Absolute Hammer Powder Selection 🔥

[Zen Archery]

This could be interesting…

For those experienced experimental reloaders getting max velocity out of their Absolute Hammer Loads, curious how you go about selecting "faster burning powders."

I've got 5 methods I've used. Just curious what you peoples are doing?

 

[lancetkenyon]

I get on the phone or PM and ask Hammer what they suggest.

 

[cohunt]

I figured if anybody had an "in" on hammer bullet/powder info it would be you.

BB has done quite a bit of work with them so he would be my go-to book of knowledge after asking the source (Steve)

 

[Dmagna]

I have been shooting absolutes in 6mm arc, 280ai, a few creeds, 7mm08, 257 bee. I start with a known powder and shoot a 10 or so round ladder and get speed data till I hit pressure. Then I use a faster powder (not a huge jump) and compare the speeds and pressure. Hopefully one of my selections shows improvement, sometimes I get better results sometimes I don't.

 

[ButterBean]

Just keep loading until you find pressure with a 95% case fill and you are there, The load I'm using for the 116 AH is listed in the Hodgdon Manual as a max load for the 90g Sierra if that's any help, I have a pretty good grasp on what powders will work with what

 

[Seabeeken]

How about seating depth? Ive been running hh at .050 off jam and getting groups under .5. how about the ah?

 

[ButterBean]

I seat everything to the last PDR groove if the powder charge allows

 

[MW204]

Steve told me to start with H4350 for my 300WM so of course that's what I'll start with.

 

[mdmiller]

Steve told me to start with H4350 for my 300WM so of course that's what I'll start with.

What bullet??

 

[MW204]

What bullet??

Sorry about that, 178 gr Absolute Hammers.

 

[MW204]

What bullet??

I loaded them in my son-in-law's 300 WSM this evening, 20 thousand off the lands, and shot 5 times. One bullet seated 0.10 deeper than all the others, I pulled the bullet out and seated it the same as the others but it was a flyer. I did not work the brass up so idk anything about them. But for a first load, I don't think it'll take much tuning to get where he wants to go with it.
The aim point group was just some bullets used to break in the new barrel so he wasn't really worried about that group, of course, it'd been nice if it looked like the other group.

 

[unclecroc]

I usually just look at what powders are working for the next bullet weight down and giving the highest velocity. I start there and see where my case fill is and adjust from there. Loading the absolute hammers have made me a much better handloader by understanding the burn rate chart better and how pressure presents itself.

 

[MW204]

I usually just look at what powders are working for the next bullet weight down and giving the highest velocity. I start there and see where my case fill is and adjust from there. Loading the absolute hammers have made me a much better handloader by understanding the burn rate chart better and how pressure presents itself.

Thank you sir.