Ok, new rifle and first time trying the absolute hammer for 7mm Mag and 154 Grainers. Used Reloader 23. I had 50 prepped and primed cases ready from last night. Got home late and only 40 mins of shooting light and I couldn't resist trying a few so put on the Magneto Speedo. I loaded the first 7 just to find the velocity of the combo and was nervous about it so I loaded 7 rounds at 1 grain increments. Started at 60 grains then went 1 grain each load to 66 grains, seating depth 0.020" from touching the lands.
60 2849 FPS
61 2890 FPS
62 did not record
63 2960 FPS
64 3005 FPS
65 3060 FPS
66 3072 FPS
So at this point still no pressure signs so walked back in and loaded a few more
66.5 3204 FPS Primers started to flatten
67.0 3204 FPS Primers flattened and small shiny mark on head stamp
67.5 3225 FPS All the above with sticky bolt. Stopped here.
So you know that data doesn't look all that crazy little flat spot found even with the large gap in the grains of powder. The crazy thing was this, 60 grains started 4" high straight up no horizontal deviation. 61 was .25" below the 1st shot and 0.10 right horizonal shift. 62 about the same about .25" lower than previous spot and 0.1" right of it also. This kept the pattern to 66 grains on the 7th shot low and right each time of the previous spot. Then on the next batch 66.5 went 1" right of the 66.0 previous shot. 67.0 went .25" right 66.5. 67.5 went 1.5" straight up above the previous two. So It seems like I will be exploring the 66.4 to 67.0 range on the next day I get to shoot.
I just found it interesting that the groups were headed down instead of up. It's almost like the string of 10 shots where making a sine wave on paper headed down and right the up and right.
So, I was curious about the 66.5 shot and I went back in and loaded 2 more rounds up at 66.5 and those two velocities went 3,194 fps and 3,195 fps along with he previous one shot at 3204 fps so that's like a SD of 8 or so.
So what's my plan of attack next time? Play with the node I found or play around with the seating depth. I was thinking of moving the bullet down to 0.070" and play with the powder nodes again. Someone with more Hammer experience give me a little thoughts and opinions.
60 2849 FPS
61 2890 FPS
62 did not record
63 2960 FPS
64 3005 FPS
65 3060 FPS
66 3072 FPS
So at this point still no pressure signs so walked back in and loaded a few more
66.5 3204 FPS Primers started to flatten
67.0 3204 FPS Primers flattened and small shiny mark on head stamp
67.5 3225 FPS All the above with sticky bolt. Stopped here.
So you know that data doesn't look all that crazy little flat spot found even with the large gap in the grains of powder. The crazy thing was this, 60 grains started 4" high straight up no horizontal deviation. 61 was .25" below the 1st shot and 0.10 right horizonal shift. 62 about the same about .25" lower than previous spot and 0.1" right of it also. This kept the pattern to 66 grains on the 7th shot low and right each time of the previous spot. Then on the next batch 66.5 went 1" right of the 66.0 previous shot. 67.0 went .25" right 66.5. 67.5 went 1.5" straight up above the previous two. So It seems like I will be exploring the 66.4 to 67.0 range on the next day I get to shoot.
I just found it interesting that the groups were headed down instead of up. It's almost like the string of 10 shots where making a sine wave on paper headed down and right the up and right.
So, I was curious about the 66.5 shot and I went back in and loaded 2 more rounds up at 66.5 and those two velocities went 3,194 fps and 3,195 fps along with he previous one shot at 3204 fps so that's like a SD of 8 or so.
So what's my plan of attack next time? Play with the node I found or play around with the seating depth. I was thinking of moving the bullet down to 0.070" and play with the powder nodes again. Someone with more Hammer experience give me a little thoughts and opinions.
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