Undermining Hammer?

Petey308

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I know, I know, get the popcorn popping.... hear me out though, if you would.

I've been following the discussions about Hammer Bullets for several years now, and something has been bugging me (I know I'm not the only one too). Why are so many people quick to assume that any criticism of the bullet(s) or company is an attempt to undermine them?

From what I've seen, most of the comments are pointing out issues like areas for improvement, overstated claims, potential flaws, or concerns with things like advertised ballistic coefficients. These seem like valid critiques, not attempts to sabotage the company. I haven't seen anyone truly trying to take Hammer Bullets down. I'll admit that I personally have been a critic of these things myself, but while I consider myself a critic, I do not consider myself trying to legitimately undermine anyone.

On the flip side, I've noticed that supporters of the company, and even the company co-owner at times, often react defensively to these criticisms. It's like they jump straight to the conclusion that anyone pointing out perceived flaws must have an agenda or just dislike Hammer Bullets altogether. In some cases, it's gone so far as to imply that people are fabricating bad experiences just to damage the company's reputation. I've even seen multiples times it said that even comparing Hammers to other copper bullets is an attack on Hammer, because they're not like any other copper bullet.

That's what confuses me. What would anyone really stand to gain by deliberately trying to undermine Hammer Bullets? The people making these critiques seem like regular guys and hunters. They aren't competitors with something to gain from Hammer failing as a business.

I'm genuinely curious, why all the hostility? Why assume the worst about someone who's offering criticism? I think open and honest feedback is how companies improve, and dismissing it as sabotage seems counterproductive.

It creates divisiveness and I do think at a point, after people are mistreated on both sides, there is some personal offenses taken and perhaps some do develop a bit of a grudge, which is unfortunate. Perhaps at that point, once tempers flair, it's just assumed people are out for each other?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Why do you think this reaction happens? What's driving all the defensiveness, and do you think there's a better way to handle these discussions?

Looking forward to hearing your perspectives!
 
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For me personally, a projectile's on game terminal performance is my primary concern. B.C. is only important to me inasmuch as needed to calculate drops and velocity out to 500 yards....which is 'long range' for me in a hunting situation.

I just need to know that I've got enough velocity and twist rate in my barrel for the projectile to function as intended on game.

With Hammers, I suspect that some folks don't pay enough attention to the mfg minimum twist rate and then wonder why they don't kill game fast enough....plus.....with less than stellar B.C., they don't have enough fps at really long distance for terminal performance.

All I know, from my small sample size, is Hammers perform in a stellar manner when operated within intended parameters. Easy to do load development and I've not had a single deer get more than 30 yards from where I hit them......and I end up with a LOT less bloodshot meat with the HH and AH lines. This year, the HHT gave me bloodshot meat similar to cup & core, but I had a dead deer 25 yards from where I hit him.

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For me personally, a projectile's on game terminal performance is my primary concern. B.C. is only important to me inasmuch as needed to calculate drops and velocity out to 500 yards....which is 'long range' for me in a hunting situation.

I just need to know that I've got enough velocity and twist rate in my barrel for the projectile to function as intended on game.

With Hammers, I suspect that some folks don't pay enough attention to the mfg minimum twist rate and then wonder why they don't kill game fast enough....plus.....with less than stellar B.C., they don't have enough fps at really long distance for terminal performance.

All I know, from my small sample size, is Hammers perform in a stellar manner when operated within intended parameters. Easy to do load development and I've not had a single deer get more than 30 yards from where I hit them......and I end up with a LOT less bloodshot meat with the HH and AH lines. This year, the HHT gave me bloodshot meat similar to cup & core, but I had a dead deer 25 yards from where I hit him.

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While your insight there is appreciated, my questions weren't why to use Hammers or not to use them, or why you use them or not, why you think others don't use them, or why others do, or why people have the issues that they do.

I realize that may sound snarky, but I don't at all mean it that way. I'm simply clarifying the point and intent of the thread.
 
That's what confuses me. What would anyone really stand to gain by deliberately trying to undermine Hammer Bullets? The people making these critiques seem like regular guys and hunters. They aren't competitors with something to gain from Hammer failing as a business.

I'm genuinely curious, why all the hostility? Why assume the worst about someone who's offering criticism? I think open and honest feedback is how companies improve, and dismissing it as sabotage seems counterproductive.
It doesn't take long from an investigators perspective to see who is offering something constructive and who is not. The strong feelings are more personal than about the bullets themselves. I don't know that we will benefit much from this thread. Human nature on all "sides". The assumptions are not just going one way either.

This happens too sometimes. 🤠

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It doesn't take long from an investigators perspective to see who is offering something constructive and who is not. It's more personal than about the bullets themselves. I don't know that we will benefit much from this thread. Human nature on all "sides". The assumptions are not just going one way either.
Yep, never said it was one way. Plenty of personal perspective and opinion will be involved here. I'm ok with that. I literally said I'm interested in those perspectives.

I would argue too that the "investigator's perspective" is just that, and it does not necessarily mean the person in question is not offering something constructive. Also, why do you think it's more personal than about the bullets? What leads you to believe that?
 
Very few people in this world genuinely want to see someone else succeed. For anybody that will read this, the folks you call your friends, if you are given enormous fortune, and success, maybe 5 percent of those so called friends will truly be in your corner and a support you. The rest will try to tear you down. I've seen it in all aspects life. And if each and every one of you would be honest with yourselves, you'd say you've seen it too. And a lot of us have probably been subconsciously jealous of someone at some point in time and perhaps said something to potentially cast shade upon that person for no other reason than to potentially undermine said person.

I'm not saying that's what's going on here.
Nobody is perfect.
No bullet is perfect.
 
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Very few people in this world genuinely want to see someone else succeed. For anybody that will read this, the folks you call your friends, if you are given enormous fortune,l and success, maybe 5 percent of those so called friends will truly be in your corner and a support you. The rest will try to tear you down. I've seen it in all asof life. And if each and every one of you would be honest with yourselves, you'd say you've seen it too. And a lot of us have probably been subconsciously jealous of someone at some point in time and perhaps said something to potentially cast shade upon that person for no other reason than to potentially undermine said person.

I'm not saying that's what's going on here.
Nobody is perfect.
No bullet is perfect.
I appreciate your perspective on that. Thanks.
 
Yep, never said it was one way. Plenty of personal perspective and opinion will be involved here. I'm ok with that. I literally said I'm interested in those perspectives.

I would argue too that the "investigator's perspective" is just that, and it does not necessarily mean the person in question is not offering something constructive. Also, why do you think it's more personal than about the bullets? What leads you to believe that?
Your response is a bit of a case in point to serve your answer. 🤠
 
I think a big part of is the sheer zeal of their "converts". They are indeed zealots passionate about what they've discovered and eager to evangelize about it haha.

For what it's worth I really like hammer, the 75 grain 257 cal pill performed flawlessly on a Sask whitetail buck and gave a point blank range out of the 257 wby that not much out there can step to. No complaints. People really have been having great experiences with them and they are easy to work up a great load with. They're a great product, they have a good thing going, and they emerged from the grassroots in a way, a true success story of entrepreneurship and commitment to research and development.

But you're right, it seems like any report of difficulty or problems or anything are jumped on as blasphemy and the would-be heretic is vehemently cross-examined, berated, or otherwise decried by the zealots! Heck I've gotten into it with some of them in the past….what I found when I privately messaged members I argued with past the point of civil discourse to apologize for my part in the unpleasantness and seek a more calm conversation (and that went both ways in these conversations I think) is that they really are just very enthusiastic about this product they love. And when others crap on it or even have bad things to report about it, it seems to feel personal which I still don't understand but it's what I observe. It's not like disagreeing about which soda you prefer, it's like calling a music buff's favourite band "trash music" or top 40 junk or whatever.

Still don't get it fully. But I think it's mostly sincere and from earnest people that really are die hard fans BECAUSE they've had incredibly good experiences and have seen for themselves, and this makes them suspicious of "fault finding missions", especially if carried out by folks that haven't actually used them for hunting.

I do see a bit of both sides here actually. There have been some pretty overt 💩 talking endeavours against this company both here AND elsewhere online that I also can't fully wrap my head around.

One thing is for sure; they've made quite a splash.

I like them. I like them a whole awful lot actually. I'm not a zealot or an evangelist for the company haha. I don't take it personally if someone has a real world bad experience and says so.

I also continue shooting hornady, Sierra, Speer, Nosler, Barnes, etc…….
 
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