Anyone with real world sledgehammer vs hammer hunter?

[MagMan]

I think you'd have a hard time catching either bullet inside 500 yards on a deer.

 

[snox801]

I've had great luck with the hammer hunters in everything I've used except the .358 Norma that uses the sledge hammer. Both work great I'd just run the 124 hh and be good.
They can't come apart. Steve has had the hammer really moving in the .257 Roy and used on an eland with no issues so it's gonna work with whatever one you choose

 

[HARPERC]

I don't think you can go wrong with either, but I just like the profile of the Sledge Hammers for what I do.

 

[Bigeclipse]

I don't think you can go wrong with either, but I just like the profile of the Sledge Hammers for what I do.

Can you elaborate?

 

[HARPERC]

1) I have a hard time giving up bullet weight. It doesn't mean what it used to with the mono's today, but it's me.
2) I don't need as much BC as some of the guys here.
3) The bigger hollow point I think gets a little quicker expansion.
4) It's a little more "square" at the shoulder. Combined with the bigger HP I think tends to work at keeping the bullet on a straight track when something hard is encountered.

My son-in-law used the .270, 145 Sledge Hammer on a deer last year. I've never been a huge .270 fan, but I've really had to re evaluate a bit since this one. Pretty impressive.

 

[stx]

At under 400 yds, either the Sledgehammer or Hammer Hunter will serve you well at the velocities you'll be running them! We've taken many animals(whitetails, antelope, and hogs) with 98 gr Sledge Hammers in 25-06 at velocities from 3180 to 3375 fps with devastating results and excellent accuracy.....and 124 Hammer Hunters at just under 3000 fps In 6.5 CM, also extremely accurate. All complete pass throughs!

 

[westcoasthunter]

I have only killed on animal with hammers. With my 270 wsm 126HH 3450 FPS, 5point bull elk shot thru the shoulders lungs destroyed and insides jello bull went 10 yards tops

 

[Window]

I have decided to make some hand loads for my 6.5prc. I was going to go with some 140 grain accubonds but now im thinking I want to give the Sledgehammer or hammer hunter a try. I am curious how they will hold up at higher velocities on deer sized game? I recently used my ELDx bullets on a deer hunt and had some explosive results with no exit at ~75 yards. I understand any bullet can have this result at close ranges and higher speeds but im trying to minimize that as much as possible with proper bullet selection. The ELDx bullet did kill the animal but I prefer two holes. Will the sledgehammers do the job for me? Which weight class sledgehammer should I try in my 6.5prc 8 twist Christensen arms mesa with a 24inch barrel? I would like to try and keep muzzle velocity above 2800fps since all my shots will be under 400 yards with 90% being under 250 yards so flat shooting is key (very little to no dope dialing with this setup). thanks!

I've put the Hammer Hunters to the test so far this year and have been very impressed. I load for a group of hunting buddies and made the switch in all rifles this year to all Hammer Hunters to give them a thorough test. So far they have been flawless on two bull elk, four mule deer and seven whitetail. Primarily shooting the 181 HH's out of the 30-378 Weatherby's and the 300 RUM. The 117 HH's out of the only Weatherby 270 mag and the 166 HH's out of the 300WSM's. All one shot one kills without a single bullet recovered. The only animals that needed any sort of track job were the ones that were shot behind the shoulder in the lungs and those went less than 100yds with a great blood trail. These are results from ranges between 80yds to nearly 700yds. Overall I couldn't be more satisfied with the results on terminal performance and even happier with their accuracy. When it comes to Hammer Bullets, I have no dog in the fight, I'm only a customer and a very happy one at that. If you're concern with high velocity blow ups, I shot a doe with the Weatherby 270 mag last at 90yds with the 117 HH's at 3600fps (Broadside double lung) with a perfect pass through with a 2" exit.

 

[BEEMAN]

Just skinned out my deer shot with the 124 HH. Couldn't believe the damage. Wasn't expecting that with an all copper bullet. Shot was close, only 50 yds. Lots of blood jelly from the neck to well back of front shoulder on the exit side. Maybe from the shed petals?? Either way I'm still totally impressed with this bullet.

 

[rockwallraider]

Used them in my 25sst culling 2 does a couple weeks ago. 121. Hh Performed really well. Shooting them at 3214. First was at 250 and the second at 425. Both blew all the way through. Bangflops on both

 

[TXAoudadKlr]

I soon will but we're talking 600fps between the two and many thousand's of ftlbs difference

 

[dougduey]

I load Hammer Hunters in 6 different cartridges. I've shot a handful of hogs and 2 south Texas white tails with my 30-06 or 6.5-284 Norma. All either DRT or with 5-10 yards from where they took the shot. Not one follow up shop needed.
My best story with Hammer bullets is on a Kodiak Island mountain goat hunt last year. I used the 213 gr Hammer Hunter in my 338 Lapua at 3250 fps. My outfitter told me to bring the biggest caliber I had because he said they are tough animals and suck up lead, plus you want to anchor them so they don't run off a cliff. I shot mine at 208 yards. He was laying in a bench and the position of his front leg made the shoulder blade cover his vitals. So I put the shot, with total confidence, through the shoulder blade. Upon impact, he stood up and did a 180, then fell over dead before I could tack another round. The bullet went through both shoulders and left a 1.5-2" exit wound. The vitals were pretty much liquified. We did find one of the bullet petals stuck in the outside hide when we skinned him out. Plus, no real meat loss.
I know when Steve went to Africa with a sponsored group of Hammer people, they mainly used Sledge Hammers in a variety of cartridges. They had great success with them.

 

[Vortex!]

I'm running 117 sledgehammers in my 270 win. I shot a little doe this morning at about 70 yards. It definitely went through. It went maybe ten yards and expired. The bullet was going so fast that the chest literally popped open at the brisket. The bullet went in right behind the first shoulder and out through the other shoulder. Tore up the heart and lungs.

 

[OrionsStar]

Happy Thanksgiving gang!
I shot Hammers for the first time this year. Shot two nice Blacktail's, one at 500 and one just under 300 yards with a .270 Win. 117 HH.
Load data: Winchester brass fully prepped and neck turned, H4350, CCI BR primmer, 117HH seated. 010 off lands. Muzzle velocity 3190fps. - .270 Win Pre-64 (1-10 Lija barrel, Canjar set trigger, NF 2.5-10)
Buck one - 501 yards, stable wind. Dialed scope and held center mass on shoulder. Broke a rib entering left side/shoulder, petals & base exited far side x3 and same side lower leg x1. No bullet recovery. Buck walked 10' dropped and slid down hill.
Buck two - 300 yards dead on (he busted me). Held center chest. Found the base of the bullet at the skin near the groin with three petals along the way. He almost did a cartwheel, rand downhill about ten yards on his back feet then collapsed.
The chest cavity of both was soup.
Very happy with the Hammer Hunters. Starting a build on a 6.5 SST right now with a 7 twist for Hammers as we speak. Love these bullets so far.

Thanks Jim