- Banned
- #1
Newtosavage
WKR
If you have a load you know is showing some pressure signs, but it's shooting itty bitty groups at great velocities, will you roll with it?
I worked up some Hammer 131's for my 7mm-08 that are shooting 1/2" at 2985 fps. over 45 grains of Varget. Hodgdon says 43.5 grains for 130's is max with Varget, but that's for conventional cup-and-core Sierra bullets. I've read that it's not uncommon for Hammers to show less pressure at higher loads.
The primers aren't flat, but they are starting to flatten compared to the lighter loads, and I can tell the bolt lift is a hair more difficult.
In the photos below, the row on the left is with 44 grains of Varget. On the right is 45 grains of Varget.
I have shot this load in 100 degree TX heat several times now. It was 80 degrees when I shot these today. I'm expecting temps between 10 and 60 degrees when I'm hunting this fall/winter.
Have you ever found a load that was "right there at the edge" and run with it? Are these even on the edge? Hard for me to tell with these Hammer bullets. They don't behave like anything I've loaded for before.
I worked up some Hammer 131's for my 7mm-08 that are shooting 1/2" at 2985 fps. over 45 grains of Varget. Hodgdon says 43.5 grains for 130's is max with Varget, but that's for conventional cup-and-core Sierra bullets. I've read that it's not uncommon for Hammers to show less pressure at higher loads.
The primers aren't flat, but they are starting to flatten compared to the lighter loads, and I can tell the bolt lift is a hair more difficult.
In the photos below, the row on the left is with 44 grains of Varget. On the right is 45 grains of Varget.
I have shot this load in 100 degree TX heat several times now. It was 80 degrees when I shot these today. I'm expecting temps between 10 and 60 degrees when I'm hunting this fall/winter.
Have you ever found a load that was "right there at the edge" and run with it? Are these even on the edge? Hard for me to tell with these Hammer bullets. They don't behave like anything I've loaded for before.