Which hammer bullet to chose for 18in 308?

[Cookie114]

So I've never ran any Hammers but I'm wanting to try some in my 18in barrel 308w. It's my primary deer rifle and shots will be under 300y. I'm wanting to push a light bullet fast. Looking at the website but not sure to go with 124s,130s or the 135s??

I've got R15 and Ramshot Tac for my 2 powders.

 

[budlight]

124 gr. I have a 20 inch 308 and use tac and CFE223. I get about 3080 fps using 48 gr of TAC. It's an under max load. I'm a pig hunter!

.308 Cal-124g Hammer Hunter - Hammer Bullets

If you want to have some fun with your 30 cal, this is the one. With the short baring surface and light weight of this Hammer Hunter it will make your 'ol 30 cal a laser. This little bullet flat gets it done on big game with the vel that it can be pushed to.

hammerbullets.com

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

Howdy, 124 HH. I've used RL-10, Tac, CFE223, Superperformance. I settled on RL-10 at 3300fps. Start low and work up. Hope this helps.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

Howdy, 124 HH. I've used RL-10, Tac, CFE223, Superperformance. I settled on RL-10 at 3300fps. Start low and work up. Hope this helps.

I should have finished with 24"barrel, Vanguard, Lapua brass, 210M, measured with Sporter V3 crony. BE SAFE.

 

[Cookie114]

I love the Barnes LRX because it acts like a hammer in my experience and the pedals peel off. But they don't have any offering in the LRX below 176g (30cal) so I'm gonna give the hammers a try. I've heard nothing but good on here about hammers

 

[DoneNOut]

I will recommend the 137HH. I have it cruising 3000fps 20" AR10. The bullet length fills up the case neck nicely. My 137HH load with AA2520 is the most accurate load I've shot to date. A couple .05 MOA 4 shot groups and holding a 12 shot group sub MOA.

I see TAC performing quite outstanding with the 137HH from what another poster reported for load data at Hammer Time forum.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

I love the Barnes LRX because it acts like a hammer in my experience and the pedals peel off. But they don't have any offering in the LRX below 176g (30cal) so I'm gonna give the hammers a try. I've heard nothing but good on here about hammers

I used the 130 TTSX for years, tried HAMMERS 124 and I will keep on HAMMERING. In the 30cal. I use them in 308, 30-06, 300 Wm, and 300RUM. Haven't tried them in my 30-378 YET.

 

[antleredacres]

I used the 130 TTSX for years, tried HAMMERS 124 and I will keep on HAMMERING. In the 30cal. I use them in 308, 30-06, 300 Wm, and 300RUM. Haven't tried them in my 30-378 YET.

I'm shooting the 124 HH in a 20" Proof Elevation at 3150 FPS. First time this year on a WT. Little over 200 yds. Bang, flop.

 

[Cookie114]

I used the 130 TTSX for years, tried HAMMERS 124 and I will keep on HAMMERING. In the 30cal. I use them in 308, 30-06, 300 Wm, and 300RUM. Haven't tried them in my 30-378 YET.

That's what I have now but i like the better expansion of the LRX but that's not a option in the weight range I'm interested in.

 

[Cookie114]

I'm shooting the 124 HH in a 20" Proof Elevation at 3150 FPS. First time this year on a WT. Little over 200 yds. Bang, flop.

What powder are you running

 

[SuperBruce]

I know it's not in your list but the 150 power hammer can be pushed pretty fast. The load I settled on runs 2880 fps out of my Bergara 18" 308 win using H4895. I went heavier so I would feel comfortable using it for both deer and elk.

If you haven't seen it already, check out the attachment on this post to see folks hammer hunter load data so you can get an idea of what to expect velocity wise.

Hammer Hunter Load Data, (See page 1, Post 8)

OK, folks. Steve at Hammer Bullets has been getting requests for load data on Hammer Hunter bullets. There is an extensive spreadsheet for Absolute Hammer Load Data developed and shared by members on this Forum. Data for Hammer Hunters is on the Hammertime Forum, but it has not been placed...

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[budlight]

Every chamber is different. I have a 20 inch AR-10. I tried working up to this max loaded 61,500 psi round and I was hurting the primer pockets on some cases. So I actually seated the rounds deeper so I wouldn't have to pull a bunch of bullets. I settled in on the 48gr. of TAC and started making some clover leafs at 100 yards using a lead sled. The 124 hammers and 125 noslers shoot the same and kind of indicate the same pressure levels. It has to do with the copper mailability. The Barnes X line up is harder copper and in the reloading books they decrease the amount of powder. I've used the X bullets for 30+ years in all kinds of calibers. The hammers are just a new option.

I am very pro to using slower powders. So I have actually started using CFE 223 and LeverRevolution in 308 with good results. Look at the powder burn rate charts.

My actual pig round for many years is the Speer TNT 125 HP varmint round. They were sold in 500 round packs for cheap. I had a Oklahoma game warden tell me to kill as many as you can because he had been out on previous days doing helicopter hunting. I ask him for a Job!

Out of the Hodgdon website

BULLET WEIGHT
125 GR. NOS BT
CASE
WINCHESTER
PRIMER
WINCHESTER LR, LARGE RIFLE

	Starting Load		Maximum Loads
	Manufacturer	Powder		Bullet Diam.	C.O.L		Grs.	Vel. (ft/s)	Pressure		Grs.	Vel. (ft/s)	Pressure
	Ramshot	TAC	BUY NOW	0.308"	2.750"		46.1	2,998	55,400 PSI		51.2	3,269	61,500 PSI

 

[choprzrul]

I know it's not in your list but the 150 power hammer can be pushed pretty fast. The load I settled on runs 2880 fps out of my Bergara 18" 308 win using H4895. I went heavier so I would feel comfortable using it for both deer and elk.

If you haven't seen it already, check out the attachment on this post to see folks hammer hunter load data so you can get an idea of what to expect velocity wise.

Hammer Hunter Load Data, (See page 1, Post 8)

OK, folks. Steve at Hammer Bullets has been getting requests for load data on Hammer Hunter bullets. There is an extensive spreadsheet for Absolute Hammer Load Data developed and shared by members on this Forum. Data for Hammer Hunters is on the Hammertime Forum, but it has not been placed...

www.longrangehunting.com

This is quick and easy also: https://sites.google.com/view/hbsha...rsZmHnoFtybZAvPdHfbdou2Bm_eZVukfEBcVicU&pli=1

 

[Shane Lindsey]

In my 20" barrel.

124gr Hammer Hunter with CFE 223 3034 FPS, Shooters World Precision 2965 FPS.
152gr Hammer Hunter (now discontinued) 2850 FPS CFE223, 2815 FPS Shooters World Precision.
166gr Hammer Hunter with N550 2694 FPS.

Most recent load has been the 135 Power Hammer and CFE223. Haven't chronoed it yet, but should be in the middle of the above. Shoots small with the can on it...

Make sure your twist rate is good and if anything, overtwist these...