Hammer Reloading

I've been re-thinking the Hammers a bit. I will say, they are accurate for sure. My 308 load is 46.2 grains of Varget pushing a 124 HH at 2999 f/s. I'm getting 1/4" groups with it. I hit a large Blacktail with one two years ago at 60 yards. Perfect broadside double-lung shot. Ran 60 yards downhill and did a triple somersault. Lungs were totally blown up. Others have hit deer and antelope with not-too-perfect shots and the damage and meat loss was serious. I have been considering developing a 130-grain load for a Barnes TTSX to keep the damage down a bit. Barnes bullets are great bullets,, accurate and deadly, but without the extra damage, which I suspect is because the petals of the HH bullets break away from the core and the Barnes bullets stay attached to form a perfect mushroom. I'm also worried because a lot of Hammer reloaders seem to be totally chasing speed. As a hunter, my goal is accuracy. As the old saying goes, an animal doesn't care how fast the bullet misses it. So far, the 5/8" group with the 130 TTSX is still under development and in the fine tuning stage. Hunting season is getting close.
 
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I've been re-thinking the Hammers a bit. I will say, they are accurate for sure. My 308 load is 46.2 grains of Varget pushing a 124 HH at 2999 f/s. I'm getting 1/4" groups with it. I hit a large Blacktail with one two years ago at 60 yards. Perfect broadside double-lung shot. Ran 60 yards downhill and did a triple somersault. Lungs were totally blown up. Others have hit deer and antelope with not-too-perfect shots and the damage and meat loss was serious. I have been considering developing a 130-grain load for a Barnes TTSX to keep the damage down a bit. Barnes bullets are great bullets,, accurate and deadly, but without the extra damage, which I suspect is because the petals of the HH bullets break away from the core and the Barnes bullets stay attached to form a perfect mushroom. I'm also worried because a lot of Hammer reloaders seem to be totally chasing speed. As a hunter, my goal is accuracy. As the old saying goes, an animal doesn't care how fast the bullet misses it. So far, the 5/8" group with the 130 TTSX is still under development and in the fine tuning stage. Hunting season is getting close.

Maybe cut 6" off the barrel while keeping the hammers and you'll have a super handy gun that fits your needs?
 
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I HOPE THIS HELPS A NEW HUNTER OR RELOADER

After speaking with Steve from Hammer, @JakeSCH, reading this thread and @KoozeDeer walking me through the ups and downs of reloading, mostly after 9pm-( thanks Chris) I have found good results.

Now I’m not a pro at this so take this with a grain of salt. From what I have found and heard is hammers like to be ran HOT!, found some decent success at 44.5 gr of varget and almost settled on it ( 4 shots sub MOA and 5th shot was a flyer). After looking at the range cards while at home I saw 46.0 gr shot a solid group of two shots and I left the range thinking I pulled the third shot. I figured I’d load up the same 46.0 gr of varget and go shoot it again, knowing that as the pressure has increased I have had groups get tighter and then open up in between speed nodes. ( no chronograph just guessin)


Few days later I was in garage and thought I’d chase the dragon some and load them up but thought well if I did pull it maybe a couple grains wouldn’t hurt so I ran with 46.2 and 46.5 grains of Varget.

Wasn’t expecting the results. The 46.2 gr loads were opening up and the 46.0 gr loads were stacked on each other.

Next will be velocity and I’m wishing for low SD and ES…

Looks like I found the node … 1/4” 3- shot group

RUGER AMERICAN PREDATOR
6.5 CREEDMOOR
80GR HHT
46.5 gr of varget
C.O.A.L of 2.620”

Episode 2 of the R2R Reloading series Drops tomorrow!

Image-1.jpeg
 
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Thread up date.

I HOPE THIS HELPS A NEW HUNTER OR RELOADER

After speaking with Steve from Hammer, @JakeSCH, reading this thread and @KoozeDeer walking me through the ups and downs of reloading, mostly after 9pm-( thanks Chris) I have found good results.

Now I’m not a pro at this so take this with a grain of salt. From what I have found and heard is hammers like to be ran HOT!, found some decent success at 44.5 gr of varget and almost settled on it ( 4 shots sub MOA and 5th shot was a flyer). After looking at the range cards while at home I saw 46.0 gr shot a solid group of two shots and I left the range thinking I pulled the third shot. I figured I’d load up the same 46.0 gr of varget and go shoot it again, knowing that as the pressure has increased I have had groups get tighter and then open up in between speed nodes. ( no chronograph just guessin)


Few days later I was in garage and thought I’d chase the dragon some and load them up but thought well if I did pull it maybe a couple grains wouldn’t hurt so I ran with 46.2 and 46.5 grains of Varget.

Wasn’t expecting the results. The 46.2 gr loads were opening up and the 46.0 gr loads were stacked on each other.

Next will be velocity and I’m wishing for low SD and ES…

Looks like I found the node … 1/4” 3- shot group

RUGER AMERICAN PREDATOR
6.5 CREEDMOOR
80GR HHT
46.5 gr of varget
C.O.A.L of 2.620”

Episode 2 of the R2R Reloading series Drops tomorrow!

View attachment 61535
 
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Thread up date.

I HOPE THIS HELPS A NEW HUNTER OR RELOADER

After speaking with Steve from Hammer, @JakeSCH, reading this thread and @KoozeDeer walking me through the ups and downs of reloading, mostly after 9pm-( thanks Chris) I have found good results.

Now I’m not a pro at this so take this with a grain of salt. From what I have found and heard is hammers like to be ran HOT!, found some decent success at 44.5 gr of varget and almost settled on it ( 4 shots sub MOA and 5th shot was a flyer). After looking at the range cards while at home I saw 46.0 gr shot a solid group of two shots and I left the range thinking I pulled the third shot. I figured I’d load up the same 46.0 gr of varget and go shoot it again, knowing that as the pressure has increased I have had groups get tighter and then open up in between speed nodes. ( no chronograph just guessin)


Few days later I was in garage and thought I’d chase the dragon some and load them up but thought well if I did pull it maybe a couple grains wouldn’t hurt so I ran with 46.2 and 46.5 grains of Varget.

Wasn’t expecting the results. The 46.2 gr loads were opening up and the 46.0 gr loads were stacked on each other.

Next will be velocity and I’m wishing for low SD and ES…

Looks like I found the node … 1/4” 3- shot group

RUGER AMERICAN PREDATOR
6.5 CREEDMOOR
80GR HHT
46.5 gr of varget
C.O.A.L of 2.620”

Episode 2 of the R2R Reloading series Drops tomorrow!

View attachment 61535

Nice!

Do whatever @JakeSCH tells you. My 6.5 shoots insane groups as well @ 3400 (its a PRC with the 124 hunter) and he made it look really easy.
 
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And please...no blood..I'm queezy enough as it is....
 
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I have been MIA recently on this site. Bought an autoshop (MIT Drivetrain Specialists in El Cajon) and running that while working my other job full time...with 3 little ones keeping me busy!!


@Stikbrandon good shooting for sure. Putting 3 in less than 1/4" makes me happy. One thing to note is that even though you may have multiple 1/4" groups, sometimes the center of those groups shifts around...that is why it is best to do a 10 shot or 3 separate, 3 shot groups at the same target for your zero.

That gives us a better zero based on ourselves and our system shootability / repeatability.
 
I have been MIA recently on this site. Bought an autoshop (MIT Drivetrain Specialists in El Cajon) and running that while working my other job full time...with 3 little ones keeping me busy!!


@Stikbrandon good shooting for sure. Putting 3 in less than 1/4" makes me happy. One thing to note is that even though you may have multiple 1/4" groups, sometimes the center of those groups shifts around...that is why it is best to do a 10 shot or 3 separate, 3 shot groups at the same target for your zero.

That gives us a better zero based on ourselves and our system shootability / repeatability.
ya really putting a damper in my hunting plans. I need to find some friends who are retired
 
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