Hey guys - has anyone had any experience with CFE BLK lot number 6 to see where it is falling speedwise compared to the previous lots?

Thanks

I've not used any lot #6, only #2, #3, #4, #5 (very slow) and #8

Yesterday was a GREAT HAM'R day...........

2 good 8pt bucks, 2 sows and 2 boars, the biggest one was well over 200# with good cutters (note the exit of the 150gr SST after the entrance was center of shoulder through his hard shield, so much for hogs being bulletproof!!!).

Both bucks were approx 150-160yd shots and the hogs were from 70-100yds

The bucks and sows were shot with Hornady 135gr FTX and the boars with 150gr SST

For some reason the last photo didn't load???

Mr. Wilson, is Hornady not currently producing 135 Gr. FTX projectiles? I cannot locate any more. I have a solid load worked up for them with fantastic terminal performance and weight retention but I cannot locate any more projectiles

I sent you a PM OddJob94. Like most things right now the factory is likely producing components to put into loaded ammo. 135 FTX's are probably not a huge source of income for them compared to other bullets. I have enough to get me through this hunting season. Hopefully things get back to normal and I'll stock up when they're available again.

Yes they are still producing but apparently they are using them all loading Blackout ammo. We've not been able to get any for several months. Fortunately I have a personal stash of a few hundred and have several hundred loaded rounds.

Ill just have to stay vigilant. Thanks for your insights Sir.

@Wilson Combat

I am thinking about building another 300hamr and wonder if there any updates on availability of Protector-LW 16.25" 1:13 barrels?

Also, I need to load a few "sight-in" cartridges for factory 135FTX (which I'll be using on a hunt) and I wonder if you can share factory load data, to be as close as possible to factory cartridges (I'll be using unfired brass from your recent batch, CFEBLK and CCI#450)?


P.S.
How do I decode LOT number of my CFEBLK?

Due to the unprecedented demand we're dealing with a lot of barrel profiles have either been discontinued or put on temporary production hold. Currently we're only manufacturing two 16.25" profiles, the Ranger which is .650" before and after the gas block and the Protector/LE which is .740" before and after the gas block and both are 1-15 twist.

If you load the 135FTX to a MV of 2380-2400fps from your 16.25" you will basically duplicate our current factory load.

See photo below of the mfg date and lot # which shows this is a 8# container mfg on 03-27-20 lot #5

As always, thank you for such a prompt and detailed response.

Looks like Hodgdon do not mark their 1# bottles with a LOT number since I can't find it, only the date (1031219).
I remember reading that powder manufacturers sometimes mix powders from different lots for 1# bottles to reduce variability for 1# users.

Hello All,

I have a couple of question:

1. Self defense bullet:
I am looking into loading/purchasing ammo for self defense from 16.25" barrel.
Usually I use bonded bullets in 9mm and Copper expanding in 223rem and 300blk.
Now, with 300hamr, due to increased velocity, I am concerned regarding over penetration.
Intuitively I lean toward Barnes TSX 110gr but it would be nice to read other opinions.

2. Collet sizing die:
Today I've found Lee collet dies set for 300hamr and I am considering purchasing one to possibly extend brass life.
My concern is that many people advise against using collet dies with autoloaders but why would Lee manufacture one if there are no 300ham'r bolt actions that I am aware of.
Am I missing something? Do collet dies really extend brass life?

With the 16.25" barrel I'd be more inclined to go with a lighter, rapid expansion bullet like the 125 TNT, 130 Varmint, 110 V-Max, etc. You can take advantage of the velocity you get over the shorter barrels which aids in bullet expansion. I believe the 110 TSX would be a good bullet for game but they're known for weight retention and penetration so it may retain enough energy after it exits the intended target to do serious collateral damage. I think the slower, heavier bullets won't shed enough weight or energy to reduce the possibility of collateral damage. I'd like to test 125 TNT'S, 130 Varmint's, 110 Z-Max's (V-Max with a green tip), 135 FTX's and 150 Sierra Pro Hunter's out of my 11.3" to see which will work best for me (maximum terminal performance with minimal over penetration). Hopefully I'll get my hands on some others to test like the 110 SP's, 110 Varmageddon's, 135 Ham'r Bonded's, 150 Gold Dots, 150 BTSP's and whatever else I can pick up.

I bought a Lee collet sizing die for the Ham'r but I don't use if for resizing fired cases. The reason I bought it was to run converted brass into after forming to make the necks more uniform. The Lake City brass I've converted over had pretty uniform neck thickness. .0005-.001" in the random pieces I pulled to measure. I'm going to do a test soon with five pieces that have been through the collet die and five pieces that haven't to see if there's an accuracy advantage.

150gr SST did the job again. Dropped in its tracks.

A quick follow-up on my HAM'R project:

- Had some issues with not stripping rounds off the top of the mag. I have always used an H2 JP SCS. Swapped out for a regular carbine buffer and spring, and that eliminated the problem. I will have to get some stiffer springs for the SCS.

- I have had 3 instances of bullets staying in the bore and brass being ripped off when trying to extract live rounds from the chamber. My BCG is a chrome Expo Arms sourced from Primary Arms. I would have spent more money on one with a better reputation, however it was literally the only thing available given all the crap going on. After talking with WC, they suggested the bolt may have excessive headspace jamming the 110 Hornady soft points into the lands. I wonder if longer bullets would have even seated the BCG at all! I swapped the bolt for another one I had laying around. The new bolt has eliminated the issue, no more bullets getting ripped out of the brass.

Aside from that, gun ran like a top when I was zeroing my thermal late last week. Accuracy is acceptable. I'm happy with it, aside from the normal home builder's woes. Mine is a 14.7" barrel that'll be 100% suppressed, will hand my Magnetospeed on it after I've got a couple hundred down the tube to see what kind of velocities one can expect.

All of my 1 lb. bottles of CFE BLK have a lot number underneath the date. A couple of the numbers are about half gone but I have just enough there to figure out what lot number they are. I have lot numbers 2, 4, 5 and 8.

Indeed, when I checked the rest of my CFEBLK bottles, they had a lot number (5 and 7) but for some some reason the bottle I have outside has no lot number, only the date (Spring 2019). Perhaps it faded away.

I have a bottle from 06/05/19 and it's lot number 4. My guess is you have lot 3 or 4. I'm only guessing since I don't know when they changed from 3 to 4.

Took this 6.5yr old 13 point at 7:35 am this morning. 90yd shot, entrance on the front shoulder/exit behind the off shoulder, he ran 15yds and was down, 300 HAM'R 135gr Hornady FTX. One of the best deer I've ever killed.

I had seen this deer once before about 3 weeks ago, but it was 10min before last light and he was 300yds away standing next to the Cuthand creek bottom. I could tell he was too good of a deer to take a chance of losing him so didn't shoot.

Congrats! He's a gnarly fella!

Used the 135 FTX to take the boar. First hog taken with this round for me. Dropped in its tracks.

I am loading up some Speer 150 HC bullets #2011. What velocity range should I be looking for? I unfortunately have lot 5 of CFEBLK which is a slow lot of powder so I will have to load a little more powder. What velocity is the factory load running?

Go to WILSON COMBAT website and look up the 300 Ham'r . You will find load data for many bullets & powder charges.

Thanks... but I already did that, hence my question here. They do not sell this bullet combo anymore so I can't look for the velocity of that specific load. I bought a box once and it listed the factory velocity on the box (which I don't have anymore). The load data sheet provided at the site does not list this bullet either. There are other 150s listed which run varying max charges from25.2-25.8grs. However, lot 5 of powder runs slow. This is why I am asking what the factory load velocity is. It shot well in my guns so I can match that velocity with my loads. Seems that typical for 150s is around 2250-2300 fps from a 16" barrel, so I am "guessing" 2275 from an 18" barrel.

I have a box left loaded with the Speer 150 gr. HC (some of the first rounds Wilson loaded) and they are labeled as 2240 fps. from an 18" barrel...