Introducing the Absolute Hammer

[SeboCreek]

Shot today the 123 Absolute Hammer out of a 6.5 Weatherby McWhorter. Short session. Started at 68 Rel 26 up to 70. Velocities 3245 up to 3427. First four shots .296 inches. Choked the last. Knew when I shot it. No pressure signs and was 83 degrees. Going to keep pushing but like what I see so far.

 

[GLTaylor]

what length barrel? I can't wait to try the new ones in mine

If you're asking me, this was for comparison to the 6.5 PRC in question above. My CM has a 24" bbl.

 

[Warrenoliver]

Question on twist- in theory if you push a bullet faster, can you get away with lower twist rate but still achieve the same bullet rpm? Thus the same stability as a faster twist rate but slower bullet?

I'm asking for the same reason- I have a 1/9 twist -7 SAUM . The 155 AH says 1/8, but if you can push it 200-300 fps faster can you get away with a 1/9 twist?

I was hoping to get away with it too. I ordered a sample pack of 15 of the 7mm 155 Absolute Hammer for my 280 Ackley Improved with a 9 1/2 twist barrel. Steve recommends at least an 8 twist barrel but I thought I would give it a try.
155 absolute hammer
H4831SC
215M Primers
Peterson brass
Magnetospeed
59 gr 2874
60 gr 2939
61 gr 2966
62 gr 3007
63 gr 3069
No ejector marks and no heavy bolt lift. I would have gone higher but all of the bullets left oblong holes in the target at 100yards!
Looks like I'll have to stick with the 146 hammer hunter bullets

 

[SeboCreek]

Shot the 155 Absolute Hammer two days ago through 9 twist 280 AI using H4831sc. Started low and got to 58.5 at 2890 FPS and 59 at 2930. About half of shots not stabile. Going to try 7 STW with these and hope they will work, but think 280ai isn't going to work. No pressure signs on my loads.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Shot the 155 Absolute Hammer two days ago through 9 twist 280 AI using H4831sc. Started low and got to 58.5 at 2890 FPS and 59 at 2930. About half of shots not stabile. Going to try 7 STW with these and hope they will work, but think 280ai isn't going to work. No pressure signs on my loads.

What twist is your barrel?

 

[wildwilderness]

What twist is your barrel?

Looks like they said 1:9

As mentioned I have a 7mm-08 with a 1:8 twist- would you recommend the 155 AH in 7-08? What powder and velocity would you expect?

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Looks like they said 1:9

As mentioned I have a 7mm-08 with a 1:8 twist- would you recommend the 155 AH in 7-08? What powder and velocity would you expect?

I was asking about the twist of the stw.

Your 8 twist 7-08 would run the 155g AH fine. I am guessing about 3100 fps. My only thought is the 155g AH is pretty long and may not fit well in the short action. We did some testing yesterday with a 140g in my 280ai. Saw a about 250 fps gain over my 143g HH load. Will do some more shooting today and hopefully shoot long. Looks like smoke is down, hoping to see far enough.

This is a 9" twist bullet. May fit better.

 

[codyadams]

Looks like they said 1:9

As mentioned I have a 7mm-08 with a 1:8 twist- would you recommend the 155 AH in 7-08? What powder and velocity would you expect?

I am not Steve, but I think that 155 would work nicely in a 7-08 with an 8 twist, especially with the added velocity anticipated. I really like Varget in a 7-08, and would still give you plenty of room for more powder, and always seems to be easy to find an accurate load with, and is very, very temp stable. StaBALL might be good, though I don't know anything about it and haven't ever used it, but it lists some good velocities according to Hodgdon. Take that with a grain of salt though, they are running it at much higher pressures than the other powders they list.... (stupid marketing). H4350 might work well if you don't run out of room, and H4895 certainly won't run out of room, since it is on the faster side for that weight range. I would do it like this though....

Start right at or just under Hodgdon listed max for the 154 and work up, first with Varget, then H4350, then H4895, then lastly, StaBALL. Probably because I have the first three on hand. If you have a 24" barrel, I would think around 2950-3000 fps or so considering the room the bullet may take up due to seating limitations, if the 300 fps increase is accurate

 

[just_jon]

Shot the 155 Absolute Hammer two days ago through 9 twist 280 AI using H4831sc. Started low and got to 58.5 at 2890 FPS and 59 at 2930. About half of shots not stabile. Going to try 7 STW with these and hope they will work, but think 280ai isn't going to work. No pressure signs on my loads.

I had no stability issues with the 155 AH in my 1-9 STW.

 

[SeboCreek]

Both my STW s are 9 twist with 25 and 26 inch barrels. Steve said 280ai in 9 twist might have worked at altitude but only about 1350 feet.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I am not big on stretching the twist rate if the rifle is going to be used for hunting. It is most definitely possible to shoot marginally stable bullets very well. But, marginal stability greatly increases the possibility of a poor terminal performance. Tumbling after impact or not opening because the bullet is in yaw on impact is the potential problem. I believe many of the stories told about bullets and poor terminal performance can be chalked up to marginal stability.

 

[CMP70306]

Quick update on the 123 AH in a 6.5 PRC, H4350 is too fast and pressures out at 56.6gr and 3245 fps in my 24" Proof barrel. Still shooting so I'll update with the full ladder later.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Quick update on the 123 AH in a 6.5 PRC, H4350 is too fast and pressures out at 56.6gr and 3245 fps in my 24" Proof barrel. Still shooting so I'll update with the full ladder later.

We did very well yesterday with H100V in a 6.5-06ai.

 

[JMW67]

We did very well yesterday with H100V in a 6.5-06ai.

what kind of velocity did you see I will be trying the 123 in a 6.5-280 AI in a few days I was thinking of this powder shooting the 124 now with RL-23 a little over 3400fps