6.5 CM 97gr Absolute Hammer powder experience

[Monteria]

I just ordered some 97gr absolute hammers to try in my 7YO son's 16" 6.5 man bun.

I've scoured the internet for load data and called Hammer (Brian?).

I dont have any of the powders I've seen listed except CFE223, which I loath. And Tac-x is not currently available locally.

My question is, has anyone tried any even faster burning powders? Particularly any off the following, which I have in my stash?

H322
RL15
AR Comp
H and IMR 4198
RL7
VV N120
H4227
CFE BLK
H110

I'm guessing that somewhere in the RL7, VV N120 range my powder selection is probably getting too fast, but who knows?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[nealm66]

Just be careful of case fill. Low case fill isn't good and maybe not so much with absolutes but with regular bullets can cause pressure spikes

 

[Monteria]

Of this I'm aware, though the 4198s act very well with low density loads. That's one reason I'm leaning toward starting there. BUT I'd sill love to hear any personal experiences.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

Hammer Bullets has a forum with load data for all their bullets.

 

[Dmagna]

Try RL15. That's a good powder

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

Try RL15. That's a good powder

RL- 15 or
RL-Ar. Pro- comp.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Don't be afraid of Varget. I have sound it good in the lightweight Hammers.

 

[Monteria]

While AR-Comp seems like it would be the perfect powder, I don't have enough of it to make the effort valuable. So I went with H4198. Here are the results of a 5 shot ladder. I may have hit pressure at 38.5gr. I might see a faint ejector mark and I don't know any other reason besides ME for that last shot landing outside the group.

All things considered, I'm pretty impressed. I wasn't trying to shoot well, really just shooting for velocity and pressure. But 4/5 shots spanning 2.5gr of powder were still in a .539" group.

I also don't know why the first three shots were so close in velocity while the final 2 increased at an excellerated rate, but those first 2 are also in the same hole and #3 is next closest. Maybe that was a node...

Either way, 3100fps at 38gr should be sufficient to go find some test medium, oink!

 

[Monteria]

I just found AR comp an hour away. There will be another ladder this weekend.

 

[Monteria]

AR-Comp results

I started with QL and an 85gr cup and core again. Took the predicted max load minus one grain to start work up. That method worked great on both attempts.

Looks like I'll load up some 41.5 and wait for pigs to show up on camera.

 

[nealm66]

That's awesome