Federal 711B

[44 mag]

When I got my gun finished this spring I did some ammo testing with a lot of different brands and came up with some interesting results. I had bought some Federal 711B to test and it shot as well as anything at 100 meters so I bought a case. I was shooting a match on Sunday and all of a sudden it got real crazy on Rams. In the morning matches it was shooting about 2" left and then go to the afternoon matches and it was hitting at the bottom of the rail. Now I know my hold is not the best but not that bad. So I got home Sunday nite very frustrated and started looking things over Gun, Scope, And Ammo. This is what I found. I had 3 different lot numbers in 1 case and 4 different date codes. I called Federal to tell them about this and this is what the technical supervisor had to say. He states that when they are running the premium ammo and if they run out of premium powder during the run they will switch to a different powder. So I asked if they put the different power ammo in with the premium ones he said yes. I could not believe what I was hearing. Yesterday I went and put my gun on the bench to really test the different lots and date codes. The good lots shot rite around 3/4" at 100 meters. The other lot was rite around 4" at 100 meters. So I guess what I am saying is stay away from this ammo. I am sending some back to Federal for them to test. I will post more when I hear the results from them and what they do to fix it. Only Lapua for this guy from hear on out.

[atomicbrh]

Here is the link to the variations within a case thread I started. This is irresponsible for any of the manufacturers with what we are paying for the ammo. I can understand this with low grade plinking ammo but not the ammo at this price point. The amazing fact is Federal admitted it.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9391

[BCloninger]

From the performance of some lots of 711B it's clear that some people at Federal know how to produce good ammunition, but then answers like this prove their follow-through needs work. Shooters don't pay a premium for ammunition because of prestige, and even if we did Federal 711B wouldn't be the brand.

I like 711B, at least partially because I like buying US made, but I've also had consistency problems and problems with lead fouling that I solved with a little lubrication - and then took a ration of crap over. I'm okay with tinkering, but others think that should be unnecessary with a good ammunition, and they have a point. And if Federal cares about increasing market share among shooters they can easily fix this at no incremental cost. Just build the ammunition to spec.

[kevinbear]

If your stuck on American made try and find CCI Green tag or the newer Select precision, CCI shot well in my 541's for many years.

[cedestech]

When you tested the 711, did you clean the bore well and then refoul it with the 711 before evaluating? Good lube left in the bore from one brand will make another brand ammo perform well or poorly till it's all burned out and replaced with the lube from the round you are testing.

Generaly, if you stay in the same family you don't have to clean but I will still pull a wet then dry patch and refoul. SK/Lapua, Eley, CCI, RWS and Federal match ammo's use different lubes.

[ppkny]

I bought a case of 711B at Grices in January. Seems to be okay. After 44 mags comments I checked all the bricks in the case and all are the same lot# 196926 H 7023.
ppkny

[44 mag]

Pete That's where I bought my case also. And yes I did clean and refoul the barrel each time with the different ammo. Got a case of Center-X on the way. I guess it just isn't worth trying to save a little money. Mike Haynes

[ppkny]

Mike, I did check the individual boxes inside the bricks. This is the number on the flaps. I looked at each box and all are the same. You must be one of the unlucky ones that got a mixed case. I have about 8 bricks left.
ppkny