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

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Do you guys that use hammers ever find any of the petals?

 

[turbobrick]

Do you guys that use hammers ever find any of the petals?

I found one in my muley buck this year, it was very interesting. I haven't shot anything with Barnes, but a good amount with Hammers. I've often compared them during load development, and went Hammers due to better velocity and groups.

 

[Dsnow9]

I used Barnes for the first couple years after getting my .308 until I developed a load with hammers. I would say accuracy was similar in both. Blood trails with both leave a bit to be desired but haven’t had an animal go ten yards with either. And we aren’t talking one or two animals. 23/24 there were 3 elk and 3-4 deer in each season, ‘25 4 deer and an elk. I have found a few petals from the hammers and a couple bullets on frontal shots.

The hammers may not have a big entrance or exit hole but they absolutely destroy the insides. It is wild to see the damage they induce with the lack of exterior evidence.

I prefer the hammers just based off the interior destruction they cause and the pink tips..

 

[El Jason]

Do you guys that use hammers ever find any of the petals?

Yeah, occasionally.

 

[Addicting]

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.

The tipped Hammers are worth trying if you have money to burn. Hammers are accurate as all get out.

DO NOT use the untipped. There is a ton of posts on here where they sometimes pencil thru. The hole in the tip gets any imperfection it can have delayed expansion. I say that as I have used them and personally lost animals from it.

I have used Hammers, Barnes TTSX and LRX. The LRX gives the best wound channel. I have liquified an antelope heart with the 127g LRX. 3120 fps from a 260 AI, Hammers won’t be any faster in that rifle the way it’s set up.

With that performance and the cheaper price point it’s hard to justify the tipped hammers.

 

[El Jason]

I’ve killed a lot of animals with untipped Hammers. YMMV

 

[mtmuley]

The hole in the tip gets any imperfection it can have delayed expansion. I say that as I have used them and personally lost animals from it.

I often wonder how it is determined exact reasons for bullet failure when an animal is not recovered. Everyone has a bullet story. For every bullet made. mtmuley

 

[mevertsen]

I have two examples of the Hammers.

No experience with the Barnes.

Both shots approximately 100 yards.

DBS .30-06 now discontinued 152 HH. Going away, entrance near left kidney, bullet base found in the right shoulder hide by the taxidermist. Made it 20 yards, and he had spit up blood out his nostrils by then. I did not examine his inerntals, gutless method, pulled the back straps and got off the mountain.

Second was the next year, .243 70 HH 3500 fps. Small buck deer on a hard quarter to. Bullet entered just inside left shoulder, shank exited behind right shoulder. We found d a petal in burger some time later. DRT completely severed the heart from the upper arteries and veins. Flipped over on the steep hill side under a dead pinion tree.

I'm working up a load with 137s now in my .30-06. I'll use those for everything from here on out, if i ever draw an ALW tag, lol.

No concerns from me about no tips.
They kill and kill quick.

And they are available.

 

[Addicting]

I often wonder how it is determined exact reasons for bullet failure when an animal is not recovered. Everyone has a bullet story. For every bullet made. mtmuley

You know I did a lot of testing on those after it kept happening. I went as far as ballistic gel and road kill deer to see what was happening. Every hammer thread I tell my story and you defend hammers, but yet you still use accubonds. lol.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

I prefer the pink tips..

I was under the impression this was a 'dont ask dont tell' forum

 

[CowboyLeroy]

I often wonder how it is determined exact reasons for bullet failure when an animal is not recovered. Everyone has a bullet story. For every bullet made. mtmuley

I found a barnes bullet that didn't expand in a hog one time. The bullet was stretched out kind of like a banana and the tip was caked up with dirt and mud