucky), Larry Potterfield of Midway USA received the prestigious Shooting Industry Award for 2011. Potterfield was honored for his efforts to promote the shooting sports. In 2010, Potterfield donated more than $4,000,000 to youth shooting sports organizations and firearms training programs. We congratulate Mr. Potterfield. It’s great to see a successful businessman give back to the sport so generously.
After receiving the Shooting Industry Award, Potterfield stated: “This award is a great validation, from our peers, that Brenda and I are on the right track in supporting the youth shooting movement in the United States. Tomorrow’s leaders are in 4H, Boy Scouts, and the youth programs of the Key Conservation Groups; and they’re attending high schools and colleges. Our passion is to help fund programs that allow more kids to pull the trigger more times. The Scholastic Shooting Trust Fund, which provides funds for high school and college shooting teams, is our favorite charity.”
Hornady is Manufacturer of the Year
Hornady was named Manufacturer of the Year for service, support, and commitment to customers at all levels. Hornady’s new Superformance Varmint Ammo also earned “Ammunition of the Year” honors.
Ruger was a double winner as a gun-maker. Ruger’s new LC9 pistol was named “Handgun of the Year”, while the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle (M77-GS) received the coveted “Rifle of the Year” award.
Leupold also won two awards. The Leupold VX-R 3-9x40mm riflescope was named Optic of the Year and Leupold’s RX-1000i TBR Laser Rangefinder was named Hunting Product of the Year.
Awards were determined by the votes of the 500-member Academy of Excellence, which includes manufacturers, distributors, executives, storefront dealers and outdoor writers. “Each award recipient and nominee deserves accolades for their commitment to excellence in design and service,” said Randy Molde, Academy director.
June 24th, 2011
Not much to say here — the photo and the price ($25.00) pretty much tell the story. Here’s a chance to pick up a nice range bag for a low, low price. Big enough for a couple full-size pistols, ammo, and muffs, this bag features zippered pockets on both ends and slot pockets on the sides for magazines and other thin items. We don’t know why Hornady slashed the price of the Team Hornady range bag from $59.99 to a mere $25.00. That’s a 58% reduction — what we’d call a serious discount. The bag is roomy and functional, and we think it’s pretty handsome — so long as you’re not logo-phobic.
This range bag, item 9919, is sold directly through Hornady’s website. Visit Hornady’s online store soon to grab one before the price goes back up. Click photo (above) to go to the Hornady order page.
Story tip by EdLongrange. We welcome submissions from our readers.
May 13th, 2011
 While the venerable .308 Winchester is still the chambering of choice for most tactical shooters, a growing number of tac competitors are switching to the 6.5 Creedmoor (as well as other 6.5mm chamberings such as the 6.5×47 Lapua and .260 Remington). Among the 6.5mm options, the 6.5 Creedmoor offers the advantage of high quality, relatively affordable factory ammo.
Can the 6.5 Creedmoor win tactical matches with factory ammo? Absolutely. Team Hornady’s Tony Gimmellie used Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 120gr Match ammo to win the Oregon Sniper Challenge, held May 22-23, at the Douglas Ridge Rifle Club in Eagle Creek, Oregon. Tony said, “Hornady’s 6.5 Creedmoor ammo delivered ½ MOA accuracy from [my] POF gas piston rifle, allowing me to stay well ahead of the competition.”
To learn more about the 6.5 Creedmoor, along with the other popular 6.5mm cartridges used for tac comps, we recommend three articles by Accurateshooter.com contributor Zak Smith:
6.5 Creedmoor vs. the .308 Winchester
In the first article above, Zak explains: “Why 6.5 mm instead of .30 caliber? Put simply, they sling the long, slim, high-BC 6.5 mm bullets at respectable velocity. It duplicates or beats the .300 Win Mag’s trajectory with less recoil than a .308 Win. Compared to the 175 Sierra MK fired from a .308 Win, the 6.5 mm will have 27% less wind drift and about 10 MOA less drop at 1000 yards. Despite a 35-grain deficit in bullet mass, the 6.5 Creedmoor will retain 18% more energy and hit the target 260 fps faster.”
6.5mm Cartridges — Comparative Ballistics Performance by Zak Smith
Put in order of ballistic performance, the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .260 Remington are almost neck-and-neck, pushing the same weight bullets at about the same velocities from almost identical case capacities. The 6.5×47 Lapua in factory form lags by 100 to 200 fps due to less powder capacity; however, it has already gained a reputation for having a strong case that puts up with the high pressures some reloaders push in their custom rifles. The .260 Remington’s main problem for the reloader is lack of high-quality and affordable brass and to date there has only been one factory load produced which was appropriate for serious long-range competition for the non-reloader. The 6.5×47 was designed for intermediate-range competition and very accurate ammunition is available from Lapua; however, these factory loads are at a ballistic disadvantage at long range compared to the .260 Remington and the 6.5 Creedmoor.
There will always be those who bash new cartridges, claiming that they don’t do anything better than their favorite cartridge. By this logic, we’d all be shooting .30-06. Put simply, the 6.5 Creedmoor is what the .260 Remington should have been. It looks like Hornady has the right mind-set to make its new cartridge a success in the competitive and practical market, unlike Remington who basically let the .260 languish in a few hunting rifles. The 6.5 Creedmoor enjoys additional case capacity over the 6.5×47 Lapua, which allows better ballistics at a lower peak chamber pressure.
April 22nd, 2011
 Grafs.com is running a big sale right now on Hornady Bullets with many very popular projectiles marked down 12%.
And to sweeten the deal, for the next week, Grafs.com is waiving its $4.95 handling/insurance fee on any orders worth $60.00 or more. Graf’s already offers free shipping on most products, so this is a good deal, even if you’re only going to buy a couple boxes of bullets. Here are some of the Hornady Bullet Discounts:
- 20gr V-MAX BULLET (.172, 100/box)
$15.39 on sale, 12% savings
Item #RN21710
- 40gr V-MAX BULLET (.224, 100/box)
$15.39 on sale, 12% savings
Item #HRN22241
- 50gr V-MAX BULLET (.224, 100/box)
$15.39 on SALE, 12% savings
Item #HRN22261
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- 58gr V-MAX BULLET (6mm, 100/Box)
$17.79 on sale, 10% savings
Item #HRN22411
- 120gr A-MAX BULLET (6.5mm, 100/box)
$23.59 on sale, 8% savings
Item #HRN26172
- 168gr BTHP MATCH BULLET (.308, 100/box)
$23.99 on sale, 10% savings
Item #HRN30501
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FREE Freight and No-Charge Handling/Insurance with $60 Purchase
Grafs.com will waive the handling and insurance charge ($4.95 value) when you order at least $60 worth of in-stock merchandise. Freight is ALWAYS prepaid to the 48 states on regular ground service only except for target load ammo (see terms of service for details). Offer excludes closeout items and target loads. Offer expires Thursday, April 28th at midnight CST. NOTE: Hazmat and other special fees are NOT included. Call 800-531-2666 for any questions.
April 15th, 2011
 Here’s an amazing deal if you need a large supply of .224-cal, general purpose bullets. Wideners.com is currently offering a 6000-count bulk pack of 55gr Hornady FMJBT bullets. The price is just $475.00 including FREE shipping. That works out to just $7.92/hundred or less than 8 cents per bullet!. These bullets sell elsewhere for $13-$15 per box of 100.
The cannelured, secant-ogive, 55gr FMJBT bullet was designed to duplicate the performance of military M193 ammo. The deep-penetrating FMJ design is also good for hunters wanting to preserve the integrity of game pelts.
The 55gr bullets ship in a 6000-count bulk pack with free shipping. Who needs 6000 bullets? Well a club or training group could assemble low-cost training ammo with these bullets. Or, two or three varmint-shooting buddies might want to join in on a “group buy”.
Story sourced by Edlongrange.
April 13th, 2011
 Hornady has discovered social networking. This week Hornady launched official Facebook and Twitter sites. Fans can go to Facebook.com/hornady and Twitter.com/teamhornady to get the latest news about Hornady products and events.
Hornady’s Facebook Site will offer:
- Live chats with industry experts.
- Exclusive discounts and promotions.
- Timely info on new products.
- Product photo galleries and videos.
On Hornady’s new social media pages, shooters can share their photos and stories about hunting, competitive shooting, and reloading. Importantly, the Facebook Page will allow shooters to interact with Hornady’s “brain trust” — the ballisticians, designers, and engineers who develop Hornady’s new products. Allowing customers to share their ideas/experiences with the folks who design and build Hornady products is a good thing. Hornady can get reliable, immediate feedback on its products. That should speed up the process of making improvements and enhancements.
March 30th, 2011
Hornady is rolling out a series of new Boat-Tail Hollowpoint (BTHP) match bullets. These are all-new non-tipped bullets, not merely modified A-Max designs. There will be a 105gr 6mm, a 140gr 6.5mm, a 162gr 7mm, three new .30 Cal bullets (178, 208, 225 grains), a 285gr .338-cal bullet, and a monster 450gr .416-caliber projectile. These BTHP bullets feature Hornady’s new AMP (Advanced Manufacturing Process) jackets, which Hornady claims are “the most consistently concentric bullet jackets available”.
All Bullets Except the 6mm and 6.5mm Can Be Purchased Now
Unfortunately, the 6mm and 6.5mm bullets have not reached dealers’ shelves yet, as far as we can tell. However, the .30-caliber match bullets, the 162gr 7mm, and the new .338 and .416 bullets, are in stock now either at Grafs.com or Sinclair International. Our price check revealed that, for those new Hornady Match bullets currently carried by both vendors, Grafs.com has the lower price by a couple dollars per box. Grafs.com also offers free shipping (after a flat-rate handling charge). The prices in the chart below are for Grafs.com, except where only Sinclair Int’l has inventory in stock.
High BC and Improved Concentricity — But Will They Shoot?
Hornady boasts some pretty high G1 BCs for most of these new match bullets. In addition, Hornady claims the new bullets have superior concentricity because their AMP jackets exhibit “near zero wall-thickness variation”. We’re anxious to try some of the new AMP-jacketed bullets to see if these bullets really are exceptionally accurate, or whether Hornady’s marketing claims are mere hype. Watch the video below to learn more about these new bullets.
Disclosure: Hornady does not advertise with AccurateShooter.com and does not contribute to this site as a sponsor. Story sourced by Edlongrange.
March 28th, 2011
 Hornady Manufacturing recently received the coveted “Golden Keiler 2010 Jager (Hunter) Award” for Hornady’s innovative Superformance® ammunition. The award was presented at the 2011 IWA & Outdoor Classics show in Nuremberg, Germany. “It is an honor to have been selected to receive this award,” said Jason Hornady, a Vice President of Hornady.
Superformance ammo, now offered in 20+ calibers, features custom-blended powders tailored for particular cartridge and bullet combinations. Some of these blends consist of regularly available powders, but Hornady actually commissioned some new custom propellents that are not available to the general public. First introduced in 2009, Superformance ammunition was created to deliver extra speed. In some cartridge types, Superformance ammo runs as much as 200 fps faster than conventional factory ammunition loaded with the same bullets. You can usually count on getting at least 100 fps additional speed compared to factory ammo from from Federal, Remington, and Winchester.
How does Hornady deliver such high speeds with its Superformance ammo? That is explained in detail in AccurateShooter.com’s 2009 Interview with Dave Emary, Hornady’s Senior Ballistician. Emery identified five main factors that yield the enhanced performance:
- Superformance ammo uses advanced new Ball Powders (not yet for sale).
- The powders are BLENDED, with different “recipes” for different cartridges.
- The new powders maintain high-energy longer in barrel (like Reloder 17).
- The new powders burn almost completely, reducing ejecta, for less exit pressure, and less felt recoil.
- Superformance ball propellants pack very densely, so more grains of powder can fit inside a case, compared to typical extruded stick powders.
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