Official Hammer bullets Terminal Performance (picture heavy)

[Mike D Texas]

Mike you need too figure out at what point is bc going too off set the velocity gain you get with a lighter hammer bullet and also knowing the hammer bullet will have a wider range of terminal performance impact velocity wise

Understood. They are advertised at .166 BC. Based off the short range velocity measurement I got from the LabRadar, they are shedding velocity quickly.

I'll be interested to do a drop chart with them against a much slower albeit much higher BC bullet just for comparison.

 

[ButterBean]

I really, really want like the hammer bullets. But the low advertised BC is what keeps me from jumping all in.
I did finally find a good 6.5 Grendel load that I will be publishing in the absolute hammer thread. The results were impressive even though the BC calculated in the .170s G7.

How far are you shooting?

 

[Mike D Texas]

How far are you shooting?

With the Grendel I typically limit shots on game to 400 yards and less.

On larger calibers I have places I can go out to 800.

 

[ButterBean]

With the Grendel I typically limit shots on game to 400 yards and less.

On larger calibers I have places I can go out to 800.

Get some Hammers, If you don't like them I'll buy them from you

 

[ButterBean]

28 Nosler
169 Hammer Hunter
Impact velocity about 3000FPS (150 yards)
Exit is shown, and two pedal exited as well
He went 10 yards and was alive for about 20 seconds after the shot
View attachment 300401

Congrats

 

[Mike D Texas]

Get some Hammers, If you don't like them I'll buy them from you

I've already bought several variants, mainly in 6.5mm. 97 Absolutes, 99 hunter, 109 absolutes, 110 hunter, 123 absolutes. In .308 I currently have loaded up for ladder testing 151 absolutes, 152 hunter, 160 hunter and 162 absolutes.

So I've tried several. What I haven't been able to do so far is shoot them at extended distances to verify long range drops. So far I've only shot them out to 250 and advertised BC seems reasonably close. But they are noticeably lower than other bullets in the same weight class.

Merely my observation and experience. I know lots of people here like them and I don't dislike them but I don't understand why the BC is so much lower. Is it the shape of the meplat?

 

[Hard rock]

I've already bought several variants, mainly in 6.5mm. 97 Absolutes, 99 hunter, 109 absolutes, 110 hunter, 123 absolutes. In .308 I currently have loaded up for ladder testing 151 absolutes, 152 hunter, 160 hunter and 162 absolutes.

So I've tried several. What I haven't been able to do so far is shoot them at extended distances to verify long range drops. So far I've only shot them out to 250 and advertised BC seems reasonably close. But they are noticeably lower than other bullets in the same weight class.

Merely my observation and experience. I know lots of people here like them and I don't dislike them but I don't understand why the BC is so much lower. Is it the shape of the meplat?

Monos are going too have a lower bc because lead is denser than copper that's why you go too a lighter bullet when shooting a mono you have vel gain and more weight retention a 123 gr hammer is aslong if not longer than a 140 gr cup and core bullet hope my explanation clarifies

 

[Mike D Texas]

Monos are going too have a lower bc because lead is denser than copper that's why you go too a lighter bullet when shooting a mono you have vel gain and more weight retention a 123 gr hammer is aslong if not longer than a 140 gr cup and core bullet hope my explanation clarifies

I understand that but other mono bullets in the same weight class have much higher BC; for example 6.5mm 125 Badlands Bulldozer has an advertised G7 BC of .302, Cayuga 122 grain has G7 BC of .280 and Cutting Edge 125 tipped have a BC of .243-.269. The 123 Absolute for example Has an advertised BC of .229 and the 124 Hunter has advertised BC of .245 which is closed in line.

It could very well be others claims are inflated, the badlands seems inflated to me for example.

 

[ButterBean]

I understand that but other mono bullets in the same weight class have much higher BC; for example 6.5mm 125 Badlands Bulldozer has an advertised G7 BC of .302, Cayuga 122 grain has G7 BC of .280 and Cutting Edge 125 tipped have a BC of .243-.269. The 123 Absolute for example Has an advertised BC of .229 and the 124 Hunter has advertised BC of .245 which is closed in line.

It could very well be others claims are inflated, the badlands seems inflated to me for example.

Could Be, at the distances your shooting, you are worrying too much about BC IMO

 

[Nevrsummr]

Has steve ever experimented with tipped hammers? Seems like that could raise bc.

 

[ButterBean]

Has steve ever experimented with tipped hammers? Seems like that could raise bc.

Yes and it's not on the horizon

 

[codyadams]

I understand that but other mono bullets in the same weight class have much higher BC; for example 6.5mm 125 Badlands Bulldozer has an advertised G7 BC of .302, Cayuga 122 grain has G7 BC of .280 and Cutting Edge 125 tipped have a BC of .243-.269. The 123 Absolute for example Has an advertised BC of .229 and the 124 Hunter has advertised BC of .245 which is closed in line.

It could very well be others claims are inflated, the badlands seems inflated to me for example.

In my testing the Badlands the bc's have been very close, similar to Bergers as far as how little adjustment has been needed. That is using the .277 140, the .338 270, and the .338 250, so only 3 of them, but those three were very good.

I would guess the reasoning would be the bearing surface combined with the large hollow point that is required for consistent expansion, because the bullets are otherwise very sleek. They tend to have a lot of bands, that is not going to help bc. The Badlands for example, have 1 or 2 generally, and they are slower in their angles, not so abrupt.

I generally use hammers in my sub 500 yard guns, and higher bc bullets for my others. It is not uncommon during our elk hunting to need to take shots from 800 to over 1000, and wind is ever present, so bc matters in that range. In closer however, the difference is small enough that going for a MPB zero and having the ability to hold on fur and send it makes up for a little more wind drift, and also having confidence in the terminal performance is a great thing too.

 

[Mike D Texas]

Could Be, at the distances your shooting, you are worrying too much about BC IMO

Possibly. I'm really more concerned about velocity and energy loss than drop. We can always dial for drop and wind.

 

[Mike D Texas]

In my testing the Badlands the bc's have been very close, similar to Bergers as far as how little adjustment has been needed. That is using the .277 140, the .338 270, and the .338 250, so only 3 of them, but those three were very good.

I would guess the reasoning would be the bearing surface combined with the large hollow point that is required for consistent expansion, because the bullets are otherwise very sleek. They tend to have a lot of bands, that is not going to help bc. The Badlands for example, have 1 or 2 generally, and they are slower in their angles, not so abrupt.

I generally use hammers in my sub 500 yard guns, and higher bc bullets for my others. It is not uncommon during our elk hunting to need to take shots from 800 to over 1000, and wind is ever present, so bc matters in that range. In closer however, the difference is small enough that going for a MPB zero and having the ability to hold on fur and send it makes up for a little more wind drift, and also having confidence in the terminal performance is a great thing too.

That's good to hear about the Badlands because I have some inbound to try out in 125 grain 6.5mm and 175 grain + 150 grain .308.

I also have some more 109 & 123 grain Hammer Absolutes inbound to continue testing in the Grendel, 6.5x47, 260AI & 6.5-284.