Hammer Hunter 124gr - Short Barrel Creedmoor

[ljalberta]

I'm jumping on the Hammer train. It seems like these get consistently fantastic reviews. I recently picked up a 18.5" barrelled 6.5 Creedmoor and ordered a box of the 124gr Hammer Hunters to test first. I realize some like to shoot lighter bullets in the monos, but I got the 124s, so I'll give them a shot first.

Does anyone shoot the 124s in a similarly short barrelled rifle, and is able to provide some recipe suggestions, as well as the velocity you're seeing?

Powder selection is pretty slim at the moment, but I have Varget, IMR 4064, H4350 and some CFE 223 kicking around.

 

[Rob5589]

I'd contact Steve at Hammer. He's very helpful with load info.

 

[Mark at EXO]

You should be end up somewhere around 40g (+/-.3g) with Varget. That's what I use in my 20" barrel and they run 2900-2920.

 

[Woitey]

In my Cooper Raptor 40 grains of Varget gave me pressure signs. 38 grains with the 124 HH's gave me a three round group of .18

 

[jhm2023]

I load the 124gr HH for a 22" barreled rifle. With Varget I settled on 40gr and get right at 2,900fps. I worked up to 42.0gr and found pressure there. For barrel length reference, I used to load 127gr LRXs with RL16 and I noticed right around 100fps difference between the 22" barrel and the same model rifle with an 18" barrel.

 

[ljalberta]

Thanks for all the responses. I’ve got tied up with work so I haven’t made it out to the range yet. Looking forward to it soon though.

 

[brushape]

Just did a quick load development on my 20” creedmoor with 124 hammers and imr4166 enduron. It shot 37.5-39.3 grains in 3/10 increments into .6 moa so I loaded up 10 more at 39.0 which was right at 2900 and just took this pig with it. Damage was pretty amazing without the typical blood jelly from a soft point bullet

That’s the exit I shot it at a pretty steep uphill angle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[roosiebull]

Just did a quick load development on my 20” creedmoor with 124 hammers and imr4166 enduron. It shot 37.5-39.3 grains in 3/10 increments into .6 moa so I loaded up 10 more at 39.0 which was right at 2900 and just took this pig with it. Damage was pretty amazing without the typical blood jelly from a soft point bullet

That’s the exit I shot it at a pretty steep uphill angle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Blew his damn arms off!!!

Looks like a dandy pig

 

[sndmn11]

I was given 20something of the 124gr Hunter to play with in a 20" Vanguard 6.5creed.
Hornady Cases at 1.910", WLR primer, CBTO 2.199" ~2.80X"COAL (mag length), 6.5 Staball
45.0gr = 2765fps
45.3 = 2779
45.6 = 2778
45.9 = 2805
46.0 = 2820
46.2 = 2844
46.3 = 2850
46.9 = 2907
47.1 = 2926
47.7 = 2959
48.0 = 2992
All ok, the rest were shot for groups within those charge weights and they were great for this rifle between 1-1.5". Surprisingly, the 47.7 and 48.0 charge weights WITH the magnetospeed on the barrel were overlapping at 100 yards.

85gr Hunter Hornady Cases at 1.910", WLR primer, CBTO 2.132" ~2.583"COAL, 6.5 Staball
49.0gr = 3226fps
49.6 = 3213
50.0 = 3261
50.3 = 3265
50.6 = 3258
50.9 = 3293
51.2 = 3331
51.7 = 3353
52.2 = 3410 ~slight stiff and sticky slight ejector
52.7 = 3429 ~slight stiff and sticky slight ejector
53.0 = 3439 stiff sticky and ejector mark
53.2 = 3449 stiff sticky and ejector mark
I shot a group of three at 50.3gr and they were high enough from my zero that they missed my half sheet of paper in full. Two cut the very top edge and were touching each other. The third either printed barely high enough to not cut the paper but was in between the two, or the next closest bullet holes on the cardboard backer was several inches away.

85gr Hunter Hornady Cases at 1.910", WLR primer, CBTO 2.132" ~2.583"COAL, IMR4166
42.5gr = 3119fps
43.1 = 3170
43.6 = 3192
44.1 = 3244
44.6 = 3276
45.6 = 3346
46.1 = 3391
46.6 = 3413
47.1 = 3456 ~tiny bit stiff no stick no mark
47.6 = 3499 ~slightly stiff and sticky but very clear ejector mark
I shot from 46.1 of IMR4166 and 51.7Staball on up together at the same aiming point with the magnetospeed on. They all were in a 3" cluster, so I am not worried about accuracy at this point. With how the 124 Hunters have shot, I expect these to also be accurate and will know in a day or two when I can try again.

Also, I "think" I crimped with the hornady seating die, however, the Lee factory crimp die should be here tomorrow.

 

[brushape]

I was given 20something of the 124gr Hunter to play with in a 20" Vanguard 6.5creed.
Hornady Cases at 1.910", WLR primer, CBTO 2.199" ~2.80X"COAL (mag length), 6.5 Staball
45.0gr = 2765fps
45.3 = 2779
45.6 = 2778
45.9 = 2805
46.0 = 2820
46.2 = 2844
46.3 = 2850
46.9 = 2907
47.1 = 2926
47.7 = 2959
48.0 = 2992
All ok, the rest were shot for groups within those charge weights and they were great for this rifle between 1-1.5". Surprisingly, the 47.7 and 48.0 charge weights WITH the magnetospeed on the barrel were overlapping at 100 yards.

85gr Hunter Hornady Cases at 1.910", WLR primer, CBTO 2.132" ~2.583"COAL, 6.5 Staball
49.0gr = 3226fps
49.6 = 3213
50.0 = 3261
50.3 = 3265
50.6 = 3258
50.9 = 3293
51.2 = 3331
51.7 = 3353
52.2 = 3410 ~slight stiff and sticky slight ejector
52.7 = 3429 ~slight stiff and sticky slight ejector
53.0 = 3439 stiff sticky and ejector mark
53.2 = 3449 stiff sticky and ejector mark
I shot a group of three at 50.3gr and they were high enough from my zero that they missed my half sheet of paper in full. Two cut the very top edge and were touching each other. The third either printed barely high enough to not cut the paper but was in between the two, or the next closest bullet holes on the cardboard backer was several inches away.

85gr Hunter Hornady Cases at 1.910", WLR primer, CBTO 2.132" ~2.583"COAL, IMR4166
42.5gr = 3119fps
43.1 = 3170
43.6 = 3192
44.1 = 3244
44.6 = 3276
45.6 = 3346
46.1 = 3391
46.6 = 3413
47.1 = 3456 ~tiny bit stiff no stick no mark
47.6 = 3499 ~slightly stiff and sticky but very clear ejector mark
I shot from 46.1 of IMR4166 and 51.7Staball on up together at the same aiming point with the magnetospeed on. They all were in a 3" cluster, so I am not worried about accuracy at this point. With how the 124 Hunters have shot, I expect these to also be accurate and will know in a day or two when I can try again.

Also, I "think" I crimped with the hornady seating die, however, the Lee factory crimp die should be here tomorrow.

Those are some screaming speeds!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JoeDirt]

Wonder how much faster you can get the Absolute hunters?

I have a 17" 6.5 Creedmoor and a 20" 6.5 PRC with a 1/7 twist barrel I need to play with.

 

[Newtosavage]

Good to see some other 4166 users. I have grown to really like the stuff.