300 Ham’r ... anyone?

someguy2800 said:

I would buy one in a second if it wasn’t a unicorn and if brass was easily made

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Finding a rifle in 30 Rem ARis like unicorn farts...i got mine a few months before they all dried up from closeout dealers online. I bought 10 boxes of ammo with the rifle just for the brass. But just this past year Midway has had NEW 30 Rem AR brass in stock. I bought a lifetime supply of brass. Bought several 4 round mags for it too.

My only hope is nothing on it breaks because my source at Remington says there are ZERO replacement parts for them so if it breaks it's a paper weight.

kimberkid said:

Actually, a 6.5 in a necked down 7.62x39 case would be ok too since that bolt is pretty common now, and decent AR/AK mags are available ...
Or if there was such a round as a 7.62x39 bolt head with a 39mm straight walled case necked to 6.5 that would fit into a standard AR mag would be good. The straight walled case would allow a few more grains of powder than the AK type tapered case.

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That exact cartridge does exist. That’s what a 6.5 Grendel is. Bolts, barrels, and mags are plentiful.

If you want to stay with a 223 based cartridge the 25-45 sharps and 277 wolverine are very close to what your looking for.

I like the 300 blackout (have Mcx Virtus that I can run either .223 or 300 b/out through), but had an “extra” with zero need for 2 of them.

I’ve used the 300 b/out for hog hunting, and to me, I find it marginal for hogs, even using my 110 TTSX hand load-I like “overkill” on hogs though .

The only drawback of the hamr vs 300 b/out is you lose the subsonic ability.

What’s gained is essentially an extra 200 FPS and a very accurate round-I also have. 6.8 spc that I like, running my 120 sst hand load at 2398 FPS/1612 # of energy -the 130 grain hot core 300 hamr round runs 2495 FPS/1796# of energy. My higher end load of 300 b/out 110 TTSX is running 2415 FPS/1424# of energy.

Running CFE black and 110 Vmax hand loads yest on its innaagural trip to the range, I ran 5 different 5 shot groups, the worst was 1” with 4 less than 7/8”, 3 less than 5/8”, the best load was 9/16” with 4 less than 1/2” and 3 less than 3/8”.

Those were among the easiest hand loads I’ve ever come away with that kind of accuracy on the 1st test loads-it’s going to be very easy to load for.

My 5 shot groups with the 130 grain hot core
were good for the initial test loads (used A1680 25.6 grain up to 26.0 grains), but not as good as the 110 VMax running CFE Black-worst was 2 1/16”, best was a more than respectable 11/16”, 4 within 5/8”, 3 within 3/8”....will try some cfe black test loads next, but if 11/16” is what I’ll have for the hunting load, I’ll be VERY happy with that...plus it was extremely easy to get such a good result.

Caught the 18” fluted barrel on sale at Browrells for $230 plus went with the suggested $120 gas block from Wilson, paid my gun Smith $75 to change it out.

It does need to use 300 blackout mags btw, but I use those with the 300 b/out anyway.

So for les than $450 I have converted an “extra” 300 b/out to a very accurate ar15 framed rifle with a significant increase in energy (11.4% more vs my 6.8 spc 120 sst load, 26.2% more than my high end load of 110 TTSX) that has already saved me the PITA I find it to be to achieve 1” groups with load development...I’m usually satisfied with a 1” grouping rifle, especially for a hunting round, but this was amazingly easy to get some really great accuracy from.

Yes, I’m definitely stoked and to me anyhow, these are very significant advantages for not much $.

Seems like the industry is creating calibers faster than I change socks. While some are wondering about a new caliber I am still trying to figure out why some people Loathe 6.5 Creedmoor. More coffee, that's what I need, more coffee...

Timing seems to be the worst part of this whole "new Caliber" thing. Just think what would have happened if they would have waited and chosen the 357 Sig instead of the 40 S&W? or went with a 9mm Super instead. They jumped quickly on a 10mm and just as quickly jumped off. Yeah, I get it, they should have stuck with 9mm and worked on HP bullet design or some other means of fixing the problem within the FBI think tank. The whole "right caliber" think hardly ends with an epiphany for most people.

The problem with 30 caliber AR15 rounds is the cost for many people and even for reloader's. Unless someone has a lead source and cast their own bullets, the 223 is still much cheaper than loading. The subsonic market keeps 300 BLK viable while 223 remains popular and the 7.62x39 is the 30 caliber cheaper factory ammo option (are there really that many people buying 7.62x39 cheap ammo for the AR platform?) or is it?. Now the 224 Valkyrie for extended range 223 lovers and the 6.5 Grendel makes it's mark with energy and distance. Really feel like there is no room for the HAM'R for the moment but it could be like one of the rounds that people end up loving but take a while to get back to (like 10mm).

Okay I do have a headache now. Back to coffee and some bullet casting prep, reloading related parts ordering, and other meaningful "right now" things that need doing. Have fun guys!

someguy2800 said:

If it still shoots 110 and 125 grain bullets sub MOA then is the twist really too fast and the throat too long? Mine does.

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I like to match my barrel twist and lead to the job at hand. That's why my benchrest rifle has a .223 chamber and a 1/9 twist. It is consistently more accurate than my friends Danial Defense AR. I'm just not seeing the point of longer leads and faster twists than necessary for my application which is 100-300 yd benchrest. I have a Mini 14 with a long lead 5.56 chamber and I think accuracy suffers when using 55 gr bullets but it has a 1/9 twist which is why I bought it.

I see guys complaining all the time at the range about 55 gr ammo and poor accuracy with their AR's. I think that has more to do with long leads and fast twist barrels more than anything. Could be wrong.

CoalTrain49 said:

I like to match my barrel twist and lead to the job at hand. That's why my benchrest rifle has a .223 chamber and a 1/9 twist. It is consistently more accurate than my friends Danial Defense AR. I'm just not seeing the point of longer leads and faster twists than necessary for my application which is 100-300 yd benchrest. I have a Mini 14 with a long lead 5.56 chamber and I think accuracy suffers when using 55 gr bullets but it has a 1/9 twist which is why I bought it.

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If all you want to do with it is shoot benchrest at 100-300 yards why are you even looking at a 300 blackout? Its not a good choice for that regardless of twist rate or chamber dimensions. But in any case, a 300 blackout can and will be accurate with light bullets if you have a good barrel and good ammo.

someguy2800 said:

If all you want to do with it is shoot benchrest at 100-300 yards why are you even looking at a 300 blackout? Its not a good choice for that regardless of twist rate or chamber dimensions. But in any case, a 300 blackout can and will be accurate with light bullets if you have a good barrel and good ammo.

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I'm not anymore but I did for awhile. I shoot 100 yd mostly but I also shoot steel at 2-300. I think you're right, not a good cartridge for me. 223/5.56 works well for me. I do like the 30's tho.

CoalTrain49 said:

I'm not anymore but I did for awhile. I shoot 100 yd mostly but I also shoot steel at 2-300. I think you're right, not a good cartridge for me. 223/5.56 works well for me. I do like the 30's tho.

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If you just want some more oomph on the targets and want to use your supply of 223 brass a 277 wolverine would be a fun choice at that range.

mcb said:

I would take 350 Legend over 300 Ham'R any day of the week.

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It's apples to oranges. 350 Legend is 250 yrd effective range with the 300 Ham'r is approaching 1,000 yards. it beat 300 blackout is definitely the superior 30 cal subsonic round. But then again the Ham'r wasn't made for sub rounds.At Bill Wilson‘s ranch in the article they said "
Not only is that considerably less drop at distance, but those 300 Ham’r rounds are producing 337ft/lbs more energy at the muzzle than the 300BLK under exactly the same conditions. And both in Wilson Combat guns.
It also beat 30-30 in every cartridge 30-30 was made in but one. And they don’t have any hand load setup for that specific one available I believe. this is a good article to read about it if you get a chance. https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-wilson-combat-300-hamr/

Damon Brown said:

It's apples to oranges. 350 Legend is 250 yrd effective range with the 300 Ham'r is approaching 1,000 yards. it beat 300 blackout is definitely the superior 30 cal subsonic round. But then again the Ham'r wasn't made for sub rounds.At Bill Wilson‘s ranch in the article they said "
Not only is that considerably less drop at distance, but those 300 Ham’r rounds are producing 337ft/lbs more energy at the muzzle than the 300BLK under exactly the same conditions. And both in Wilson Combat guns.
It also beat 30-30 in every cartridge 30-30 was made in but one. And they don’t have any hand load setup for that specific one available I believe. this is a good article to read about it if you get a chance. https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-wilson-combat-300-hamr/

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To say the 300 hamr is effective to 1000 yards I would say is incredibly optimistic. For taking deer size game I would say 200-300 at the absolute most.

Wilson’s stated velocity for the 300 hamr is about 125 FPS faster than I get with my personal 16” 300 blackout, and 75 FPS slower than I get with my 16” 7.62x39 AR15.

Dude, I shoot a thousand with my Blackout all the time...

Oh, Meters? I thought you said centimeters... yeah.

Yup, I shoot my Blackout at 83 feet all the time. So, what is the drop at a thousand yards for a Blackout?
Is it measured in degrees, like a mortar?

The round is good on paper. If I was truly set on hunting with an AR I'd probably pick one over a .300 Blackout. As it stands though I still only really hunt with bolt guns, and I already have AR's in .300 Blackout and 7.62x39mm, so it's just splitting hairs too much on a rifle I'd probably only use for punching paper anyways.

Check out this comparison.

IMO if they're giving up the ability to go subsonic for more oomph it would've made more sense to go with a 7mm as opposed to the 30cal.

mcb said:

I would take 350 Legend over 300 Ham'R any day of the week.

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Objectively I would too if not for the 30 caliber silencer I own. I’ve been working at trying to find the perfect powder and bullet combo to shoot cast lead heavy subsonic for about five years now. I still haven’t found a combo with that satisfies me at 100 yards. I think I’m going to try a Faxon barrel because I’ve tried a whole bunch of different molds and my current barrel doesn’t seem to like any of them. For what I’ve spent on molds I could have bought another can.

And I would take 458 SOCOM over all of them. If you want to kill big stuff up close with an AR a 500 grain bullet has a lot going for it.

It’s popular to say that many of these low volume cartridges are “answers to questions nobody asked,” but in reality, at least SOMEBODY did ask these particular questions. These might not be questions many people or asking, or questions YOU are asking - but somebody is asking...

I’ve never believed, however, that “there is no such thing as a stupid question,” and certainly don’t believe there is no such thing as a stupid answer.