I actually ran a comparison test a few days ago. I had been using powder from lot #7 and the powder that came in a week ago was lot #17. Using my LabRadar, I noticed that #17 gave me (on average) a 66 fps increase over lot #7.

I have yet to see any powder that doesn't occasionally have a noticeable lot to lot variation. Early on we were lucky, lot #3 and #4 both had low bulk and we're basically identical, then we got lot #5 which was bulky and slow. I'm currently using lot #8 which is somewhere in the middle. Without pressure testing equipment the best way to keep your loads consistent is matching velocity from the same barrel under similar conditions, the charge weight may be slightly different but your pressure should be similar.

A MUCH larger variable is bullets. Based on pressure testing we've seen a HUGE difference in how fast you can push various bullets of the same weight, especially the 135gr and 150gr.. An example is the 135gr Speer HAM'R Bonded vs the Sierra 135gr HP, the Speer can be pushed over 100fps faster than the Sierra at the same pressure! Another example is the 130gr Speer HAM'R HOT-CORE, for whatever reason can be pushed as fast as most 125gr bullets at the same pressure???

As a side note, the 300 HAM'R performs so well at "reasonable" velocities there is no reason to push it to max loads. Personally I go for best accuracy that's more in the 54,000psi range. We all know that a quality AR will handle 60,000psi all day and I'm guilty of shooting quite a few rounds in the 62,000psi range, but this is simply unnecessary.

I recently picked up 1lb. of Lot 17 locally at a sportsman's wharehouse.. Fella behind the counter didn't know the price, but was very adamant about the 1lb. per person, per day rule. Went to check out and it was $43.99 + 9% WA sales tax!

My plan is to take all the 1lb'ers (now 15) and the 1 - 8lb jug and mix them all together, that way load development for various bullets will only needs to happen once. I've done this a few times with various LOTs of powders. Plastic bin/bowl and a slotted wooden spoon. It would be nice if they could consistently put out a low bulk LOT as Mr. Wilson mentioned they did with #3/#4. CFE BLK in the HAM'R kind remInds me of NO. 9 in 10mm.. You can't hardly physically cram enough into a case to get in serious trouble, Unless you were trying to.

I agree...the TNTs I've got recently are the most inconsistent bullets I've ever purchased but the funny thing is even without sorting them by weight they shoot amazing groups. At my accuracy node they are VERY forgiving bullet weight wise or powder charge. I won't mention any names but some of the "premium" bullets I've acquired recently are not what I'd consider benchrest consistent as to weight, length, and diameter. It seems like all the manufacturers are trying to squeeze as many bucks out of the pandemic/Biden panic as they can without regard to quality. Be interesting to see what Sierra products are like if they ever come back on the market.

i measure the length, width, ogive, circumference, jump and re-point all the 125 tnt boolits. i also weigh each grain of cfeblk and only use the granules that are of the utmost consistency. you don't want to know the extremes to which i select and prepare brass. as you can see, i have absolutely zero tolerance for any variance in my loads...

How many rounds hit him?

i thought i heard all of them hit, but i only saw three wounds... one in the back leg, one in the rump and one high in the middle of his back. it was pretty cold and i didn't care to walk. i drove up knowing he would bust me in the bright moon. then it was a race to the edge of the cotton stalks and stick the rifle out the window. not too many hogs around here now. severe drought i guess.

i've started shooting coyotes to take up the slack.

Should I translate? "They went bang....good enough!"

Thanks for the info. I like knowing what I have and wanted to set expectations when I start loading it.
My go-to 300BLK load is also a 60k+psi load which is why I am so interested in HAMR. Less pressure for better performance plus keeping my ability to convert the boatload of range 223 pickups I have is a pretty easy sell cartridge wise.

Tks for pointing out our web site error, the fluted bbl weights 1.7oz less than the round one

BAAAAAWWWWWAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

FYI: The current lot #18 of CFEBLK out in the marketplace is a good low bulk fast lot.

FYI Hodgdon site has 8lb containers of CFE BLK in stock as of the time of this post

I'm new here and have read the entire thread.

I am looking to pick up a complete 16" upper, and I am between the Protector and Ranger barrel profiles. I will be using a Dead Air Nomad, which weighs 14.5oz and possibly adding the Xeno quick attach mount ~5oz.

I know Bill uses a Ti suppressor (~9oz) on the Ranger barrel without issue.

My question is, will using a heavier suppressor setup negatively affect the lightweight Ranger barrel? Would I be better off with the Protector barrel profile?

I want to keep this rifle as light as possible for my boys to use hunting without sacrificing accuracy.

Thanks for y'alls help.

I use one of the first run Bill Wilson Ranch Profile barrels which is pretty comparable to the Ranger profile. I have tried both a SilencerCo Omega 300 ( 14.8 oz) and a Chimera 300 (15.7 oz). both shift the POI 4.5 inches down at 100 Yards, but I have seen negligible impact to accuracy

Welcome to the forum 51V325. You won't have any issues with a Ranger profile barrel and any suppressor.

Thank you for the quick reply. It helps a lot, I will be getting an order in later this morning.

for what its worth by 18" tac hunter, 11.3" shorty and my RAR 16" all shoot MOA to Sub-MOA with or without my GA Recce 7 attached. almost zero POI shift too

How many rounds did it take for your 11.3" to shoot moa? I'm around 25 rounds in my barrel and shooting wilson ammo still have some larger group sizes. Did a thorough cleaning with bore guide and waiting on weather to warm up from single digits to get back out to the range. So far it's been 2.5moa or so for a 3 shot grouping. My 300bo 10.5" holds moa but has a couple hundred rounds through it.

For what it's worth. I'm no sharp shooter by any means and finding my way through this. I had 180 rounds through my 11.3 and did a scope change and had to re-zero everything. These are after the scope change to what is now a Strike Eagle 1-8.
This is at 50 yards with the Hornady 125gr FMJ

I am currently low on the FMJ and saving what I have left for zeroing in my 8" once I have it put together so I switched to the fancy rounds to see what ran best at 100 yards. So I don't have anything at 100 yards with the 125gr FMJ. All of these are with Wilson factory loads.
This is the 130 HHC, 135 FTX and 135 Sierra HP on this one.

and this is the 110 CC and the 110 V-Max


I did the best I could keeping everything as consistent as I could and then i repeated the process on another day and got pretty similar results. Some a little better on one day, some a little worse on the other by fractions. The 135gr Sierra HP and the 110gr V-Max were the tightest groups both times with the 130gr HHC being a consistent third. That Sierra HP group with the exception of the one out of group, which i have to assume was me pulling or something is close enough to sub MOA for now. And I have now re-zeroed at 50 to that bullet. Now to put my 8" HAM'R together and repeat all of this and see what it likes best.

Thanks hard8chopper, my groups were similar with the 130hhc and the 135hp from Wilson. Both were 2.5" range and took up the whole area, didn't Group tightly with 1 flyer. Hoping a cleaning and get back out there will tighten them up. Also reloaded some 135ftx as this is what I'd like to hunt deer with our messed up laws in Illinois for single shot pistols. Was hoping to have a solid 250yard gun for our corn fields since the only other choice is shotgun.

See as Shotshow is coming up will Sig be releasing a rifle chambered in 300 ham'r? Just wonder if we will see a larger market presence this year.

I know there were companies with plans to jump on the bandwagon BEFORE the madness started. Sig even had the ammunition listed in their catalog. But once the ammo shortage started everyone couldn't keep up with the demand for the 9mm, .45 ACP, 223 Rem.(5.56), and .308 Winchester. The concept of bringing out new products was set on the back-burner. I guess we will see what the future brings. I do know that every time I get an email from a company I always reply with "When are you going to do a 300 HAM'R?

We have seen a VERY slight increase in the supply chain the past month but it is still far from being normal. Plus we need to see where the prices for everything start to settle before we see very many new products come about.

Now with that said, I have several 300 HAM'Rs and a half way decent supply of WC ammo, and I reload. In other words; "I have mine!"

I can highly recommend the Thunderbeast suppressors. I have a 30 caliber Ultra-7 that I use for both my 5.56 and 300 Ham'r AR-15s. POI is is the same with or without suppressor. Their new Gen2 models have some pretty impressive db reduction numbers.

Just hoping to see this round hit its potential. I don't want to see it fail because of the pandemic and the ammo shortages.