The absolute best averaged performance I could consistently get out of any of the several batches of .22cal bullets sent, was roughly 5/8 MOA... with the
average across multiple rifles being closer to 3/4 most of the time if I took the measurement of more than 2-3 cherry-picked groups. I'd shoot a group in the .2's, followed by a group in the .7's. Two groups in the .3's... followed by 15 groups in the .6's. That repeated itself no matter which batch of bullets were sent. I showed the 22 creed main rifle testing on this very site, and
I'm pretty sure everyone could feel how much I wanted it to work. What people didn't see, was just how much I wanted it to work. Three 22BRA's, one 22BR, one .223AI, four or five 22 creedmoors with 2 different chambers, and one 22 PRC Primal. Almost a dozen different powders tried. Five different primers. Several different sizing/crimping methods/tools, the best dies on the planet, and top of the line presses. Three different twist rates. Four different rifling configurations. Hundreds of rounds fired. Rifles that weigh from 12lbs to 22lbs. The main test rifle had a 26" VCC contour (MTU+) and a Foundation Exodus stock and a Tangent Theta 525P on it. I bet it tipped the scales at 20lbs. Only one rifle was on the 12lb side of the spectrum, literally every other rifle was a heavy weight varminter. I'd have settled with .3's and gone about the wear testing, maybe even .4's... but .6's? .7's? .8's? .9's? How in the world am I expected to show when a barrel is worn out when it shoots worse brand new with hammer bullets than a barrel that is completely worn out already with cup/core bullets?
Never in my career have I expended this kind of effort to try to get bullets to shoot.
I even tried to take the advice of the "just be happy with 5/8 and go hunt" crowd. Yet when I'm shooting at a 12" plate at 600yds, and can barely keep the rifle on the plate... and flyers will straight up miss the entire plate, and the bullets won't fly as predicted and don't behave even remotely the same in cold conditions as hot... Some of the worst performance in the wind, that I've ever experienced with a bullet. No thanks, I'm not going hunting with that. I was getting them for free, and I still won't use them.
I just quietly let the project die. My hope was that there would be improvements and eventually they'd land on the perfect 22 cal bullet. I let it lay like that for over a year. Yet recent threads have caused me to reevaluate that decision. They won't be getting the benefit of the doubt from me on anything going forward. This thread is just one more example of it. Considering what I've seen, the thought of steve doing load dev for someone else, is comical.
This isn't meant to dismiss those of you having happy experiences with Hammer. If you're happy, you're happy... and I'd never tell you to not be. However, the concept that it's only the ignorant and inexperienced that can't get solid performance from these bullets is a lie, and I wanted to make sure that was known.
If you're happy with what you're getting, then go on being happy.
I just think it would be nice for those of you to stop acting like those that are unhappy, are somehow of diminished mental capacity... because I'd put my shooting resume and intellect to the toe of anyone on here. My capabilities and experience is easily referenced at this point.
Personally, I'm sick of small boutique solid bullet manufacturers. I've talked with so many of them and within 30 minutes their lack of experience is so painfully obvious that it makes talking to them difficult. Beyond frustrating. They are so accustomed to selling their products to people that don't have any real expectations, that they can't even answer moderate level technical questions honestly. They just change the subject and try to spin things... and try to convince me that I shouldn't want 1/4 MOA. Thankfully for them, most shooters failed math class and can't seem to understand that if you can't turn out 1/4 MOA precision regularly... then you can basically forget about 1/2 MOA practical field accuracy. Statistically, you just won't be able to stay on top of the condition and ammo variables well enough to shoot a 1/2 MOA precision to 1/2 MOA accuracy across a large enough number of shots.
Cutting edge, and hornady. They clearly understand a few things that the other guys just can't get through their thick heads when it comes to making solids shoot... but even those won't seem to shoot with the cup/core bullets on the smaller cals. Obviously the big bores .338 and above play by different rules. Much easier to get good performance from solids up there in the cheytac world. Been there, done that, was fun, don't do it anymore.
-----------
Follow on Instagram
Subscribe on YouTube
Amazon Affiliate
