Which Hammer bullet for 280ai 140 Absolute Hammer or 143 Hammer Hunter

[Josh06]

Josh. I'd also like to know brass type and barrel length. That's great velocity. I can't there with Petersen brass and H100V. I am over 3300 FPS though. But primers are flat. No other pressure signs other than flat primers. My barrel is 23"

Nosler 280ai brass. 23" barrel. Superformance powder

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Josh. I'd also like to know brass type and barrel length. That's great velocity. I can't there with Petersen brass and H100V. I am over 3300 FPS though. But primers are flat. No other pressure signs other than flat primers. My barrel is 23"

Primers are difficult to read. They are part of the equation. Feel your rifle. How the bolt feels at mild load compared to how it feels as you climb in pressure. Look at your case head for extractor marks. Watch for changes from mild to higher pressure. Check your primer pockets by decapping and seating a new primer. Are they still stiff to seat or seat more easily than unfired? All of these together tell the pressure story. I loaded the 140g Absolute Hammer in a 22" barrel 280ai with h100v to 3400 fps. This was with Peterson brass. So your 3300 fps tells me you are starting to build some pressure. Every rifle is diff. Work up carefully watching all of the indicators of pressure together.

 

[BEEMAN]

Thanks Steve. flat primers is the only pressure signs. Highest lab radar reading was 3479 FPS I believe. Very busy with work so haven't shot in a few weeks. I'm also curious if the primer pockets are still tight. Never had an extractor mark or hard bolt lift on any of the loads I tried. Do you know how many grains of H100V you used? Think I'm shooting 61 gr now. Custom actions and Petersen brass may also hide some pressure signs. Either way I'm happy with 3300 plus FPS.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Thanks Steve. flat primers is the only pressure signs. Highest lab radar reading was 3479 FPS I believe. Very busy with work so haven't shot in a few weeks. I'm also curious if the primer pockets are still tight. Never had an extractor mark or hard bolt lift on any of the loads I tried. Do you know how many grains of H100V you used? Think I'm shooting 61 gr now. Custom actions and Petersen brass may also hide some pressure signs. Either way I'm happy with 3300 plus FPS.

I am not near the journal. I would say 3480 fps is likely getting pretty close to pressure. If primer pockets there are tight I would explore accuracy there.

I gotta add. 3480 fps with a140g bullet from a 280ai, DANG!!!

 

[BEEMAN]

I agree. When I seen that I stopped! Figured I must be at pressure. But still no ejector or hard bolt lift.

 

[dougduey]

I am not near the journal. I would say 3480 fps is likely getting pretty close to pressure. If primer pockets there are tight I would explore accuracy there.

I gotta add. 3480 fps with a140g bullet from a 280ai, DANG!!!

Just to give another experience, I ran a course pressure test a couple weeks ago with my new 280 AI barrel & 140 Absolute when starting load work up for the 120 gr HH. Using Petersen brass and 215 M with HV100, I got a sooty primer with 63.5gr at 3475 fps. I stopped there since I figured I was close to max even though no heavy bolt lift or extractor marks.
I'm planning on mainly going with the 120 HH, but I had some 140 AH's and couldn't resist giving them a try. I've got a few loaded at 63.0 gr to test for groups the next time I get to the range. Should end up around 3450 fps if all goes well. I'll report back once I do.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Just to give another experience, I ran a course pressure test a couple weeks ago with my new 280 AI barrel & 140 Absolute when starting load work up for the 120 gr HH. Using Petersen brass and 215 M with HV100, I got a sooty primer with 63.5gr at 3475 fps. I stopped there since I figured I was close to max even though no heavy bolt lift or extractor marks.
I'm planning on mainly going with the 120 HH, but I had some 140 AH's and couldn't resist giving them a try. I've got a few loaded at 63.0 gr to test for groups the next time I get to the range. Should end up around 3450 fps if all goes well. I'll report back once I do.

What primer? We have seen this with a particular lot of Winchester. Several years old.

 

[BEEMAN]

Doug is that load not very compressed? I was compressed at 62 gr using a drop tube. I'm curious to see the results you get with the 120 HH. I was thinking of ordering the 120 for my 284 Win barrel that I haven't shot yet.

 

[dougduey]

What primer? We have seen this with a particular lot of Winchester. Several years old.

Primer is 215 M

 

[dougduey]

Doug is that load not very compressed? I was compressed at 62 gr using a drop tube. I'm curious to see the results you get with the 120 HH. I was thinking of ordering the 120 for my 284 Win barrel that I haven't shot yet.

It's pretty much at capacity. I had one loaded at 64.0 gr but didn't shoot it.

 

[BEEMAN]

It's pretty much at capacity. I had one loaded at 64.0 gr but didn't shoot it.

If my friend measured right, at 62 gr my case heads were expanded 2 thou! No pressure signs other than flat primers. I was looking at the load data sheet and seen your loads. There's no way I can run that high. In my gun. But that's why we work up. Wonder if some Petersen brass has different case capacity?

 

[RockyMtnMT]

If my friend measured right, at 62 gr my case heads were expanded 2 thou! No pressure signs other than flat primers. I was looking at the load data sheet and seen your loads. There's no way I can run that high. In my gun. But that's why we work up. Wonder if some Petersen brass has different case capacity?

Peterson brass will certainly handle more pressure than most others.

 

[dougduey]

If my friend measured right, at 62 gr my case heads were expanded 2 thou! No pressure signs other than flat primers. I was looking at the load data sheet and seen your loads. There's no way I can run that high. In my gun. But that's why we work up. Wonder if some Petersen brass has different case capacity?

A year ago, I was using Hornady and Nosler brass with the loads in the spreadsheet. I just switched over to Petersen brass when I got the new barrel.

 

[nimrod_gn]

I have a new 280 AI custom rifle (Tikka action and Proof CW barrel) that I want to shoot 140 Absolutes in but so far I can't get it to shoot well with H100V, H4350, or RL7. Very disappointing. I have some RL16 and Superperformance on the way. Hope one of them will produce something decent. Using Peterson brass. I can get good velocities, but the accuracy stinks