[Grenadier]

Sorry, but that sounds like personal animosity to me. I don't know Mr. Wilson personally. So, I can't weigh in as to whether you're justified or not justified in your opinion. I'm not judging. But over the years, I've heard similar remarks about several cartridge designers.

For example, I remember Art Alphin (A-Square) coming under the gun for 'legitimizing', with few or no changes, several cartridges others had developed decades before. He took a lot of heat for that. Ironically, Alphin's 6.5-08 was submitted to SAAMI for approval during the same timeframe Remington submitted the 260 Remington, their "identical" version. In fact, I seem to remember Alphin's application was submitted first. Nevertheless, SAAMI chose the Remington submission and the 6.5-08 A-Square is just another cartridge that never was. Accordingly, Remington claimed it as theirs, promoted it, and hyped it up. That's just par for the course in the cartridge business.

I bet nearly every 6.8 SPC fan has heard the story of how Remington "messed up" the specs on the 6.8 SPC when they submitted it to SAAMI. Maybe they made a mistake or maybe they thought they had it better. I don 't know the truth of it and, at this point, I don't care. I do know the SPC II chamber works better. Perhaps the ARP chamber is better yet. It's still called the 6.8 Remington SPC.

So, maybe Bill Wilson "legitimized" a cartridge one or more other people had worked up. Maybe, in doing so, he made design decisions and chose specifications others would not have. No matter. And, any good business would hype up, promote, advertise, and otherwise encourage consumers to buy their product. That's just par for the course in the cartridge business.

Because I have no personal experience with Bill Wilson, and because I have no stake in the design and implementation of the 300 Ham'r, I have the luxury of considering the cartridge without a bias. That's what I will do.

 

[Grenadier]

... I thought Wilson was the only one selling barrels. So you would be supporting Wilson no matter what. Looks like Shaws making some.

X-Caliber and McGowen also offer 300 Ham'r barrels

 

[Grenadier]

I too questioned why Wilson would use a 1:15 twist when they first came out and the limitations it would cause on bullet selection. A faster twist rate is advised.

So, 1:12, 1:10?

 

[Grenadier]

Many years ago I discovered Sierra 125gr spitzers were extremely accurate out of my 30-30 Winchester 94, single loaded of course. If I had a 300 Ham'r I think I'd start out working up loads for those. That old 94 had a 1:12" twist and that seemed to work just fine.

 

[Grenadier]

If you use copper bullets for hunting, the more twist you have the greater expansion will be on impact. Faster twist also does better the colder the weather gets. So, I like as much twist as reasonably possible, e.g., 1:7 for the 5.56, 1:7 for the 300BO.

I do not know the 300H but when I put in different bullet options for winter weather, 1:12 doesn't seem adequate. I would go with 1:10 if available or the fastest you can get.

X-Caliber list 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, 1:10, 1:12, and 1:17(!) as options.

Using the links you provided:

Sierra 125gr Spitzer, 0.879", 2450fps, twist of 1:12 stability = 3.099. Same with 1:10 twist stability = 4.462. Same with 1:9 twist stability = 5.509.

Sierra 125gr TMK (same length as TGK?), 1.107", 2450fps, twist of 1:12 stability = 1.617. Same with 1:10 twist stability = 2.328. Same with 1:9 twist stability = 2.874

Hornady 150gr GMX (a long bullet), 2250fps, 1.327", twist of 1:12 stability = 1.119. Same with 1:10 twist stability = 1.612. Same with 1:9 twist stability = 1.990.

 

[Grenadier]

Anyone know of any velocity data using 20", 22", or 24" barrels?

 

[Grenadier]

Regarding bullets and the 30-30, my first handloading experiences were with a Lee Loader and reloading cartridges for a post 64 Model 94. The most accurate, pleasant to shoot, and most forgiving bullet to load was the Sierra 125gr spitzer. I could only put two at a time into the rifle, one in the spout and one in the magazine. But it regularly shot that bullet into ~1" groups at 100 yards using a peep sight. So, I figure that bullet and the 300 Ham'r will be a good match.

By the way, the 20" barreled 94 used a 1:12" twist. I suspect Wilson's 1:15" twist has less to do with bullet stabilization than it does with making enough speed to justify their "30-30 velocity" claim.

As to creating brass, one doesn't need to worry on that with the 300 Ham'r. Brass can be purchased or buy a few boxes, shoot them, and reload. I can't find factory loaded 30 HRT, TAC30, or 30 American loaded ammo. All three of those cartridges might perform better than the 300 Ham'r but I'm not interested in owning a pure wildcat. I've been there before.

I'm considering the 300 Ham'r for a bolt gun based on an AR15 lower with a 20" or longer bolt action upper. Gas ports, gas timing, and related issues won't play in.

 

[Grenadier]

That's why I was asking if anyone had velocity data for longer barrels. The additional eight inches that a 24" barrel has over a 16" barrel would, I think, add significantly to velocities. If an average velocity gain of 15 fps per inch that's 120 fps gained. If average gain is 20 fps then it's 160 fps. If more, then more. It could add up to over 200 fps gain. Or, not. At a certain point there might even be a velocity decrease. It all depends on how the Ham'r case burns powder, the powder used, the bullet, and the load. That's why real world data is important.