169 Gr Hammer Hunter at longish distance
- Thread starter Korhil78
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Very interesting and thanks for the thorough details. From what I've found with the HH's even with identical rifles the BC's will vary slightly and clarification at distance should always be done and not assumed. The good thing is that they've have always exceeded my expectations.
Good shooting. I think if I got that grouping at 800 I wouldn't care what the BC was.
I don't really care too much. The thing that I was worried about was having the 1800 FPS velocity at impact which is what hammer hunters are supposed to need to open reliably. Now you can go about retaining that 1800 FPS at longer distances by using a light bullet and pushing it really fast which I didn't want to do or you can play the numbers game with heavier weight bullets and see where the impact velocity goes below 1800 FPS.
I chose to go with the heaviest bullet I could that would give me 1800 FPS impact velocity at my required distance (800 yards). Being that I could only push the 169 Gr hammer hunter to an average of 3120 FPS at the muzzle, I am then relying on BC to be my friend and help me retain that velocity to my desired distance. Even though I had to lower my BC to .237 from the estimated .285, I still have an impact velocity of 1800 FPS all the way out to 865 yards based off computer calculations. The only reason I wish I could have kept .285 BC is that my velocity would have been even higher at 800.
Keep in mind that BC is going to differ even if ever so slightly from barre to barrel. That's why you have to verify everything by shooting it at the longest distance you plan on shooting.
With the Hammer hunters supplied BC from their website, you have to take that as a starting point that will help you get on paper at distance and adjust if from there. When they give you an estimation, it's not for one to take it as if it's written In stone.
I chose to go with the heaviest bullet I could that would give me 1800 FPS impact velocity at my required distance (800 yards). Being that I could only push the 169 Gr hammer hunter to an average of 3120 FPS at the muzzle, I am then relying on BC to be my friend and help me retain that velocity to my desired distance. Even though I had to lower my BC to .237 from the estimated .285, I still have an impact velocity of 1800 FPS all the way out to 865 yards based off computer calculations. The only reason I wish I could have kept .285 BC is that my velocity would have been even higher at 800.
Keep in mind that BC is going to differ even if ever so slightly from barre to barrel. That's why you have to verify everything by shooting it at the longest distance you plan on shooting.
With the Hammer hunters supplied BC from their website, you have to take that as a starting point that will help you get on paper at distance and adjust if from there. When they give you an estimation, it's not for one to take it as if it's written In stone.
That goes with any bullet from any manufacturer
You are absolutely correct but I like the hammer bullets being all copper, shedding the petals for extra damage and being CnC built for consistency. So I made a choice to work with them.
If I wanted to do this with say berger bullets, I could get my desired velocity numbers with a 180-195 Gr bullet. But I don't particularly like the lead shrapnel effect.
Wedgy
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They may still work below 1,800 fps but that was the lowest velocity Steve tested them.
I just got my labradar and haven't had a chance to play with it yet. Thanks for the education.
yessir, but I imagine that those guys know what they are talking about and since I Havnt tested it myself, that's what one should stick with.
I don't know if you meant "education" as meaning I was being rude. If so, it wasn't my intention at all. I'm just explaining my way of choosing what bullet I wanted to use.
If you read Butterbeans posts, he does the opposite of me. He takes light for caliber hammers and pushes them really fast to get his desired effect. Is his way better than mine? I don't really know nor does it really matter. It works for him and others and I'm glad it does.
We all have to make a bullet choice and we have to make it work for our desired application. I imagine that these hammer bullets will work for many applications.
HARPERC
Well-Known Member
Great post!
I try not to be an either or shooter, but find myself more in the the light fast category these days for big game. As my parameters/inputs change.
The mono's just survive some things cup, and core struggle with.
While Hammer has alway stressed terminal performance, and has said many times their BC's are just rough to hopefully get a shooter started, those high BC copper and lead still have a place.
Although pure target mono's close the gap a bit.
I'm just stating that it seems like folks take Bergers BC numbers as the Gospel, I have never had any advertised BC match up perfectly
They work but they don't shed the petals and it gets sideways from there
