Ammunition advice please.

[Spear Chucker]

Advice please. Photo shows two rounds of PPU 25-06 100Grain psp rounds from different batches. Ostensibly the same cartridge and bullet. Clearly the projectile in the older batch with the lighter cloloured packaging is far more deeply seated than those in the more recent batch in the darker blue packaging.
Am I likely to find significant differences in performance between the two? Are there any safety considerations or increased pressures to be aware of? I would normally check zero between batches anyway, I have just never seen such a marked difference between factory loadings. The lighter coloured batch is probably more than 15yrs old from the packaging. The darker packaging was replaced probably 3 to 4 years back.
I would be grateful for guidance.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Tim.243]

Advice please. Photo shows two rounds of PPU 25-06 100Grain psp rounds from different batches. Ostensibly the same cartridge and bullet. Clearly the projectile in the older batch with the lighter cloloured packaging is far more deeply seated than those in the more recent batch in the darker blue packaging.
Am I likely to find significant differences in performance between the two? Are there any safety considerations or increased pressures to be aware of? I would normally check zero between batches anyway, I have just never seen such a marked difference between factory loadings. The lighter coloured batch is probably more than 15yrs old from the packaging. The darker packaging was replaced probably 3 to 4 years back.
I would be grateful for guidance.
Thanks in advance.

Just shoot them and find out as there is not much you can tell about performance from a picture!
Just keep the cases separate sharpie pen on the base.

 

[Dunwaters]

You’ve bought the cheapest ammunition on the market and you expect match quality?

 

[palmer_mike]

Clearly a different bullet loaded in the 2 different cartridges (cannelure on older one)

Aren’t it entirely sure the older vintage are factory and not reloads in a factory box?

 

[Hornet]

Yes surely a different bullet there, shoot them and see which if any group best, my .25-06 won't shoot them better than a 3" group, if you can call it that, come to think of it, I have never owned a rifle that would shoot them!

 

[Spear Chucker]

You’ve bought the cheapest ammunition on the market and you expect match quality?

Seriously? Who rattled your cage? Maybe misinterpreting your tone, but the question is merely "do I need to worry?" Seemed a fair question to me.

 

[Spear Chucker]

Yes surely a different bullet there, shoot them and see which if any group best, my .25-06 won't shoot them better than a 3" group, if you can call it that, come to think of it, I have never owned a rifle that would shoot them!

Funnily I am really pleased with them. My rifle just seems happy with them. Really good groups from mine unless the twit with the finger twitches!

 

[Spear Chucker]

Clearly a different bullet loaded in the 2 different cartridges (cannelure on older one)

Aren’t it entirely sure the older vintage are factory and not reloads in a factory box?

Thank you. Interesting idea. Bought them from a dealer who had purchased them as bankrupt/closing down stock. Anything possible but cartridge cases and packaging appear virgin. Suck'em and see I guess.

 

[Zio65]

Could the launch powder have been changed over the years and to obtain the same pressures they could have changed the OAL?

 

[Spear Chucker]

Yes surely a different bullet there, shoot them and see which if any group best, my .25-06 won't shoot them better than a 3" group, if you can call it that, come to think of it, I have never owned a rifle that would shoot them!

The PpU .308 wouldn't load at all in my T3. Using a much grander round in that one. (Dunwater may even approve ) I'll have to be careful, Conor will be on to lecture me about bullying.

 

[Dunwaters]

Seriously? Who rattled your cage? Maybe misinterpreting your tone, but the question is merely "do I need to worry?" Seemed a fair question to me.

You are, but I was pushed for time.
Its commercially loaded ammunition from a reputable company, their tolerances aren’t as tight as more up market brands, which is why its cheaper, accuracy and function can be spotty, but it won’t blow up.
Some of it wont group on an A4 sheet at 100M, some of it will, bullet performance is equally erratic, some blow up, some go straight through. I used to use it a lot for club competitions at 100M but its grouping further out can be horrendous.
In my rifles they also print groups well away from my normal hunting fodder, therefore in my view, not worth the hassle.
In a high velocity cartridge, I’d be very wary, particularly with regards to bullet performance on game, they’re simple cup and core construction, you definitely WILL get a lot of lead splatter.

 

[timbrayford]

Safety should be fine, expect some random variation with groups, perhaps best for practice only.

 

[Spear Chucker]

Safety should be fine, expect some random variation with groups, perhaps best for practice only.

Thank you Tim. Much appreciated. I think I paid £12 per box, so not a disaster if there is a consistency problem. The brass will be worth having too.

 

[Spear Chucker]

You are, but I was pushed for time.
Its commercially loaded ammunition from a reputable company, their tolerances aren’t as tight as more up market brands, which is why its cheaper, accuracy and function can be spotty, but it won’t blow up.
Some of it wont group on an A4 sheet at 100M, some of it will, bullet performance is equally erratic, some blow up, some go straight through. I used to use it a lot for club competitions at 100M but its grouping further out can be horrendous.
In my rifles they also print groups well away from my normal hunting fodder, therefore in my view, not worth the hassle.
In a high velocity cartridge, I’d be very wary, particularly with regards to bullet performance on game, they’re simple cup and core construction, you definitely WILL get a lot of lead splatter.

Probably time to start learning about hand loading. It won't get any easier to find.

 

[Smellydog]

You’ve bought the cheapest ammunition on the market and you expect match quality?

I bought some ammo from Argentina once for my Swede T3 and it went down one raggedy hole!
Don't judge a book by it's cover....

 

[kenbro]

Thank you Tim. Much appreciated. I think I paid £12 per box, so not a disaster if there is a consistency problem. The brass will be worth having too.

Pretty good brass that PPU.
Ken.

 

[Spear Chucker]

I bought some ammo from Argentina once for my Swede T3 and it went down one raggedy hole!
Don't judge a book by it's cover....

It is funny, so much depends on what the rifle likes. Mine just loves loves the PPU. Weatherby Vanguard. Nothing fancy or clever, but so long as it is kept clean, it bangs one into the hole left by the other. The SM Pro Hunter I had liked it as well. I must just be common. Bacon and marmalade butties and PPU for me every time!

 

[Spear Chucker]

Could the launch powder have been changed over the years and to obtain the same pressures they could have changed the OAL?

Very possibly a good point. I certainly know no better. I will go out and give it a whirl on the range to see what sort of variations I get - if any.

 

[bullet chucker]

I use it in 30.06 150gn in my rem 700 at Bisley no worries at all Also 6.5 Swede Tikka never had a problem, only ever used on the range' though.

BC.

 

[enfieldspares]

Advice please. Photo shows two rounds of PPU 25-06 100Grain psp rounds from different batches.

I have had Hornady bullets (as in bullets not loaded cartridges) of the same catalogue number that are different from ones bought earlier.

My concern with loaded cartridges that appear different is this. Is this genuine factory ammunition or is one of the different batches someone's homeloads that the RFD or vendor has acquired and has then been sold to you? Ammunition does get sold at auction and in some cases this can be a person's handloads. Once it leaves the auction house that direct provenance is lost. I know a number of RFDs who, for that reason, never buy ammunition at auction for resale as there is then no protection for them of the documented traceability of it having come from the official importer or actual manufacturer.

So my first advice would be contact the seller of each box OR THE PPU IMPORTER and have them clarify that matter.