Hammer hunter bullet close range performance?

Bigeclipse

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Ok so me and my wife have had a not so great experience with accubonds which is odd because they are our go to bullets. We both shoot fast loads and both shot twice each at the deer (two separate days). All the shots failed (we like exits) but keep in mind we were at extreme close range (inside 75 yards). The bullets did work and killed the deer but both needed 2 shots to put them down fast. In both instances the deer ran about 20 yards and stood there giving us enough time for a second shot. Yes I understand the deer likely were dead before they knew it but none of the 4 shots on the two deer exited. The insides of the deer were a mess. What I don't like is there was zero blood outside of the deer due to lack of exit. I understand some will say this is what they want, all energy dumped inside the deer, but it isn't what I want which is why I'm looking at hammer bullets. I'm curious what the short range performance of the hammer hunter and not the shock hammers would be as we still do hunt out to 600 yards with these guns so would prefer to use the regular hammer hunters. Anyone shoot deer at closer ranges with these? What were your results?
 
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Filled my extra doe tag yesterday with the 101 grain hammer hunter doing 3300 fps from my 6mm Ackley. She was ever so slightly quartering away from me. She was between 100- 125 yards. Bullet dropped her in her tracks. Once I got her home and hung up for skinning i looked it over and was quite impressed. Once skinned there was a golf ball sized exit towards the top half of the off shoulder. I was surprised that the meat around it looked more like hamburger instead of jello which is what i usually see with cup and core bullets. This is the only rifle i run hammers or any mono in. I am really impressed with them as far as accuracy and now on game experience. If I get time tonight I'll get a picture of the exit and post.
 
Shot a coyote @15 yds and a de @ 25ish yds last week. Coyote had a 3" chunk missing from it's back. Doe was trotting,hit about 3" behind shoulder. Golf ball size exit, went about 8 yards. Lungs were soup, liver had cuts, and top of heart was severed (last two presumably from petals sheared off). Was a 80 grain Hammer Hunter out of a 243AI, 3550 fps muzzle velocity. It's a small sampling but I'm impressed thus far.
 
I run the 124 HH out of my 6.5x47. This gun is used for tree stand hunting thick bush in Manitoba. I've killed two whitetail bucks now with this combo. Last years was 50 yds this year about 35 yds. Buck last year was slightly quartering to. Hit him in the shoulder and exited on other shoulder completely destroying the big leg bone and sending bone fragments everywhere. DRT. This year at 35 yds was almost a facing me shot. Shot buck at neck shoulder junction and exited at last rib on opposite side. Exit was about 1.5" wide and penetrated a total of 30". The x47 is no hot rod but shoots the 124 HH at 2938 FPS. So impact velocity will still be pretty high at these ranges. I couldn't be more impressed with the Hammers. Will be ordering more shortly as I'm going to convert a few guns over to the hammers now.
 
I've shot quite a few under 50 yards. Only had 1 coyote runner from a .264 - 109gr bullet at 3300 FPS. Dropped him with second shot at 110 yards.
First shot literally blew his organs out so he was dead. Just had a lot of adrenaline left.
 
In the 3 seasons I've been user Hammer Bullets, I've killed deer and hogs from 50 to 300 yds using 220 Swift, 257 Roberts, 25-06, 6.5 CM, 264 WM, 280 Rem and 280 AI and all results have been the same.....Excellent Performance! Most have been DRT with none going farther than 50 yds with a little less than perfect shot placement. As far as Accubonds go, I've never used them myself but have always heard only good reports of their performance until recently......one of my hunters shot a bucks this season and last....both at around 100 yds broadside.....and both deer ran 50-75 yds and neither bullet exited. And this was with a 264 WM and 130 gr Accubonds! At 264 WM speed, bullets should have easily exited! We found both bullets just under the skin in the off shoulder. I don't think he'll be shooting Accubonds anymore!
 
Antelope at 40 6mm creed 88 grain hammer hunter at 3350 frontal shot one of the petals exited up between the shoulder blades and the spine.
 

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I am interested in the hammer bullets in .355 for the 350 legend. We can only use straight walled cartridges here. I wonder how they would compare with what is on the market now.
 
178 grain absolute hammer out of 300 wm, 3230 muzzle velocity. Shot was about 150 yards
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entry was in front of his right shoulder


Tip broke off as designed, 2 petals weighing a total of 10 grains exited shoulder after breaking it
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bullet travelled through chest the long way, diagonal, destroyed both lungs and the liver, exiting in front of his left hip, leaving a wide wound and heavy (but short) blood trail. I would estimate the bullet was traveling at 3,000 FPS at the point of impact.
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This was a mature Wisconsin whitetail, likely in the 200 pound class dressed weight. Went about 30 yards after impact.
 
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181 gr hammer out of a 300 wm. Target mature bull elk. Right at 100 yards. Very step country. Elk went approx 20 yards, died, then slide down the hill approx 70 yards. Shot was behind shoulders a little higher than I'd have liked. Broke a rib going in and was a complete pass through. Performed great.
 
its a monolithic bullet, pretty much any mono will almost always exit-- but hammers have the extra benefit of the 3 pedals
I don't think my issue was whether they would penetrate/exit but rather would they simply pencil through with little damage.
 
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