Monday was a warm November day for PA. I've been working on some reduced loads for the Ham'r. The primary load has been 25.6gr of CFE BLK for the 150gr Speer btsp bullet. The load was worked down to 25.2 gr of CFE BLK. Accuracy, if anything is slightly better. The lighter load does not feel any different with the 18" barrel but there is a noticeable drop in recoil for the 11.3" AR. Not a big deal but still noticeable. The drops in velocity are minimal and there is probably a significant pressure drop. Though the 11.3" barrel really runs factory stuff extra fast. The factory ammo has always been exceptional.

Anyways... here's the data. The precise MV and ES have gone back and forth but these loads are all tested inside an hour.

BULLET________________CASE____POWDER________________PRIMER____LOA _______________11.3" MV--ES__________18" MV-- ES
150 GR....SPEER...BTSP.......STAR L.....CFE BLK.....25.2 GR.........CCI 41.....2.250"....................2020........20.............2176.....11
150 GR....SPEER...BTSP.......STAR L.....CFE BLK.....25.6 GR.........CCI 41.....2.250"....................2060........37.............2233.....41
150 GR....SPEER...BTSP.......STAR L.....FACT'Y........FACT'Y .........FACT'y.....2.255"....................2105........13.............2236.....18

I have an 18" barrel and been working loads but I have questions about the what I believe is the most current load data. The data I have been working off of is below. Hopefully it can be seen by y'all.



So I worked a load for the Hornady 135 FTX which according to the data I could go as high as 26.5 gr of CFE BLK. My most accurate load is actually at 26.3, and it is a phenomenal load. But then I start working a load for the Speer 130 gr Varmint #2005. For that one the data says max load of 26.2. I feel like it should be safe to load this powder for a 130 gr bullet at least to the same max load of a 135 gr. Obviously they aren't the same bullet and have different profiles but even so I fail to see how the 130 Speer Varmint would cause the same pressure at 26.2 gr of powder that the 135 gr FTX dies at 26.5 gr of the same powder. Can anyone explain this to me? The groups were just starting to tighten up on the 130 Speer Varmint at max load and I feel it is likely to tighten up even more with a bit more powder. If it makes any difference my powder lot for CFE BLK is #15.

Now if you got through that book of a question and felt that wasnt enough, here's the next question. The suggested load lengths for both loads are different as well. I know the Speer 130 Varmint is a shorter bullet so that accounts for that for the most part but I wonder if anyone who has loaded this bullet to mag length of 2.255? Was there enough bullet to keep good neck tension between case and bullet to do that or somewhere in between the 2.170 and the 2.255?

Thanks in advance for any and all help y'all may provide.

BTK.... I have never loaded those bullets in my Ham'r so somebody else can give you a better answer. I just wanted to say hi to a neighbor. I'm up in the Hershey area.

Bullet jacket construction and thickness affects pressure as well as overall weight. So evidently from the published data, the 130 develops higher pressure than the 135 ftx or I'm sure they would have allowed a higher max load in the tables.

Good to meet you Big Sam!

Factors such as jacket material, jacket thickness, core hardness and bearing surface affect pressure. The published data is based on pressure testing done by either Sig Ammo or Western Powder and it is what it is.....

These bullets generate higher pressures for their weight than others of the same or similar weight:
130gr Speer HP
135gr Sierra HP-V (VERY easy to go over pressure on this bullet)
135gr Hornady FTX
150gr Bonded
150gr Speer Gold Dot

These generate lower pressure for their weight and can be pushed faster:
125gr Sierra SPT
130gr HotCore
150gr Speer BTSP

I have had similar results. My most accurate load with the Speer 2022 bullet is 25gr of CFEBLK. In fact almost all of my most accurate loads are around half a grain less than the max load.

Thanks BW!

When you don’t make a good enough neck shot like I did with the HAM’R you have to follow up with a head shot that does work. 135 FTX works great if the shooter does their part. I think I will go back to heart shots.

Got my new 1:15 18"er in the mail today. This is my 3rd 300 Ham'r tube. I wanted to try the 1:15 twist out. Did WC change the ID location to the bottom side of the barrel? My other 2 have the "WILSON COMBAT..." on the top side. No biggie, just wondering. This one has a SN and 6 grooves as well. Product updates perhaps?

I've gone full tilt on this cool caliber.

New camp record 258# sow. 150g Ham'r = DRT

Big girl there. Congrats on a successful hunt!

We used to so all the laser work on the top so we didn't have to rotate the barrel, but now that most have went to the long handguards it's difficult to read it, so we moved the markings to the bottom except for the logo at the muzzle. We also added lot markings, se if we have an issue we will know which mfg lot it was.

1-13s are 4 groove and the 1-15s are 6 groove, no changes here.

You learn something everyday...
Thanks WC!
I'm very impressed with the machine work on these pipes. Took the borescope to it and it is phenomenal. Can't wait to warm her up. Great work!!

Well finally got my rifle all together, love the project result and love the idea of the round. However, the 16” 1:15 recon barrel doesn’t like the factory ammo I ordered with the 150gr speer BTSP and the 130gr Hotcore, though the 130s were a bit better. Thinking I should get some of the 135 FTX rounds and brass to work up a load.

I wouldn't lose faith yet. Most rifles don't perform at their peak until you either lap the barrel or put around a hundred rounds thru them...or both. Also if you handload you're probably gonna find a sweet spot somewhat below the max load. For some reason the Ham'r also seems to be prone to inaccuracy do to fouling so if you shoot several 5 round groups at once it will look worse than cleaning the barrel after every group.

Oh definitely not losing faith. Just need to try the 135s. I’m leaning towards that being the bullet I want to fine tune the load for.

I second this. My first 3 or 4 groups at each range trip were bug holes then out of nowhere would open up a bit. My barrels have less than 100rds each. This was the case for 135 FTX's and 130 Speer HC. I never could get the 150 Speer 2022 to do great in my 18, but my buddies is a tack driver. Same barrel specs. I figured his better glass and better trigger made the difference.

You normally don't start seeing the true accuracy potential of a barrel until around 200rds.. Also, it's important to clean the barrel every time you switch from one bullet to the other, especially when switching to/from cup and core/solid copper. Many of the copper alloys will not play well together....

Yeah I get a new barrel takes a minute to settle in, even with proper breaking in. But you can still get an idea early on if it likes some bullets better than others. I plan on putting an order in tonight for some of the 135 FTX loads and some brass.

This is only true if you're handloading. With factory ammo it's a crapshoot because the manufacturers are similar to the auto industry...they're all after biggest, fastest, and most powerful bragging rights. I've only owned one rifle that performed best pushing the heaviest bullet as fast as you could. I've tried several different bullets in my Ham'r and they all work best about a half grain under max load. It also makes a difference how you test the loads. Shooting off a wobbly table with a 4 power scope and a 9lb pull standard AR trigger is gonna have very different results from shooting off a lead sled resting on a very stable surface and using a high power (18-24x) scope with a Timney or similar 3lb trigger. You can also save some time by using a chrono to zero in on the sweet spot. At the risk of being called anal retentive it also makes a difference how often you clean the barrel...until it's well broken in every 3 rounds is not excessive although I usually shoot 5 round groups so it's every 5 for me.

Well I was assuming the Wilson Combat factory loads would do well in the WC barrel lol. I shoot off the bench in the picture which has 5 4x4s sunk 18” into the ground as a base, off a lead sled, with a Rise SST trigger. Chrono won’t come out till I get some handloads done. Prob gonna use CFE BLK behind the 135gr FTX and CCI 450 primers.

Yesterday evening/night was HAM'R TIME.....

Shot this old 10pt at last light from 150yds DRT, then this BIG sow at 9pm from 80yds DRT. Both with the Lehigh Defense 125gr Controlled Chaos.

Here I was about to offer my words of wisdom on barrels, but Mr. Wilson's deer has left me speechless! If that deer came out in front of me I would have a hard time holding the rifle steady!
Good shot sir!

Nice buck sir! Around where I hunt there is so much pressure on the bucks they never get that big.