112Savage
Well-Known Member
Hey all,
It has been a while since I posted much but I thought I would share my experience with a custom made bullet by Steve and Brian at Hammer.
They designed and manufactured a 258gr 9.3mm bullet with a 2.5mm hollow point as an alternative to the TTSX and accubond that I was using before. This rifle has always had issues, most I suspect are related to barrel wall thickness and barrel whip. The rifle is a zastava LH in 9.3x62 with a 22" barrel that is only 0.565" at the muzzle. I went elk hunting this past fall for the first time and used this rifle and the 250grain accubond. After a failure to fully penetrate a broad sized bull at 397yds I wanted a bullet that would leave two holes.
After about 3months I had the bullets ready for testing. Hammer bullet's claim to fame is superior terminal performance and ease of load development. I can now confirm both!
Load Data: use good reloading practices and work up any loads. I am using a longer OAL with a long freebore.
Brass: Lapua 3x fired and neck sized
Primer:cci 250
Bullet:Hammer 258 seated at 3.352"
Jump to lands: 0.08"
Powder: CFE223
I worked from 60-67 grains.
65 grains yielded 2589fps and an ES=9fps over 6 shots
Initial accuracy was good. 1.19" at
210yds. I decided to start crimping the bullets due to a severe flyer and "rifle vomit" as described by an onlooker. Yesterday I shot the following targets at 100yds and 425yds. I know two shots are not statistically significant but at $1.20 per bullet, I already knew they were accurate and was testing drop.
Finally, about the only things you can shoot at this time in VA are groundhogs and coyotes. So I got lined up on an old mama at 99 yds. The bullet entered the upper left shoulder with a thumbnail sized entrance and left the opposite shoulder with a 4+" exit. It seems to have expanded well within only 5" of flesh.
I am extremely pleased with this bullet and design and ease of load development. It seems to develop less pressure than the 250TTSX and should penetrate better than the 250 accubond.
I think more velocity can be had within reasonable pressures but I am happy at this point. I am posting here to help spread the word of Hammer Bullets and their terrific customer service. If you have a 9.3mm rifle I highly recommend trying this bullet.
It has been a while since I posted much but I thought I would share my experience with a custom made bullet by Steve and Brian at Hammer.
They designed and manufactured a 258gr 9.3mm bullet with a 2.5mm hollow point as an alternative to the TTSX and accubond that I was using before. This rifle has always had issues, most I suspect are related to barrel wall thickness and barrel whip. The rifle is a zastava LH in 9.3x62 with a 22" barrel that is only 0.565" at the muzzle. I went elk hunting this past fall for the first time and used this rifle and the 250grain accubond. After a failure to fully penetrate a broad sized bull at 397yds I wanted a bullet that would leave two holes.
After about 3months I had the bullets ready for testing. Hammer bullet's claim to fame is superior terminal performance and ease of load development. I can now confirm both!
Load Data: use good reloading practices and work up any loads. I am using a longer OAL with a long freebore.
Brass: Lapua 3x fired and neck sized
Primer:cci 250
Bullet:Hammer 258 seated at 3.352"
Jump to lands: 0.08"
Powder: CFE223
I worked from 60-67 grains.
65 grains yielded 2589fps and an ES=9fps over 6 shots
Initial accuracy was good. 1.19" at
210yds. I decided to start crimping the bullets due to a severe flyer and "rifle vomit" as described by an onlooker. Yesterday I shot the following targets at 100yds and 425yds. I know two shots are not statistically significant but at $1.20 per bullet, I already knew they were accurate and was testing drop.
Finally, about the only things you can shoot at this time in VA are groundhogs and coyotes. So I got lined up on an old mama at 99 yds. The bullet entered the upper left shoulder with a thumbnail sized entrance and left the opposite shoulder with a 4+" exit. It seems to have expanded well within only 5" of flesh.
I am extremely pleased with this bullet and design and ease of load development. It seems to develop less pressure than the 250TTSX and should penetrate better than the 250 accubond.
I think more velocity can be had within reasonable pressures but I am happy at this point. I am posting here to help spread the word of Hammer Bullets and their terrific customer service. If you have a 9.3mm rifle I highly recommend trying this bullet.
