Have I missed a Hornady announcement? I recently used up a box of Hornady 6.5mm 129SP so opened a new box and using my taped up dies loaded a cartridge that came out shorter on OAL. My friend still had some of the old lot so we compared old and new bullets and found that the new bullets were shorter. I bought a bullet comparator and discovered that the ogive was also in different place! I checked my Hornady 6mm 87SP's ( two boxes with the same lot number stamped on the box)and guess what, there was a difference in the ogive ie; old comparator OAL 3.285" new COAL 3.297. As a check I miked the COAL to the bullet point and got 2.745" old. 2.748" new. I loaded up some rounds with the new bullets to the old comp' OAL of 3.285 (sat deeper in the neck) and not surprisingly the group spread a little but MPI moved up 1". It's a good job I like going to the range because I now have find my sweet spot again. Is it a plot to get us to buy more Bullets?

I have been dealing with the same problem. I have always used the Hornady interlocks and have been very happy with them, but the new lots have changed. They don't look the same, and I can't get them to shoot like they used too. (not even close) I am to the point where I have given up on them, and I'm trying different bullets. It's a shame, because their terminal performance has always been excellent, and I have been a loyal customer for many years. I am glad you spoke up about this because I have heard of no one else having problems. I was beginning to think I was imagining how good they used to shoot. (If it weren't for the fact that I do have the old targets)....ol blue

Its common for bullet makers to change the shape of a given bullet offering. Certain styles of bullets are troublesome to produce and the tooling/run costs associated with a given bullet may make it difficult to profitably produce. Or they may want to be able to offer a bullet that will function in a wider variety of firearms and the old design had too long a nose to function through a certain firearm thus limiting its marketability. Its usually financial or marketing considerations that drive these decisions instead of ballistic superiority/design. Sierra did this to me when they redesigned the boattail on the 180 grain match king from the old long tapered boattail to the same design found on the 168 grain bullet. IMO this ruined the 180s performance at long range and I went to the 190 grainer which still have the older long boattail design. The 1,000 yard performance of the 190 is still there, IMO...

As I read this I started wondering if Hornady changed the 6.5 bullet shape for the .260 remington? We have all read that the .260 is not a real accurate cartridge so this may be their way to "take advantage of or help" unhappy .260 owners find a load that will be somewhat accurate.

I ran into the same situation a few years ago with their .308 165 gr. btsp's. It was frustrating, but I was able to obtain nearly the same accuracy level with some seating depth experimentation. The new bullets did not shoot well with the same "jump" as the old ones.

Arkie
Where did you hear the 260 isn't accurate? I have one and it shoots lights out. ballistics will out beat the .308 performance up to the 155 grains but after that the .308 takes over.I am not trying to start anything but am just wondering.
Matt

matt27,
I visit a lot of hunting/shooting forums. I didn't communicate my thought very well and for that I am sorry. I did imply the .260 wasn't accurate and that is not what I wanted to say. I have read many post that indicated .260 owners were haveing problems getting their .260 to group less than 1 1/2 MOA. Now in my book thats pretty good. Most of the replys I read on this subject indicate the rifling twist rate may be the cause and playing with bullet weight and seating depth a very accurate load can be developed for the .260. I understand the .260 was built to shoot 120 grain bullets. Most post that complain about the accuracy was shooting 140 grain bullets. I was real hot to own one until I discovered the 6.5X55. I now own three rifles in this caliber and may build another one for my wife. I really have fallen in love the .264 bullet and my personal opinion is that the .260 or 6.5X55 is probably the best all round rifle a man could want to own.

Many thanks for all the helpful replies, particularly Hot Core (good name). I hadn't thought of measuring the Overall Die Length but will give it a try.

When you get a good load by a lot of the same lot.

If you buy enough then any changes to the bullet that have occurred when it's time to restock will be negated by the change in your rifles throat!