Hornady's New Cartridge + The Appalling Ammo Industry Takeover

Published on October 28, 2023
Duration: 11:56

This expert-level analysis from Backfire delves into Hornady's new .22 ARC cartridge and ELD-VT bullets, comparing their ballistics to established calibers like .223 Remington and .22-250 Remington. The review highlights the .22 ARC's advantages in wind drift and low recoil, making it suitable for varmint hunting and AR-15 platforms. It also critically examines recent, underreported ammunition industry shifts, including Vista Outdoor's sale of major brands to a foreign entity and ATF actions impacting ammo imports and domestic supply from Lake City.

Quick Summary

The .22 ARC cartridge by Hornady offers superior ballistic performance with less wind drift and lower recoil than .223 Remington and .22-250 Remington, making it ideal for varmint hunting. Critical ammo industry shifts, including foreign acquisition of brands and supply chain disruptions, are driving up prices, prompting advice to stockpile reloading components.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Ammunition Industry News
  2. 00:26Hornady's New .22 ARC Cartridge
  3. 00:41Hornady ELD-VT Bullets and 6.5 Creedmoor
  4. 00:50.22 ARC Ballistics Comparison
  5. 01:52.22 ARC Recoil and Versatility
  6. 03:12ELD-VT Bullet Technology and 6.5 Creedmoor Stats
  7. 04:38Critical Ammo Industry Developments Introduction
  8. 05:00Ground News Sponsorship and Bias Analysis
  9. 06:48Vista Outdoor Sells Ammunition Lines
  10. 09:00ATF Ban on UTM Ammo and Lake City Cutoff
  11. 10:17Impact on Ammo Prices and Reloading Advice

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key advantages of Hornady's new .22 ARC cartridge?

The .22 ARC offers significantly reduced wind drift and extremely low recoil, making it ideal for accurate varmint hunting at distances over 300 yards and for AR-15 owners. It achieves this with heavier, more aerodynamic bullets compared to calibers like .223 Remington.

What critical developments are impacting the U.S. ammunition industry?

Major shifts include Vista Outdoor selling its ammunition brands to a foreign entity, the ATF banning UTM non-lethal ammo, and Lake City Ammunition cutting off civilian sales. These factors are driving up prices, particularly for .223 caliber ammunition.

What advice is given regarding ammunition shortages?

Instead of panic buying finished ammunition, experts strongly recommend stocking up on reloading components like primers and powder. Learning to reload is presented as a crucial skill for self-sufficiency during supply chain disruptions.

How does the Hornady ELD-VT bullet perform in 6.5 Creedmoor?

The 100gr ELD-VT in 6.5 Creedmoor provides lower recoil and less drop than heavier bullets, making it suitable for varmint hunting. However, it experiences higher wind drift compared to 143gr loads.

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