Hammer vs Barnes question???

[Elktrack]

I’d like to hear from the guys that have used Hammer and Barnes bullets on game to know if there’s enough difference in performance between the two. I have not used Hammers before and am really interested in working up a load with the Hammer Hunter.

I know how the Barnes TTSX has worked for me in other rifles and don’t have any complaints really. Don’t know if it’s worth the effort to try a Hammer when I have confidence in the Barnes.

The idea of the Hammer intentionally shedding its petals to produce damage and then continuing to punch through is pretty interesting. It seems like the perfect thing.

Have any of you that use Hammers seen noticeable difference vs. using Barnes?

 

[44hunter45]

I get significantly more velocity and less pressure from Hammer. That skews the equation in their favor for me.

 

[WapitiBob]

My Hammers grouped better than the TSX, both killed animals easily and quickly. The 143 HH were going 3470 out of the 7STW. I no longer shoot either.

 

[El Jason]

I prefer the Hammers. Faster, I like the wound channels better.

 

[Sheltowee]

Hammer's HHTs have been significantly faster and more accurate than the Barnes TTSXs I've loaded. On-game performance is a pretty limited sample size (one whitetail buck, one whitetail doe with the TTSX, two whitetail does with the Hammer) but comparable. Better blood trail with the Barnes, animals went down slightly faster with the Hammer. I've switched exclusively to Hammer for all of my big game hunting loads.

 

[Elktrack]

Thanks!!
This is exactly what I was looking for. The velocity gain is just a bonus for me and I’ll always take accuracy gains. Hearing that the wound channel seems better and going down quicker is what I was most curious about. It’s hard to accurately quantify the difference and that’s why I wanted to know what y’all thought.

The TTSX has worked well but I have not been overly excited about the wound channel. Too many years of cup and core wound channels have skewed my expectations I guess. I’m not complaining, dead is dead, and that’s what I’ve experienced with the Barnes. I love the penetration and having an exit hole but I want maximum damage on the way through too. Yes, I want it all. Haha.

 

[WapitiBob]

Light a fire under the Hammers...

 

[winmag]

Hammers are faster due to lower engraving pressure/friction and therefore higher velocity before you hit overall pressure limits. More shock to game upon impact. More accurate, both in bullet to bullet uniformity and on the target.

Having said all that, if Hammer's didn't exist I'd shoot Barnes at big game before any of the other monometal and cup/core bullets.

 

[brockel]

I prefer the fragmenting petal wounds you get from the hammers vs the 100% weight retention Barnes