What is your twist rate? Part of the problem for me is my slow-twist barrel. I have a Sako 85 Finnlight and the twist is 1-11". I have been loading the 166gr with H4831sc and CCI BR2 primers.killed a bull with a 300wsm and 166 hammer hunter this year. I ended up with a slightly compressed load of H4350 loaded at factory length (2.860?). right around 3050fps with a 22in barrel.
Follow the required twist rates from the website closely.
Excellent. I have a Cooper M92 in 6.5x284 Norma that I also bought some 124gr Hammers for but haven't really had time to do much with them. I have been shooting 140gr Berger Hunting VLDs out of it and it has been performing pretty nicely so haven't seen much reason to swap out. Now that it has finally cooled off here in TX, I am thinking of getting back out a bit more to the range.I'm shooting the 143 hammer hunter in my Cooper Timberline 280AI with outstanding accuracy. 3120 fps with 4831sc. The combo has taken 2 elk pretty easily, a cow at 75 yards and a bull at 340. I had my load developed in 9 total shots. Steve recommends to start at a safe powder charge and increase by 1 grain per round until you hit pressure then back off 1 grain and shoot a group. Seating depth I'd started at mag length as long as they aren't jammed into the lands. Like said above check your twist rate, hammers are long. Monos perform best at speed so dropping bullet weight isn't a bad thing. If anything call Steve at hammer bullets, he's a great dude and will get you going!
Excellent. I have a Cooper M92 in 6.5x284 Norma that I also bought some 124gr Hammers for but haven't really had time to do much with them. I have been shooting 140gr Berger Hunting VLDs out of it and it has been performing pretty nicely so haven't seen much reason to swap out. Now that it has finally cooled off here in TX, I am thinking of getting back out a bit more to the range.
Now you are getting me excited to load some up!I shoot the 140 berger in my Cooper Jackson long range 6.5x284 with aweosme results. I have always thought about that 124 hammer in in that cartridge. I bet it will be a wicked combo on all the avalible Texas critters! Those backcountry rifles are great, I had 2 previous to the timberline and JLR
300wm shooting 181 Hammer Hunter over 3100fps and one of the most accurate loads I've ever shot from the rifle H4831sc, 1.5 grains below pressure in my rifle.
Check out the Hammertime forum. You can link to it from Hammer bullets website. Lots of Hammer specific details there.
Definitely follow their advice and load everything with magnum primers. I wasted a bunch of rounds trying to find velocity in some of my smaller cartridges, before I saw that bit of advice.
Its a 1-10" Browning Abolt. I ran out of powder capacity before hitting pressure with 4350. the short action magazine makes it tough with the longer bullet. Bullet stability is important for terminal performance. if your shooting inside 450-500yds, i would look at the 166gr sledgehammer as it will be more stable. If your running out of powder capacity before you hit pressure signs, try a faster powder like a 4350 or RL16/17 for more speedWhat is your twist rate? Part of the problem for me is my slow-twist barrel. I have a Sako 85 Finnlight and the twist is 1-11". I have been loading the 166gr with H4831sc and CCI BR2 primers.
What barrel length you running out of curiosity? I'm 24" at 2950. Mine was getting some pressure and compressing the load when up at 3100 so I didn't bother to push it.
Pics!!! Sounds wicked.I just had Steve make me a 205gr sledge hammer with a 2mm hollow point for my short barrel 338 RCM. It's kind of in between the hammer hunter and the sledge hammer, as I wanted something with the BC to get me reliably out to 600 yards, as well as take advantage of the heavier bullet capabilities of the 338.
The 215's have a short bearing surface for their weight so a custom throat for them isn't particularly long. You should be fine, especially if the hammers like to jump like barnes monos do.