Absolute Hammer load data

300 Norma
26" 1-10" Twist
Robert Gradous Rifle - Surgeon Action
R26 Powder
178 Absolute Hammer
F215 Primer
Lapua Brass
3.526 OAL (later modified for final load)

85.0 3252 fps
86.0 3265 fps
87.0 3282 fps
88.0 3342 fps
89.0 3400 fps
89.5 3422 fps
90.0 3415 fps
90.5 3435 fps - 85.0 though 90.5 made a group that was a little under an inch.
91.0 3468 fps Slightly Heavy Bolt - out of group by 1/2"

Dropped back and ended up with a load at 88.8 Grains of R26 pushing the AB Hammer 178 at 3405 fps with 3.470 AOL that shoots 1/4" groups at 100 yards with single digit SD.
 

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OK folks, for those of you who may be looking for a bit more speed (Whew!), Steve posted 3 new bullets.
I have entered them in the spreadsheet on post #2. They are:
97 gr. .264
116 gr. .270, and
119 gr. .280.

Have at it!
George
 
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Just ordered up some .284 140 gr. AH's for 7mmRM.
In the load data the only load for it showed R22 being used.
We have Varget,H4895,H4350,H4831SC and R19 on hand
H4831SC is just under R22 on the burn rate chart.
Hope it works, got bunches of it!
How did this work out? I've got 8# of H4831SC and I was looking at the 140 AH in 7MM (280AI) as a way to use up this powder. My barrel is 22". I am not sure if it's fast enough?
 
How did this work out? I've got 8# of H4831SC and I was looking at the 140 AH in 7MM (280AI) as a way to use up this powder. My barrel is 22". I am not sure if it's fast enough?
You can give it a run in your 280 AI. I have a feeling you will run out of case capacity before you find pressure. Hodgdon website shows a compressed load at 62 gr of regular H4831 and a COAL of 3.330. Since you're using the short cut, you should get more in the case, plus, as you know, a longer COAL will help you too. Try it an see, it can't hurt and it's a powder you actually have (which is huge these days).

The reason Steve used HV100 was due to the fact that you can get so much powder into the case. I followed him and used the same in my 280 AI. I've got a real tight chamber, so my fireformed Nosler brass gets sticky when I get past 3300 fps. With new brass I can push it over 3400 fps.
Both the 143 HH and 140 AH shoot very well at 3250-ish for me. Problem is I'm a velocity junkie and want the 3400 fps load. 🤣

Let us know your results.
 
You can give it a run in your 280 AI. I have a feeling you will run out of case capacity before you find pressure. Hodgdon website shows a compressed load at 62 gr of regular H4831 and a COAL of 3.330. Since you're using the short cut, you should get more in the case, plus, as you know, a longer COAL will help you too. Try it an see, it can't hurt and it's a powder you actually have (which is huge these days).

The reason Steve used HV100 was due to the fact that you can get so much powder into the case. I followed him and used the same in my 280 AI. I've got a real tight chamber, so my fireformed Nosler brass gets sticky when I get past 3300 fps. With new brass I can push it over 3400 fps.
Both the 143 HH and 140 AH shoot very well at 3250-ish for me. Problem is I'm a velocity junkie and want the 3400 fps load. 🤣

Let us know your results.
For what-it's-worth: I learned a bit in the last several months while experimenting with several calibers and the Absolute Hammers. At first I started with powders that seemed logical for the cartridge/bullet weight combination, with the understanding faster burning powders were favored. (Limited on my end of course to those powders I have/had on hand.) After running out of space in the case before finding pressure with several combinations, I finally realized what I should be looking for is maximum listed loads, for any given combination, that also indicated a considerable amount room remaining in the case. (The Nosler manuals showing the percentage of case filled with each load is a huge help with this.) It didn't take too long before I realized ball type powders frequently fall into this category. Now these are the first powders I consider! So far, and depending on the cartridge, powders like H335, H414, and Ramshot Magnum have saved me a lot of wasted copper down the barrel.
 
For what-it's-worth: I learned a bit in the last several months while experimenting with several calibers and the Absolute Hammers. At first I started with powders that seemed logical for the cartridge/bullet weight combination, with the understanding faster burning powders were favored. (Limited on my end of course to those powders I have/had on hand.) After running out of space in the case before finding pressure with several combinations, I finally realized what I should be looking for is maximum listed loads, for any given combination, that also indicated a considerable amount room remaining in the case. (The Nosler manuals showing the percentage of case filled with each load is a huge help with this.) It didn't take too long before I realized ball type powders frequently fall into this category. Now these are the first powders I consider! So far, and depending on the cartridge, powders like H335, H414, and Ramshot Magnum have saved me a lot of wasted copper down the barrel.
I've been doing the same. HV100 has become a favorite of multiple cartridges of mine.
 
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