In my search for the gun and caliber for my next purchase, I've been looking a balistics on different loads.

Then I'm seeing Federal "high energy" or Hornady "light magnum" loads.
The federal high energy .30-06 180 Nosler Partition is pretty darn close to a standard .300 Win. Mag. 180gr. Partition.

So, are the "high energy" loads showing the true potential of the caliber, and the standard loads "tamed down" to make the super magnums look even better

OR....

Are the high energy loads manufactured in a way thatCAN'T be duplicated safely by handloading?

Any information would be appreciated.

hornady's light mag or high energy loads......are above what standard loads are......and also hotter than what a handloader can do....

They aren't releasing their formula.....but I kinda think in most instances, if you want more out of yoru cartridge, you should just use a bigger cartridge.....in some instances hornady does give you an added option.....which is nice, but again, I think the good ole standard loadings is what one should base a cartridge on....esepecially when figuring out what to buy....

The light magnum and high energy loads do not increase the peak pressure. They use a specially designed powder. The powder is soaked in a variation of nitroglycerin, dried and then treated with a coating to inhibit the burning rate. This results in an increase in energy per given volume of case capacity. The powder works by maintaining the pressure longer not by increasing the pressure.
You will find the Hornady Loads in 06 are actually cheaper than the 7mm or 300 WM ammo with equivilent bullets. I shoot the cheap standard 06 ammo at the range and for whitetails and just buy the light mag ammo for elk. It is the best of bothworlds. This powder works best in the 308 and 06 cases. For instance the 165 grain interbond light mags had to have a crimpinggroove added to the bullet because the load was "highly compressed" according to the Hornady tech center.

First off ballistic data needs to be taken with a salt as your rifle may or may not achieve even standard loads numbers much less the mag or heavy loads. It gives you an idea but it kind of like pin the tail on the donkey as the only way to know for sure is shoot them from your gun, in your enviroment over a chronograph.

How Hornady and Federal achieve this is simply by changing the components used, what changes I don't know for sure but being a reloader I'd say the propellant is different then the others and possibly the primer. I have heard for years they achieve these by duplex loading.Aduplex load is mixing 2 different powders in a ratio ofa faster burning powder in a small quanitity known as the booster and the majority in a slower burning power. Duplex loads are considered a no no in the bottleneck reloading world so if any truth to these rumors of the major manufacturer's using duplex loads we'll never hear how they do it. The other rumor is spec powder not available to us common folk. Either way no one has let the cat of the bag on whats used inside. I haven't myself but some have taken them apart for a little CSI work, of that I've heard any conclusive results saying its this or that!

In regards to duplicating the numbers of these magnums offering or loads, a reloader should be able to beclose or better in the numbers department but has the ability to tailor other portions to therifle for achieving both performance on the chronograph and on the target. I admit to being not really up on factory ammo numbers and even less on the heavies but I recall a 139 Hornady in a 7mm rem mag "mag load" giving a MV of 3250fps. I not only achieve this in my own reloads I eclipse it as well as shoot sub MOA.

I wouldn't buy a cartridge based on the possibility of getting the few mag or heavy loads to shoot, look at the averages and thats what you should expect. If you want 300 MV buy one

+100

I would personally have to disagree. The Hornady Light Mag ammo allows a hunter the ability to reach higher velocity and energy levels from standard cartridges without any increase in pressure.... why would you not choose to use that which is realily available?

I shoot light mag ammo in every gun I own. I have used it almost exclusively for a couple of years. I can tell you that I have not experienced any accuracy issues with it in .243, 7mm-08, .308, .270, or 30,06. The ballistics charts can be trusted, if you look at them for what they are..... a tool. If you look at the length of barrels used, and calculate the vel / energy loss for shorter barrels then you can get a pretty good idea of what a round with factory ammo is capable of. Sure there may be a little deviation + or - from that, but round to round from any gun factory ammo of any kind will have deviation over a chronograph.

The Hornady rounds do have some extra oomph to them, in recoil and in knockdown, but the recoil isonly a tad heavier, and the deer D.R.T.....

What I feel it would come down to is this...... If you Want a new gun, fine, go get one. But if you want a little more vel. for flatter shooting, and a little more energy for a bit moreknockdownpower, then go buy some Hornady Light Mag.

After the end of the season last year, I needed to restock my ammo, and I bought 14 boxes of Hornady light mag. , And I plan on buying some more when the shelves are restocked.

BTW, I do not own a single Magnum gun..... I could buy one, but I do not need to. Plus, if I want regular strength stuff, it is available anywhere.... Not all magnum ammo can be found at some shops. Non Magnum calibers are usually much easier to find, when on trips or at little mom and pop shops.

Good luck and God Bless,

MET

Never tried the Hornady ammo, but did use the Federal H.E. stuff in my .270. They worked fine as long as it was cool weather. I shot some at sea level when the temps were in the high 70s low 80s and they locked up mygun. That makes me think that they are loaded to a higher pressure.

Federal H.E. may be.... I am not sure how they are loading those, but Hornady are not loaded to higher pressures. They use a proprietary powder, that results in higer energy at the same pressures. This is their own special blend / type of powder. I have used the Hornady in 95 + deg. weather in the dead heat of summer, and there were no case issues, sticking, pressure, or anything.

Try some of the Hornady light Mag ... see if you like it better than the Federal.

God Bless

MET

Meaningless terms used by ammo manufacturers to sell more expensive ammo. Using a chronograph as opposed to the info provided on the box reveals the differences are much smaller than advertised and often nonexistent. Can be used with other old favorites like "tactical", Hi-Speed, Super X.................

So you have chronoed the Hornady light mag ammo.... Cause I have and it is faster and that translates to more energy and flatter shooting.... At least in my guns ... perhaps your guns shoot slower ...

MET