Why Not to Shoot Hornady 68BTHP Bullets. 

[@rufturbo997]

Never used the 68gr bullet, but if you are looking for a heavier bullet load, I have had great success with Sierra 77 gr with 25.5 gr of Accurate 2520. For lighter bullets, in 55 gr class, I use Accurate 2460. The 55gr are extremely accurate with very good velocity in several different rifles with 1:8, 1:9, and 1:12 twist rates. The 77gr has only been used in the 1:8.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

I saved a screenshot of your message. I will give that load a try. I have had good success with the accurate powders as well. I especially like the 2460. It's a very fine ball powder and I can even meter that directly from the dispenser into the case and the weights are very consistent.

[@rufturbo997]

@@EverydayReloadingandShooting I use 26gr of the 2460 with 55gr bullets and 26.2gr with 52/53 gr bullets. As always, start below ANY recommendations. Good luck.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@rufturbo997 I'll give it a try

[@rufturbo997]

I misspoke on only using the 77gr in a 1:8 twist as I have used it in a 1:9 twist rifle as well. It also was very accurate in that rifle. With the exception of the 1:12 rifle, the others are 16" AR's.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@rufturbo997 gotcha

[@RanchTop]

+1 for the penmanship Sir! That being said; some barrels won't like certain bullets, and Hornady's secant ogive is more sensitive to seating depth. I've had a couple barrels that were half-minute with the 68gr BTHP. Best of luck to you on your future content.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@RanchTop thanks for commenting. I've tried this bullet with at least four different powders and I think one of them shot just OK, not great. Thanks for the compliment. I hope you stick around. Thanks for watching

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@RanchTop ps: the penmanship is the result of high school mechanical art class 😀

[@RanchTop]

@@EverydayReloadingandShooting It is fantastic regardless. I also like the fact that you shoot 10 round groups. I get a bit tired of dudes shooting a non-repeatable three-shot group and telling me what a rifle is capable of.

[@fomerbu]

75 and 68 have a magical seating depth at 2.245" or as close to the lands as you feel safe.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@fomerbu you may very well be right. The 68 grains just have not worked for me. I do appreciate your watching, and thanks for the comment.

[@peteregger7928]

I've never had great results with factory loaded Hornady so I've never bothered to load/reload with it. I've tried their expensive match and the more affordable stuff but never got as good a result as other manufacturers at similar price points. Enjoy your videos!

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@peteregger7928 hi Peter. This is the only Hornady bullet that I've really had problems with. I've used several powders and none seem to perform well with this bullet. Thanks for watching.

[@adamcrofts2717]

I get pretty decent groups with the 68gr BTHP and 25 grains of Varget. I’m constantly surprised at how different guns prefer different bullets.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@adamcrofts2717 that is very true. I just haven't found a good combination that works for me yet. Thanks for watching.

[@adamcrofts2717]

@@EverydayReloadingandShooting I get so much from your videos. As much inspiration to keep experimenting as ideas on what to try next

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@adamcrofts2717 I really appreciate that Adam. Thank you.

[@ImNoBSING]

I would definitely try the load with varying seating depths after you know what charge and muzzle velocity suits your needs best. When I tested the 75BTHP I could clearly see seating depth changes. But with that kind of accuracy out of the gate, just ditch them and try some other bullet. You can only improve so much from the starting point..

[@ImNoBSING]

Or try another powder but most likely it can also improve only so much. Johnnys reloading bench channel tested alot of powders with 77smk particularly

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@ImNoBSING i'm going with your first recommendation. I don't plan to purchase any more of these. I honestly think it's a defect in the manufacturing process. I think there may be some variations in the jacket wall making the lead core off center causing the bullet to corkscrew in flight. there are plenty of other options that work really well. I don't really see the need to continue trying to force this one to work when it clearly doesn't want to work for me. Thanks so much for watching. Always appreciate the input. Thank you.

[@ImNoBSING]

@@EverydayReloadingandShooting I had the 75s hit very poorly out of my last barrel and burned around 500 trying to get some sanity but just deemed them bad with 2K left over in my hands. The next barrel they started to hammer very well, I am more than happy and ordered 3k more. Try the bergers, 77 for example. They are probably the most accurate out of the basic weight category bullets. 70vld were great for me but I have heard the vld is not universally accurate. Lapua 77 and 69 are also not so picky with barrels. I really doubt there is something inherently wrong with the bullets, not even bulk bullets these days have any major problems.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@ImNoBSING I did get a hold of some Berger 75 VLD targets. Looking forward to trying those. Also got a hold of some Nosler 77 grain, which I will also be experimenting with. Others in these comments are also saying they have not had good success with the 68BTHP. So I don't think it's just my loads. I'm still convinced it's the bullet.

[@danielgreene7987]

It's the powder! After years of load developing with this bullet and the 75 bthp they like faster powders. If the muzzle pressure is high it destabilizes the bullet, that's why they group better at low charge weights. With ar-comp powder groups shrink by 3-4 inches. Ar-comps muzzle pressure is lower even ar max charge.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@danielgreene7987 that's very interesting. Thanks for the input. I would try that test, but I just used the last of my 68 BTHP bullets, and I don't think I'll be buying anymore. Thanks for watching.

[@sms9106]

Change your powder.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@sms9106 that may be a good suggestion, however I have tried several powders and none of them seem to work. I have other bullets that work very well, so I'm not gonna spend more time on the 68 BtHP. Thanks for watching. I hope you'll hang around.

[@DrakoWarkan]

What is your twist rate of your barrel?

[@michielayers9113]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@DrakoWarkan 1:8. Thanks for watching

[@danielgreene7987]

Try powders like ar-comp, 8208xbr vvn133, h322. Cfe 223 is to slow for the bullet design. These bullets are extremely accurate with the right fast powder. With the 75 bthp I had 3+ inch groups with cfe 223. Ar-comp max charge put them under an inch at 125 yards at 2800 fps muzzle velocity 20 in ar15.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@danielgreene7987 I appreciate the recommendation Daniel. I've heard good things about the 8208XBR. I just got some of the n133 powder this week.

[@johnsmith-ub7vr]

What is your rifles twist rate?

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@johnsmith-ub7vr 1:8, thanks

[@johnsmith-ub7vr]

@@EverydayReloadingandShooting Yeah, well that aint the problem.

[@jasoneverett7343]

Have you done any seating depth testing on these?

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@jasoneverett7343 no. I have not. Given the results I've gotten so far, I feel like it would be a waste of time. Thanks for watching.

[@33sdmechanic]

I have several 223 rifles none liked these bullets except one. That one shot them very well. Cant get them to shoot in any other rifle.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@33sdmechanic same problem here. I've tried other powders besides the N540 and CFE 223. None of them shoot well with this bullet . Thanks for watching. Hope you stick around.

[@oldschooljack3479]

I've reached a conclusion from my own limited experience... A good combination of bullet/powder/rifle will show signs of being good from the lowest charge to the highest. If I get more bad groups than good, I quit wasting time/components trying to make it work and move to another powder to try with that particular bullet... Some barrel/bullet/powder combos just don't work. I'll try 2 or 3 powders with a particular bullet in a particular gun... If it doesn't show any signs of wanting to shoot good groups I broom it and try something else. Berger bullets have been the easiest for me to find a combo that works in just about every gun I've shot them through.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

I think you're probably right about that. I do have a pound of H335. I think I will try that with these 55 grain Vmax and see how it works out. Thanks for the recommendation. And thanks for watching. I hope you stick around.

[@jeffreybossingham1732]

I experienced similar

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@jeffreybossingham1732 I'm glad to know I'm not alone. Thanks for the comment. And thanks for watching.

[@AllanClark-nt8mx]

This is common with these bullets.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@AllanClark-nt8mx it definitely seems to be for me. I appreciate the confirmation. Thanks for watching.

[@rotasaustralis]

Quite disappointing. I was wondering if you could supply more info on your loads. These are the 2nd lot of loads that don't come anywhere near realistic loads on GRT. At 2.250", the CAOL with 25.8 grns of powder is running at 103.6% case capacity & just under 60KPsi pressure. If you could jot down the average case length. The case brand. How many firings & do you anneal. The measured length of those 68 grn projectiles. The COAL again, ensuring that the primers definitely aren't proud of the base of the case. Thanks.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@rotasaustralis none of these were over 100% of case capacity. There was extra room inside of every case, so these were not compressed loads. All were trimmed the same length. My trimmer measures off of the shoulder, not the OAL. Average case length is 1.752. I anneal after every firing. Seven times fired brass. All Hornady head stamp. I did not load these any different how I normally do. And you probably saw the photos of the group that I shot last week. I'm telling you, it's the bullet. If you look at some of the comments some others also have not had good results with this projectile. thanks for the input as always. And thanks for watching.

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@rotasaustralis PS: what is GRT?

[@rotasaustralis]

@@EverydayReloadingandShooting From the info I have on the loads, there's a problem somewhere. 103.6% is what GRT is showing & you'd never seat the projectiles in at that load ratio. Either the projectiles are shorter than GRT has listed or the case capacities are larger. Your case length seems correct & as long as the trimming tool is set correctly, that seems ok. That just leaves the charge measurement, powder type or case volume. I've found quite a few load issues using GRT & it's yet to be incorrect. GRT is Gordons Loading Tool. It's similar to Quick Load. What is the barrel length on your rifle &, are you able to measure the base to datum on your cases?

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@rotasaustralis here's the load data I'm using: www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/rifle-reloading/?cartridge=7

[@EverydayReloadingandShooting]

@@rotasaustralis if I can see empty space inside of the case after I drop the powder charge it's not 103% capacity.