I got good results with RL 23, even though it is listed as slower than N560 - which did not do as well in my rifle?
Absolute Hammer load data
- Thread starter RockyMtnMT
- Start date
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RogerPA
Well-Known Member
Today's experiment with 6.5 PRC with 123 Absolute Hammers & IMR 7828 SSC, H100V
6.5 PRC Christensen 26" (1-8") Fed. 215M, COAL: 2.915" Nosler brass (x2)
IMR 7828 SSC
56.0 gr. 3035 FPS
57.0 gr. 3087 FPS
58.0 gr. 3138 FPS
58.5 gr. 3186 FPS
59.0 gr. 3221 FPS
59.5 gr. 3237 FPS
60.0 gr. 3269 FPS
Acceptable accuracy, and no pressure indications for any of the above. (Full case to bottom of neck apx 63 grains.)
H100V
56.0 gr. 3252 FPS
57.0 gr. 3335 FPS
57.5 gr. 3365 FPS
58.0 gr. 3368 FPS (faint ejector mark)
58.5 gr. 3412 FPS (faint ejector mark)
59.0 gr. 3430 FPS (bright ejector mark)
Acceptable accuracy. This rifle seems to tighten up the groups with more speed.
6.5 PRC Christensen 26" (1-8") Fed. 215M, COAL: 2.915" Nosler brass (x2)
IMR 7828 SSC
56.0 gr. 3035 FPS
57.0 gr. 3087 FPS
58.0 gr. 3138 FPS
58.5 gr. 3186 FPS
59.0 gr. 3221 FPS
59.5 gr. 3237 FPS
60.0 gr. 3269 FPS
Acceptable accuracy, and no pressure indications for any of the above. (Full case to bottom of neck apx 63 grains.)
H100V
56.0 gr. 3252 FPS
57.0 gr. 3335 FPS
57.5 gr. 3365 FPS
58.0 gr. 3368 FPS (faint ejector mark)
58.5 gr. 3412 FPS (faint ejector mark)
59.0 gr. 3430 FPS (bright ejector mark)
Acceptable accuracy. This rifle seems to tighten up the groups with more speed.
Your H100V loads are almost spot on for me with ADG brass except I was getting 3400 at 58.2gr from a 24". When I do my part the groups are great at the higher speed.
Also I did the test from 51 to 59.5gr of IMR 4955 and the entire group was right at 2 MOA, take out the two lowest and two highest and you have from 52 to 58.9 producing a group slightly over one MOA for 16 shots.
116 absolute hammers 270 win
270 win model 70 featherweight stainless featherweight all- terrain [saved all my mowing money when I was 12 and bought it for $518].
22" [1-10"] Fed 210M, COAL-3.330, peterson brass BRAND NEW. .002 neck tension
55 degrees
H4350
56.0 gr. Didn't read
57.0 gr. 3174 fps
58.0 gr. 3260
59.0 gr. 3290
60.0 gr. 3356
61.0 gr. 3415
62.0 gr. 3471 - STIFF BOLT
200 yards . Grouped 4 inches overall.
58-59 hit together
60-61 hit together
Being a model 70 with brand new peterson brass this gun doesn't really show ejector marks. Work up with caution.
270 win model 70 featherweight stainless featherweight all- terrain [saved all my mowing money when I was 12 and bought it for $518].
22" [1-10"] Fed 210M, COAL-3.330, peterson brass BRAND NEW. .002 neck tension
55 degrees
H4350
56.0 gr. Didn't read
57.0 gr. 3174 fps
58.0 gr. 3260
59.0 gr. 3290
60.0 gr. 3356
61.0 gr. 3415
62.0 gr. 3471 - STIFF BOLT
200 yards . Grouped 4 inches overall.
58-59 hit together
60-61 hit together
Being a model 70 with brand new peterson brass this gun doesn't really show ejector marks. Work up with caution.
Follow up
139 Absolute Hammer 270 win
All 57 gr H4350
3158
3149
3163
3178
3167
3157
3164
3164
3163
3160
Nice 3/4 moa group at 200 yards in gusty 20mph wind
Last edited:
That was the target from my pressure test on Sunday with the 123gr AH in the 6.5 PRC using IMR 4955. I wanted to highlight that if you take out the two big shifts with two highest and two lowest charges the Hammers held almost a 1 MOA group across a 12% change in powder.
That's Smoking
Added some new powders to the testing of previous.....same gun/barrel, etc:
Hybrid 100V
51.0=2838
52.0=2888
53.0=2937
54.0=2987
55.0=3011
55.5=3048 pressure/sticky bolt
Staball 6.5
53.0=2802
53.5=2821
54.0=2831
54.5=2858
55.0=2871
55.5=2916
56.0=no data
56.5=2970
57.0=2991 pressure/sticky bolt
also, I backed down to 65.0 gn with RL26 after previous data to verify groups and decided that 64.0 gn would be better. 65.0 gn being shot at 72 degrees environment vs 50 degrees produced pressure not previously experienced. So, next outing will be with 64.0 gn of RL26 being the "middle of the road". I will load up and down the 64.0 gn in .3 gn differences to determine best load for accuracy. In this particular rifle(6.5 Sherman Max/123 AH), somewhere around 64.0 gn of RL 26 will be the powder that safely produces the highest velocity. Accuracy has been good on virtually all loads tested but we all want "one hole" at a hundred yards, no? THEN, I will test out to 700 yards to make sure load stays consistent at that distance. Thanks to all other posters for sharing their info!
eshorebwhntr
Well-Known Member
Custom 7mm STW
Trued R700 - 27" Krieger 5R 1-8.5
2x fired WW super brass - FL bumped .003-.0035
F215 primer
I don't have a crimp die for this cartridge
Little background on the gun. The barrel has 1700 plus rounds on it. I had it set back around 1400 with zero freebore. Just wanted to try it that way. Greg Tannel built the gun and this chamber doesn't follow conventional load data with anything. The barrel has lost about 110fps since it was new. But when new I could routinely outperform book data with much less powder. My guess is he cuts chambers on the tight side. Noticed the same thing on my original 6.5 SAUM barrel he spec'd the reamer on vs the 2nd barrel that I had him cut with a GAP .081FB reamer.
So anyway....
119gr Absolute Hammer
Hodgdon Superformance
70.0gr - 3418 - bolt click at the top, not bad, primer looked fine
H4831SC
72.0gr - 3391
73.0gr - 3411
74.0gr - 3459
75.0gr - 3501 - slight bolt click at the top, not bad, primer looked fine
H1000
75.5gr - 3360
76.5gr - 3369
77.5gr - 3476
78.5gr - 3517
79.5gr - 3466
80.5gr - 3522
H1000 was kind of all over the place on the velocity trend. Not sure if I did something wrong or not. Never did hit pressure though could have kept going but wanted to try a few with R26.
R26
78.0gr - 3536
79.0gr - 3562
80.0gr - 3629 - slightest hint of a click at the top
80.0gr - 3611 - no click at all, wanted to shoot 1 duplicate just to see what the spread was, all primers looked perfect
Got plenty more I plan on testing out. The .277 116gr AH in 270 win, .264 109 & 129 AH in 6.5 SAUM, and .284 140 AH in either a 7RM or the STW again. Just gathering velocity data for now. Then I'll order more and test accuracy on whichever I stick with.
Also a fan of how they do business at Hammer. Ordered my test lot after 11pm EST on a Tuesday night. Had them in hand Friday evening, great packaging. I'm a fan for life.
Trued R700 - 27" Krieger 5R 1-8.5
2x fired WW super brass - FL bumped .003-.0035
F215 primer
I don't have a crimp die for this cartridge
Little background on the gun. The barrel has 1700 plus rounds on it. I had it set back around 1400 with zero freebore. Just wanted to try it that way. Greg Tannel built the gun and this chamber doesn't follow conventional load data with anything. The barrel has lost about 110fps since it was new. But when new I could routinely outperform book data with much less powder. My guess is he cuts chambers on the tight side. Noticed the same thing on my original 6.5 SAUM barrel he spec'd the reamer on vs the 2nd barrel that I had him cut with a GAP .081FB reamer.
So anyway....
119gr Absolute Hammer
Hodgdon Superformance
70.0gr - 3418 - bolt click at the top, not bad, primer looked fine
H4831SC
72.0gr - 3391
73.0gr - 3411
74.0gr - 3459
75.0gr - 3501 - slight bolt click at the top, not bad, primer looked fine
H1000
75.5gr - 3360
76.5gr - 3369
77.5gr - 3476
78.5gr - 3517
79.5gr - 3466
80.5gr - 3522
H1000 was kind of all over the place on the velocity trend. Not sure if I did something wrong or not. Never did hit pressure though could have kept going but wanted to try a few with R26.
R26
78.0gr - 3536
79.0gr - 3562
80.0gr - 3629 - slightest hint of a click at the top
80.0gr - 3611 - no click at all, wanted to shoot 1 duplicate just to see what the spread was, all primers looked perfect
Got plenty more I plan on testing out. The .277 116gr AH in 270 win, .264 109 & 129 AH in 6.5 SAUM, and .284 140 AH in either a 7RM or the STW again. Just gathering velocity data for now. Then I'll order more and test accuracy on whichever I stick with.
Also a fan of how they do business at Hammer. Ordered my test lot after 11pm EST on a Tuesday night. Had them in hand Friday evening, great packaging. I'm a fan for life.
dougduey
Well-Known Member
You should be able to much higher speeds than you're getting now. With the Hammer Hunters in my 7 STW, I've got great loads with the 143 gr going 3500 fps and the 177 gr doing 3025 fps. Both with 0.25 moa or less. Using RL26 with both of these.
I'm using the 177 gr Absolute at 3250 fps right now with RL26. I feel you should really be able outperform my 280 AI with the 140 gr Absolute in your 7 STW. . It's running at 3400 fps using HV100. I wouldn't be surprised if you were at 3600 fps.
My barrel is 26" with 1:8 twist.
X-2
eshorebwhntr
Well-Known Member
I agree. For a while years back I could run 140 Bergers to 3650 with ease. I've noticed a speed drop with everything in this barrel. I'm taking it on my elk hunt this fall and then she's going to retirement.
these velocities are less than stellar and certainly less than hoped for results. Any ideas from the LRH brain trust on cause of early pressure/ low velocity? I consider myself at a above average level of reloading competence. Given this, I may need to reconsider that opinion!
