Absolute Hammer load data

Unfortunately, I do not understand the velocity difference either. Regardless of the powder I have used, once I get to just short of 3200 I begin to experience stiff bolt lift and ejector impression/swipes. Cleaned barrel numerous times, brass sized only .001 to allow insertion into chamber, etc. I get great groups at that speed but the moment I get to roughly 3200, regardless of powder, overpressure signs begin. 20" barrel is the culprit of some of the velocity loss, but doesn't explain all of it away. I may try different primers when I'm able, but currently only possess 215M which logic says those will INCREASE pressures.
I tried the primer switch in a creed. Got 34 FPS faster. Here's the link

 
Settled on a couple loads-
280ai Tikka, 22" Carbon 6 featherweight. 1:8
Once fired Nosler brass
OAL 3.330
155AH
59.2Gr RL23 with a 215 primer-
avg 3039, ES 11, SD 4.2 holds consistently under .75", MOA targets out to 600 verified. I'm getting a G7 of .228

I could push them faster with other powders, but not with desired accuracy.

7-08ai Remington, 18" 1:8.5 McGowan Sporter
2x Lapua
OAL 2.810
130AH
45.8Gr H4895 with a 215 primer
avg 2995, ES 19, SD 8.4 shoots a touch under 1 moa, and shoots well to 500. It is realistically a 350-400 yard max gun, which is plenty for its purpose. I am going to try the 119AH and the 120HH out in this one as well. Curious if it likes the 119 better, and I'll use the 120 for a reduced recoil load.
 
Unfortunately, I do not understand the velocity difference either. Regardless of the powder I have used, once I get to just short of 3200 I begin to experience stiff bolt lift and ejector impression/swipes. Cleaned barrel numerous times, brass sized only .001 to allow insertion into chamber, etc. I get great groups at that speed but the moment I get to roughly 3200, regardless of powder, overpressure signs begin. 20" barrel is the culprit of some of the velocity loss, but doesn't explain all of it away. I may try different primers when I'm able, but currently only possess 215M which logic says those will INCREASE pressures.
At your powder charges the regular large rifle primers should work fine. I had one rifle that pressured out prematurely with mag LR primers. Switched to regular primers and gained 1.5+ grains. Every rifle is different! That's what makes them interesting!
 
Got my new 6.5 Max back. It's based on a Tikka T3x, Brux 26" barrel, Mountain Tactical bottom metal and magazine, Stocky's Iota stock and Vortex 6-24 scope. This thing started out being finicky about the primer and powder it liked, but it finally calmed down and is shooting pretty well. I'm down to .673 groups, so I can work on fine tuning it better now. Fine tuning is next, when I get some more time.

Tried 3 powders and 3 primers before I found the right combination. Results as listed. I'll post this in the spreadsheet tonight.

129 gr. Absolute, CCI 250 primers, ADG brass (new) for all
Hybrid 100V (some charges skipped to save space)
52.0 2941
57.0 3168
60.0 3280
61.5 3350 hvy ejector Groups poor, 1" PLUS
62.0 3408
62.5 3439 bolt lift and ejector, stop

N 560, CCI 250
62.0 3048
63.0 3131
64.0 3182
65.5 3285 Pressured out (too early?)

N 560, F 210 primers (tried softer primer and it made a BIG difference. Mag primers were pressuring out prematurely.)
64.0 3213
65.5 3304
66.5 3363
67.0 3417 Also tried CCI BR 2. Groups not improved. Marginal groups here.
67.5 3425 Light ejector, light bolt
68.0 3437 Same, stop

RL 26, F 210 primers, OAL 3.020
64.0 3219
66.0 3315
67.0 3361
68.0 3412 Groups .643-.710 (Needs to improve, but I'll work on it!)
68.5 3449 Light ejector, Lt. bolt
69.0 3462 Same, stop

the 68.0 gr load with RL 26 and F 210s had a SD of 2 and an ES of 4!

Once again I had a rifle pressure out prematurely using magnum rifle primers with a relatively modest powder charge. Magnum primers are not Required to get the Hunters and Absolutes to shoot well.

G
 
Got my new 6.5 Max back. It's based on a Tikka T3x, Brux 26" barrel, Mountain Tactical bottom metal and magazine, Stocky's Iota stock and Vortex 6-24 scope. This thing started out being finicky about the primer and powder it liked, but it finally calmed down and is shooting pretty well. I'm down to .673 groups, so I can work on fine tuning it better now. Fine tuning is next, when I get some more time.

Tried 3 powders and 3 primers before I found the right combination. Results as listed. I'll post this in the spreadsheet tonight.

129 gr. Absolute, CCI 250 primers, ADG brass (new) for all
Hybrid 100V (some charges skipped to save space)
52.0 2941
57.0 3168
60.0 3280
61.5 3350 hvy ejector Groups poor, 1" PLUS
62.0 3408
62.5 3439 bolt lift and ejector, stop

N 560, CCI 250
62.0 3048
63.0 3131
64.0 3182
65.5 3285 Pressured out (too early?)

N 560, F 210 primers (tried softer primer and it made a BIG difference. Mag primers were pressuring out prematurely.)
64.0 3213
65.5 3304
66.5 3363
67.0 3417 Also tried CCI BR 2. Groups not improved. Marginal groups here.
67.5 3425 Light ejector, light bolt
68.0 3437 Same, stop

RL 26, F 210 primers, OAL 3.020
64.0 3219
66.0 3315
67.0 3361
68.0 3412 Groups .643-.710 (Needs to improve, but I'll work on it!)
68.5 3449 Light ejector, Lt. bolt
69.0 3462 Same, stop

the 68.0 gr load with RL 26 and F 210s had a SD of 2 and an ES of 4!

Once again I had a rifle pressure out prematurely using magnum rifle primers with a relatively modest powder charge. Magnum primers are not Required to get the Hunters and Absolutes to shoot well.

G
Keep that up G so when my 6.5 max barrel comes in I just ride your coat tail.
 
Keep that up G so when my 6.5 max barrel comes in I just ride your coat tail.
This rifle was very different to get it to shoot well. Usually I'm done in a dozen or so loads. I went through 99 Absolutes to get the durn thing to shoot!!!!!
Gonna revisit the H100V with std primers to see where that gets me. Will keep all posted. Next I'm gonna shoot some 123s to see if I can make some lightening bolts🤪👹.
 
Revisited H100V with F 210 primers. Gained about 50 fps, but groups still not acceptable 😡. Gonna stick with RL 26 for the 129s in my rifle. Got groups from high 3's to mid .640s. Not great or consistent, but ok.
Kinda funny how we all get mad if we don't get one hole groups with Hammers. Normally a .640" group would make a person ecstatic. We have high standards with Hammers.
 
Kinda funny how we all get mad if we don't get one hole groups with Hammers. Normally a .640" group would make a person ecstatic. We have high standards with Hammers.
Come on, we only want bullets going a couple hundred FPS faster than anything else of equal weight, hitting in one hole groups, with consistently devastating terminal effects, with minimal load development...is that really too much to ask? 😂
 
I made my neck tension 0.005" from 0.002" and mine went to shooting. Cut almost 1/2" out of the groups.


Neck tension of 0.005. Does that mean that the neck ID of your sized case was 0.005 under bullet diameter; as in a .264 would have a case neck ID of .259?
 

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