Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Hodgdon Superformance?

During the current powder shortage, price increases and discontinued manufacture of various smokeless powders. I have be able to get Superformance. It's not one I have used, but I bought 3 pounds, just because it could be used in something.
It's not very flexible according to data I can find. But there must be a niche? But what is it? I find some data for 30-06 and 6mm Rem, but not 308.

The slow burn rate of Superformance does not make it a good fit for .308 Win.

I'll use it with 375 H&H, or 180 grain loads in 30-06. The stuff just doesn't seem very useful. So what is the niche?

Well I’m pushing 69 smk out of a 22-250 at 3500 fps. Accuracy ok. I’m going to try and fine tune. It’s shooting this about .75 inch at 100. Edk

We gotta use what we can get in this market for sure. But when Superformance had been on the market for awhile, I cruised all the new load manuals I could access, and of the manuals that make accuracy load suggestions, I can't recall ever seeing one cartridge listed as , most accurate load. Hmm.

Power valley recently had 8lb'rs on sale for $239. So I got 16lbs I need to find a use for.

There really isn't a whole lot of data on it. Barnes seems to be the most excited about it and posts some good data.


In burn rate, looks a tad faster than RL19. I'd be curious how it matches up to RL19 data.

Good in 243 .

Yeah that data looks good. Barnes also has good data for the 6.5 creed, 270win, 30-06 and some others. Data looks good for the 6.5 Creed.

They also have a load for the 175tsx and 7 RM. Doesn't look too good though.

Per the 2023 Hodgdon Annual Manual, Superformance is listed in the following places:

22 GT: 75gr and up
22-250: 60gr and up
220 Swift: 63gr and up
22 Creedmoor: 62gr and up
6 GT: 95gr and up
6mm Creed: 95gr and up
243 Win: 65gr and up
6mm Rem: 65gr and up
6.5 Creed: 140gr and up
260 Rem: 143gr and up
6.8 Western: 110gr and up
30-06: 150gr and up
300 WSM: 150gr and up
300 PRC: 175 and 230gr

I may have missed a couple, and there were a few surprises, like there were no listings for Superformance in 25-06 or 270 Win. Other manuals probably have other cartridges listed. And there are also a lot of cartridge gaps in their "Annual Manual", which is in magazine format. No 280 Rem, no 35 cal data except for 350 Legend, for instance.

Also, per the Annual Manual, it implied that the Hornady Superformance ammo is/was loaded with Superformance powder, so you could do a little research and see what Hornady ammo is/was sold under the Superformance banner.

Super in Hornady factory loads is not the same as bulk,
burn rate between 760 and 780--

works great in my heavy 22-250., 243, 6.5 Creed, 300 Win Mag

Powder initially designed for 300 WSM, which is outstanding in my FN SPR

Etoh,
What bullet and charge wt. are you loading for 22-250 heavies?

I've used it some in 22-250 also, and have gotten terrific velocity and sub-MOA accuracy out of it, but not as accurate as other powders. BUT, like you, I haven't fine tuned it yet. Also, I carefully worked up a good .270 Win load with 150gr Interbonds using data I interpolated from a couple different sources, but now the Interbonds have been discontinued, and I don't like the SSTs (too soft) as well as the Interbonds (just right).

75 gr ELD-- 38-40gr. around 3200 fps. 5000 ft elevation
80 Eld. 36-38 gr. " 3000

Tikka 1/8- KRG

300 WSM 175. around 68 gas. FNSPR
300 Win Mag. 175. 69 gr. TRG 42
" 208. 62 gr
6.5 creed. 140 43 gr----- 147 gr. 44gr. Tikka KRG

In a Win 70 Coyote with 26" stainless barrel and 1-14" or 1-12" twist (can't remember which) and 63gr Sierra, I'm getting a fuzz over 3500 fps avg with 41.5 gr of Super and that's over a grain below the listed max charge of 42.7gr. Accuracy is averaging about .8 inch, but getting better as I've increased charge wt. And I haven't played with seating depth at all.

I tried only three rounds of the 70 gr Speer Spitzer flat base with 38.0 gr of Super and got around 3300 fps, but accuracy was about 1.25 inches for those three shots. Haven't had a chance to play any further with it.

It works fine in the 270, 280, 30-06, but truly, no better than several other powders.

And it's touchy because, for me, it works best at top loads, but is not forgiving once you get to the top.

I haven't tried it in the 25-06 but it should be fine there.

Not a favorite by any means & too many other better choices with more flexibility so unless I am desperate, I won't buy any more.

YMMV

MM

Skeezix ... PSA

FYI Bruno Shooter's Supply has some Interbonds in stock in .277 caliber.

https://www.brunoshooters.com/product/hornady-bullets-270-caliber-150-grain-interbond-100/

I'd have to look in my notes but as I recall I found a good load in the 30-06 with 180g bullets. It didn't come around as easy as some other powders though.

i had Superformance powder in my 6.5 Creedmoor in the 120gr SST & BT or 140gr SST or BT. it was really good powder for the 6.5CM. the most accurate load was 140gr BT with Superformance that goes .3 - .4" at 100 yards (5 shots/bench). i think the worst group was 1 1/2+/- at 100 yards. usually the 6.5CM would be 1/2 - 3/4" 5 shot groups at 100 yards. i think i got about a pound of Superformance just sitting there, after i sold the CM.

good--- Ill take your quota

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").

Sounds about how it worked for.me in half a doz 30-06's. It works..mb

I’ve had good luck with it in a .243 with 80gr TTSX.

Yep, it works well in the niches where it works....

Right now it's available for ordering on the Hodgdon website.

I've never used it, but heard the same thing from other people that bought some and tried to make loads with it. I don't know anyone that liked it and bought more.

Thank you, everything I have seen tends to indicate charge weighs around 59 grains.

I think sometimes you really want a powder to work, and then it ends up disappointing. That’s about the best way to describe superformance powder. I actually loaded up some in a new 243 today, and got hangfires, with just about every charge weight. It’s a shame because I like how it meters, and it gets top velocities. However, it’s the quirks like what I experienced today, that turns me off about it.

Hang-fires are one thing I haven't experienced with SPF. What was the load and temperature?

Also, what primers were you using, and what kind of priming tool? I've always used magnum primers with spherical powders and loads above 45 gr or so.