Absolute Hammer load data

azsugarbear said:
Pressure Test on 129 gr. Absolute in 6.5 PRC. As always your mileage will vary. Start low and work up.

Specifics:
Weather thin overcast with 55-58 degrees. Humidity was around 35%.

Tikka Action - modified for long cartridge operation
Barrel: Proof Research Carbon barrel w/7.5 twist and 22" length
Brass: ADG, sized with 0.288 bushing (no expander ball)
Primer: Federal 210 Std. Large Rifle
COAL: 2.955" - not that it really matters with this bullet

Process: I loaded up 2 casings with same amount of powder, then increased in half grain increments. The 59.0 grain loads may have been mildly compressed. The bullets were seated deeply with the first drive band just visible at the neck. I continued until the first signs of sticky bolt lift, then backed off one full grain and called it my Max load.

H4831 SC
Starting load: 55.0 gr. Ave. velocity 2,934 fps
Max load: 59.0 gr. Ave. velocity 3,095 fps *
* This was the highest load I had prepared. I did not reach any pressure cut off, so could have gone a little higher. No signs of pressure with 59.0 gr. of H4831 SC.

IMR 4451 (Close in burn rate to H4350)
Starting load: 56.0 gr. Ave. velocity 3,118 fps
Max load: 58.0 gr. Ave. velocity 3,255

I did shoot the 58.5 and 59.0 gr. loads as well. At 58.5 I got a big jump in velocity (3,317 average) indicating I was hitting the pressure ceiling. The 59.0 gr. load resulted in a very slight, but sticky bolt with ave. velocity of 3,326 indicating the max velocity curve was flattening out.
Click to expand...
Did the length of the 129AH create any compressed loads?
 
Not really. Given that the Absolute really has no ogive, I could have seated them out a lot further. As it was, I seated them relatively deep - meaning the first driving band was even with the neck. This depth put about 0.14" of the base below the bottom of the shoulder of the brass (basically the entire boat tail). This may have slightly compressed the 59.0 grain load, but it would have been close. My throat would easily allow me to seat the bullet out another 0.30" which would completely remove any compressed loads. Just eyeballing the various loads I have worked up, it seems that 60.0 to 62.0 grains just about fills the 6.5 PRC case to the bottom of the neck or top of the shoulder. Again, even at 62 grains, I can avoid compressed loads, if I so desire, just by seating the bullet a little further out.
 
129 Absolute Hammers in 6.5 Creedmoor (20", 1:75)

I haven't seen anyone run the 129s in a 6.5 Creed yet (maybe I missed it), and that makes sense, given that the point of Absolutes are to run lighter and faster, and also that the 129s have a minimum twist of 1:7.5, which is faster than most Creeds out there.

I have a 20" barrel Creed with a 7.5 twist, so I figured it'd be fun to try them out. For comparison, I run a 124 Hammer Hunter with 40.2g Varget at 2900. Here's what I got with the 129...

VARGET
  • 38.5g, 2709
  • 39.0g, 2748
  • 39.5g, 2804
  • 40.0g, 2814
  • 40.5g, 2850
  • 41.0g, 2886
  • 41.5g, 2925
  • 42.0g, 2950
  • 42.5g, 2973
  • 43.0g, 2999
BL-C(2)
  • 39.5g, 2661
  • 40.0g, 2700
  • 40.5g, 2730
  • 41.0g, 2756
  • 41.5g, 2810
  • 42.0g, 2874
  • 42.5g, 2895
  • 43.0g, 2940
  • 43.5g, 2983
  • 44.0g, 3007
No pressure signs at the top of either ladder. Bolt lift was good, primers and brass look good.

The idea of running a 129g mono at 3000+ FPS out of a 20" Creed has me excited. I'll be sure to share more when I get some final load data and group validation put together.
 
I was just about to work up a load with the 134 gr Shock Hammer for my 6.5 PRC, but I think I'll wait until you have finished your work up on the 129 AH! In the meantime, I'll be hunting for some IMR 4451 (That will be harder for me to find than the AH bullets! Wish me luck!!) and working on some loads with some lead core bullets. Thanks for the info, AZ.
 
helsyeah said:
I've been pondering a semi custom build for a while and the 284 win is on my short list and so I've also ponder this exact question too.

I'm sure Steve will have thoughts on this but looking over the load data so far I'd expect the 284 win to fall between the 7mm-08 and 280ai. That puts the powders somewhere between Varget and Hybrid 100v I'd guess.

I'd probably try Varget, rl16 and h4350 (in that order).
Click to expand...
Just got a message from Steve, he said either the HH, or AH, 130, 131, and Varget is the go to load with 7-08. Ive got a pretty good combo with my 708 now, but after seeing first hand what these bullets do, i know whst ill be using next year. ( if i can pry my 25.06ai out of my hands that is)
 
westcoasthunter said:
Has anyone used the .277? 116gr AH ? I have a 270 wsm I'm thinking about trying them in.
Click to expand...
I've done a little work with them in a 20" barreled .270 Win. (See Post #292, page 21 for those stats.). Doesn't look like they made the spreadsheet yet, but I didn't find pressure as-of-yet, and do have additional loads done up for testing. They did shoot really well, and I think they are going to be just the ticket for getting velocity from this short barrel.
 
Made it back to the range today and did another test with the 308 and tried the 178AH in my 30-06 for the first time. After talking with Steve I went back and tried using F210 primers rather than F215s with the 308 win. Steve said he had better results with the 210s when working up loads for several 308s. Interesting thing is that if you compare the data below with my data in the spreadsheet using F215s the 210s give me 25-40fps more velocity.

Velocity recorded on CD ProCronoDLX.

Start Low and work up on charge weight!

Winchester M70 FTW SS - 308Win
22in Factory 1in12 twist
Lapua Brass - Trimmed 2.006
Neck Tenson: 0.006
Bullet: 151AH
Powder: Benchmark
Fed 210
COAL - 2.880

45.0 - Did not Read
45.5 - 2912
46.0 - 2966
46.5 - 2982
47.0 - 3026 slight stiff bolt lift. very light ejector mark
47.5 - 3044 easy bolt lift no ejector mark
48.0 - 3044 easy bolt lift no ejector mark
48.5 - 3093 Slight stiff bolt lift. Slight ejector mark

Remington 700BDL - 30-06
22in Factory 1in10 twist
Nosler Brass - Trimmed 2.575
Neck Tension: 0.005
Bullet: 178AH
Powder: H4350
Fed 215
COAL - 3.506

56.0 - 2564
56.5 - 2594
57.0 - 2600
57.5 - 2651
58.0 - 2682
58.5 - 2716
59.0 - 2745
59.5 - 2771
60.0 - 2800
60.5 - 2797 No pressure

I don't really think much more powder will fit in the case, 59gr was about the start of compression. I think I will try Varget next, looking at what others have posted I think it will be to fast but the only way to know is to test. My goal is to get above 2900. If I can't get there then I will drop down to the 166AH.
 
Last edited:
RogerPA said:
I've done a little work with them in a 20" barreled .270 Win. (See Post #292, page 21 for those stats.). Doesn't look like they made the spreadsheet yet, but I didn't find pressure as-of-yet, and do have additional loads done up for testing. They did shoot really well, and I think they are going to be just the ticket for getting velocity from this short barrel.
Click to expand...
My bad. I had marked them as entered and didn't actually put them in.
The data will be uploaded tonight, along with some others.
If you folks post data and it doesn't show up within about 3 days, let me know....
Thanks,

George
 

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