Federal .308 deconstruction...dang!

[Inline6]

@Inline6
That's why I buy 4kg containers. That gives my close to 1,000 round before I have to worry.
If I buy powders that are different lots I get a big container and mix them together to give me the same lot and work my load up.
Bob

That was a 4kg jug I was pulling from. Velocity changed from the top to the bottom of the jug.

 

[Inline6]

I bought 3 boxes of Federal 7x57mm Mauser 175Gr Classic Hi-Shok soft point factory loads in 1996 (new imports, so the ammunition was supposed to be fresh).

I tried them out and found out that 18 cartridges out of a 20 round box were prone to misfiring. Other purchasers of these Federal cartridges were also complaining of frequent misfires and hang fires.

I still kept two of the faulty boxes of cartridges as a souvenir (and someday, I might decide to pull the bullets & brass and reload them with new powders and primers).
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By contrast, I still have a few loose rounds of the old Winchester Super X 175Gr soft nosed factory load for the 7x57mm Mauser (which got discontinued in 1999). Not only have they never misfired, but their chronographed velocity is still pretty damned close to the advertised velocity of 2450 fps.
View attachment 542720

Now, I don't mean to burn Federal at the stake. Absolutely not. I've successfully shot most of my African Cape buffalo with Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Bear Claw soft point factory loads in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum. And I'm absolutely in love with this cartridge.

But Federal does sometimes leave a lot to be desired with some of their products.

Unfortunately all manufacturers experience some types of failures. Even people who reload can mess up.

Federal and Hornady are my go to for factory ammo. I will shoot all kinds, those two have given me good results.