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

Good to know...I'll maybe look elsewhere for a 150gr round. Not really stuck on that but it's kinda a nostalgia thing as the first deer I ever took was with my grandpas 30-30 using 150gr bullets. FWI most of my shots are under 100yds. Thanks!

From another website I give this quote which shows the 2023 maybe performs better that you thought.

"I just finished talking with a tech from Speer Bullets about their Hotcor #1855 110 grain Spire SP, and their #2023 150 grain Spitzer SP. The reason for my call was to find out the minimum velocity these bullets will mushroom at. What he told me has me even more interested in these bullets than before. He looked up different reduced loads they have and said both of these bullets will expand down to 1530 fps."

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.

Yes we use SOCOM for light bullet loads due to case volume.

I just received V2 of the Lehigh 125gr CC last night for testing, stay tuned....

Read the 2nd page of that thread you took the quote from and follow the link he left to his disappointing follow up after his attempt at testing them. Spoiler alert, #2023 didn't work as he hoped and ice picked through his test medium showing little to no sign of expansion.

"expansion" is a subjective term in this industry. Some like to sell it that expansion is achieved if the outer diameter of a recovered projectile exceeds 0.1" over starting diameter. The problem is when eager shooters read that term and see perfectly mushroomed bullets when it's not realistically an achievable result.

For the record, I never said or meant to imply that expansion was over rated.

I 100% believe the opposite. At least within the context of my needs which is to recover and remove every carcass reasonably possible so the landowners don't have to check on every buzzard swarm on their livestock operations.

I said expansion often OVER STATED by some manufacturers to help them sell products to expanded audiences outside of the bullet's orignially engineered use. The 300blk and magic 6.5 calibers being the big target audiences for the upselling.

Over time I have put a lot of holes in animals & had to rely on buzzard tracking them after hitting them with various 5.56, 300blk, and steel jacketed x39. They are all relatively inefficient at expansion/transferring kinetic energy & killing animals outright. I moved to using HAM'R now because with several available projectiles it's a significant improvement over those other caliber options in this regard.

I'm not really sure why anyone would jump into this caliber, these times being what they are, if they were simply going to duplicate the lesser capabilities of one of those other 3 existing offerings.

I'm not trying to be condescending or argumentative. I typed it out because it may be something someone reading hadn't considered.

either way,
Happy thanksgiving and the best of luck with the HAM'R pursuits.

fixed it for ya

Welcome aboard Cweb

Actually I've been shooting several deer with the 110gr CC over the past month, probably 15 so far and I've had real good success at putting them on the ground quickly. I shot this 7.5yr old cull buck this am and he only ran 15yds with a quartering shoulder shot with full penetration of the base.

Posting photos from your computer is super easy on this forum, just click the icon at the top with the blue arrow called "upload inline image" and follow instructions.

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.

In case someone is interested in another real world experience, I killed a small buck (82lbs dressed) this weekend using an 8" Ham'r pistol and a 125gr TNT round. The buck was near perfect broadside at 45-50 yards. Entry was a tad far back as seen in picture, but was lung just behind the shoulder and exit was liver/gut. Based on how the deer was standing I'm not sure how the bullet didn't go straight through for a double lung shot. The buck only ran 25 yards. No blood trail in the short distance he ran.

In case someone is interested in another real world experience, I killed a small buck (82lbs dressed) this weekend using an 8" Ham'r pistol and a 125gr TNT round. The buck was near perfect broadside at 45-50 yards. Entry was a tad far back as seen in picture, but was lung just behind the shoulder and exit was liver/gut. Based on how the deer was standing I'm not sure how the bullet didn't go straight through for a double lung shot. The buck only ran 25 yards. No blood trail in the short distance he ran.

Wow nice one Mr. Wilson!

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

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.

OK, rookie question. What chamber brush do you use for the 300 Ham'r, a 556 or a 762?

7.62.

0.300 inch diameter=7.62 millimeters