https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1301123611?pid=717674
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018229522?pid=725652
1k Hornady 135gr FTX and 1k CCI #450's will only set you back $532.89 + $33.30 tax (6.25%), $15.99 Hazmat, At least old Larry is giving you free shipping! $582.18 and you still need 1k brass ($100/K to convert) and most likely $40/lb powder. 4lb for 1k rounds. So, that's about $850 for 1k FTX's at today's current prices..

I'll post other "cheaper" FTX's when I find them. Midway's prices and limits are rather frustrating as of lately.

Well, Thanks for posting. I picked up 1k primers. Now I can load some 300 HAM'R! the price sucks but nothing I can do about that.

Sorry for the few days of being absent. There are times when life gets in the way of posting on the web.
First, Mr. Wilson and the photo I posted. You're right, after 30 plus years of being a professional photographer, I should have done a better job. But the quality of my photographs are directly proportional to the size of the check the client is writing. That day I didn't have a paying client.
As for the meat damage from various bullets out of the HAM'R, I would never compare the results from any bullet being fired out of a .300 or 7mm Mag. to that of the 300 HAM'R. And at the same time, with the size of the deer we have, I always assume that the front shoulders will not be worth harvesting. If I get the back-straps and hind-quarters I'm a happy camper.
Like most of us, I pay a lot of attention to cost when reloading, but I have found my desires with the HAM'R has changed. Normally I try to find one bullet, and one load, that will work with all of my rifles (of the same cartridge) just to keep things easy. I have found that the 130 HC does a "decent" job in my HAM'Rs, They work well putting an animal down, and they are one off the best values on the market. (A polite way of saying they are cheap.) I literally have several thousand rounds loaded with this bullet "just-in-case."
But now I can sit back and play with the various options that are on the market. If that means paying a little more, so be it. Cost really does not come into play when you're talking picking up one or two boxes for testing. They can be Lehigh, Barnes, Sierra, or whatever. Then if you find one that excels out of a certain rifle, it isn't too bad having a couple of hundred set back for that special hunting trip.

Gents,

I saw some success with the 130 Speer hot cor (over max load CFE BLK) recently. My buddy used my 16” HAM’R and put a 130 hot cor through the spine at the neck and front shoulder junction at approximately 130 yards. The deer dropped on the spot and never moved.

The most interesting part was this was a suppressed rifle. I had never before experienced hearing a bullet impact game. The ability to still hear after the shot (without ears ringing) and hearing the bullet land definitely made it more enjoyable.

8lb CFE BLK
https://www.natchezss.com/hodgdon-gunpowder-cfe-blk-8lb.html
1lb
https://www.natchezss.com/hodgdon-gunpowder-cfe-blk-1lb.html

It's nice to finally see some reloading components becoming available but before you dive in it's important to scout around and see what the final price is shipped to your door. For example Hodgdon also has CFE BLK in stock and for a cheaper price than Natchez but they gouge the crap out of you for shipping and hazmat. Moral of the story is check several sources.

New to the forum and new to the Ham'r as well. I have been through all 84 pages, took a while but that is why I am here, to discuss the 300 Ham'r. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread. We need more of this type of discussions.

Recently converted a 16" Grendel using a 16.25 Ranger profile barrel. My plans are to run it suppressed 100% of the time for deer and hogs. I was hoping to use it this year but with the supply shortage it was too late for load development for deer. I will kill some pigs with it however.

I did acquired some 130 Speer 2007 FNHC which is what I plan on running for pigs and deer. At the time I only had AA1680 which works fine for the lighter projectiles but you will give up some fps with the heavier projectiles over CFEBLK. I ran 26.2 grains of AA1680 at 2359 Avg fps for breakin. I was happy with this....

I was lucky enough last week to get my hands on some CFEBLK (fyi..can save a few bucks over Natchezss at Powdervally). Should be here next week.

Anyway Thanks again!

Anyone have an extra barrel laying around? I think mine is done shot out. How else can a fella miss a dog at 25yds.


PS,
This is just a holding spot video until DJones is back in the saddle providing us quality HAM'R entertainment video

DJones shows you how to blow up dirt clods in a field 65% of the time. He is a terrible roll model

Great video even though you missed right. We have all done it and have to accept it

yeah, she got me. I set up expecting her to come in across that open area I panned across at the end. Turned out she came in hot out of view from hugging the bottom of the bushes and nearly ran under my feet. I got her Stopped behind the 1st bush on the right side of the trail and got the video rolling before she danced off and made a chump out of me.

Djones the clod buster. We just can't be tearing down my hog heroes like that on here.

Thoughts on single loading some of the longer bullets for better BC and not being limited by mag length for deer hunting? In Illinois we are limited to single shot AR pistols or shotguns only is my reasoning for asking. Wouldn't need to sand down tips etc, or if that won't be a big enough difference to even pursue.

schitshard, im a long range killer now. im passing the nitetime baton to you. ur in charge. go getem. beezwax can be your gate opener/hog dragger

Ok color me dumb but I gotta ask about the case length. The trim to for a .223 is 1.75 and the trim to length for a 300 Ham'r is 1.595. Seems to me we are giving up some capacity so I'd like to know the reason for the difference?

Don’t go getting all old on us yet. You can still be a night killer since MPA got you that dang NV rail on your chassis that they won’t sell me for mine. I’m fixin to screw some C channel on and super glue a Chinese rail section on it so I can run my pvs30.
Not a HAM’R pic but it’s a bullet test for HAM’R use. I was looking for the failure velocity on a 110gr Vmax. It was working so well on my HAM’R loads I wanted to see if it started failing and blowing up on shoulders when it’s thrown 500fps faster.




If I quit begging you to take me hunting will you come back to the dark side?

These just aren’t the same quality of HAM’R videos as yours are.

It is actually a very good question. It's the answer that is complicated and confusing. Being designed for an AR15 the cartridge LOA must be short enough to fit into the magazine. The shoulder/shape/taper of the cartridge must load a feed from magazines. The case on a 300 BLK is a lot shorter so it can take very long bullets. It comes at the direct cost of case capacity. The 300 Ham'r is designed for all the case capacity possible that can still feed and function with short for weight bullets up to 150 grains.

Like most things in life, there are no free lunches and everything is a compromise based on what is the most important in it's intended use. I think if Bill Wilson could have made his 300 Ham'r run properly with a 1.75" case, he would have.

Welcome to the Board! Ready to get your HAM'R on are you?

I'm sorry you live in such a restrictive state.. But here's one for you, and everyone else wondering the same thing.

Sometimes you have to think outside the box.. or outside the box magazine as it may be



C-Products Duramag Stainless Steel 10rd 350 Legend magazine, open faced to seat bullets to magwell length. (Yes it holds 10rds and feeds them all just fine)
It just so happens that a 168gr Speer Gold Dot with a BC of .572 (Velocity Based) touches @ 2.400"
Back it off a few thousandths to fit in my polymer lowers magwel (2.410")l and to give a little jump.. (which if I wanted to, I can easily open up more..)

Here's what I did
Chose a bullet based on BC, Overall Length, and Measured when it touched the lead/lands.
Worked up some loads..
Verified Velocities
50yd - 2040 - 100yd - 1952
Found a safe max charge.
Re-Verified with gathered data..
QucikTarget PREDICTS NEW .425 BC @ 2,130 AVG. (Max Load, Dead Primer Pockets after 2x firings)

Test some more..

100yd captured in the 3rd gal. jug


97.75% retained weight..

My loads for this particular bullet, in my guns, shoot Sub MOA. For anyone that hasn't played with the 168gr GD's.. They're real nice
I also picked up some (4k) 155gr Nosler Custom Competitions over a month ago from American Reloading..
I've loaded up 100 for testing weeks ago, just too damn busy with work.. I might get a chance to try them out on Christmas.. If not, It won't be until I move across country at the end of the month..
Now there's Only 500 left..
https://americanreloading.com/en/30-caliber-308/2669-308-155gr-hpbt-250ct.html
Code "xmas" will let you try a .450 BC bullet that touches at.. 2.400"! For 22.49¢ ea. (I paid a lot less)

It was between the Nosler CC's and the Sierra 155gr Palma Matchking's (Been OOS everywhere for a long time). I'm thinking these 2/3 are ballistically & possibly the best terminally performing bullets that you can load in a magazine. Until someone comes along and tells me that an explosive 110gr bullet does much better

Now you're talking about venturing outside a magazine.. Perhaps you could possibly find some to outperform these. Perhaps not.



Any questions or comments feel free.. I only sound like a jackass on the interwebs, I assure you I'm not.. for the most part.

p.s. 13lbs of CFE BLK from Natchezss was (8lb OOS) a savings of $26 (with GA 7.3% tax, more savings with TX 6.25%?) over PowderValley's (Limit 5lb)

I wrote that out rather quickly.. It's .452 not .425 bc in the GD at HAM'R velocities.
Anyways here's a post from a local forum, I got called a pontificator for..

Concerning the Nosler 155 CC

This is what I'm ultimately hoping for, the numbers below are for longer than magazine length loads. Bringing it down to a 20rd 350 Legend Stainless Steel Mag Length (2.310") is 45fps slower, 6yd shorter MPBR, Magpul 30rd 300blk mag 2.263" 65fps slower 7yd shorter.. It's roughly a 3% difference to go .143" longer.. Like I said they'll barely squeak by the Gold Dots (Which I paid 60¢ ea. for) But from all of my number crunching this is ultimately the MAXIMUM Capability the 300 HAM"R can offer.

Bullet : .308, 155, Nosler CC HPBT J4 53155
Bullet Weight : 155.0 gr
Muzzle Velocity : 2220.0 ft/s
Twist Length : 13.0 in , Right Hand Twist
Gyroscop. Stability : 1.52 (Right on the bleeding edge of "Recommended" stability)
Ballistic Coefficients : BC1 = 0.450 (Highest BC to OAL ratio for the cartridge)

Maximum Point-Blank Range: 235yd
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yd ft/s sec ft-lbs Drop in
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 0 2220 0.0000 1696 0.0
| 20 2185 0.0272 1643 0.1
| 40 2150 0.0549 1591 0.6
| 60 2115 0.0831 1540 1.3
| 80 2081 0.1117 1491 2.4
| 100 2047 0.1407 1442 3.7
| 120 2014 0.1703 1396 5.4
| 140 1981 0.2003 1350 7.5
| 160 1948 0.2309 1305 9.8
| 180 1915 0.2619 1262 12.6
| 200 1883 0.2935 1220 15.7
| 220 1851 0.3257 1179 19.3
| 240 1820 0.3584 1139 23.2
| 260 1788 0.3916 1101 27.6
| 280 1758 0.4255 1063 32.4
| 300 1727 0.4599 1027 37.6

| 300 1921 0.4227 1057 32.2 (6.5 Grendel)

In comparison this is a 6.5 Grendel loaded to it's maximum potential in a 16.2" Barrel and at 2.4" COL shooting a 129gr Nosler Accubond LR BC .530 It still gets the HAM'R But it's damn close.. Most ballistics presented for the Grendel are of the 20/24" barrel variety..

I don't claim to always be right, and everyone else wrong.. But for the most part numbers don't lie, and if you have tests to back up and verify your theories.. I don't see how it can be considered pontificating.

Also concerning case/cartridge length. I'm not sure why Bill Wilson has had a patent lawyer do a patent search and come out with an extended overall length magazine.. It can remain closed and sealed below the magwell and opened face up top to allow seating to magwell lengths. I started my own patent search, I don't have the time, or money to see that one through. The AR15 market could certainly use such an item.

*HAS NOT.
I'm not sure why Bill Wilson hasn't had a patent lawyer do a patent search and come out with an extended overall length magazine..

I don't want to be rude, but why?

There is no significant terminal or external ballistic benefits from that experiment over a max load 135ftx, and, I don't have to toss my brass away after the second firing.

At 250yds the FTX is still exiting hogs, and I have to assume deer as well, with shoulder hits. Is the big GD going to kill it more with 2" more drop & 6" more at 300?

Everyone is into different things but IMO, the HAM'R excels at being intermediate range high volume killing cartridge although it fits other rolls moderately. It does that real well in it's current configuration in an unmodified small fram AR pattern rifle. It isn't going to do it better with another proprietary mag and short brass life. Love it as much as I do but it'll never be as capable past 300 as a 6 or 6.5mm with appropriate barrel selection for shooting that range.

I gotta agree. For what it is it is perfect as far as I'm concerned. Way better SHTF than a 5.56 and better large animal round as well. Sighted in for 150 yds and it will be within a couple inches from 10 to 190 yds. It's my new urban zombie apocalypse weapon of choice!

Yep, just as I expected! You city boys want a good way to drive those zombies out into the country.

I'm another vote for "leave-it-be." We could go back over every decision made during its development, but each change we could make would create a dozen problems.

I totally agree with both of you. The HAM'R stands as a very effective 300yd hunting and defense cartridge! It's also very economical to load for, brass typically costs little to nothing but your time. Smaller powder charges, along with such a variety of usable powders. Bullet choices are plentiful, and therefore you have the ability to load whatever you feel will be best suited for whatever you're aiming at.

Guess I just can leave well enough alone, I always look at things from a different stance than others. I wasn't sure that I was ever going to share.. I often times come off as conceded and not well intention-ed..
I felt that since there hasn't been much discussion in the way of loading beyond mag length, even with some Ruger Ranch rifles out there now.. and the fact that IL_BOWHUNTER asked, I thought some people might at least find it interesting.

If it's not your cup of coffee, or you don't find any benefit from loading heavier, higher BC bullets, for more down range energy.. That might require single loading or using a modified magazine. Then by all means, don't. There's seemed to be a lot of success with the fast & light pills shared lately.


Here are some pictures of the cast lead boolet I had made from Tom over at AccurateMolds..
www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=31-142B
It turns out right at 145gr coated and gas checked. It touches at 2.245"
25yd-2181 50yd-2101, 75yd-1992, 100yd-1873 QuickTarget Estimates B.C. .174 (Roughly the same as Sierra's 110gr Varminter)

25yd



Bullet Caught @ 50yd Gas Check in 2nd jug, Boolit in 3rd. 2,050fps 1,350ft lbs. .726" 126.42gr 130.5gr Total caught



I still have a lot of work to do with it. I recently got into hi-tek coating, heat treating boolets after casting, and even got my first annealing setup. Hoping to tighten up groups ( 1 1/2" @ 50yd) with more development, and possibly different alloy's besides just wheel weights. Something different again.. Keep on HAM'Rin away

I was just asking to possibly get more range on our midwest deer within the confines of a single shot AR pistol. Shot 23 rounds today with my 11.3" barrel and the groups with the Wilson ammo weren't as tight as my 300bo at 100 yards so hoping after a good cleaning it'll come around on next range trip. Ordered 200 135ftx bullets and cfeblk to handload as well. Appreciate the rabbit hole discussion I started, have until November next year to see how she does. You guys think 250-275 yards is doable? Got a Doe at 224 yards with the 300bo 10.5" combo and 120ttsx Lil gun load that shoots moa at 200 for me.

Well Killer 2bees, whatcha say? You need a new gate opening apprentice since Djones left the dark side? Unlike coyote shooting I'm a top hand at gate closing & hog drag hooking up.

Sometimes I can be a fair fill in for DJ's dirt clod shooting skills. In my case trees. #nomesquiteissafe

It'd be nice to get into some out of the I can smell their stink distance like you guys get to shoot at. At least if they were past 35yds my scope would fully autofocus.



Merry Christmas HAM'R fans.

May all your shots drop them clean.