300 wm 10 twist - which hammer hunter

[JTH]

I'm new to reloading, my first project will be developing a load for a Cooper model 52 with 1 in 10 twist, 24" barrel. After looking at dozens of threads here, sounds like I may have trouble getting heavier bullets to stabilize with this barrel. I'm looking for a recommendation on what grain weight Hammer Hunter bullet would be ideal, and a starting point on powder. I just bought a pound of H4350, but can go to something different if advisable.

This rifle currently shoots factory Fiochi 180 grain swift sciroccos sub moa, but I'm looking to switch to a monolithic bullet. Would it be wise to start with the 181 grain hammer hunter, or should I go lighter due to the copper bullet and 1 in 10 twist? Intended use is for elk and deer, max distance for me is 600 yards.

 

[ButterBean]

THe 152 HH would be my pick but you can never go wrong with the 181

 

[twister]

181 if you can get it up to speed.

 

[just_jon]

Hammer lists minimum twist rate of 1:10 for the 181 HH. My 10 twist 300 WM shoots lights out with it.

 

[JMW67]

THe 152 HH would be my pick but you can never go wrong with the 181

Yea but your just a SPEED DEMON and I like it

 

[ButterBean]

Yea but your just a SPEED DEMON and I like it

Well you got me there,

 

[JTH]

Alright ButterBean, I'm interested to know why you'd pick the 152 over the 181?

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I have a rifle that shoots both equally well.

IF it is a true 10 twist the 181 is nice. IF it is not, you may have a stability issue. Mine 10.25 wasn't having them.

 

[JMW67]

If it were me I would try the 162 absolute hammer you would get the speed of the 152 with more bullet mass

 

[HARPERC]

......IF it is a true 10 twist the 181 is nice. IF it is not, you may have a stability issue. Mine 10.25 wasn't having them.......

Shane nailed this one. I've learned not to take twist numbers for granted. There is at least a 0.25" factory fudge factor in my mind (say it fast 3X) very easy to verify, and starting a new bullet might as well.

I'd say any of them 166 to 181 should work for you.

Working on going light for some rifles, and purposes. Change is best served in small pieces for us old people.

 

[ButterBean]

Alright ButterBean, I'm interested to know why you'd pick the 152 over the 181?

Speed, the Hammers thrive on speed, the harder you drive them the better they preform, I was running the 124g HH out of a 300WSM@ 3836, it was a Laser to 500 yards

 

[HARPERC]

.......Speed, the Hammers thrive on speed, the harder you drive them the better they preform, I was running the 124g HH out of a 300WSM@ 3836, it was a Laser to 500 yards..........

Do you see this bullet as a single species load, or more of a one rifle North America solution?

 

[JTH]

Interested to know what speed you're getting with the 152's, and how do they buck the wind?

My rangefinder is pretty accurate, my ability to consistently judge wind across 600 yards is sometimes a little iffy.

 

[JTH]

How do you go about verifying the twist rate?