Hammer 6.5 Bullets

[Bobcat 33]

What is everyone's input on Hammer 6.5's accuracy, velocity, terminal damage? I just got a box of 120's they recommended for my 6.5 PRC, only pita is installing the tips. I have not done well with them yet but going back to range tomorrow. Using n-560, stabil 6.5, and now trying H-4350. Got the velocity up but seem to be getting a flyer every 3 shot group so i shoot 4. Take away the flyer couple groups have been decent. I have the Berger 135's working so if i do not do well tomorrow im going to stick with the Bergers.

 

[chambersandsteele]

I am loading the 129 PVA cayuga in a 6.5 WSM. I usually use H4350 for that case with excellent results, also tried the staball 6.5. Neither of those seemed to work well so I went over to H4831SC and its ultra consistent and ultra accurate, I might be giving up a little bit of velocity but I'm still 3100 FPS in a 20" barrel suppressed, very happy. I do believe H4831SC also does well in the 6.5PRC. I had good luck with the 127 barnes LRX in the 6.5 PRC that a friend of mine had, I used Hybrid100v in that load. Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[AZ_Hunter]

What is everyone's input on Hammer 6.5's accuracy, velocity, terminal damage? I just got a box of 120's they recommended for my 6.5 PRC, only pita is installing the tips. I have not done well with them yet but going back to range tomorrow. Using n-560, stabil 6.5, and now trying H-4350. Got the velocity up but seem to be getting a flyer every 3 shot group so i shoot 4. Take away the flyer couple groups have been decent. I have the Berger 135's working so if i do not do well tomorrow im going to stick with the Bergers.

The Hammer forum is full of kills.

Are you loading with generous jump? They need to jump.

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

They hammer. I would have no fear using them on game. I use them for that very reason. They work well.

 

[Bobcat 33]

I am loading the 129 PVA cayuga in a 6.5 WSM. I usually use H4350 for that case with excellent results, also tried the staball 6.5. Neither of those seemed to work well so I went over to H4831SC and its ultra consistent and ultra accurate, I might be giving up a little bit of velocity but I'm still 3100 FPS in a 20" barrel suppressed, very happy. I do believe H4831SC also does well in the 6.5PRC. I had good luck with the 127 barnes LRX in the 6.5 PRC that a friend of mine had, I used Hybrid100v in that load. Hope this helps and good luck!

I will say I have had issues getting this gun to shoot. Currently 210 rounds. Most likely after I try next string with 4350 I’m giving up on the hammers at current time. My answer is some barrels don’t make tge cut and I think I have one. Will re barrel to the 6.5 WSM since I have a s/a mag bolt face and a 25 WSM I built back in 2008 that is very efficient. I did learn a lesson that I should have knew of years of toying with guns that barrel length in the 6.5 is very important . I made a mistake of going with a 20” barrel. This fad of short barrels and suppressors is not for me and don’t make sense .

 

[Bobcat 33]

The Hammer forum is full of kills.

Are you loading with generous jump? They need to jump.

Oh yes, I’m loading to fit the magazine box. I’m at Least 100 0.000 away from it . Guess that’s what you call free bore . Lol

 

[chambersandsteele]

I had a 21" 6.5 WSM about 10 years ago and it shot very good groups with Superformance but I noticed point of impact would shift. I don't know how temp stable Superform is but the velocities were always different. I moved to H4350 with that one and it shot nice with H4350 so I stuck with that til I sold the barrel. When I got my custom barrel on this new one 20" , it didn't seem to like H4350 at all, it would do kind of like you are describing. It would shoot 2-3 shots ok and then the 4th would be way off. I switched over to the H4831SC and its been insanely consistent in comparison. I probably am 100 FPS under what I could be but with my ballistic profile, that gun will do more than what I will ask of it at range.

I ended up buying some 130 eldms to get my velocities with the different powder because it was getting expensive with those "wallet eater" solids lol they do behave differently but the velocities were close enough to get an idea and the 130 eldm is very forgiving. I initially thought the same and that something was wrong. I haven't had that experience yet where the powder seems to be the difference between extremely disappointing accuracy and now 3/4-1/2" with good numbers on the chrono. I am shooting suppressed and maybe the suppressor changes the dynamic enough, I'm not sure but this H4831SC is working well right now for this application.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

They kill stuff. But for the price and having to install the tips on your own dime and time…nah…plenty of other options out there that kill just as well or better….for less money.

 

[Bobcat 33]

I finally got a nice group this evening just under 1/2" mv 3139. So am farther ahead to stick with my 135 Berger at 2960 sub 1/2" knowing the bc and drop chart working right on? Yes im 120 faster but 15 grain bullet lighter. I did get a 3/4" group tonight vel 3297 but the bolt was very stiff opening so yes i seen pressure which is not good.

 

[Bater]

Short answer is they are very accurate and they kill well for a copper bullet. In my hunting rifles, if I have a picky barrel and can’t get a rifle to shoot the lead core bullets I want, I switch to hammers and the problem is solved. Most consistently accurate bullets I have ever loaded.

 

[SouthPaw]

I finally got a nice group this evening just under 1/2" mv 3139. So am farther ahead to stick with my 135 Berger at 2960 sub 1/2" knowing the bc and drop chart working right on? Yes im 120 faster but 15 grain bullet lighter. I did get a 3/4" group tonight vel 3297 but the bolt was very stiff opening so yes i seen pressure which is not good.

I've loaded and shot both bullets a lot, and had first hand killing experience with both bullets on several animals each. The 135 Berger is far superior in external ballistics and terminal performance. Id hunt with them confidently over anything hammer.

 

[grizz19]

My buddy is using the 125 HHT’s in his 6.5 prc. He’s had good luck with h4350 and n560. Had better velocity with n560. That gun has done work with those bullets. Several deer and a cow elk at 400. Went 10 yards and tipped over.

 

[Bater]

I've loaded and shot both bullets a lot, and had first hand killing experience with both bullets on several animals each. The 135 Berger is far superior in external ballistics and terminal performance. Id hunt with them confidently over anything hammer.

Pretty hard to compare these two and state one is superior to the other as far as terminal performance. They are just completely different bullets. I would pick the Berger 9 times out of 10, but if I had to smash an elk shoulder at close range to get to his vitals, the hammer would be “superior”. They are just different bullets that each do different jobs quite well.

 

[Bobcat 33]

Pretty hard to compare these two and state one is superior to the other as far as terminal performance. They are just completely different bullets. I would pick the Berger 9 times out of 10, but if I had to smash an elk shoulder at close range to get to his vitals, the hammer would be “superior”. They are just different bullets that each do different jobs quite well.

How woukd you say they are completely different?

 

[chambersandsteele]

How woukd you say they are completely different?

The copper is going to be a tougher bullet ultimately. Some people want that guarantee that its going to get through a front shoulder. Not that a match type bullet wont but it wont hold together as well at higher velocities. Just depends on what thought you subscribe to on terminal performance.

 

[jlchester5045]

Bullet construction is what makes them entirely different. A comparison of a Berger and a Hammer is an apples and oranges comparison. Bergers are designed to dump all their energy within a short span without the expectation to exit. While a Hammer is designed to penetrate deep while maintaining its weight and exiting. The better question is, what game will you be chasing with this rifle? If medium light skinned game is the choice then a Berger will do the job. Chasing elk, I wouldn't recommend a Berger. I load 130gr CX's in my 6.5 PRC. It's a "do all" load for me. I subscribe to the one rifle man concept, so I custom built one really nice rifle that covers me for deer here in the southeast, to elk out west, to shooting NRL matches. I'm currently working on some loads with Hammers now. For me, a monolithic projectile is just simply more consistent across all of these fields. The only down side is the cost of them.

But I digress. As for loading the Hammers, I've had good luck with N560. They aren't gonna win a F-Class match but shoot sub MOA. If I remember correctly, I am running around 0.050 worth of jump but don't quote me on that. This is with the 125gr HHT's. I'm not sure that I like the idea of the petals breaking off but want to give them a shot.

Sorry about the bullet construction tangent but I hope this helps.

 

[Bobcat 33]

My buddy is using the 125 HHT’s in his 6.5 prc. He’s had good luck with h4350 and n560. Had better velocity with n560. That gun has done work with those bullets. Several deer and a cow elk at 400. Went 10 yards and tipped over.

I just back from range and shot a 3 shot group .550 velocity 3080, using H- 4350. My other pet load was with N- 560 getting only 2960. I’m getting much more velocity with H- 4350 wished I would have started out with it I should have know better everyone said go with slow powders, I thought all along short barrel fast powder.

 

[Bobcat 33]

Bullet construction is what makes them entirely different. A comparison of a Berger and a Hammer is an apples and oranges comparison. Bergers are designed to dump all their energy within a short span without the expectation to exit. While a Hammer is designed to penetrate deep while maintaining its weight and exiting. The better question is, what game will you be chasing with this rifle? If medium light skinned game is the choice then a Berger will do the job. Chasing elk, I wouldn't recommend a Berger. I load 130gr CX's in my 6.5 PRC. It's a "do all" load for me. I subscribe to the one rifle man concept, so I custom built one really nice rifle that covers me for deer here in the southeast, to elk out west, to shooting NRL matches. I'm currently working on some loads with Hammers now. For me, a monolithic projectile is just simply more consistent across all of these fields. The only down side is the cost of them.

But I digress. As for loading the Hammers, I've had good luck with N560. They aren't gonna win a F-Class match but shoot sub MOA. If I remember correctly, I am running around 0.050 worth of jump but don't quote me on that. This is with the 125gr HHT's. I'm not sure that I like the idea of the petals breaking off but want to give them a shot.

Sorry about the bullet construction tangent but I hope this helps.

It did and thank you for your detailed response .

 

[grizz19]

I just back from range and shot a 3 shot group .550 velocity 3080, using H- 4350. My other pet load was with N- 560 getting only 2960. I’m getting much more velocity with H- 4350 wished I would have started out with it I should have know better everyone said go with slow powders, I thought all along short barrel fast powder.

Interesting. My buddy is getting 3325 but he’s running a 24 in barrel.

 

[Bobcat 33]

Interesting. My buddy is getting 3325 but he’s running a 24 in barrel.

135 correct? Mine is only 20"