Winchester vs Other Factory Ammo: Preliminary Comparison
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 11:38 am
Late last fall a couple of posts alerted forum members to the production of 450B factory ammo by Winchester.I cannot find that there have been any reviews of performance of the new Winchester ammo, so I shot a few rounds over a chronograph at some target paper. I shot some Hornady and Remington factory ammo in the same range session because a comparison seemed appropriate.
(In 2011 I posted a brief comparison between Remington and Hornady factory loads for the 450 Bushmaster: Chronographing Remington & Hornady Ammo.)
This report is light on data and preliminary, but some mild surprises surfaced during the test. Hopefully some other forum members will do a more thorough check soon. For the time being this is an attempt to "light one small candle rather than sit around in the dark" about the Winchester ammo.
The rifle I used was the 13-pound bench rifle described in a thread in May 2011: A Second Bolt Rifle. I mounted a Leupold 12X scope for this test and fired the rifle from a bench using front and rear sandbags. The barrel is 26" long. Persons with shorter barrels may make their own velocity extrapolations ammo with my Remington and Hornady results as calibrators.
Range conditions were very good during the test: 75°F, sunny, occasional fluffy clouds, sunlight on target face, wind <5 mph from 6 o'clock.
The ammo:
Some numerical results:
Initial observations:
The average velocities of the three ammo types differ notably. Despite identical specifications, the Winchester ammo average was 100 fps faster than the Hornady average. Remington ammo is specified at only 20 fps slower than the Hornady and Winchester, but in this test the Remington ammo average velocity was 125 fps slower than the Hornady. All three brands showed the variability in velocity that seems almost inherent in the cartridge.
The Hornady group sizes were both the largest and the smallest in the test. (See photos below). Hornady ammo has a reputation for good accuracy. In this test the larger Hornady group was caused by a single flyer, the first shot, which may be related to the velocity reading of that shot, which was well below the average for the other five Hornady shots. However, I can't rely on this variability for an explanation of the flyer because the Winchester ammo displayed considerably more variability than the Hornady ammo but showed no flyers. If you wish, chalk the flyer up to a wobble by the shooter, although I discarded a couple other shots that I called out. The Hornady flyer shot felt and looked good when it went off.
Lots of words for very few shots -- apologies. The images of the groups are posted below
--Bob
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(In 2011 I posted a brief comparison between Remington and Hornady factory loads for the 450 Bushmaster: Chronographing Remington & Hornady Ammo.)
This report is light on data and preliminary, but some mild surprises surfaced during the test. Hopefully some other forum members will do a more thorough check soon. For the time being this is an attempt to "light one small candle rather than sit around in the dark" about the Winchester ammo.
The rifle I used was the 13-pound bench rifle described in a thread in May 2011: A Second Bolt Rifle. I mounted a Leupold 12X scope for this test and fired the rifle from a bench using front and rear sandbags. The barrel is 26" long. Persons with shorter barrels may make their own velocity extrapolations ammo with my Remington and Hornady results as calibrators.
Range conditions were very good during the test: 75°F, sunny, occasional fluffy clouds, sunlight on target face, wind <5 mph from 6 o'clock.
The ammo:
- Winchester, Mfr #X450, Lot #470814 (purchased 2018). Velocity per manufacturer - 2200 fps from 20" barrel
Nominal 250-gr "Extreme Point" bullet, nominal B.C.=0.210.
Plastic tip with 6 crimping folds in jacket, resembling Hornady bullet.
Plastic tip, length 0.18", very hard, opaque, color dark greyish brown.
C.O.A.L.: 2.2335 ± 0.0005" (based on five measurements)
Diameter of case mouth, loaded round: 0.475"
Headstamp "WIN" over primer, "450 BUSHMASTER" under primer.
Primer color: brass - Hornady, Mfr #82244, Lot #3080153 (purchased 2011). Velocity per manufacturer - 2200 fps from 20" barrel
Nominal 250 grain bullet, plastic tip w ith six crimping folds in jacket.
Plastic tip, exposed length 0.19", somewhat flexible, opaque, reddish color.
C.O.A.L.: 2.2255 ± 0.0005" (based on five measurements)
Diameter of case mouth, loaded round: 0.475"
Headstamp "HORNADY" over primer, "450 BUSHMASTER" under primer.
Primer color: chrome - Remington, Mfr #PRA450B1, Lot #L08 NAI6L (purchased 2011). Velocity per manufacturer: 2180 fps, barrel length not stated.
Nominal 260-grain bullet, "Core-lokt, Ultra Bond" with plastic cap ("Accutip" with "Power Ports")
Plastic cap secured with six spiral crimping folds/cuts in jacket
Cap exposed length 0.29", hard, translucent emerald green plastic
C.O.A.L.: 2.257, +0.008, -0.007" (based on five measurements)
Diameter of case mouth, loaded round: 0.480"
Headstamp "R - P" over primer, "450 BUSHMASTER" under primer.
Primer color: brass
Some numerical results:
- Code: Select all
Remington Winchester Hornady
vel. group vel group vel group |
fps size fps size fps size | Summary - Average Velocities
------------------------------------------ | --------------------------
2077 2303 2198 | Average Velocities (std dev.)
2134 2396 2257 | Remington - 2128 (30) fps
2135 0.9" 2383 0.9" 2276 1.9" | Winchester - 2350 (41) fps
| Hornady - 2255 (30) fps
2152 2349 2250 |
2109 2374 2273 |
2159 1.7" 2299 1.0" 2273 0.5" |
Initial observations:
The average velocities of the three ammo types differ notably. Despite identical specifications, the Winchester ammo average was 100 fps faster than the Hornady average. Remington ammo is specified at only 20 fps slower than the Hornady and Winchester, but in this test the Remington ammo average velocity was 125 fps slower than the Hornady. All three brands showed the variability in velocity that seems almost inherent in the cartridge.
The Hornady group sizes were both the largest and the smallest in the test. (See photos below). Hornady ammo has a reputation for good accuracy. In this test the larger Hornady group was caused by a single flyer, the first shot, which may be related to the velocity reading of that shot, which was well below the average for the other five Hornady shots. However, I can't rely on this variability for an explanation of the flyer because the Winchester ammo displayed considerably more variability than the Hornady ammo but showed no flyers. If you wish, chalk the flyer up to a wobble by the shooter, although I discarded a couple other shots that I called out. The Hornady flyer shot felt and looked good when it went off.
Lots of words for very few shots -- apologies. The images of the groups are posted below
--Bob
.
.
.
.