Gentlemen,

I feel the need to share another data point on the 11.3" HAMR barrels. I recently got some chrono data and realized afterwards my mistake. An error in powder charge led to this load containing 27.8gr CFE BLK (lot 3) under a Speer 125gr TNT 2.247" COL & yielding a 5-shot avg. of 2429fps with an S.D. of 34.4fps. This load showed mild ejector marks on lake city converted (once fired) cases.

The speed for this load did surprise me (even for exceeding max recommended). I typically get 2520fps from my 16" barrel using 27.2gr CFE BLK (this was max published when I initially got into the caliber).

JeffB, welcome to the forum

If your planning to stick with a AR15 size gun you might look at a 6.5 Grendel which is a pretty versatile longer range choice or even the new 6mm ARC. With that said, a .223 shooting 75-77gr high BC bullets isn't a bad choice either.

I experienced some failures to lock back yesterday on a new upper assembled around an 11.3" HAM'R barrel. I believe the gas block is seated properly in the dimpled location on the barrel. The magazine is a D&H 300blk 20 round mag, that works in another 16" barrel HAM'R. I was also using an Omega 300 suppressor when testing. Lastly, I was using a bootleg adjustable BCG. I used the first three settings on this to test with (excluding the fully suppressed setting).

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on potential causes.

The brass also appears significantly less filthy than the 16" barreled rifle.

As mentioned two posts above, this testing was done with loads that were a tad spicy and would not help any potential over-gassing issues.

Suggest you try a std BCG

We port the bbls to work with the gun set-up as follows:

Std spec/weight BCG, properly lubed
Mil-Spec buffer spring
Std weight buffer
WC low profile standard gas block/gas tube

Any deviation from this may require some sort of adjustment.

Also as a FYI, we simply don't see malfunctions with the 300 HAM'R due to being overgassed like we do with AR10 platform guns. So adding a suppressor usually isn't an issue with them.

Mr. Wilson,

Thank you for the reply. I have a spare bcg and will definitely try that. I assumed overgassing was still a partial concern when shooting suppressed because I recalled a time when the website suggested the use of a superlative arms adjustable gas block with 16" & 18" barrels. I supposed I could have mixed this up with another project though.

Could you share any thoughts on the difference in carbon residue on the cases between a 11.3" carbine gassed HAM'R and a 16" midlength HAM'R while running suppressed? I always thought that the the 16" would run a little 'cleaner' being a longer gas system and hopefully running at lower pressures. I'm very curious to learn more. Thank you again for taking the time to help us learn. I appreciate it.

Matthew

Popped another big boar this evening. Growing fonder of this round all the time! Thanks again Mr Wilson for setting up my upper for me! Very accurate and pigs are hating it. Lol!

Just read the entire thread. I immediately ordered brass, dies, & case gauges. Trying to decide what rifle and bullet i want to go with. This is for my 8yr old girl to deer hunt with. Thinking about the 95 or 110 Lehigh's as they are in stock. Anyone use the Hornady 110 SP for deer?

Welcome to the forum, there are some really good people here

I know DLALLDER has taken deer with the 110gr Hornady SP and I've shot several hogs with good success. Both Lehighs kill deer quickly.

FYI my favorite rifle model is the Ranger with forest camo.

Huntingherring, Yes I have shot the Hornady 110 SP. I had open heart surgery (4 bypasses) middle of July last year. Come Oct of 2020, it was deer hunting time and the Surgeon had told me NO shooting but I knew a light recoil load would be okay. I had a talk with Bill Wilson, explained the problem and he suggested the 110 gr load, even my Warden (wife) said I could hunt with it after she had shot several rounds with it. I took deer & a couple of small hogs with the load. Daniel

BTW I think the 8 Yr old girl would be fine with the load.

First, welcome to the forum. You are not the only non-Texan hanging around here. During my time here I've noticed that 99.9% of the people here are rather civil and it is enjoyable to converse with the group.
Second, after you try the 300 HAM'R your daughter may have to fight you for it.
Fortunately there is a very wide choice of bullets for the cartridge and choosing one is more about which one you can find in stock.
But I do have to warn you, getting one HAM'R just leads to getting a second, or even a third, in the near future.

Thank you for the reply. I'll get some ordered up. Shots will be in the woods so looking at 75 yards or under (Most sub 40 yards) so I think it will serve her well. She has a Dead Air Nomad LT in jail to further help with recoil.

I am definitely getting a couple more. Two daughters and wife need to be outfitted. They have a R700 7mm-08 and 350 Legend CVA Scout now but the kids haven't shot them yet.
I also have 7 suppressors in jail for them to be covered on that too. No more swapping my suppressors from gun to gun next year!
DA Mask HD 22, TBAC 22 TD, Griffin Bushwacker46, Rugged Obsidian45, DA Nomad L, DA Nomad LT, & Bowers Vers 375 are locked up in jail.

This is the second year for my youngest daughter to hunt with the HAM’R. She dropped this buck in his tracks with the 150gr SST. We had a great time!

MC68,

Congrats to your daughter and family on the nice deer.

Where about in TX are you hunting? The terrain looks eerily similar to an area I join a good friends family at for a yearly hunting trip.

If I could find the right gig, I'd gladly move the family to your state.

I also echo the above sentiments about this forum being great. This thread has a wealth of knowledge from bullet choices to best loading practices & barrel length suggestions. I have learned quite a bit here and Mr. Wilson's participation just makes the icing on the cake.

Our place is in Rocksprings

YouTube pulled another video of mine so I doubt this one would make them happy.

Night school DJones degree is coming along little by little.

I caught 3 fools slipping in the brush. 2 didn’t make it away.
This was the larger shoat I’m guessing around 30# from the weights of the others. It had a rough night.

110gr CC hit behind the last rib and it all but split it in half.

I am really beginning to enjoy hunting these things like quail. Every hog I stalk down in the bush is a trophy to me

Just joined after a buddy turned me on to this forum and wow am I impressed. VERY knowledgeable and friendly folks here and access to the guy who started it all...again WOW! I've been mostly shooting pigs with a 5.56 AR using some surplus ICE 64gr Gold Dots but after a buddy showed me what the Ham'r could do I had to expand my gun collection. I've only got 20 rounds thru my new gun so won't be offering up much advice but I do have a couple suggestions for must have accessories other than a decent drop in trigger. All my AR builds feature a recoil pad and a brass catcher. Kick-eez sells a slip on pad for the milspec butt...not only softens the recoil but doesn't allow the butt to slide around like a metal one does when wearing slippery clothing. My brass catcher is a TacStar but there are several decent ones out there...after spending countless hours chasing brass this one is a must have for me.

Just one more thing...there was a post regarding recoil and I can highly recommend PAST recoil shields or as my brother calls them "sissy pads". Before I got a lead sled I used their magnum version for load testing my 300 Win Mag. Easy 20 to 50 rounds per day with no flinching and your shoulder didn't look like someone took a meat tenderizer to it the next day.

There may finally be light at the end of the tunnel! FedEx dropped off a case of CCI 450 primers on my front porch this morning! Scored them from Natchez and from talking with them they received a pretty good amount but are dribbling them out so as to not overload FedEx. Might be worth a shot at a back order.

On a different note I have a suggestion for Mr. Wilson. I know you are severely overworked but maybe you can throw one of your minions under the bus for this project. On the Wilson website you have a lot of Ham'r load data and somewhere I came up with a list of suitable bullets but the two don't match up. Specifically I acquired some Speer #2023 which is listed as a suitable bullet but can find any load data anywhere for it. To alleviate any confusion it would also be helpful if the load data page showed the bullet part number rather than just saying Speer 130gr hollow point - which I hope is the #2005 as I have a few hundred of them left.

Specifically I acquired some Speer #2023 which is listed as a suitable bullet but can find any load data anywhere for it.

That should read can't find any load data.

You can use the same data listed for the Speer 150gr GD to load the #2023 and yes the Speer 130gr HP listed is the #2005

Thanks!

Fwiw the Speer #2023 at max load was showing pressure signs at the primer at max load.
When I backed down to where I wasn’t getting flattened primers I was 100fps slower than the #2022 150gr.

It’s been close to a year but I recall the #2023 minimum expansion velocity was 1800 or 1900fps and the #2022 was a couple hundred FPS lower.

#2022 was coming apart in the near side shoulder at 2300 +- fps, making large entry w pounds in the chest wall and not getting great penetration & exiting the far side chest wall even at 100yds & in. I had a few sheared bases exit but it was rare outside of neck or belly hit. Frankly it was the most underwhelming projectile I have used at near max velocity in a HAM’R & #2023 is behind it on paper.

I’m pretty sure I hit some pigs with the remaining test rounds of #2023 loads but it wasn’t something I tracked. the lower muzzle velocities I was getting made it something around a 125yd and closer round to maintain expansion velocity. If you’re hunting big pigs close #2023 may be a decent choice but I’d expect it to act a lot like fmj past 100yds.

My unsolicited $0.02

Finally got the Ruger bolt .300 Ham’r finished!

VERY nice !!!

Shooters World just posted on FB that SBR SOCOM and BLACKOUT will be available soon. Both work well in the 300 HAM'R. SOCOM for 95-110gr and BLACKOUT for 125-135gr, I haven't used BLACKOUT with 150gr, but it will probably work as well or better than A1680. The burn rate for SOCOM is between H110/W296 and A1680 and BLACKOUT seems to be between A1680 and CFEBLK. Both powders seem to shoot the best at full charge.

FYI: We load the following "factory" loads with SOCOM

95gr Lehigh CC
110gr Lehigh CC
110gr Hornady SP
110gr Speer SP
125gr Hornady FMJ

The 95gr CC loaded to 2.240" OAL and 2800fps over SOCOM shoots sub 1" in all of my guns and kills like LIGHTNING

Here's a nice 10pt my wife Joyce shot with the 95gr CC from 175yds, the buck only ran 15yds with a shoulder shot.