Introducing the Absolute Hammer

[Hand Skills]

Thx GL,

I'll have to look for it, too bad that the ranges were so short. But I totally understand the why for when we're working with bullets like the TTSX and Hammers.

I don't think it's fair to compare hammers with Barnes. I have used both, and while yes, both are made of copper, the similarities end there.

Where internal ballistics are concerned, Barnes build more pressure than conventional bullets - it's tough to get the same velocity with Barnes as one would with a conventional bullets of the same weight.

Hammers are the opposite. Due to the PDR drive bands, the hammers experience less resistance when engaging the lands and can be pushed to higher velocities with the same peak pressure.

When it comes to terminal performance, above 1800fps, hammers behave more like a Nosler partition than 'mono'.

You will notice Hammers always shed their petals. Barnes not so much.

My understanding is that this has to do with careful materials selection by Hammer - I don't know the specifics, but copper is susceptible to work hardening during drawing and machining.

To keep copper soft, it needs to be slow-drawn, annealed and have careful attention to cooling during the machining phase.

Hammer has their materials selection and process dialed in, and as a result, their products are very different from 'the other guys'.

 

[ButterBean]

I don't think it's fair to compare hammers with Barnes. I have used both, and while yes, both are made of copper, the similarities end there.

Where internal ballistics are concerned, Barnes build more pressure than conventional bullets - it's tough to get the same velocity with Barnes as one would with a conventional bullets of the same weight.

Hammers are the opposite. Due to the PDR drive bands, the hammers experience less resistance when engaging the lands and can be pushed to higher velocities with the same peak pressure.

When it comes to terminal performance, above 1800fps, hammers behave more like a Nosler partition than 'mono'.

You will notice Hammers always shed their petals. Barnes not so much.

My understanding is that this has to do with careful materials selection by Hammer - I don't know the specifics, but copper is susceptible to work hardening during drawing and machining.

To keep copper soft, it needs to be slow-drawn, annealed and have careful attention to cooling during the machining phase.

Hammer has their materials selection and process dialed in, and as a result, their products are very different from 'the other guys'.

You are 100% correct

 

[quigley257]

I'm looking at the AH 97gr .264" for use in a Remington 700 264 Win Mag. I searched the thread and came up empty. Has anyone run these in a 264WM yet? Looking for data as far as starting loads and powder that worked well... Thanks!!

 

[ButterBean]

I'm looking at the AH 97gr .264" for use in a Remington 700 264 Win Mag. I searched the thread and came up empty. Has anyone run these in a 264WM yet? Looking for data as far as starting loads and powder that worked well... Thanks!!

I haven't seen anything on the 97's but I do have info on the 85's, 69g of H100V @ 4053FPS

 

[quigley257]

I haven't seen anything on the 97's but I do have info on the 85's, 69g of H100V @ 4053FPS

Holy bang-flop!! That's what I'm talking about! I'm not set on the 97s but exploring a high velocity, Sub 600 yard load for the 264WM. I just joined the Hammer forum and will look for data there also.

 

[GLTaylor]

OK, BBean, you've been holding out! Forward your data please so I can post it

 

[HARPERC]

1. Lighter bullets at high velocity do WELL
2. More twist (much higher gyroscopic stability) enables far better penetration
3. SG of 2 or more is best (not 1.5 as previously assumed)
4. Almost all of the testing was done at relatively shorter distances, on animals from 70-1500+ lbs.

As we focus on terminal ballistics the SG of 2 really shows up, especially on hard targets such as buffalo and feral cattle.

Good news being the lightweights at high velocity are showing up quite well with "conventional" twists. Now that we have bullets capable of consistently performing at the extremes.

Hammer kind of started off here, and looking at "longer ranges". The responsiveness to individuals wanting something different, has kind of exposed there are a lot of short to medium range hunters out there.

While the original Hammer Hunters are showing up quite well at these shorter distances, commitment to exploring bigger HP's, petal size, shank/petal ratio etc for specialty hunts such as buffalo is educational.

As ridiculous as it would have sounded a year ago the .300 RUM, with 124 grain bullets, at 4000+ fps is slaying buffalo reliably.

The .375 248 grain HH is currently providing performance in excess of larger choices in .375. Some more testing to be done with the heavyweights (329 grains) this trip, but so far the higher velocity, and more stable bullet is providing more penetration, devastating looking wounds, and shorter death dashes.

As far as long "long range" one has to individually run the the numbers, but these lighter bullets at high velocity will provide great mid range trajectories, and maximum point blank use of sights.

 

[ButterBean]

As we focus on terminal ballistics the SG of 2 really shows up, especially on hard targets such as buffalo and feral cattle.

Good news being the lightweights at high velocity are showing up quite well with "conventional" twists. Now that we have bullets capable of consistently performing at the extremes.

Hammer kind of started off here, and looking at "longer ranges". The responsiveness to individuals wanting something different, has kind of exposed there are a lot of short to medium range hunters out there.

While the original Hammer Hunters are showing up quite well at these shorter distances, commitment to exploring bigger HP's, petal size, shank/petal ratio etc for specialty hunts such as buffalo is educational.

As ridiculous as it would have sounded a year ago the .300 RUM, with 124 grain bullets, at 4000+ fps is slaying buffalo reliably.

The .375 248 grain HH is currently providing performance in excess of larger choices in .375. Some more testing to be done with the heavyweights (329 grains) this trip, but so far the higher velocity, and more stable bullet is providing more penetration, devastating looking wounds, and shorter death dashes.

As far as long "long range" one has to individually run the the numbers, but these lighter bullets at high velocity will provide great mid range trajectories, and maximum point blank use of sights.

I'm gonna put together a 7 twist RUM and the 124's

 

[ButterBean]

OK, BBean, you've been holding out! Forward your data please so I can post it

This came from the independent test crew

264WM
Mauser Action
ER Shaw 26" Tube 9 Twist
Nosler Brass
Federal 215GM
69g 100V
85g HH
Primer is just starting to crater and it was 98 degrees actual temp

 

[GLTaylor]

Thank you. Guess I missed that.
Impressive!

 

[ButterBean]

Thank you. Guess I missed that.
Impressive!

It hasn't been posted until just now

 

[shinbone]

This came from the independent test crew

Mauser Action
ER Shaw 26" Tube 9 Twist
Nosler Brass
Federal 215GM
69g 100V
85g HH
Primer is just starting to crater and it was 98 degrees actual temp . . .

BB - what cartridge is that from?

 

[GLTaylor]

264 Win Mag

 

[northhunter]

A friend of mine has been doing my load development for me with some minor input from myself. He have found a really nice node with 4831sc. He did a ten shot ladder. Here are the results:
Christensen Arms Mesa 6.5 prc 1:8 twist
Nosler brass (he annealed it) CCI 200 primers
123 Absolute Hammers. COAL 2.969, 0.080 jump
4831sc
53.5. 3005fps
53.8. 3013fps
54.1. 3031fps
54.4. 3042fps
54.7. 3086fps
55. 3080fps
55.3. 3030fps
55.6. 3050fps
55.9. 3089fps
56.2. 3117fps heavy bolt lift