Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Hodgdon Superformance?

I ordered a couple pounds of Superformance from Midway for an upcoming 22 Manbun project. The data in the Hodgdon's annual manual looks impressive.

Also upcoming is a 6.5-284 Win. Superformance may work there as well.

My wife and I each have a 1-8 twist .22-250, both from special runs by Whittaker Guns in Kentucky (which is now named Whittaker Country), which we wanted to try as "light big game rifles," along with shooting varmints. I tested several bullets and powders in my rifle, a Ruger American, and the best results were with 41.0 Superformance and the 70-grain Hornady GMX hollow-point monolithic, which averaged 1/2" 3-shot groups at 100 yards at around 3400 fps. I killed the biggest pronghorn buck I could find in my tag's area at around 350 yards with an angling away shot.

Turned out the load worked very similarly in Eileen's T3 Tikka, averaging around 1/2" but at 3300 fps. It had since become her primary pronghorn/deer rifle, taking five animals out to 300+ yards.

(Should also note the 70 GMX was discontinued recently, replaced by the new plastic-tipped CX line--which may or may not work similarly. Luckily I bought a lifetime supply of the 70 GMXs....)

Mine is shooting right around 3/4" too..


I've also found it to work pretty well in the 30-06 and 300WSM, but the powder is touchy.. Seems to be temp sensitive, which effects group size. Make note of the temp you develop your loads, and then double check on both hot and cold days. You'll see what I'm talking about..

I totally agree. I've seen some weird schidt with it. Also talked to some longrange competitors that said the same thing. It's "touchy".. Like I said in my last post. It kind of reminds me of AA2520 in that regard.

Yep, its temp-sensitive--but not more than just about any of today's smokeless rifle powders. Have done a lot of testing of a lot of rifle powders in actual temperatures since the early 1990s, and just about any powder will work the same at around 25 degrees F. as at 80.

It's beyond those temp-parameters where problems occur, especially when temps get down to zero F. or less. Above 80 EVERY powder I've tested gains velocity--which means pressure increases. In temp-resistant powder the difference is less, but it's still there.

I was very aware of this when developing our .22-250 handload, but since we don't usually hunt pronghorns or "meat deer" down around zero, or above 80 degrees, it wasn't a problem. When we hunt in more extreme temperatures we use rifles and loads that are more resistant. Have hunted big game down to -40 here in Montana, and varmints up to 100+ degrees, so use rifles and loads that we know work in those extremes.

Well, then, just knock yourself out.

I surely don't need it.

MM

I'll be working up a load with a 180 Hot Cor or ELD. Since hunting here in extreme heat is not a concern. Can you tell me about the effects ofextreme cold?

In "extreme cold," such as zero F. and below, muzzle velocity of temp-sensitive powders can drop up to 200 fps. But the real problem isn't the loss of velocity, as the same bullet will still kill big game just fine.

Instead the big problem is a shift in point-of-impact. Have tested a number of powders where the same load shifted up to 2-3" at 100 yards at zero F., after the rifle was sighted-in at 100--which means 6-9" at 300.

If you want more detailed info (and there are other, secondary variables) there's an entire chapter on the subject in my Big Book of Gun Gack II, including the range-rest results from quite a few cartridges from the .17 Hornady Hornet to the .375 H&H.

Tried Superformance in my 300 WSM’s. It is temperature sensitive and thereby off my prospect list. It was very accurate the first day & highly unreliable for subsequent sessions.

Hornady Superformance loaded ammo didn’t necessarily contain Hodgdon marketed Superformance powder. In fact, it is my understanding that most factory ammo didn’t use that powder.

I pulled apart Superformance loaded ammo in 270/130SST and 30-06/165SST, and it definitely was not loaded with Superformance powder.

Leverevolution is a different story. The 30-30 Hornady Leverevolution factory ammo with the 160FTX was definitely Hodgdon Leverevolution powder.

Hornady used "adjusted" variations of the basic Superformance formula for specific factory cartridges--which wasn't a secret. But a LOT of handloaders missed the memo....

It really wasn't one of the best marketing ideas, the powder could have been called something else.

I think after reading this thread you guys just saved me from spending about $350 for a jug of it.

Just think if Hornaday had named it Superperformance. 😎😎😎

Or Super Formance, maybe Su Performance-- at $250/8lb. Ill take all I can get

WHEN Superformance first came out it was advertised as a niche powder only good in certain cartridges which immediately 99% of reloaders ignored . There was a disclaimer stating that this was not the same blend as used in all Superformance factory loads . Seems to be a lack of comprehension of what some folks understanding is of what they are reading .

Works good for me in the 30-06 with 165 and 180 gainers. All I need 25-80 good enough. Mb

Even though we know better, as I said before, per the 2023 Hodgdon Reloading Annual Manual, page 66, it sorta seems to imply that the powder in the ammo is the same that you can buy: "SUPERFORMANCE This is another of the spherical powders Hodgdon Powder Company and Hornady Manufacturing introduced to answer the frequently asked reloading question: "Can I buy the powder used in Hornady Superformance factory ammunition?"" And it goes on to say that it is a niche powder, but there is no disclaimer. Hence, the confusion, and this isn't the only place I've seen similar verbiage, without the disclaimer.

I think the dead horse has been beaten sufficiently.....

And I have a friend that absolutely swears by it in his .30-06 with 180 grainers.

Uses it in 30-06 with 180 grain bullets, hmmmm can you tell us more?

I believe I can! He likes Sierras and Noslers. He's run several of his loads through my chrono and he loads to get 2800 fps with 180s. And IIRC, his load is right around 59 gr of Superformance (the book says max is 59.7gr). I don't know what primer he uses, nor do I know what brass he uses. And this is out of a 40+ year old Rem 700 with a 24" either Shilen or Douglas barrel, that is 25+ years old. And it is accurate. I've seen him punch five shots into less than 3/4" several times (sometimes way less than 3/4").