Hammer Bullets

[PredatorSlayer]

I don't think anybody is badmouthing hammer bullets. One thing you will read, if you research, is that they are crazy accurate and easy to develop a load for. Lower BCs are only a big deal if you hunt past 600 yards imo. Also, lower BCs are common among monos, this isn't specific to hammer.

See my first post, I am genuinely researching these. supporters of anything, bergers, hammers, or 6.5 cms, can get a little annoying. Its not the products fault. Its the people using them. They obviously work or there wouldnt be the buzz there is.

 

[BEEMAN]

I barely make the criteria for multiple animals with hammer. It's only two. One antelope and one whitetail buck. Both shot with a 6.5x47 and 124 HH. Up until This year I was shooting Berger's in everything and thought I'd try something new. I was pleasantly surprised with accuracy and terminal performance. Load development was 8 shots, and both animals we're DRT. All that with excellent customer service. I will say I was a bit sceptical with all the hype. But so far everything I've read about these bullets has been true.

 

[X47guy]

Let's get a few things straight here for the "fan boys" that are saying I or anyone else is sick of the hype.

I asked for pictures and experiences. I have also posted a few threads about the 6mm and 6.5mm hammers only to get very few real world responses. The more I read threads with bullet suggestions, the 124 HH keeps getting tossed around by people who have no experience with them.

This thread was started to see real world experience with the hammer bullets. No I am not going to call hammer for their opinion on their bullets. Why would you call a company ask for their opinion on their bullets? They are in business to sell a product and that is their product. If they didn't haven't faith in their product, they arent going to come out and say " No I wouldn't use them. They aren't that great in our opinion."

So again, I would like to see real world experience with these bullets. This is why this thread was created.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I find that we have a very discriminating crowd of shooters/hunters here at LRH. If a product has deficiencies you will certainly hear about them here; nothing is perfect. Conversely, any attributes a product has will be brought forward and shared with others. There is a reason why Hammer bullets have been so well received by many on this site. Berger bullets enjoy great praise here too but fill a different niche.

My personal experience - Steve's recommendation to use loading data for conventional cup & core bullets of the same weight worked out well. Hammer Hunter bullets were very easy to acquire good, accurate loads for. Using Hammer bullets on elk and deer resulted in complete penetration and quickly dispatched animals. Virtually all of my big game kills are under 500yds, thus negating the need for higher BC bullets.

I'm not sure if my comments qualify me as a "Fan Boy" but Hammer bullets have fulfilled my needs better then expected.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Part of it is the hammer guys are a sponsor on here. They seem to be pretty reasonable, nice, helpful guys. The members that use them can be annoying and oversell what they are and recommend them when they aren't even relevant to the topic. It is so frequent I have started rolling my eyes now every time I see them recommended.

I have been researching them trying to decide if they are worth the cost for me to try and if they fit my style of hunting. From what I gather the performance and accuracy are really good and consistent at ranges inside 600 yards. What they don't have are high BCs. In fact, in my research I noted several threads where people are saying the listed BCs are significantly over stated - they are probably not for me, but still doing research. Also, seems odd that they are so heavily recommended on a long range hunting site like this.

The poster didn't ask for baloney posts. Every time Hammers are mentioned you put in your negative. I wouldn't be surprised if you are paid by another bullet company.

I have used them in .30 Cal and 6.5 on hogs and several deer. Over the last 45 years I used most brands. I don't use the other brands any more.

 

[Jim Wright]

Never heard of them, but I sure like Accubonds

 

[Raysmith]

Haven't shot any animals yet
But I'm impressed with accuracy
My nosler custom in 26 nosler shooting 124's
Did a 3 shot 5/8's group at 200 yds

 

[djfriesen]

Let's get a few things straight here for the "fan boys" that are saying I or anyone else is sick of the hype.

I asked for pictures and experiences. I have also posted a few threads about the 6mm and 6.5mm hammers only to get very few real world responses. The more I read threads with bullet suggestions, the 124 HH keeps getting tossed around by people who have no experience with them.

This thread was started to see real world experience with the hammer bullets. No I am not going to call hammer for their opinion on their bullets. Why would you call a company ask for their opinion on their bullets? They are in business to sell a product and that is their product. If they didn't haven't faith in their product, they arent going to come out and say " No I wouldn't use them. They aren't that great in our opinion."

So again, I would like to see real world experience with these bullets. This is why this thread was created.

Punch in a search query. It's there.

You set a certain tone with your OP that was bound to call the haters and fan boys alike, like moths to flame. It's no surprise you got the responses you did.

 

[Jonoton]

Hello,

I have shot one cow elk with a 143gr Hammer Hunter, 3350 MV
My shot ended up being at less than 100 yards.
Perfect performance, broken ribs on entry and exit and full pass through with MASSIVE blood loss through the exit - blood spurting 6 feet with each heart beat. Lungs destroyed.

Why I am going to stick with them:
-load development was easy and quick
-the bullet held together at close range
- I like buying from a company where I can call the owner himself and get help or advice

If I had been shooting a 'true long range' bullet like an ABLR, the chip shot that presented itself might have been too close. I think that the Hammer will perform throughout my entire ethical-for-me range (0 to 600)

I don't really enjoy reloading and experimenting. I am positive there are other bullets that would meet my needs. The Hammer did so with minimal load dev for what I want to do.
If I were committed to extending my comfortable range to 1000, then I would be looking at other options as well. 600 is enough for me.

 

[parshal]

... I am not going to call hammer for their opinion on their bullets. Why would you call a company ask for their opinion on their bullets? They are in business to sell a product and that is their product. If they didn't haven't faith in their product, they arent going to come out and say " No I wouldn't use them. ...

You actually might be very surprised if you talk to Steve at Hammer. He will tell you the limitations of the bullet. He'll talk about why they made it. I've talked to him for, literally, hours over many phone calls. He'll talk about all bullets, hunting, shooting, etc.

I haven't taken game yet with them but am shooting them. I also shoot Berger and Hornady.

 

[TexHunt]

I will throw my experience in, I shot an Leal at 375 yds with 30-06 and 166 hammers. Was good placement so did what any other Bullet would do, was a complete pass thru. They do seem to be easy to load for, BC was a little high from actual, at least in my rifle.

overall, I like them, will be trying them again this year.

 

[Fishnut]

Every forum has a few guys that are what I would call " the vocal minority " they push there agenda so hard that many of us start tuning them out.

 

[TexHunt]

I will throw my experience in, I shot an Elk at 375 yds with 30-06 and 166 hammers. Was good placement so did what any other Bullet would do, was a complete pass thru. They do seem to be easy to load for, BC was a little high from actual, at least in my rifle.

overall, I like them, will be trying them again this year.

 

[Quintus]

I have always said if you want to know for sure, go see for yourself. If you are not going to try them, what difference does anyones opinion make? If you want to give em a shot...get on with it and opine when you have some experience. Bullet performance is subjective anyway, at least after the pass/fail did the animal die in a way that allowed the shooter recover said animal. And even that standard relies heavily on shot placement and potential factors outside of bullet performance.
If you don't want to read about people lovin or hatin on shooting products maybe start reading Cosmo?