Absolute Hammer, 6.5creed and 280ai velocity data

[cooperjd]

Finally got to do some shooting over the weekend with some AH's. I started pretty low and have room to continue working up, which I will do in the next couple of months.

These were measured through a magnetospeed at 700' above sea level and ~45 degrees.

6.5 creedmoor
tikka t3x, 1:8", 24".

lapua brass, cci-450s and 123gr AH
IMR-4166, the new enduron line to approximate varget's burn rate; approx 15thou jump

36.0gr --2654 fps
37.0gr --2757 fps
38.0gr --2808 fps
39.0gr --2864 fps
40.0gr --2955 fps
41.0gr --3032 fps

I shot 42.0gr, but the magnetospeed had moved a bit on my barrel and i didn't notice, it did not record, but i'm guessing right at 3,100. No pressure signs anywhere. I will load 41.5 and go up in 1/2gr increments for a few more grains to see what I can do.

the POI for 37-39gr were about moa at 100y and very close to poi of my 130gr berger hunting loads, so i took one of the 39.0gr loads and shot a small doe at 205 yards that evening. entrance was forward in the shoulder, exit in the center of the shoulder mass. results were devastating and the deer didnt' so much as take a step.

280AI
Kimber hunter, 24", 1:9" barrel.
I tested 2 different powders for this one.
Nosler brass, cci-200, 140gr AH loaded to mag length.

IMR-4166
41gr--2494 fps
42gr--2552 fps
43gr--2625 fps
44gr--2677 fps
45gr--2717 fps

With no data on the 280 with the 4166, i started very low and have a lot of room to work up. if these incremental values hold up with regard to velocity, i believe 53+gr is attainable. I will probably continue to work up in 1gr increments until i get to 51, then start 1/2 gr increments.

H4350
53--2792 fps
54--2847 fps
55--2893 fps
56--2978 fps
57--3007 fps
58--3069 fps
59--3132 fps

no pressure signs whatsoever, the last piece of brass/primer looked just like the first. I will continue up in 1/2 gr increments to see where I find pressure and see how hot I can push these.

 

[JakeSCH]

Looks like a good starting point. Steve states that he expects to get 3400 from that 140 AH out of the 280ai...

 

[wyosam]

Your 6.5 speeds are nearly identical to what I got with same charges of Varget in a 22” proof barrel. I was 3110 with 42.0. I don’t have much Varget left, but have the shooters world comparable powder on its way. Hope that works similar.

I tried a few option with the 123. StaBall 6.5 got me up to about 3050 before I ran out of room with Lapua LRP brass. Benchmark got up to just over 3k if I recall, but I haven’t loaded all the way to pressure yet. RL15 topped out with pressure just over 3k.

Looking forward to seeing where you get with the 280, I’ve got a 280ai barrel coming for my Tikka that I’m pretty excited about. I think the 280 with the absolutes will be really good elk medicine.


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[slowelk]

I have been going back and forth about developing a load for the 123s. I will be interested to see where your load tops out.

 

[cooperjd]

I'm hoping to get around 3,300 fps for the 123's. we shall see... I think that may be about where i run out of room in the case.

For the 280 Steve at Hammer achieved almost 3,400 fps with his 280ai, anything over 3,300 and i think i'd be happy.

I will eventually play with the 178gr AH in my 300 weatherby and see if i can get that one to 3,300 or so. that should be a real elk hammer.

 

[HNTR918]

I’d be real interested to know what the 280ai Kimber Hunter gets to with H4831, RL16, RL26, & H1000. Those 140s would be the ticket.

 

[Jmort1754]

What about the absolute in a 7mm wsm ?

 

[cooperjd]

I’d be real interested to know what the 280ai Kimber Hunter gets to with H4831, RL16, RL26, & H1000. Those 140s would be the ticket.

I believe most of those powders will be too slow for the absolute. Rl16 may be a good one. Steve at hammer told me he used h4350 and I should expect 3,350 from my kimber.

I have some imr 4155 (varget) and 4451 (4350) loaded up to test. Hopefully I can get to the range in the next couple of days. I will report back.

Also have more loaded in the 6.5creed with 4166.

 

[cmahoney]

Just found this thread, I picked up some 123 absolute hammers when they first came out. Just getting around to loading them now. I have some new Peterson brass, 215M primers and some H4895 I plan to try. I have a 24” factory Tikka I’ll be shooting. I’ll post my results.

I was getting 2940 FPS with 124HH and RL 16. I hope to see a much faster round.


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[HNTR918]

I believe most of those powders will be too slow for the absolute. Rl16 may be a good one. Steve at hammer told me he used h4350 and I should expect 3,350 from my kimber.

I have some imr 4155 (varget) and 4451 (4350) loaded up to test. Hopefully I can get to the range in the next couple of days. I will report back.

Also have more loaded in the 6.5creed with 4166.

Awesome! What are the next powder charges you will be trying?

 

[cooperjd]

I will have to check my notebook. I am planning on shooting this week and I will report back

 

[wyosam]

Just because I like playing with the hammers, I’ve now got a box of the 109s to play with in the creedmoor. I have a bunch of benchmark I’m not using, and I think it will work well with these. It actually worked ok with the 123 too, just shy of varget velocity wise.


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[Brendan]

Well, I did it.

Have some 123 gr absolute hammers for my 6.5 CM and some 151 gr absolute hammers for my 18" bbl .308 on the way.

I have H4350, RL26, CFE223, and 1# of Varget on hand now. Am going to do some trading and looking for some more Varget and IMR-4166.

Was time to give myself another reloading project to get back out on the range. Bought some unique to do some low round count / low power shooting out of my S&W 329 PD .44 as well...

 

[Rieckman]

Well, I did it.

Have some 123 gr absolute hammers for my 6.5 CM and some 151 gr absolute hammers for my 18" bbl .308 on the way.

I have H4350, RL26, CFE223, and 1# of Varget on hand now. Am going to do some trading and looking for some more Varget and IMR-4166.

Was time to give myself another reloading project to get back out on the range. Bought some unique to do some low round count / low power shooting out of my S&W 329 PD .44 as well...

I ordered some 151 Absolute Hammers for my 16" 308 as well. I was recommended to try things in the burn rate around Ramshot Tac, H335, and Benchmark. He said CFE 223 would work but wouldn't give top end velocities. Which is somewhat disappointing as I have quite a bit of it.

 

[cooperjd]

Good deal!

For the 140s in the 280 I ended things at 59gr of h4350. Apparently that is more of a starting point...

So I went up to the mid 60s iirc of imr4451 and I think high 50s of 4166

For the 6.5 and 4166 I think I’m loaded up to higher 40s. Don’t think I’ll get to shoot all of what I loaded but my goal is to find some pressure then back down a grain or so and work on seating depths from there.

I will eventually play with the 178s in my .300 wby where I think 3,400 should be attainable.


I’d like to see a 230-240gr .338 AH that I could load up in my RUM. That bullet at 3400 or so would be pretty devastating. But I have several boxes of 250gr accubonds so it may be a while before I shoot those.

I’m trying to decide if trying some hammers in my 7RM is even worth doing. My 9.25” barrel is too slow for the heavies and I already have the 280ai for the 140s. The big 7 may just keep on trucking the 160 ABs

 

[cooperjd]

Little more shooting today with the 6.5 creed:

6.5 creedmoor
tikka t3x, 1:8", 24".

lapua brass, cci-450s and 123gr AH
IMR-4166, the new enduron line to approximate varget's burn rate; approx 15thou jump

41.5gr--3,065
42.0gr--3,121
42.5gr-3,146
42.8gr--3,158
43.0gr--3,181; bolt little stiff, shiny ejector mark
43.3gr--3,233 ---BLEW A PRIMER.
no mas.

I would be comfortable saying that 42 to 42.3gr or so would be my max for this rifle. A little disappointing in that velocity with the absolutes, think i will try a different powder and see what I can do. Either IMR-4451 or H4350 or RL-16.
any thoughts?

 

[wyosam]

I think going faster like Benchmark might get you a touch more speed, but I think you’re pretty close to what you’ll get out of the tikka barrel.


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[cooperjd]

I think going faster like Benchmark might get you a touch more speed, but I think you’re pretty close to what you’ll get out of the tikka barrel.


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yeah after reading some testing people have done over on LRH, i think i should be pretty happy with what i got. I think I'll load 42gr and play with some seating depths and check my groups/ ES.

 

[sndmn11]

I would be comfortable saying that 42 to 42.3gr or so would be my max for this rifle. A little disappointing in that velocity with the absolutes, think i will try a different powder and see what I can do. Either IMR-4451 or H4350 or RL-16.
any thoughts?

Do you have those powders? I have 4451 and 6.5 Staball we were going to use the latter for our 6.5cm, and have been waffling between TTSX/LRX, GMX, or something from hammer.

 

[cooperjd]

Do you have those powders? I have 4451 and 6.5 Staball we were going to use the latter for our 6.5cm, and have been waffling between TTSX/LRX, GMX, or something from hammer.

I have all the ones I listed, yes. I have seen where people are digging staball for the 6.5s.

I got almost 3k fps with the 127gr LRX but I couldn’t get them to group worth a shit at any velocity and was compressing powder which I don’t like to do. Think I was using rl16 at that time, have to check my books. My rifle likes rl16 and 130gr Berger vlds.

I hope it likes the speedy little hammers. I think the 4350 powders will be too slow for the absolutes. Those may work great for your solid copper choices.