124 HH Terminal Performance

[MTMeatHunter]

I’ve seen a number of posts containing load data for the 6.5 124 HH but I’ve not been able to find any threads specific to terminal performance of the 124 Hammer Hunter on game. For those who have shot big game with this specific bullet, can you let us know a muzzle velocity, distance, and a description of what the bullet (shank and petals) did on any animals you’ve shot?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’m also interested, I’ve switched 100% to the 124HH out of my creedmoore because they shoot’s so well but I have not shot anything yet. I have shot a black bear with the 152 hammer hunter in a 308. Now I’m switching my 308 loads to the 137HH and the 166hh in my 300mag.

 

[BjornF16]

Shot Texas whitetail buck at 100-105 yards with 124HH from 6.5 Wby RPM. MV = 3245 FPS. Two bullets, both pass through. After first shot, buck turned opposite direction and stood there. Put the second shot nearly into the first exit hole. Looks like first bullet shank may have exited sideways. Didn’t find any petals.

My Weatherby Backcountry is listed as 8” twist. Measured twist is closer to 8.5”. In flight stability seems good to 550 yards. The Hammer Bullets forum is talking about Hammer Hunters liking more stability for terminal performance (straight line path with more stability versus potential tumbling non-linear path).

 

[MTMeatHunter]

I’m also interested, I’ve switched 100% to the 124HH out of my creedmoore because they shoot’s so well but I have not shot anything yet. I have shot a black bear with the 152 hammer hunter in a 308. Now I’m switching my 308 loads to the 137HH and the 166hh in my 300mag.

That’s almost exactly what I’d like to do. Shoot the 124 HHs out of my creedmoors and the 166HH out of my Tikka 300WM. I’ve recently started hunting with the 127lrx and the 165ttsx. Results have been fine on a bear and three deer, but I prefer the extensive damage from some bullet fragmentation. Which leads me to think hammer bullets might provide the best of both worlds.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Shot Texas whitetail buck at 100-105 yards with 124HH from 6.5 Wby RPM. MV = 3245 FPS. Two bullets, both pass through. After first shot, buck turned opposite direction and stood there. Put the second shot nearly into the first exit hole. Looks like first bullet shank may have exited sideways. Didn’t find any petals.

My Weatherby Backcountry is listed as 8” twist. Measured twist is closer to 8.5”. In flight stability seems good to 550 yards. The Hammer Bullets forum is talking about Hammer Hunters liking more stability for terminal performance (straight line path with more stability versus potential tumbling non-linear path).

I’m impressed. Thanks for attaching the pictures. It almost looks like the petals may have exited fairly close to where the shank did? Hard saying but the holes look a fair bit bigger than the holes I’ve been getting with the 127lrx.

 

[Seeknelk]

How about the 124 HH .308 caliber from a 300? That's what I hoped this thread was.
Anyone kill stuff with them yet. 3700 ish out of my 300 prc. Might be neat. I guess some folks were stacking up water buffalo with em out of a RUM. I hear was a VERY emphatic killer.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

How about the 124 HH .308 caliber from a 300? That's what I hoped this thread was.
Anyone kill stuff with them yet. 3700 ish out of my 300 prc. Might be neat. I guess some folks were stacking up water buffalo with em out of a RUM. I hear was a VERY emphatic killer.

I could probably press out a few 137g hammer hunters in my 300 win mag just to see what happens.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

That’s almost exactly what I’d like to do. Shoot the 124 HHs out of my creedmoors and the 166HH out of my Tikka 300WM. I’m recently started hunting with the 127lrx and the 165ttsx. Results have been fine on a bear and three deer, but I prefer the extensive damage from some bullet fragmentation. Which leads me to think hammer bullets might provide the best of both worlds.

I’m with you. I was shooting the 127g LRX but I tried some of the HHs and it was shooting so well that I figured I’d stay there. The 137s out of my 308 just rip, they are great.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I loaded some 124's in a 6.5 WSM I had a few years ago and my son took one mule deer with it. Muzzle velocity of 3200 FPS and perfect broadside shot through the lungs at 150ish yards. Deer dropped stone dead and had about a quarter sized exit hole. We went gutless on that deer and didn't do an autopsy but the bullet worked great. Small sample size but I'd have confidence using them again.

 

[BAKPAKR]

How about the 124 HH .308 caliber from a 300? That's what I hoped this thread was.
Anyone kill stuff with them yet. 3700 ish out of my 300 prc. Might be neat. I guess some folks were stacking up water buffalo with em out of a RUM. I hear was a VERY emphatic killer.

I shot a whitetail doe at about 200 yards with a 124 gr HH, starting at 3800 fps out of a 300 RUM (not top velocity but accurate in my rifle). Results were similar to those of @BjornF16 with the 6.5s. The brush behind the deer was painted pretty well.

 

[Seeknelk]

Thanks. Nice to hear. Was your shot in the ribs? Or hit shoulder. Shoulder hit might be a bit rough on meat with that violence?

 

[BAKPAKR]

Thanks. Nice to hear. Was your shot in the ribs? Or hit shoulder. Shoulder hit might be a bit rough on meat with that violence?

Ribs, in and out. I usually try to avoid the shoulder on deer.