Hammer Hunter 166gr bullets in 30-06

MW204

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 31, 2021
Messages
612
Location
North Texas
I have ordered my first Hammer Hunter 166gr bullets for my 30-06. I have a Douglas air-gauged 27" barrel on a Mauser 98 and I would like to see some loading data that anyone may have for the 30-06 using these bullets.
 
I've used them the past two years In My 7mm STW. 143 Hammer Hunter at 3390 fps. I pushed them to 3680 but settled for less speed and one hole accuracy. Load development is easy just load up one charge at a time until you find pressure then load a little below that. I shot a ladder and picked a velocity flat spot with similar impact points with STW. 30-06 I found pressure backed up a half grain and shot a group. Felt they should shoot better so switched primers and excellent group.

Killed 3 elk and 2 whitetail bucks with them the past two years with my STW. No complaints at all. Excellent performance up close as most shots have been well inside 100 yards. Buck this year was 260 yards and he ran maybe 30 after the shot. I've shot them at 540 yards and was under 2.5" Group.

Very little fouling. When you shoot a target there is no black ring around the bullet like you see on other bullets. When I clean there is very very little copper.
 
Holler if you need any help
812-264-6183
Thanks, I will. This is about my 20th rifle build and I am having heck finding a decent load for it. Tonight I tried a 180 Nosler BT, let me back up just a little, after this morning session the sights have consistently hit to the right about 2" so I made an adjustment, the first shot was dead 12 o'clock, the next shot about 2 o'clock and I thought here we go again, and then the third shot, it was almost a single hole but not quite. It was getting too late to put together another round so I still don't know if that was really good or really lucky. Who knows at this point. The scope, don't laugh, is a Simmons original Atec that I have sitting atop several rifles. I have had excellent luck with these scopes out to 500 yards and I know them like the back of my hand. With that said I was not surprised once the 3rd shot hit the 2nd knowing that the Simmons can move around like that after an adjustment before it settles in, I just forgot for a few minutes.
I once decided to move up to a high-dollar scope and I bought a Leupold Mark 4 long range 30mm tube scope. I had a turret knob laser etched to my load and had good luck with it until one day it would not hold zero at 100 yds. I sent it off, it was repaired and sent back. Two years ago while on an out-of-state hunt I had a shot at a buck at 300 yds. I made the shot, the deer was standing in snow broadside, and I saw the bullet hit about a foot or more above the deer. Crap this was the second time this hight dollar scope failed me, the first time could have been devastating because of where I worked and what I did, the second time it cost me a buck on my first out of state hunt, which I confirmed on the bench when I got home. Again it would not hold zero at 100 yds and no neither time did I drop or bump or anything else to the Leupold. I sent it back and demanded a different scope in return which we came to an agreement. Moneywise I took it in the shorts but there was NO way I could ever trust that scope to be anything but a paper puncher so that's why I took the deal they offered.
Again the Simmons has never failed me, I know it like the back of my hand, so no reason to hang my head, it works and works well. I just wished I could find a few more brand new ones in the box.
 
My load was:
RL17 @ 43.5 grains
Federal 215 primer
PPU brass
Loaded to feed reliably from mag (Ruger American) and do not know OAL, probably around SAMMI.
Was around 2850 fps

44.5 began pressure signs in 95 degree heat when doing load development, dropped it down 1 grain to be safe in all temps. Shot great! Load this projectile to 2950 in a buddy's .300 WSM and it has had excellent terminal on elk and deer.
 
My load was:
RL17 @ 43.5 grains
Federal 215 primer
PPU brass
Loaded to feed reliably from mag (Ruger American) and do not know OAL, probably around SAMMI.
Was around 2850 fps

44.5 began pressure signs in 95 degree heat when doing load development, dropped it down 1 grain to be safe in all temps. Shot great! Load this projectile to 2950 in a buddy's .300 WSM and it has had excellent terminal on elk and deer.
I've never loaded RL17 so I have zero experience with it. Most of my big game rifles over the years I loaded with IMR 4350 with great results. Lately, if I can find some I have been trying some of the Hod powders and the new line of IMR Enduron powders that are not supposed to be temp sensitive. Maybe they're not but so far I have not found anything worth writing home for except for maybe the load I tried tonight with a 180 Nosler BT. If I can repeat that tomorrow or the next day I will be happy. This rifle is my backup just in case, my primary is a Rem Model 7 I chambered in 300 WSM, mainly because I already had the reamer for that and I wanted a longer barrel than came with the Model 7 Rem 300 SAUM.

I'm still looking forward to getting the Hammer Hunter to see what all the hype is about. I wanted to sight in a 165 gr bullet for the 06 and so far only one has come close to being acceptable but it's not for me.
 
I've never loaded RL17 so I have zero experience with it. Most of my big game rifles over the years I loaded with IMR 4350 with great results. Lately, if I can find some I have been trying some of the Hod powders and the new line of IMR Enduron powders that are not supposed to be temp sensitive. Maybe they're not but so far I have not found anything worth writing home for except for maybe the load I tried tonight with a 180 Nosler BT. If I can repeat that tomorrow or the next day I will be happy. This rifle is my backup just in case, my primary is a Rem Model 7 I chambered in 300 WSM, mainly because I already had the reamer for that and I wanted a longer barrel than came with the Model 7 Rem 300 SAUM.

I'm still looking forward to getting the Hammer Hunter to see what all the hype is about. I wanted to sight in a 165 gr bullet for the 06 and so far only one has come close to being acceptable but it's not for me.
Hodgdon powders have a reputation for being temperature sensitive.
 
SMH

SMH.gif
 
Say what now???
Can I edit that to say "some Hogdon powders" not all Hogdon powders. I found when I had to move from IMR4350 to H4350. My loads with IMR had relatively flat velocities when shooting at 98F in New Mexico to 5F in Maine. The Hogdon had variances of 50 to 120fps under similar temperature conditions. Using same cases, primers, and bullets.
 
Can I edit that to say "some Hogdon powders" not all Hogdon powders. I found when I had to move from IMR4350 to H4350. My loads with IMR had relatively flat velocities when shooting at 98F in New Mexico to 5F in Maine. The Hogdon had variances of 50 to 120fps under similar temperature conditions. Using same cases, primers, and bullets.
Really , H4350 is the most insensitive to temp powders on the market and in my experience IMR 4350 would swing quite a bit
 
Last edited:
Top