Best of luck to ya, I have zero doubt you'll reach your speed goal
124 HAMMER - .308Win - TAC
- Thread starter Varmint Hunter
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Best of luck to ya, I have zero doubt you'll reach your speed goal
I am shooting 124 gr. Hammer Hunters in a Kimber Montana .308, with a 22" barrel. I started at 47 gr. of TAC, and ultimately found the right load at 49 gr. I am getting 3,180 fps, without pressure signs. I load mine with .004 neck tension, and 1/8 turn Lee factory crimp die.
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info - it's exactly what I was looking for.
You're welcome. I should also add that I used CCI 200 primers and I seated mine at 2.70" OAL. That put the crimp right in the first power band. I did the crimp and neck tension since the bullet has less baring surface. I don't if it was really necessary but I wanted that bullet to stay in place until it was fired. Good luck!
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
Will do.
FWIW - I have worked with 6 different powders and the 124HH. 5 out of the 6 can get me to 3,200 ft/sec in my 22" bbl. I used Fed 215M primers and a FCD on all of them. But .... all required a fair amount of compression.
I should have my resupply of 124s soon and will probably get back to the club next week for some testing. All the loads will be shot over a LabRadar.
Hard rock
Well-Known Member
Figure out what the next fastest burn rate is , and use standard LR primers if you are runing out of powder space and I bet you pick up another 100 fps plus . I don't know how much bullet you have seated in the neck , but you may also seat out as far as you can too increase case capacity with the powders you are using allowing another grain of powder or so without a heavy compressed load . I personally like a lightly compressed load , with a good crimp you should be ok.
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
I don't believe that burn rate is the issue as much as powder bulk is. As I stated somewhere above. TAC is a dense enough powder that a max charge easily fits beneath the bullet base. A quick look into a FL resized Lapua case with 50gr of TAC shows that it sits below the shoulder/neck line.
Hard rock
Well-Known Member
If that is the case change too standard LR Primers and you should be able too move up in the powder charge . I have found you get a more uniform burn down the barrel increasing the velocity , originally Hammer recommended magnum primers on some non magnum cartridges but has since changed their recommendations too the Standard LR primers . If you are satisfied with your load that is great but you may be leaving some vel on the table . The above statement comes from my experience recommended by Steve from Hammer .
I need to make a correction. Got home last night and checked my notes.
151 AH, 24" barrel, fed 210 primer. With shooterworld tactical rifle powder, produced 3200 fps.
Sorry if I caused any confusion.
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
If powder bulk is the issue, as I have repeatedly stated; how is changing to a "standard LR primer" going to alleviate that?
Changing to a non-mag primer, as Steve has recommended in a few cases, was for the purpose of putting MORE powder in a case without excess pressure. I don't need more powder, I need less bulk. I'm highly confident that the TAC powder will achieve my goal but I just haven't had a chance to actually test it yet.
Tune back next week and I'll have my findings posted.
Course the flip of that is true as well, you will need less powder with a mag primer to gain the same speed as a standard..........and or vice versa. And by adding more powder with a standard primer it's darn little. Say a grain this is not a big game changer when it comes to speed!
Kind of like using a light case verse a heavy case. The heavy case will run with more speed (IE pressure than a lighter case will with the same charge.
Once again it's all about pressure equals speed and speed equals pressure......
Kind of like using a light case verse a heavy case. The heavy case will run with more speed (IE pressure than a lighter case will with the same charge.
Once again it's all about pressure equals speed and speed equals pressure......
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
This particular set-up is for shooting hogs at night with a thermal. Since it is rather difficult for me to range moving hogs at night, I'd like a fast-stepping load that shoots flat at moderate distances and kills hogs reliably.
I have used the 130TTSX before and it works well but I'm always interested to see what a Hammer alternative is capable of.
BTW - my Hammer bullets were delivered today. I loaded up 16 cases in .3gr increments but won't be able to test them until next week. The heaviest charge of TAC was 48.0gr with the Fed215M. I could probably go higher but this is sufficient until I get a better feel for the combo.
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