Absolute Hammer load data

[RogerPA]

First of all, I'd again like to thank GLTaylor for all the work he has been doing building the Absolute Hammer spreadsheet! Experimenting with several different Absolute Hammer calibers, along with powders/bullet weights, etc., has become almost a daily part of my Covid mental health therapy. I can't think of too many better better ways to pass the time away!
Now for today's range report: After working with the .257 Roberts the other day and getting the 90 gr. AH to a comfortable 3450 FPS with H335, I decided to try a ball powder with the .25-06. H414 is listed in the Hodgdon data with a 90 gr. SieHPBT, at a max of 51 gr. @ 3315 FPS. That's not a lot slower than I was able to get the 90 gr. AH running without pressure signs during my first experiment using Hybrid 100V in the .25-06, so that's why I started here.

.25-06 w/90 gr. AH. H414, CCI 200, 24" Christensen, Hornady Brass 2x, .003 neck tension/no crimp, 37F & snowing.
50 gr. 3239 FPS
51 gr. 3255 FPS
52 gr. 3313 FPS
52.5 gr. 3357 FPS
53 gr 3397 FPS
53.5 gr. 3401 FPS
54 gr. 3407 FPS
Absolutely (pun) no pressure signs with any of the above, with outstanding accuracy! (How they all shoot in a 1/2" group at 100 yds., with the MagnetoSpeed hanging off the barrel and 4 grains variation in powder, is beyond me?)
Nonetheless, I know there's room in the case for an additional 5 or 6 grains of this powder before I get to the base of the neck. Next time I'll carefully see where it goes from this point and report back.

To continue the above experiment w/.25-06 & H414. For the record, these loads were constructed using Federal 215M primers, while previous loads (above) were constructed with CCI 200 primers. ( 53,53.5, & 54 grain loads were redone with F215M's just to see the variance.)

53 gr. 3383 FPS
53.5 gr. 3406 FPS
54 gr. 3422 FPS
54.5 gr. 3424 FPS
55 gr. 3480 FPS
55.5 gr 3558 FPS
56 gr. 3524 (?) (not sure why the drop?)
56.5 3637 FPS (slight ejector mark)
57 gr. 3645 FPS (slight ejector & swipe mark with slightly noticeable bolt lift.)
(Interestingly, the primers show little to no sign of flattering.) Accuracy remained outstanding throughout. In my outfit 57 grains is no doubt "pushing it."

 

[cooperjd]

Could I get the 172gr 7mm's to work in a 7saum? is the short action long enough to not shove half of that bullet in the case? I'm going to have my first custom rifle built soon. I am having a hell of a time deciding on a cartridge. the saum's seem interesting, but I've never messed with one.

 

[GLTaylor]

Probably gonna use up some of your internal volume. Will shoot, but may be a bit slower. AHs are long.

 

[dougduey]

Could I get the 172gr 7mm's to work in a 7saum? is the short action long enough to not shove half of that bullet in the case? I'm going to have my first custom rifle built soon. I am having a hell of a time deciding on a cartridge. the saum's seem interesting, but I've never messed with one.

That bullet will be too long for your SAUM. I'm running it in my 7 STW at a COAL of 3.700 (and SAAMI spec is 3.600) and the bullet is halfway in the case.
The 7 SAUM is a great cartridge. You'll probably want to use the 155 gr AH to get the most out of your short action. I'd shoot Steve an email fir some guidance. If you really want to shoot the heavies, then the 175 gr Partition or ELDX may be what works well for you.

 

[jeremy.b]

I've spent some time playing with 151 AH's in my 308 Rem 788.

Here's what we have so far:

Rem 788 (22" factory bbl 1 in 10)
2x Fired TA (Mil) Brass FL sized
CCI 250
COAL = 2.805"


AR Comp (Temp = 45 F) 0.003 neck tension:

• 40.5 - 2714
• 42.0 - 2814
• 43.0 - 2852 Hard Bolt Lift

PP 2000 MR (Temp = 45 F) 0.003 neck tension:

• 48.5 - 2685
• 51.0 - 2789
• 52.0 - 2825 Hard Bolt Lift

H 335 (Temp = 35 F) 0.003 neck tension + 1/8 turn crimp:

• 44.0 - 2748
• 44.5 - 2809
• 45.0 - 2816
• 45.5 - 2848
• 46.0 - 2903 - Stiffish bolt lift

H322 (Temp = 35 F) 0.003 neck tension + 1/8 turn crimp

• 41.0 - 2726
• 41.5 - 2795
• 42.0 - 2795
• 42.5 - 2834 - Hard Bolt Lift & Extraction

This particular gun seems to pressure out pretty early on just about any bullet, brass & powder combo i've tried in the past. I had hopes that the 151 AH's would get me close to 3000 FPS, but I just don't think it'll happen.

It was nice to see that H335 seemed to have maybe a touch more headroom than the other powders though.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

.270 win
139 Absolute Hammer
COAL 3.345
Bartlein 24.5 in barrel
twist 1-9
Temp 30 F
Powder H4350
Federal 210 match primer
Nosler brass

52-53 labradar wasn't reading [first time using]

53.5 gr - 2929 fps
54 - 2967
54.5 - 3038
55 - 3032
55.5 - 3073
56 - 3096
56.5 - 3127
57 - 3167
57.5 - didn't read
58 - 3225
58.5 - 3232 faint ejector mark
59 - 3257 slightly brighter ejector mark
59.5 - 3294 BRIGHT ejector mark.

Will back off a hair and look at 57-58 range some more.

All were in a 3 inch group at 200 yards.

Excited to say the least.

Labradar is awesome.

Thanks everyone for guidance!!

Follow up .

ES
56 - 52
56.5 - 24
57 - 26
57.5 - 36
58 - 18

couple faint ejector marks at 58 grains

 

[GLTaylor]

Will update at next revision. Thanks.

 

[floyd kittrell]

Does anyone plan on testing the A. H. in the old 284 Winchester case , I have always loved it and am considering a throated , if necessary , build on a left hand long action titanium Rem. clone

 

[Jumpalot]

Does anyone plan on testing the A. H. in the old 284 Winchester case , I have always loved it and am considering a throated , if necessary , build on a left hand long action titanium Rem. clone

I'm calling this week to get some advise on this combo. I'm running a 22" barrels
on a long action that's throated long. Hopefully it will work. Curious about having to use a faster powder as I'm using H4350 now.

 

[jeremy.b]

I've been pondering a semi custom build for a while and the 284 win is on my short list and so I've also ponder this exact question too.

I'm sure Steve will have thoughts on this but looking over the load data so far I'd expect the 284 win to fall between the 7mm-08 and 280ai. That puts the powders somewhere between Varget and Hybrid 100v I'd guess.

I'd probably try Varget, rl16 and h4350 (in that order).

 

[Grifm]

Made it back to the range today to continue testing with my 308 and the 151 AHs. Today I tested Alliant Power Pro Varmint. Loaded up 1 round each in 0.5 gr steps from 45-52.5 gr. Brass was sized with Redding dies with expander removed. Measured 0.006 neck tension. Temperature was 54 deg. Velocity recorded on CD ProCronoDLX.

Start Low and work up on charge weight!

Winchester M70 FTW SS - 308Win
22in Factory 1in12 twist
Lapua Brass - Trimmed 2.006
Fed 215
COAL - 2.863

1) 45.0 - 2724
2) 45.5 - 2716
3) 46.0 - 2778
4) 46.5 - 2830
5) 47.0 - 2838
6) 47.5 - 2852
7) 48.0 - 2912
8) 48.5 - 2929
9) 49.0 - 2959
10) 49.5 - 2773
11) 50.0 - 2997
12) 50.5 - 3016
13) 51.0 - 3045
14) 51.5 - 3099
15) 52.0 - 3096 easy bolt lift, slight ejector mark
16) 52.5 - 3135 stiff bolt lift, clear ejector mark - STOP.

Given where I found pressure I'd probably drop down around 51.5 or just a little lower. My previous test with benchmark topped out right at 100fps slower. I'll probably stick with the benchmark load just because it is a Hodgdon "Extreme" powder and be more temperature stable than the Power Pro Varmint which is a ball powder.

 

[Raudy707]

And the Benchmark was at 47 grains so not crunching powder quite as bad as the 51 grains I'm guessing? Thanks for all the data.

 

[Grifm]

And the Benchmark was at 47 grains so not crunching powder quite as bad as the 51 grains I'm guessing? Thanks for all the data.

Actually they're about the same. both 47gr of benchmark and 51gr of PP Varmint is right were I couldn't hear powder moving when I shook the case. the PP Varmint is much denser than the Benchmark.

 

[BEEMAN]

Does anyone plan on testing the A. H. in the old 284 Winchester case , I have always loved it and am considering a throated , if necessary , build on a left hand long action titanium Rem. clone

I will be, but not sure exactly when. Bullets should arrive today. My 284 is a SA so I'm going to try the 140 AH. When discussing with Steve he thought I should try Varget. Be interesting to see what this combo will do in a short action 24" barrel 8 twist.