Hammer bullets

[Jason Snyder]

You tried any of the HHT yet?

I was going to but stumbled into a pretty good deal on some Hammer Hunters. I’ll try them out next year. A buddy just loaded some up.

 

[S.Clancy]

I used to shoot Barnes, now shoot Hammers. Performance is much better, both velocity and wounds on game. I personally won't go below 2100 fps or so. But, I can start them at 3240 fps so can still reach out a fair bit if I need to. Kills out to 650 yds. Obviously not lead bullets performance but I've been very happy.

 

[252to208]

On the hammer website, it states they test to a minimum velocity of 1800fps. I know copper bullets tend to need more speed to expand properly but this seems a bit fast. The LRX line from barnes advertise some of their minimum expansion speeds at 1500fps. Has anyone compared expansion between the 2?

When I spoke to a ballistician at Barnes he told me he really prefers to stay around 1800fps even with the LRX for his personal hunting.

 

[44hunter45]

You tried any of the HHT yet?

I am. The 118HHT rejuvenated my .264 Win Mag. 1 in 9 twist. THe throat is completely erode and it was heading for a re-barrel. 3600+ and 1/2 groups with the 118HHT.

 

[44hunter45]

I also load the 125HHT in my 15 Y.O. granddaughter's Camilla in 6.5 WBY RPM. It is a 1-8. I spent a lot of time working on a lower recoil load for her that filled the case enough for my comfort. (H4895 did the trick) I could have bought her a milder chambering, but how would I restock it and "borrow" it later?

Those loads shoot close to an MOA. The rifle is capable of much better, but it is a compromise to get her in the field. I put a 2-8x42 scope on it for now. Her shooting limit is enforced at 150 yards until she demonstrates an interest in learning to shoot farther.

I started with a 8 MOA Winchester 94, and I remind her often! Redneck privileged at its finest.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Looks like I'll be giving the hammers another go (I admit I still haven't regained full trust in them after the copper batch issue burned me). I was trying to work up a load for the 139LRX in my 284win but it did not like it at all, looked like a shotgun with a couple seating depths. I had a partial box of some 131hammers along and quickly worked up a load on those, 6 shots for velocity ladder, picked a charge which shot 0.9" 5 shot group @ 100yd (I had a limited number of bullets) and took it out to 440yds on steel. Solid enough for the ranges I'd use this bullet. I have a 1.1" 10shot 162eldm load worked up too for extended range needs.

I could try other loads with the 139lrx but considering how crappy they shot in this barrel I'll probably order some 132HHTs to try, I just had some of those 131s on hand in the short term.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I just had some of those 131s on hand in the short term.

I put a few elk in the freezer with those bullets out of a .280. They worked great.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I put a few elk in the freezer with those bullets out of a .280. They worked great.

Good to know, like I said I had that bad experience and haven't shot too many more with them yet.

 

[waspocrew]

The 74 gr HHT is shooting well out of my 22 CM at 3505 fps. May try it out on a doe antelope in a couple weeks if I can’t get close enough for my 300 BLK and 200 gr Makers.

 

[rhammond31]

300prc with Weatherby 195gr hammers flattened my big moose this fall. I was impressed at how hard they hit a giant bull

 

[Legend]

The 74 gr HHT is shooting well out of my 22 CM at 3505 fps. May try it out on a doe antelope in a couple weeks if I can’t get close enough for my 300 BLK and 200 gr Makers.

Did you find a test subject for the 22cm and HHT?

 

[waspocrew]

Did you find a test subject for the 22cm and HHT?

I never did take the opportunity unfortunately. Too many tags and too little time.

 

[Leaf Litter]

You tried any of the HHT yet?

I killed an elk with a 141gr HHT in October, but it was at close range so I can't speak for low velocity terminal performance.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Does Litz or anyone have a list of true BC’s on hammers? I have read numerous times that the claimed BC is really far off, so that doesn’t give me confidence on ordering some when I cant run the numbers through a calculator to determine max range.

 

[Leaf Litter]

Does Litz or anyone have a list of true BC’s on hammers? I have read numerous times that the claimed BC is really far off, so that doesn’t give me confidence on ordering some when I cant run the numbers through a calculator to determine max range.

I've never seen one, but my numbers show Hammer's advertised BCs to be about 10-15% inflated, depending on HH vs HHT.

Another Rokslider did testing on 358 bullets from a number of companies and found 200gr Hammer Hunters running about 10% lower BC than advertised (.382 advertised vs .345 observed).

I can't say I'm happy that they don't give accurate BC figures, but I can test my own BC (which you should do anyway for all bullets if you're shooting past 400 yards) and I love the way they group and perform out to about 500 yards.

I'm curious to try Cutting Edge a little more, their 160gr Raptors performed well in my 350 Legend and had accurate advertised BC figures.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I'm curious to try Cutting Edge a little more, their 160gr Raptors performed well in my 350 Legend and had accurate advertised BC figures.

I picked up some of their 7mm 160gr lazers to try out, haven't done any load dev yet though.

 

[SDHNTR]

Does Litz or anyone have a list of true BC’s on hammers? I have read numerous times that the claimed BC is really far off, so that doesn’t give me confidence on ordering some when I cant run the numbers through a calculator to determine max range.

Just run drops and true up. Not a big deal.