G Mornin Gents & Gentetts, Thanks Admins for the add. Very nice armament SwatDude. I’m very much interested in the 300 HAM’R 8”. Spent a lot of time searching the web for reviews, videos, etc, not much out there on the 8” HAM’R but it did bring me here 😳. Those of you with access to 8”, I would greatly appreciate links to any videos/reviews of Ham’r in action. I’m still researching what the Socialist State of NJ allows as far as ARP. I would like to add it to my self defense collection but also wouldn’t mind taking it on a hunt where allowed. I don’t see myself taking shots over 200 yds. How does 8” fair as far as hunting? I see a lot of the ballistic comparisons stop at the 11”. In a previously posted chart, the 8” HAM’R has a very slight advantage over 300 Blackout. If I stay in the 8” barrel, are their advantages of Ham’r over BO, vise versa? How is the 8” as far as shoulder fired, flash, etc? Again, still researching here in the ‘Garden State’ as far as purchasing ARP, the Troy A4 10” was ok to purchase because it’s marked “Other” hoping it doesn’t change. Can’t move until grandchildren are in school. Thanks in advance for advice & suggestions. Stay Safe.

I don't have a 8" BLK here at the ranch and we don't make 8" 300 HAM'R barrels, but here's a comparison of my two 11.3" pistols

I don't have a 8" BLK here at the ranch and we don't make 8" 300 HAM'R barrels, but here's a comparison of my two 11.3" pistols


Wilson doesn’t make the 8” Ham’r barrel?

HVT, I would say the 8" HAM'R has way more than a slight advantage over the BO with supersonic ammo, since that is all the HAM'R is designed for. It depends on the bullet but ethical range for game should be in the range of 75 to 130 yards.... a little farther for defensive use. I would encourage you to read all 32 pages. The problem with BO is it was designed to fire supersonic and subsonic bullets and IMO doesn't really do either well. Supersonically, it does slightly out perform 5.56 in shorter barrels and at shorter distances but drops like a rock further out. For effective subsonic use, it takes some very specialized bullets to perform in that role since most 308 was not made to expand at subsonic velocities. In fact, I'm getting rid of all my 300BO in lieu of the HAM'R. I have one 10-inch FN CHF Barreled FDE 300BO upper left to sell and a couple of cases of the Barnes TAC-TX 110gr loaded ammunition to unload. Using the money for more HAM'R!! The 8" shoots great. I use it at the range with a brake and don't mind the concussion at all. Just make sure you get an extra power spring from Wilson Combat or it will HAM'R your shoulder a little harder and be less controllable. Finally, the list of suitable bullets for HAM'R continues to grow!

Are most of you using H1 buffers with 16" and 18" barrels?

I never run anything except at standard weight buffer in any of my guns.

I never run anything except at standard weight buffer in any of my guns.

The 135gr HAM'R BONDED loads went up on the web site this am

Some personal testing with the 8-inch pistol using Wilson Combat Flat Wire Extra Power Spring and H1 buffer: holding it one-handed loosely the bolt will lock back on an empty mag all day long with 130 HHC. Same loose one hand hold with 150 gr HB-bolt will not lock on empty mag but rounds will feed. Same loose one hand hold with 150 gr SST-bolt will not lock on empty mag but rounds will feed.

Everything same as above with carbine buffer in lieu of H1: no difference in mag lock results above. With the pistol gas I prefer a heavier buffer to save my extractors. Next time I'm at the range I'll see if an H2 has any negative effects on full bolt travel.

I am chomping at the bit for the 135 HAM'R Bonded round and think this will be my single solution for this caliber (although my experience has been there is very little POI change between the 130 gr and 150 gr bullets within 100 yards, a testament to the accuracy of the caliber). I've tired of my schizophrenic gun collection and ammunition selection and am now paring down to just a few favorite calibers with one or two "go to" rounds. For 556, I use XM193 exclusively for range and stockpile ammo, and Black Hills 77 TMK's for "carry" ammo, although those AR's have been mostly collecting dust since HAM'R came along. Since I don't reload, I'm hoping some cheaper practice ammo will become available as the popularity of this caliber sky-rockets.

I really think the Army should abandoned their new plans for a proprietary 6.8 and just swap all their M-4's to HAM'R. This is a selfish wish since I would love a milspec HAM'R round with crimped and sealed primers and sealed case mouths (Bill is already using cannelures). I experienced first hand what a blown primer can do in the FBI HRT Bus Assault school when it lodged between the front of the lower receiver and hammer. AR dead in the water with no available remedial action to correct except transitioning to handgun.

Regarding the 11.3" barrel, the gas port seems a bit undersized. I'm running that gun with a carbine buffer and standard power flat wire spring. Same results above with one hand loose hold.

I should add performing the same test above with a loosely shouldered 8 and 11.3 inch, results in full bolt travel and empty mag lock with 125 TNT, 130 HHC, 150 HB and 150 SST's. Just depends on how OCD you want to be with full feeding reliability for worst case scenario vs. a slightly softer recoiling rifle. It seems counter-intuitive that the heavier bullets would have less bolt thrust but that is exactly what my testing proves out.

I have no idea how I missed this bullet option until early 2020, but I did??? I've been shooting a lot of hogs with the Speer #2022 150gr BTSP (a bullet Speer has made forever and during normal times in readily available) and I can report that it not only shoots the best of any 150gr I've tried, it kills hogs VERY well. With it's advertised BC of .417 (I think this is optimistic) it shoots the flattest of any load I've tried. Based on the latest pressure test data you can push them to over 2300fps out of a 18" barrel at 55k PSI.

I think I'm just going to leave my Dillon 750 set-up for this load permanently!

The expanded bullet in this photo was recovered from a 160# hog shot from 100yds.

I have no idea how I missed this bullet option until early 2020, but I did??? I've been shooting a lot of hogs with the Speer #2022 150gr BTSP (a bullet Speer has made forever and during normal times in readily available) and I can report that it not only shoots the best of any 150gr I've tried, it kills hogs VERY well. With it's advertised BC of .417 (I think this is optimistic) it shoots the flattest of any load I've tried. Based on the latest pressure test data you can push them to over 2300fps out of a 18" barrel at 55k PSI.

I think I'm just going to leave my Dillon 750 set-up for this load permanently!

The expanded bullet in this photo was recovered from a 160# hog shot from 100yds.

That looks like a good one! I don't know if this will help but JBM Ballistics has a bullet length list available online that I use quite a bit. The Hornady 150 gr SST #30303 is 1.17"~ OAL and that's about the max I've looked at in seeing what other bullets might work. Not all of them will work due to the shape of the bullet but it gives you an idea about the number of potential bullets that might work. By my math from the base of the neck to magazine lenth (2.260") is .890"~. A bullet that length or shorter would give you the most room for powder while anything longer starts to move into the powder space. That 150 gr. Speer BTSP, from what I've found, should be about 1.07". So likely you only have the boat tail protruding into the case past the base of the neck. The Sierra 150 gr Pro Hunters I've loaded up have a flat base sticking into the case past the base of the neck and probably take up more case volume than those BTSP's.