Superior vs Hendershots Ammo

This will be a lengthy post but I hope it can help someone that is looking for handloaded ammunition that doesn't reload themselves. I purchased a CZ 550 Safari Classic from a fellow AH member last year. I have my first Safari next May for Buffalo, Kudu, and whatever else the bush provides. When I recieved my rifle, I reached out to Superior Ammunition to get a sample pack of 300gr Swift AFrames. While talking with Lonnie, he assured me that one of the set of bullets in the sample pack would produce "one ragged hole" and if not he would find me something that would shoot good in my rifle. I also reached out to Lance at Hendershots and got him to send me a load of 300gr TSX just to see if my rifle preferred one bullet over the other. After receiving the sample pack from Superior, and the TSX from Hendershots, I took them to my gunsmith to shoot. He has a 100 yard range, shooting house with a lead sled, and a chronograph.

Here are the groups from the sample pack from Superior Ammunition:




As you can see, none of them shot exceptionally well. If we are being honest, any of them would kill a Buffalo but they are far from a good group. I reached back out to Lonnie with Superior, and after looking at all of these groups he agreed that none of them were good. He then said "Just pick the best one and that's what we will go with." The TSX loads from Hendershots were better than all of these but about 1.5 MOA. So I reached back out to Lance with Hendershots, told him about the sample pack I had received from Superior, and asked if it was anyway I could get a sample pack of AFrames from him. He not only sent me a sample pack in exchange for the rest of the TSX that were not used but would not let me pay for them even after I told him I would be more than happy to. He told me that once we found something that shot good in my rifle, then I could buy whatever amount I wanted to order afterwards.

Here are the groups from the sample pack from Hendershots:




The groups speak for themselves. It goes without needing to be said but Lance is one of the most honest businessmen I have ever dealt with. He stands behind his ammunition and truly wants you to be happy with the results. Hendershots will 100% have all of my business going forward.

Barnes have always shot better for me in many rifles.

Add to the fact that Superior is Slooooooooow to get ammo out.

404Pruitt said:

This will be a lengthy post but I hope it can help someone that is looking for handloaded ammunition that doesn't reload themselves. I purchased a CZ 550 Safari Classic from a fellow AH member last year. I have my first Safari next May for Buffalo, Kudu, and whatever else the bush provides. When I recieved my rifle, I reached out to Superior Ammunition to get a sample pack of 300gr Swift AFrames. While talking with Lonnie, he assured me that one of the set of bullets in the sample pack would produce "one ragged hole" and if not he would find me something that would shoot good in my rifle. I also reached out to Lance at Hendershots and got him to send me a load of 300gr TSX just to see if my rifle preferred one bullet over the other. After receiving the sample pack from Superior, and the TSX from Hendershots, I took them to my gunsmith to shoot. He has a 100 yard range, shooting house with a lead sled, and a chronograph.

Here are the groups from the sample pack from Superior Ammunition:

View attachment 779200
View attachment 779201View attachment 779202View attachment 779203View attachment 779204

As you can see, none of them shot exceptionally well. If we are being honest, any of them would kill a Buffalo but they are far from a good group. I reached back out to Lonnie with Superior, and after looking at all of these groups he agreed that none of them were good. He then said "Just pick the best one and that's what we will go with." The TSX loads from Hendershots were better than all of these but about 1.5 MOA. So I reached back out to Lance with Hendershots, told him about the sample pack I had received from Superior, and asked if it was anyway I could get a sample pack of AFrames from him. He not only sent me a sample pack in exchange for the rest of the TSX that were not used but would not let me pay for them even after I told him I would be more than happy to. He told me that once we found something that shot good in my rifle, then I could buy whatever amount I wanted to order afterwards.

Here are the groups from the sample pack from Hendershots:

View attachment 779205View attachment 779206View attachment 779207


The groups speak for themselves. It goes without needing to be said but Lance is one of the most honest businessmen I have ever dealt with. He stands behind his ammunition and truly wants you to be happy with the results. Hendershots will 100% have all of my business going forward.

Click to expand...

The problem in part is that you really need the associated handloading components to do some diagnostics before you build your own loads. (or order them from someone else)

The first thing you'd need to build a load would be the chamber and throat depth to the ogive for each bullet you intend to use. You'd then load up 5 dummy rounds short of that number, typically .010" for lead bullets, and .050" for copper. IF both feed well, giving Lonnie or Lance that data would get you a more accurate load across the board, perhaps one of them being spectacular.

The amount of lead makes a lot of difference

Nonetheless, I'm glad you ended up with a good, repeatable load.

Great point

Barnes TSX like a jump of 0.050

Traditional bullets like Aframes need less bullet jump

I've used both Hendershot's Extreme Ammo and Superior as well as John Lasalla's Safari Arms. All have provided quality ammo... some rifles shoot most anything well and some are persnickety! When you find a load that shoots, stick with it and lock the load data in the safe with the rifle!

I have also purchased ammo from Hendershot’s that worked great for DG and PG. Recently ordered a test box of 7mm SAUM from John at Safari Arms for an upcoming Spain trip. Two of the 5 shot tests were 1-1.5 moa the third was .48 and the fourth was .36! Each rifle has a preferred ammo it seems. Also I think Lance does offer load development if you send him your rifle.

I’ve never had a frames group well.

Barnes on the other hand…

I know every rifle is different. But just my personal experiences is Barnes factory ammo has always been very accurate.

So lots to unpack here.

1. Is the rifle set up correctly?
a. Glass bedded
b. all bolts torqued to spec and loctited
c. trigger adjusted correctly for you

2. Is the scope ok?
a. properly installed (ideally wet bedded)
b. no wandering cross hairs or other mechanical issues

3. does the ammo fit the barrel?
a. bullet chamber and correct throat depth
b. powder seems to work for the load recipe
c. twist is ok for the bullet

I have had 5 different bullets not shoot, change powder and they all shoot.

4. what everything with the shooter the same, position, bench?

Muskox said:

So lots to unpack here.

1. Is the rifle set up correctly?
a. Glass bedded
b. all bolts torqued to spec and loctited
c. trigger adjusted correctly for you

2. Is the scope ok?
a. properly installed (ideally wet bedded)
b. no wandering cross hairs or other mechanical issues

3. does the ammo fit the barrel?
a. bullet chamber and correct throat depth
b. powder seems to work for the load recipe
c. twist is ok for the bullet

I have had 5 different bullets not shoot, change powder and they all shoot.

4. what everything with the shooter the same, position, bench?

Click to expand...

1- Yes to all of them. It was bedded by the prior owner and after I received it I sent it to Tipton Burns for some upgrades.

2- Sure is

3- I’m assuming you saw the “Green” load from Hendershots so I believe you just answered your own questions.

4- Yes again

Your photos on not working for me.

I live about an hour and a half from Lance Hendershot. I am proud to say I consider him a friend. Always nice. I was in his shop one time and the preverbal old lady came in to sell her husbands guns who had recently passed away. I was amazed at the very fair prices he was giving her. She had no clue what she had and he was totally honest with her. Now if only he would sell me that framed Dakota print he has on the wall...

404Pruitt said:

This will be a lengthy post but I hope it can help someone that is looking for handloaded ammunition that doesn't reload themselves. I purchased a CZ 550 Safari Classic from a fellow AH member last year. I have my first Safari next May for Buffalo, Kudu, and whatever else the bush provides. When I recieved my rifle, I reached out to Superior Ammunition to get a sample pack of 300gr Swift AFrames. While talking with Lonnie, he assured me that one of the set of bullets in the sample pack would produce "one ragged hole" and if not he would find me something that would shoot good in my rifle. I also reached out to Lance at Hendershots and got him to send me a load of 300gr TSX just to see if my rifle preferred one bullet over the other. After receiving the sample pack from Superior, and the TSX from Hendershots, I took them to my gunsmith to shoot. He has a 100 yard range, shooting house with a lead sled, and a chronograph.

Here are the groups from the sample pack from Superior Ammunition:

View attachment 779200
View attachment 779201View attachment 779202View attachment 779203View attachment 779204

As you can see, none of them shot exceptionally well. If we are being honest, any of them would kill a Buffalo but they are far from a good group. I reached back out to Lonnie with Superior, and after looking at all of these groups he agreed that none of them were good. He then said "Just pick the best one and that's what we will go with." The TSX loads from Hendershots were better than all of these but about 1.5 MOA. So I reached back out to Lance with Hendershots, told him about the sample pack I had received from Superior, and asked if it was anyway I could get a sample pack of AFrames from him. He not only sent me a sample pack in exchange for the rest of the TSX that were not used but would not let me pay for them even after I told him I would be more than happy to. He told me that once we found something that shot good in my rifle, then I could buy whatever amount I wanted to order afterwards.

Here are the groups from the sample pack from Hendershots:

View attachment 779205View attachment 779206View attachment 779207


The groups speak for themselves. It goes without needing to be said but Lance is one of the most honest businessmen I have ever dealt with. He stands behind his ammunition and truly wants you to be happy with the results. Hendershots will 100% have all of my business going forward.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure you can say one company has better ammo than the other. You can definitely say your rifle shoots one brand better than the other. Every rifle, ammo, shooter combination is a law unto itself! But you figured out your combo! Nice Shooting!

100% agree with you and that’s why I never said no one should use Superior. I just wanted to share my experience with both companies! My rifle definitely found the load that it prefers and I appreciate it!

I’m surprised at the difference. I would have expected one of superior’s loads to be as accurate as Hendershot’s. I’ve never had Swift A Frame be the most accurate in my 375, but I found the ammo I received from Pendleton was most accurate about 1” vs maybe 1.5” with swift ammo and 1.75” with Federal ammo. Barnes has always been more accurate for me, but I like Swift’s performance better. I will say I’m lucky, with my Sako 85s in 300 and 375 they shoot all ammo well for hunting. Aside from Hornady’s DGS (solids), the worst in either has been maybe 2”. The best in both 0.5” with 150 and 250 gr Barnes TTSX.

Hififile324 said:

I'm not sure you can say one company has better ammo than the other. You can definitely say your rifle shoots one brand better than the other. Every rifle, ammo, shooter combination is a law unto itself! But you figured out your combo! Nice Shooting!

Click to expand...

Maybe for standard factory ammo. For custom hand loads, I don’t think I’d be happy with a 2”+ group then be told to just choose the best one of several bad groups to go with. To his defense though, I’m sure he deals with a lot of shooters that aren’t capable of what the rifle can do. The tight groups with several of the Hendershots loadings though says it’s not the shooter.

375Fox said:

Maybe for standard factory ammo. For custom hand loads, I don’t think I’d be happy with a 2”+ group then be told to just choose the best one of several bad groups to go with. To his defense though, I’m sure he deals with a lot of shooters that aren’t capable of what the rifle can do. The tight groups with several of the Hendershots loadings though says it’s not the shooter.

Click to expand...

That's what irritated me the most is when he said just pick the best one. I'm not paying $140-$150/box for custom loads when it's shooting 2+ groups. I will have to go back and find it, but there was another post a couple years ago about a sample pack from Superior that shot groups like mine did. Far from a one ragged hole...

Muskox said:

So lots to unpack here.

1. Is the rifle set up correctly?
a. Glass bedded
b. all bolts torqued to spec and loctited
c. trigger adjusted correctly for you

2. Is the scope ok?
a. properly installed (ideally wet bedded)
b. no wandering cross hairs or other mechanical issues

3. does the ammo fit the barrel?
a. bullet chamber and correct throat depth
b. powder seems to work for the load recipe
c. twist is ok for the bullet

I have had 5 different bullets not shoot, change powder and they all shoot.

4. what everything with the shooter the same, position, bench?

Click to expand...

Also, @Mark A Ouellette is the one I purchased the rifle from, and he had already bedded it. He is a strong standing member on this forum and I don't think he would have sold me a rifle where everything wasn't to spec. Tipton Burns also looked everything over when it was sent to him and he is also a highly regarded gunsmith on this forum. I PM'd you the pictures of the groups.

Always a challenge to make a rifle shoot.

Guys that buy a Gunwerks and go hunting with a "system" always baffled me. I need this kind of drama in my life.

Always a challenge to make a rifle shoot.

Guys that buy a Gunwerks and go hunting with a "system" always baffled me. I need this kind of drama in my life.

404Pruitt said:

Also, @Mark A Ouellette is the one I purchased the rifle from, and he had already bedded it. He is a strong standing member on this forum and I don't think he would have sold me a rifle where everything wasn't to spec. Tipton Burns also looked everything over when it was sent to him and he is also a highly regarded gunsmith on this forum. I PM'd you the pictures of the groups.

Click to expand...

Gosh, I forgot that I sold that .375 CZ to you... That is a nice rifle that I if I remember correctly, I bought from another famous AH guy named mark. I never shot it much so I can't help with its favorite load.

Overall your groups have more vertical dispersion than horizontal. I would loosen the front screw a few foot pounds of pressure. Have around 65 ft lbs on the main recoil lug screw. Less on the rear and that aforementioned pesky front screw. This may reduce the vertical stringing.

Shoot well!