199 Hammer Hunters 30 Nosler

[338weatherby]

I started load development today with the 199 HH's in my 30 Nosler.

Barrel is a 20" HCA 1-9 screwed on to a defiance anTi X and on a XLR 4.0 chassis. Rifle was built by LPR.

I started with H1000 since it was working well with the Berger 205's. Seated .050" off, COAL 3.590, .002 neck tension

Charges were:
85.5 3003 fps
86 2998 fps
86.5 3037 fps
87 slightly compressed bullets stuck a little in seater measured 3.592 3067 fps
87.5 compressed measured 3.592 3065 fps
88 comp. measured 3.594 3100 fps
88.5 comp. measured 3.594 3118 fps

No heavy bolt lift and the funny thing was, the three lowest rounds were the ones all over board and had ejector marks. The four rounds from 87 to 88.5 had no ejector marks and held about an inch.

Has anyone else seen this with the lower charges with Hammers? I was glad things settled down and tightened up. The first three shots had me thinking WTH?

Am I correct in thinking to run the compressed loads of either 87 and 87.5 in a seating test or should I try the 88-88.5 range?

 

[Rosebud]

No knowledge of the 30 nosler, but have loaded lots of hammers for myself and others. I've found that going with a faster burn powder works best. Good luck with your loading.

 

[GLTaylor]

X2 above. Go with a faster powder and try for 90-95% case fill. Crimping also really helps getting them started off well and consistently.

 

[338weatherby]

X2 above. Go with a faster powder and try for 90-95% case fill. Crimping also really helps getting them started off well and consistently.

I do use crimp dies for others when loading Hammers. I just couldn't find a 30N die. I use H1000 in my 7saum with 155HH's and it's a great combo. I thought with the larger case of the 30N that it would be a good fit. I've got a pound or less of the following I could try: IMR7828, RL25, RL22, & H4831. I have lots of H1000 and was hoping it would work with these bullets.

 

[GLTaylor]

I understand Lee has finally started back making crimp dies. They quit for quite a while post Covid. You might give them a call?

 

[338weatherby]

I am ordering a crimp die from Lee. I see 300 PRC and Win mag loads in the Hammer Hunter load data spreadsheet using H1000 and slower powders. Also see some 300NM using H1000 with the 199's. Maybe I should wait for the crimp die before moving forward? Might be awhile before I receive it. Need to send in a fired, sized dummy.

 

[338weatherby]

I understand Lee has finally started back making crimp dies. They quit for quite a while post Covid. You might give them a call?

I was typing before I read this. I went to their site this morning and opened a ticket. The got back to me within an hour. That's pretty sweet. Hope the turn around time is decent.

 

[338weatherby]

Placed the order with Lee for a 30 Nosler FCD on 8/23. Just got tracking saying it will be here tomorrow. Not bad at all. When I ordered they said 40 working days. Great communication from Lee as well.

I'm going to load up some with H1000 and see how they group. This will be with once fired brass this time and crimped. Going to start at 86 grains and .050" off and go .5 grain to 88.
Thinking I could try .030 if it is still slightly compressed after once fired.

As for faster powder, I don't have enough of the ones on hand mentioned above to work up a load and have left over for the hunting trip.

I think I've settled on loads for 205 and 220 Berger's with H1000 and Retumbo. Really hope to get these Hammers working with the powder I have plenty off.

 

[AZ Patriot 17]

Any updates for us?

 

[338weatherby]

Haven't done anything with the 199 hammer's since. Planning to this spring summer.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

With the short barrel it looks like you are there. If the es isn't bad I'm not sure you need to change anything. Crimp certainly won't hurt. Have never seen a crimp hurt anything. I generally don't crimp but do if the rifle tells me to.

 

[338weatherby]

I think it's real close. Good speed and just getting close to pressure I think. Part of the problem I was having when I started with the 199's was that my scope moved in the rings and I didn't catch it. Worked through that and was running out of time before hunting trip. I must have went through a couple of boxes of Berger's chasing my tail on that and didn't want to burn the hammers up. Hammers are first up when spring comes.

 

[Recon$$]

I've had Goodluck with N565 in my 300 prc, worth a try if your still powder shopping. Running 199s little over 3k with 75.5 gr.

 

[338weatherby]

Well I didn't get to it this spring like I thought I would. Life has been way too busy.

I loaded up some 199 HH's last night on top of 7828SSC. I'm hoping this combo will work better then the H1000 I've been chasing. I tried the H1000 route again and accuracy was not there, velocity was. I'll try to get to the range with these next week.
IMR7828SSC, 199HH, 3x fired ADG, CCI 250's, 2.908" CBTO no crimp
77.0
78.0
78.5
79.0
79.5
80.0
80.5
81.0

If anyone has any new load data for the 199 Hammer Hunters, I'd be all ears.