I've had similar experiences with the 168gr hornady bullets. They just don't shoot well in my rifle. The 168gr A-Max do though, they have become my bullets of choice for my rifle.
I have good results with 168 grain Nosler blemished bullets. I pay roughly $20 for a box of 100 and order 10 boxes when they show up on Shooter's Pro Shop.
That's what I shoot, too, however, I bought a box of SMK's, loaded them up over the same case/primer/powder combo and the SMK's outshot the Noslers every time... not by much, mind you, but it was definite. This out of my Socom, BTW.
Wow ! Thanks Art once again schooling us new guys ,and thanks tonyben3 and jaycosta for weighing in shareing your experiance really helps I just want y'all to know its appreciated .
Were you using the same exact load? I've found the Hornady to be on par accuracy wise but the loads were slightly different due to the longer bearing surface on the Hornady bullets. A tad less powder for the Hornady load did the trick for me.
Were the Hornady bullets 168 HPBT, A-MAX, ELDM, or other?
I ask because I just shot some 200 yard comparisons between 168 SMK and 168 ELDM and the Sierra was significantly better for me too, despite some very good groups a few months ago with the ELDM. Yesterday's results:
Hornady 168 ELDM with 41.5gr IMR4895 1.70 MOA max with 0.695 Mean Radius (8 shot)
Hornady 168 ELDM with 42.0gr Varget 3.10 MOA max with 0.906 Mean Radius (10shot)
SMK 168 with 41.5gr IMR4895 1.32 MOA max with 0.366 Mean Radius(10 shot)
SMK 168 with 42.0gr Varget 1.76 MOA max with 0.571 Mean Radius(10 shot)
In my somewhat limited shooting and recollections I tend to agree the Sierras were maybe a bit better?
However, I was satisfied with the 168 Hornady Amaxes and decided to stick with them and do more load work when am able and to stick with Sierra 175's to play fair... Besides, I use the 168 Hor Amaxes to keep then apart from my Sierra 175's
I've used both with pretty much equal results. While you usually can get Hornady's cheaper Sierra's are easier to find for me locally and I also buy in bulk from Sierra's factory outlet by the pound anyway.
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