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Vista and ATK are no longer tied together. They do business, but not exclusively. Quoted:
Quoted: Press articles make it seem that it's loaded by LC using Hornady projectiles, and then sold by Hornady under the Frontier brand. It should've been quality economy ammo with that combination but it's now obvious that there's issues. The mystery will be who is at fault. Is it Hornady for demanding a spec that's too hot or is it LC for a lack of quality control? In all of this, I'm just surprised Vista Outdoors (aka ATK aka Federal/Speer/CCI) has agreed to a joint venture with a competing company (Hornady). Last I knew, ATK has the contract to operate the LC plant. Knowing all that, my hunch says Orbital ATK will be the primary company to blame for the Frontier issues. I just hope Hornady doesn't take the hit if they aren't at fault. |
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Gotta tag this one. Not the first instance I’ve seen with similar complaints about the new Frontier line. Unfortunately, I just bought a few boxes of EVERY Frontier loading they offer. Price was great, and was hoping to do some detailed accuracy testing and comparisons. Off to go play lot number bingo with the 20-ish boxes in every flavor they offer 
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Here are a few empty cases we found after the Kaboom.https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/126115/20180909_215804-666944.JPG |
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I scavenge brass at the local range, and was cleaning up after a couple got done shooting. They were shooting Frontier Ammo, and he had a ripped case head, shutting them down for the day. Every piece of brass I picked up landed in the recycle bucket. Every one showed signs of over pressure, and a few with cracked bases.
I stopped buying off the wall brands after I had a gun show reman go off OOB in my AK. Nothing like a face full of hot gas to wake you up. Lucky for me, the AK was unharmed. |
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Here are a few empty cases we found after the Kaboom.https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/126115/20180909_215804-666944.JPG 
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Here is the lot # from the bulk ammo I got from PSA. I'm definitely not intending to shoot it now. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/57852/IMG_2178__002_-667119.jpg I don't know if yours is considered close enough or not though. |
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His was "18C844-003". I don't know if yours is considered close enough or not though. Quoted:
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Here is the lot # from the bulk ammo I got from PSA. I'm definitely not intending to shoot it now. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/57852/IMG_2178__002_-667119.jpg I don't know if yours is considered close enough or not though. |
DAMN! and I thought that Independence 556 was hot 
I hope someone pulls the head on one of those to get the charge weight and type. Guys that do lots of reloading can usually identify what type of powder charge was used. I know Hornady like to play fucky games with their powders though |
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That sucks, because Frontier M193 is far more accurate in my guns than Federal xm193 or fed xm855. 1.5 MOA stuff, which means it’s the best deal going for accurate bulk ammo right now. The 55 grain HP match is even better. No overpressure signs in my FN or BA or Colt barrels with Frontier ammo. |
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I don’t know how much reloading you guys do, but I would say it was more likely UNDER charged instead of over charged with powder.
I’ve experimented with loading 5.56 nearly up to the neck with powder, compressing the powder with the bullet when seating, and never once had any problems other than a slightly flatter than normal primer. However, when experimenting with subsonic loads, I undercharged one that really went kaboom (in a controlled environment for the purpose of testing). From what I know, too little powder is far more dangerous and causes detonation than too much powder IN .223/5.56 AT LEAST due to the case design, it’s pretty much designed to be filled up dang near to the top. |
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Wow. Serious over pressure signs. Quoted:
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Another picture of a spent case up close. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/126115/20180909_221036-666954.JPG Popped primers and extrusion of brass into the ejector hole in the bolt face. Way too much pressure. |
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Isn't Frontier Hornady projectiles made at Lake City as a joint venture? Edit:Here is just one article claiming that. That begs the question of how is Lake City screwing up so bad? It typically chronos around 150 fps faster than something like Wolf Gold 55gr. |
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i know but is it really worth it? Quoted:
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Here is the lot # from the bulk ammo I got from PSA. I'm definitely not intending to shoot it now. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/57852/IMG_2178__002_-667119.jpg I don't know if yours is considered close enough or not though. I would load one round and fire it. Check for any signs of over pressure. Chrono it if you can, then decide if you have any issues. If you do THEN you call the manufacturer. |
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I don’t know how much reloading you guys do, but I would say it was more likely UNDER charged instead of over charged with powder. I’ve experimented with loading 5.56 nearly up to the neck with powder, compressing the powder with the bullet when seating, and never once had any problems other than a slightly flatter than normal primer. However, when experimenting with subsonic loads, I undercharged one that really went kaboom (in a controlled environment for the purpose of testing). From what I know, too little powder is far more dangerous and causes detonation than too much powder IN .223/5.56 AT LEAST due to the case design, it’s pretty much designed to be filled up dang near to the top. Detonation is often discussed but I don't know if it has ever been proven. It is pretty much impossible to get enough Varget into a 223 case to cause an over pressure event. Maximum safe load it is hard to get it all to sit in the neck until you get the bullet in place to compress it down. That isn't necessarily the case if you are using a powder with a faster burn rate that might have a higher density and thus leave a little more room in the case. |
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It’s hard to send back ammo without a recall. I would load one round and fire it. Check for any signs of over pressure. Chrono it if you can, then decide if you have any issues. If you do THEN you call the manufacturer. |
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I don’t know how much reloading you guys do, but I would say it was more likely UNDER charged instead of over charged with powder. I’ve experimented with loading 5.56 nearly up to the neck with powder, compressing the powder with the bullet when seating, and never once had any problems other than a slightly flatter than normal primer. However, when experimenting with subsonic loads, I undercharged one that really went kaboom (in a controlled environment for the purpose of testing). From what I know, too little powder is far more dangerous and causes detonation than too much powder IN .223/5.56 AT LEAST due to the case design, it’s pretty much designed to be filled up dang near to the top. |
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You are making an assumption that the correct powder was used. Burn rate matters big time. No idea what a commercial operation to load ammunition looks like. But if the wrong powder was used due to failure to clean out something from a prior load, bad things can happen. |