375 RUM guide rifle

[RH300UM]

How well does the Sindwinder brake work? I've been shopping around for a brake for a 338 RUM and the Area 419 seems like a nice option.

The sidewinder works great. Also easy on and off with no tools!!

 

[Bravo 4]

Good call! I tried (twice....not very smart) to shoot my .375 AI, with brake on in the field. Brake removed....haven't seen it in over 20 years! My AI weighs 9 lb. 1 oz., scoped, loaded, slung, and kicks a bit....but certainly not intolerable. I'm pushing 250 TTSX's at 3130 fps.

I'm a big Barnes fan (since early '90's), and begged Barnes, for years, to bring out something heavier than the 250 in a TTSX. They waited until I gave up, developed a load, got my Leupold CDC set-up......then they bring out the 270 LRX! Had they gone up to somewhere around 290 grains or a little heavier ( which I had begged for), I could justify changing bullets and getting new turrets built......but "not" for 20 grains.

By the way.....real nice group! Mine shot better with the 270 TSX, but their BC was roughly equivalent to that of a "brick".... so I sacrificed a little accuracy! memtb

memtb

Give the 281gr Hammer a try (like the OP is running), bet you wouldn't be disappointed.

 

[RH300UM]

Those Hammer bullets have a big future in my Rifles!

 

[RH300UM]

Man I wonder how bad the recoil would be minus the break. 280+ gr bullet @ almosy 3k? Bet she smarts. I've been wanting to build a 375 cal for a while, just trying to figure out which one!

It's not bad. Really for the cartridge/bullet/rifle weight I was expecting punishment. It doesn't smack you. It's not a rifle for for extended range time but I've put 20 rounds at times down the barrel in one range visit getting the BC nailed and just having fun shooting it. All of Travis's Rifles make me smile when I shoot them. This was a project we had talked over many times.
When you get serious about your build give him a call.
He has built 4 rigs for me now and all of them shoot crazy accurate.

 

[memtb]

Those Hammer bullets have a big future in my Rifles!

I will study them more, as my interest has been "tweaked"! However, at first glance....I don't think they're what I'm looking for. Everything looks great except.... the weight retention. I'm in the ever shrinking number of people that wants an exit wound... that is almost guaranteed from any angle. Higher weight retention gives a somewhat improved opportunity for the exit wound, that I'm searching for and expecting. memtb

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I will study them more, as my interest has been "tweaked"! However, at first glance....I don't think they're what I'm looking for. Everything looks great except.... the weight retention. I'm in the ever shrinking number of people that wants an exit wound... that is almost guaranteed from any angle. Higher weight retention gives a somewhat improved opportunity for the exit wound, that I'm searching for and expecting. memtb

With either our Hammer Hunter (70%) or Sledge Hammer (80-90%) the chance of not having an exit is slim. The only time we have been able to catch a bullet in an animal is when they have been shot end to end. We recently had a trip to South Africa with 5 other hunters all using Hammer Bullets. We had great confidence in out bullets going in, but there was always that little doubt in the back of your head, since the plains game have a reputation of being nearly bullet proof. Then of course talking with a couple of the PH's prior to the hunting starting, with them quizzing us hard about how we expect our bullets to work. They have a very healthy skepticism when it comes to bullets. They have a very long list of bullets that they do not like and a short list of bullets that they do like. They told us that we would not get exits on animals like zebra. The only animal that was hit broad side that did not exit was a giraffe. That bullet went through the high shoulder and severed the spin through the off shoulder and recovered in the meat in the off shoulder. Between the 7 hunters on the safari there were 37 plains game animals taken. In the end the PH's gave us the glowing endorsement that Hammer Bullets were the best they had ever seen. With all of these animals there was no tacking needed on animals hit with lethal shots. I have not had time to finish the story, but here is a link to what I have written so far. http://hammerbullets.boards.net/thread/295/team-hammer-goes-africa

I have been a solo drummer beating the drum of proper twist rate for hunting bullets. Whether you are using Hammers or any other bullet if you make sure that you have a 1.5sg or higher calculated at standard atmosphere at sea level, you will have much better more predictable results from your bullets. The closer to 2.0sg the better.

Sorry for the hijack!

Steve

 

[memtb]

With either our Hammer Hunter (70%) or Sledge Hammer (80-90%) the chance of not having an exit is slim. The only time we have been able to catch a bullet in an animal is when they have been shot end to end. We recently had a trip to South Africa with 5 other hunters all using Hammer Bullets. We had great confidence in out bullets going in, but there was always that little doubt in the back of your head, since the plains game have a reputation of being nearly bullet proof. Then of course talking with a couple of the PH's prior to the hunting starting, with them quizzing us hard about how we expect our bullets to work. They have a very healthy skepticism when it comes to bullets. They have a very long list of bullets that they do not like and a short list of bullets that they do like. They told us that we would not get exits on animals like zebra. The only animal that was hit broad side that did not exit was a giraffe. That bullet went through the high shoulder and severed the spin through the off shoulder and recovered in the meat in the off shoulder. Between the 7 hunters on the safari there were 37 plains game animals taken. In the end the PH's gave us the glowing endorsement that Hammer Bullets were the best they had ever seen. With all of these animals there was no tacking needed on animals hit with lethal shots. I have not had time to finish the story, but here is a link to what I have written so far. http://hammerbullets.boards.net/thread/295/team-hammer-goes-africa

I have been a solo drummer beating the drum of proper twist rate for hunting bullets. Whether you are using Hammers or any other bullet if you make sure that you have a 1.5sg or higher calculated at standard atmosphere at sea level, you will have much better more predictable results from your bullets. The closer to 2.0sg the better.

Sorry for the hijack!

Steve

Thanks Steve! I appreciate the feedback, never bothered by a "hijack"....unless I'm on an airplane!
I'll do a bit more reading, determine my exact "rate of twist", "crunch" a few hypothetical numbers, and who knows....you may have a convert! memtb

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Thanks Steve! I appreciate the feedback, never bothered by a "hijack"....unless I'm on an airplane!
I'll do a bit more reading, determine my exact "rate of twist", "crunch" a few hypothetical numbers, and who knows....you may have a convert! memtb

I'm like a drug dealer. All I have to do is get you to try Hammers once and you will be hooked! Lol

Steve

 

[HARPERC]

....I'm in the ever shrinking number of people that wants an exit wound... that is almost guaranteed from any angle. Higher weight retention gives a somewhat improved opportunity for the exit wound, that I'm searching for and expecting.......memtb

A lot of us looking for the same thing. I would add relative "higher weight retention" is a good thing, but final form has to be considered. If a bullet maintains "classic mushroom" with triple caliber frontal area, it's going to need more initial weight per caliber to make those exits.

 

[memtb]

A lot of us looking for the same thing. I would add relative "higher weight retention" is a good thing, but final form has to be considered. If a bullet maintains "classic mushroom" with triple caliber frontal area, it's going to need more initial weight per caliber to make those exits.

You mention, triple frontal area? How does that compare to say, double diameter expansion? I prefer normal to slightly heavy bullets for caliber (even with mono's), for the longer range ballistic advantages. But, as you stated.....weight certainly helps get those exit wounds. memtb

 

[HARPERC]

As a general thought, no expansion is going to penetrate furthest, and the wider the bullet gets its going to slow it down, likely somewhat proportionally in my opinion.

To me, regardless of caliber, I'd rather be with the heaviest weight I can get. Certainly one needs to ensure stability, among other factors.

My first view of the Hammer's had a concern about losing that frontal area too soon. It appears that the petals follow the main body of the bullet much farther than I would have thought. Including exits in come cases. Reliable reports from others, hopefully this falls season puts me on the board for field use, but I believe they offer bullet for bullet in the line up, than some of those I've traditionally used.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

When we were in Africa all of the hunts were videoed for future episodes on Giving Back TV. Brian shot an impala at 340y with his 30-338Lap imp and the 214g Hammer Hunter. When we watched the video you could see the bullet impact in the dirt after passing through the impala. If you watched closely you could see two more small impacts in the dirt that were two of the petals that also passed through. Assuming that the bullet shed three petals they would each be about 20g.

Steve

 

[HARPERC]

....30-338Lap imp and the 214g Hammer Hunter......

That's an excellent combo there, one I could readily adopt.

Given my nature though, I see there is a 227 available, and remember "anything worth doing is worth overdoing", and "you'll never know how much is enough until you get to too much".

 

[RH300UM]

I wanted to try the 227 and the 214 but my 30-338 lapua improved has a 10 twist