Absolute Hammer load data

Got some load info.
An earlier post of mine disappeared when this site had issues. So, I'll recap it first. Tried Steve's load with the 140 gr Absolute in my 280 AI using HV100. I hit pressure early, which I have now determined to be caused by 3x fired & annealed Nosler brass. Did a redo today with virgin Nosler brass and hit 3416 fps at 64.0 gr and no pressure signs. Looks like I have a nice node from 63.5-64.0 gr, so I'm going to fine tune it and not chase more velocity.

Last trip out, I also tested the 162 gr Absolute in my 30-06 with IMR4350. This powder was waaaaaay too slow. At 60.0 gr it was only 2969 fps, but accuracy was excellent.
So, decided to try a much faster powder today and went with Benchmark. I was real conservative and didn't push it much. Started at 47.0 gr which yielded 2739 fps. Stopped at 52.5 gr at 3000 fps. Plenty of case capacity to go higher and absolutely no sign of pressure.
I'm using virgin Hornady brass, CCI250 primer and a COAL of 3.335". I'll report back once I get to try out higher charge weights, but Benchmark looks promising.

Doug
Updated. Sorry for the goof?
 
I don't think it was your goof at all, so no apology is necessary. I know the website had issues and an entire day of posts were erased.
I didn't know that ! Do you know what was deleted? The post I just put up (13 pages) should be complete? I may have an older printed page I can check. Guess I need to begin keeping some hard copies in case there's another glitch. I'd hate to lose all this data!
 
Finally shot a ladder with the 140gr Absolutes today. Sadly batteries were dead in my Oehler, so I don't have any velocities but decided to shoot anyway.

Went in .4gr increments from 54gr-57.6gr H4350 in my .280 Rem, 1f RP brass. 3.333" OACL

Got a light ejector swipe at 57.6 so discontinued the test. Casefill was very good, in the 98% range to my ear.

The ladder:
20201029_165336~3~(1).jpg

... Was not very inspiring. Most impacts were over 1moa apart. No clear node presented itself, and I felt somewhat underwhelmed.

My highest POI was 56.8gr, so I decided to load 5 at that charge and try the @ButterBean crimp trick. Had to seat the bullets a little deeper to get the case mouth over that last driving band, and OACL finished up at 3.298".

Pulled the seater, and spun my die down onto a sized piece of brass until it stopped. This indicates the crimp ring is touching the mouth of the case. After some testing (I haven't crimped for at least a decade) I went with about 1/4 of a turn (on the die) of crimp.

Got lucky I guess, because the first 4 made a nice little bughole, dialed a correction and sent the last one through the bullseye! Thanks ButterBean!

Looking forward to shooting some drops (with a working chronograph :rolleyes:). I will report back with actual MV and a calculated BC.

No free lunches though, now my .280 kicks like a 7mm RM :cool: Good thing it only took 15 rounds to develop a load and get sighted in.
 
Finally shot a ladder with the 140gr Absolutes today. Sadly batteries were dead in my Oehler, so I don't have any velocities but decided to shoot anyway.

Went in .4gr increments from 54gr-57.6gr H4350 in my .280 Rem, 1f RP brass. 3.333" OACL

Got a light ejector swipe at 57.6 so discontinued the test. Casefill was very good, in the 98% range to my ear.

The ladder:View attachment 222276
... Was not very inspiring. Most impacts were over 1moa apart. No clear node presented itself, and I felt somewhat underwhelmed.

My highest POI was 56.8gr, so I decided to load 5 at that charge and try the @ButterBean crimp trick. Had to seat the bullets a little deeper to get the case mouth over that last driving band, and OACL finished up at 3.298".

Pulled the seater, and spun my die down onto a sized piece of brass until it stopped. This indicates the crimp ring is touching the mouth of the case. After some testing (I haven't crimped for at least a decade) I went with about 1/4 of a turn (on the die) of crimp.

Got lucky I guess, because the first 4 made a nice little bughole, dialed a correction and sent the last one through the bullseye! Thanks ButterBean!

Looking forward to shooting some drops (with a working chronograph :rolleyes:). I will report back with actual MV and a calculated BC.

No free lunches though, now my .280 kicks like a 7mm RM :cool: Good thing it only took 15 rounds to develop a load and get sighted in.
I'm just glad it helped you out, Let me know how everything turns out
 
I was considering using these in my 338 Lapua, but now I can pass on that. Next spring I would like to try these out in a 300 Wby. Maybe someone else will have some data by then. The performance gains look great.
 
20201030_110217~2~(1).jpg


 
Absolute Hammer 109gr
Hornady 1.915
CBTO 2.150 (COAL 2.750)
Primer WLRM .003
Krieger 24" 1:8 Barrel

BLC-2
Grains, FPS, GRP, SD
44.0, 3185, (single shot case issue)
44.4, 3189, .263, 69
44.7 (Case issue)

IMR4064
Grains, FPS, GRP, SD
44.0, 3316, .590, 61
44.4 3333 (Second shot blown primer)
44.7 Unfired

Ramshot TAC
Grains, FPS, GRP, SD
42.0, 3266, .457, 20
42.4 3283, .890, 35
42.7 3346 (single shot case issue)

Same as above made adjustment to length
CBTO 2.115 (COAL 2.715)

IMR4064
Grains, FPS, GRP, SD
44.0, 3312, .763, 27
44.2 3316 (flat primer, ejection mark, did not shoot second round)

Varget
Grains, FPS, GRP, SD
44.0, 3350, .657, 12
44.2 3346 (Blown Primer)
 
Updates.
162 gr Absolute in the 30-06 with Benchmark powder. Rifle is a stock Savage with 22" factory barrel.
Virgin Hornady Brass, CCI 250, 3.335" COAL
I stopped at 52.5 gr last time (3000 fps) with plenty of case capacity and no signs of pressure
53.0 gr - 3026 fps
53.5 - 3055
54.0 - 3084 slight stiff bolt lift
54.5 - 3108 ejector mark, stiff bolt lift.
 
Updates
280 AI, Virgin Nosler brass, Fed 215, 3.335" COAL
Rem 700, 24" Criterion barrel, 1:9 twist
HV100 powder
I basically followed Steve's load data
Last time out
63.5 gr -3410 fps
64.0 -3416 fps
No signs of pressure, temp was 53 degrees.

Today, temps were 75 degrees, so I expected about 10-15 fps increase in velocity.
63.4 gr - 3431 fps
63.6 - 3441
63.8 - 3458
64.0 - 3475
64.2 - 3465 ejector mark and bolt locked up
I also shot a 1x fired and neck sized only round at 63.8 gr. Bolt locked up, velocity 3441 fps
Attached is a group at 100 yards and 63.8 gr (virgin brass). F53A680C-FDA9-4B7B-BFB1-CCB683D6BF00.jpeg
 

Recent Posts

Top