New Mexico Antelope Down
- Thread starter BBH
- Start date
Set up 280AI, 140 gr Absolute Hammers, kneeling with tripod. The target was at 230 yds, scope set for 300 yds. Buck was presenting nearly broadside, slanted toward me, walking quickly into a 15 mph headwind. Led a bit too much and hit neck-body intersection. Buck dropped immediately. No exit wound. Never found the bullet. Past experience with hammers is they fragment. Lots of frothy blood suggests the bullet or part of it penetrated the lungs. If I had it to do over and had more time I would have come down 2-3 1/4 clicks and led less. Bottom line, one Hammer did the trick.
Barnes blasts through an animal with big entry and exit wounds. Hammers fragment into petals and shank, often don’t exit or leave small exit wounds, sometimes hard to see. Less meat damage with Hammers. In my opinion it is easier and quicker to work up an accurate load with the hammers, less sensitive to jump. Worth it to me!
Only think that would make this thread better if both goats went down to a 6.5 creedmoor!
From my experience and others I have read, hammer blood trails leave a lot to be desired because of the small to non-existent exit wound.
Nothing is more stressful then not finding any blood on an animal you know you made a good shot on. Happened to me last fall, luckily cow elk only went 40 yards or so and i was able to follow her tracks to her.
That said hammers are 4 for 4 on elk I have shot with them.
Nothing is more stressful then not finding any blood on an animal you know you made a good shot on. Happened to me last fall, luckily cow elk only went 40 yards or so and i was able to follow her tracks to her.
That said hammers are 4 for 4 on elk I have shot with them.
I think we have now killed 8 or so animals with hammers they do work and they are super easy to load and they shoot great. With that said I don't think they are a better "killing" bullet than Barnes all things equal I kind of lean towards the Barnes for the penetration and exit wound. But if I am taking a shot passed 400 yards I lean towards the hammer. I don't know how I feel lol. Half my guns are barnes and half are hammers.
I would concentrate on terminal results as one of the compelling data points.
I am a fan of both. Two completely different bullets and terminal concepts.
I am a fan of both. Two completely different bullets and terminal concepts.
