Thread: 284 Hammer projectiles in my 7mm-08

I have been experimenting with 140 gr Absolute Hammer in my 7mm-08 . (Remmington 700 )
settled on 44.5 grains of 2208 ( 45gr is hot/ sticky lifts on bolt ) V=2900 ft/sec ave
No pressure , in Norma brass , CCI primers , COAL 2.8 , Barrell at 22 inch , accuracy better than 1 MOA .
My calcs = 1800 ft/secs/ 1000 ft/lbs at 600 yds

I like these projectiles , and have used them on deer . They work well . Look them up https://hammerbullets.com/
These projectiles are unique . They are not like other copper bullets in that the driving bands produce lower pressure that other projectiles .



NOTE TO ALL .
Gordons reloading tool predicted the load to be too DANGEROUS to use at well over 70,000 lbs of pressure and a velocity of about 3000 ft/sec .
I worked this load up from 43 grains to 45 grains. Pressure signs were evident at 45 grains in slightly flat primer and sticky bolt lift, and i "felt "the load in the recoil.
I am confident to tell all , there is no doubt this is compressed load. However, there was nothing particularly noticeable in the building of the load . I did not measure "neck tension " but did add the very slightest crimp pressure

Use this info at your own risk

I had a quick look at their website. Looks like it would cost around $325nzd for 100 of the 140s landed in NZ buying from them direct. Did you go about this a different way? A bit too rich for me.

I have always been interested in monolithic projectiles and it seems a lot of work is happening to get them up to spec for hunting by a bunch of different companies.

I have a contact with a hammer projectile fanboy in aussie.
He begs borrows and steals any projectiles ( usually means he gets them.brought in by people and in lots), and is quite good to talk to.
Sont knowing he does every single projectile and i didnt push the button but might be worth a crack

Yep , the exchange rate is truely shithouse right now , but.............
FYI , I have two loads that work well . One for the 120 gr ( shoots 0.5 MOA at 400 mts ) and one for the above 140 gr ( 0.9 moa ) . Which means for you , if you split a box with somebody ( and all things being equal ) you have no load developement meaning no waste and you will get 2 and a half boxes each of something truely special for about 200 bucks each . Just saying

Meant to tell you as well ...
I did import some , and then ( while in the states recently ) bought some back . SO, I paid about 200 NZD per 100 ( first import ) and 150 nzd as luggage .

124gn Hammer Hunter in my .308 are shooting tiny little groups.
7mm Hammer Hunter in my .280ai went well too.

I think you will find the Absolute Hammer is different again but can achieve better velocities due to design.

Yes, that Aussie fan Boy is great to deal with if you are able to import by mail ????

Nz has no problem importing projectiles . There are no import restrictions for projectiles, or brass .

Shit that's a hot load, I did a ladder test in the quest of speed with my 708 using 2208, didn't get anywhere near 45gr. I had sticky bolt and primers starting to back out at 44gr v 2828fps

Originally Posted by LJPRMC

I have been experimenting with 140 gr Absolute Hammer in my 7mm-08 . (Remmington 700 )
settled on 44.5 grains of 2208 ( 45gr is hot/ sticky lifts on bolt ) V=2900 ft/sec ave
No pressure , in Norma brass , CCI primers , COAL 2.8 , Barrell at 22 inch , accuracy better than 1 MOA .
My calcs = 1800 ft/secs/ 1000 ft/lbs at 600 yds

I like these projectiles , and have used them on deer . They work well . Look them up https://hammerbullets.com/
These projectiles are unique . They are not like other copper bullets in that the driving bands produce lower pressure that other projectiles .



NOTE TO ALL .
Gordons reloading tool predicted the load to be too DANGEROUS to use at well over 70,000 lbs of pressure and a velocity of about 3000 ft/sec .
I worked this load up from 43 grains to 45 grains. Pressure signs were evident at 45 grains in slightly flat primer and sticky bolt lift, and i "felt "the load in the recoil.
I am confident to tell all , there is no doubt this is compressed load. However, there was nothing particularly noticeable in the building of the load . I did not measure "neck tension " but did add the very slightest crimp pressure

Use this info at your own risk

Greetings @LJPRMC,
I have to agree with the Gordons reloading tool that that is a dangerously hot load. Book max for non solid copper projectiles runs between 42 and 43 grains of AR2208 so you are 2 grains north of that. Your velocity at 2,900 fps is 100 fps higher than book max loads in your barrel length another pressure warning. The extra velocity works out to about 2 extra grains of powder which is where you are. Working up looking for pressure signs often results in loads that develop pressure in the 70,000 PSI range so you are in dangerous territory by any measure. If you must have 2,900 fps a larger case is the safe option rather than over loading a 7mm-08.
Regards Grandpamac.

The difference is the projectile. Check out the specifics of the 140 gr Absolute hammer https://hammerbullets.com/ . The protectile is unique in its design . There is nothing like it . The company makes several different projectiles , and i also use the 120 Hammer Hunter ( 3042 ft/sec ) from them , but the 140 gr absolute is different to all others . check it out

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings @LJPRMC,
I have to agree with the Gordons reloading tool that that is a dangerously hot load. Book max for non solid copper projectiles runs between 42 and 43 grains of AR2208 so you are 2 grains north of that. Your velocity at 2,900 fps is 100 fps higher than book max loads in your barrel length another pressure warning. The extra velocity works out to about 2 extra grains of powder which is where you are. Working up looking for pressure signs often results in loads that develop pressure in the 70,000 PSI range so you are in dangerous territory by any measure. If you must have 2,900 fps a larger case is the safe option rather than over loading a 7mm-08.
Regards Grandpamac.

I was already thinking the same, thanks for chiming in, people often look for "pressure signs" sticky bolt, flattened primers, cratered primers, hard extraction etc etc these can be signs of pressure but the most accurate pressure sign in most cases sign is velocity if your velocity is in excess of book max you are in the danger zone
I think a lot of people (myself included at times) get caught up in book max velocity and trying to emulate it or exceed it as a target, remember book max is often based on pressure not velocity.... the older I get the less I am tempted to dance in the danger zone.
If you need more hp go for a cartridge that can deliver it without the risk of exploding next to your face.
Also running over max loads will just trash your brass quicker (loose primer pockets, split necks case head seperating etc etc).
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. ...

form the website for you guys .............
Absolute Hammers are very similar to the Hammer Hunter bullets with the same 1.5mm hollow point and the same basic form. We designed the Absolute Hammer so that it can not be engraved on the ogive of the bullet. The only part of the bullet that encounters the barrel is the PDR drive bands. This greatly reduced the engraving pressure of the bullet which in turn increased the potential velocity in most cartridges. Because of the very low engraving pressure the Absolute Hammers do not line up well with conventional bullet loading data. They should only be loaded by expert reloaders that are capable of working up a load without any supporting data.

Originally Posted by LJPRMC

form the website for you guys .............
Absolute Hammers are very similar to the Hammer Hunter bullets with the same 1.5mm hollow point and the same basic form. We designed the Absolute Hammer so that it can not be engraved on the ogive of the bullet. The only part of the bullet that encounters the barrel is the PDR drive bands. This greatly reduced the engraving pressure of the bullet which in turn increased the potential velocity in most cartridges. Because of the very low engraving pressure the Absolute Hammers do not line up well with conventional bullet loading data. They should only be loaded by expert reloaders that are capable of working up a load without any supporting data.

No hate and it's your face next to it but is .5gn under sticky bolt really where you wanna be ? That's still fizzing ifyou discount all the book max stuff.....

Greetings,
Also they say on their site not to exceed maximum velocities for the same weight of projectile in loading manuals. You are doing this by around 100 fps or 2 grains of powder. The sentence about only being loaded by expert reloaders looks like arse covering to me. The product looks like a niche product for those that must have something different. The failure of the manufacturer to offer any loading data is a big red flag to me. I have been handloading for 50 years and I don't count myself as an expert and never work up a load without any supporting data. That bit sounds like an appeal to vanity to me.
Regards Grandpamac.

Greetings Once More,
I thought it might be useful to expand a little on how I go about setting a target velocity for handloads. First data is gathered from the pressure tested on line data put up by the projectile and powder companies. For this exercise data from what I refer to as soft. medium and hard was collated. Soft is thin jacketed flat base projectiles like the Hornady Interlock and the Remington Corelokt. Medium are the boat tail projectiles with thicker jackets like the Nosler AB and hard are the solid copper boat tail projectiles. The mediums are longer than the softs so take up more powder space and the solid copper longer still. Using AR2208, 140 grain projectiles
and adjusting for the 22" barrel max loads and velocities gives the following results.

Soft Projectiles 43.5 grains of AR2208 for 2,830 fps.
Medium projectiles 42.2 grains of AR2208 for 2,780 fps.
Hard Projectiles 41.2 grains of AR2208 for 2,740 fps.

Part of the reason for the reduced charge as you progress from soft to hard is the increased amount of case volume taken up by the projectile when seated to mag length. This occurs even if the projectile has, or the manufacturer claims have some type of trick ogive and grooves.
I recently went through this process for a friend using the Remington 140 grain projectile and AR2208. I classed the projectile as soft and able to use the Hodgdon data for the 139 grain Interlock I tested 42.5 grains of AR2208 which chronographed 2,760 fps when corrected for a 22" barrel which shot well so we stopped there.
For the Hammer projectile I would recommend a max of no more than 41.5 grains of AR2208 and expect a velocity of about 2,750 fps. Neither you or the deer will notice the difference in performance and it does not risk the rifle blowing up in your face.
Regards Grandpamac.