Spike Camp

257 and Hammer Hunters

257 and Hammer Hunters
« on: November 12, 2022, 06:09:14 AM »
My son has a a vanguard in 257 topped with a leupold vx3.  The rifle shoots factory ammo well, 2” groups at 200 yards.

We have been fooling around hand loading 92 grain hammer hunters.  We  started off with IMR 4350 (69.7 grains) and standard Remington primers because that is what I had in house.  It shoots ok, 2.5” at 200 yards, and would be sufficient for deer hunting where we hunt and our usual shot distances.  However we can do better.

We acquired some H1000 and CCI mag primers to work with.  So far we have just burned powder, no good luck. Any of you using H1000 with 92 grain hammer hunters?  What works for you?

Thanks



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Re: 257 and Hammer Hunters
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2022, 08:00:40 AM »
Better powders for 257mag are 4831 and 7828 especially with 100grain pills and below.
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Re: 257 and Hammer Hunters
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2022, 06:44:08 AM »
Not hunter but Absolute Hammers.  From a 257 Bee Ultralightweight.

"Weatherby was too long so I nicknamed it "Bee""

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Re: 257 and Hammer Hunters
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2022, 12:16:38 PM »
My rifle be capable of shooting groups like that but I'm not.HAHAHA
Retirement; The art of doing very little,very slowly

Expert; Someone who knows so much about so little

If you live in the swirl of the drain,inevitably you'll wind up in the cesspool.

Remember 10534

Sorry... Yesterday was the last and final day for any and all complaints whatsoever.

Re: 257 and Hammer Hunters
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2022, 05:55:57 AM »
Thanks for the feedback.  There is no doubt in my mind the rifle and hammers exceed our shooting abilities.  With my 280 Remington and 120 hammers I get around 3/4” at 200.  I am hoping for something similar or better with this 257.  We’ll try some 4831.


Re: 257 and Hammer Hunters
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2023, 09:27:58 AM »
My son has a a vanguard in 257 topped with a leupold vx3.  The rifle shoots factory ammo well, 2” groups at 200 yards.

We have been fooling around hand loading 92 grain hammer hunters.  We  started off with IMR 4350 (69.7 grains) and standard Remington primers because that is what I had in house.  It shoots ok, 2.5” at 200 yards, and would be sufficient for deer hunting where we hunt and our usual shot distances.  However we can do better.

We acquired some H1000 and CCI mag primers to work with.  So far we have just burned powder, no good luck. Any of you using H1000 with 92 grain hammer hunters?  What works for you?


I'm getting very good accuracy and velocity with the 92 gr Hammer Hunters with RL-22. I have two loads I've developed. One is a more mild load going 3700 FPS that gets a .3 inch group. The other is a max load going 3866 FPS that also gets .3 inch groups at 100 yards.

Thanks