Absolute Hammer load data

[GLTaylor]

Played with a Bunch of powder in 7-08ai and 280ai

7-08ai 18" McGowan 1:8.5 Fireformed 1x Lapua.

130AH- Loaded to 2.815 (max mag length in Model 7)
This rifle doesn't seem to love this bullet, I'm going to try the 119AH and the 120HH
47 Gr Varget ~3040. Very low ES, but wont group under 1.5"
44.1 H4895 3000, Single digit ES, right around 1" (I'm calling this my winner right, will play with crimp to see if it settles down)
Benchmark- ~3050 Also with low ES. Showed promise, but I'm out of this powder.

I tried slowing them down, and running them up a little higher (pretty much all of them pressured out around 3075-3100), Tried a couple different primers, both MLR and LR. Can't seem to tighten them up much. Rifle shoots 130 MK around 5/8"-3/4" (My minimal work up fireforming load).

Tikka 280ai 22" Carbon Six featherweight, 1:8. Nosler brass- some new, some 1x

All loaded to 3.30, My max mag length.
This one was a little finicky, too. Anyone finding the AH a little tougher to tune than the HH?

140AH- Never did get this one to settle down.

RL16- Got crunchy around 3255. This ladder shot a 4" group, with no two close together.
H100V- Maxed out around 3320, again scattered all over the place.
H4350- Topped out around 3220, accuracy slightly better, but not worth pursuing.
N555- right around 3200. This was the closest I got, still well over an inch.

I shot some 168 noslers to verify the rifle was still shooting occasionally during all this- still cloverleafs.

155AH
RL16- ~3100 low es, around 1.5"
N555- Got around 3170, never saw pressure but was very compressed. Around 3100 shot a little over 1"
H100V- 3100ish, again in a shotgun pattern. I know a lot of people are having great luck with this powder, but my rifle is not a fan.

Decided to try a slower powder just to see what these did, since they seemed to shoot better at the lower end of the above ladders anyway.

RL23- Started mid 50s, ladder suddenly tightened up about 2900, and then started stacking them tight up until I ran out of room. Only 2985, but shoots cloverleafs with single digit ES.

It will be interesting to revisit some of these when this barrel speeds up. I've not played much with the AH until now, too many other projects. Compared to the HH, they sure seem to be more finicky. I guess I got spoiled with just shooting a 3-4 grain pressure test into an inch pretty consistently. Of course these are both also new barrels, so who knows.

@Wyosam,
I finally got home and had a chance to check our spreadsheet. The powders and bullets you referenced are spot on for what others used to get very good results? I am at a loss for why your rifles don't seem to just gobble up the Hunters and the Absolutes. This is the first time anyone has voiced difficulty getting these bullets to shoot. It's usually "these things are stupid easy to get to shoot well", or something close to that.

Keep trying and sharing your results. We may learn a new pecularity that affects performance in some rifles. Sorry you are the guinea pig!!!! Something just doesn't add up. You've done everything it normally takes to get these bullets to hummm?

Good luck in your pursuits,
George

 

[Wyosam]

@Wyosam,
I finally got home and had a chance to check our spreadsheet. The powders and bullets you referenced are spot on for what others used to get very good results? I am at a loss for why your rifles don't seem to just gobble up the Hunters and the Absolutes. This is the first time anyone has voiced difficulty getting these bullets to shoot. It's usually "these things are stupid easy to get to shoot well", or something close to that.

Keep trying and sharing your results. We may learn a new pecularity that affects performance in some rifles. Sorry you are the guinea pig!!!! Something just doesn't add up. You've done everything it normally takes to get these bullets to hummm?

Good luck in your pursuits,
George

Never any issue getting the hunters to shoot, just these two with the absolutes. I did get the 140 to shoot by going to a "too slow" powder, too. Small groups, but only 3050 out of the 280ai. I wish I had some 143 and 155 hunters on hand to compare. Might have to place another order.

 

[Zen Archery]

Couple of updates
25 GPC (25x6.8SPC) (Wildcat Caliber)
26" Barrel 1:9TR

Sierra 90 HPBT
CCI #400
OAL 1.620
COAL 2.230
Slight Crimp
BLC-2 @ 31.5gr = 2920 FPS

Using Absolute Hammer 90gr same data above 2881 FPS
Using Absolute Hammer 90gr same data above but switched to W296 (roughly 50 powder selections up [faster/hotter])
GRAINS FPS GRP NOTE
20.5 2722 Did not eject.
21.0 2673 Did not eject.
21.5 2773 Did not eject. Ejection mark.
22.0 2817 Did not eject. Ejection mark. Flat primer.
22.5 2807 Did not eject. Heavy ejection mark. Pierced primer.

Using Absolute Hammer 90gr same data above resulted in 2930 FPS (Negligible)
Using Absolute Hammer 90gr same data above but switched to Accurate 2230 (roughly 20 powder selections up [faster/hotter])
GRAINS FPS GRP NOTE
27.5 2809 .492
28 2866 1.350
28.5 2913 .372 Slight case swipe
29.0 2975 .296 Slight case swipe
29.5 3004 1.187 Ejection mark. Flat Primer
20.0 3061 .525 Heavy ejection mark. Flat Primer.

 

[Zen Archery]

6.5 Creedmoor
Krieger 24" 1:8 TR

Absolute Hammer 123
Hornady 1.915
COAL 2.890
CBTO 2.220
Primer WLRM

IMR 4350
GRAINS FPS GRP NOTE
43.4 2860 .385

SUPERFORMANCE
GRAINS FPS GRP NOTE
48.3 3073 .150
48.6 3009 .325
48.9 3017 .366 Slight ejection mark. Flat primer.
49.2 3103 .329 Heavy ejection mark. Blown primer.

BLC-2
GRAINS FPS GRP NOTE
41.8 2932 .318
42.3 Error .373
43.8 3086 .161 Bolt sticky
44.3 3084 Dup. 1 FPS Difference.
44.5 3150
44.8 3178
45.1 3214 Primer starting to fatten
45.4 3173 Flat primer. Slight ejection mark.
45.7 3193 Heavy ejection mark. Blown primer.

Testing Accurate 2230 tomorrow so stay tuned.

 

[Gord0]

Some more to add.
6.5 creed, savage 12fv 26" stock barrel, lapua small primer brass, rem 7 1/2, oal 2.872", staball 6.5
45. 2970fps
45.5 3007
46. 3014
46.5 3074
47. 3106
47.5 3149
48. 3173
48.5 3207 no pressure
49 3232, slight bolt lift, cratered primer, over pressure. Came on fast!

Edit to add this was the 123 absolute

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

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

Loaded 57.8gr H4350 this time
139 Absolute Hammer 270 win 24.5" 1-9 twist
3254
3261
3245
3235
3233
3257
3238
3253

Hard crosswind. One inch vertical, 3 inches wide group at 300 yards

Zero pressure signs in virgin nosler brass

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

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.

Shot out of my other 270 win with 24.5" 1-9 twist barrel.
116 Absolute Hammer
60.5gr H4350
Virgin nosler brass
Coal 3.30
Temp 40F

3464 fps
3438
3461
3452
3439
3452
3456
3470

Zero pressure signs

Strong gusty crosswind

Vertical was one inch. 4 inch wide... wind was definitely a factor at 300 yards.

 

[CMP70306]

Some more to add.
6.5 creed, savage 12fv 26" stock barrel, lapua small primer brass, rem 7 1/2, oal 2.872", staball 6.5
45. 2970fps
45.5 3007
46. 3014
46.5 3074
47. 3106
47.5 3149
48. 3173
48.5 3207 no pressure
49 3232, slight bolt lift, cratered primer, over pressure. Came on fast!

Some of the speeds people are getting with the Creedmoor is making me wonder what is wrong with my brothers X-Bolt in 6.5 PRC. I'm burning 58.6gr of powder and only get 3275 at max working pressure in his rifle while I can push my PRC to 3400 before I start getting heavy pressure signs.

 

[Zen Archery]

Some of the speeds people are getting with the Creedmoor is making me wonder what is wrong with my brothers X-Bolt in 6.5 PRC. I'm burning 58.6gr of powder and only get 3275 at max working pressure in his rifle while I can push my PRC to 3400 before I start getting heavy pressure signs.

Barrel Length?

 

[JMW67]

I have seen identical rifles shoot 100 plus fps different from each other with the same ammo some times you just get a slow barrel then some times you get a fast one different barrel length different chamber reamer could be any or all of the these

 

[CMP70306]

Barrel Length?

26" on my brothers PRC and 24" Proof CF on mine.

 

[Gord0]

Some more to add.
6.5 creed, savage 12fv 26" stock barrel, lapua small primer brass, rem 7 1/2, oal 2.872", staball 6.5
45. 2970fps
45.5 3007
46. 3014
46.5 3074
47. 3106
47.5 3149
48. 3173
48.5 3207 no pressure
49 3232, slight bolt lift, cratered primer, over pressure. Came on fast!

Edit to add this was the 123 absolute

Edited to add that this was the 123 absolute

 

[GLTaylor]

Edited to add that this was the 123 absolute

That's what I figured and added it to your earlier data.

 

[lejuch]

Load data summation for my 6.5 Sherman Max, running 20" Carbon Six barrel, Tikka donor action. 6.5 Max brass from Rich. 210M Primers, 123 AH.

i have tried I believe 8 different powders. Seemingly, the fastest I can safely run the 123 Absolutes is going to be around 3100 FPS. This speed is achievable with 4 or five of the different powders. I can go faster but at the expense of over pressure. Using Varget, I am around 52 gn to reach 3100. Great groups but was hoping to achieve a bit more velocity without high pressure signs. The 20" barrel was chosen to build a lightweight hunting rifle but has cost me some of the velocity others are getting. I'm not unhappy, just wanted it ALL! You know, a lightweight, short barrel that slung 123 AH at 3500 FPS with one hole groups! But alas, no free lunches. As usual, these number are for my specific rifle and components, please work up when try to find your rifle's safe top speed. Be safe!