Federal HammerDown ammo

[Grunt67]

Has anyone tried any of Federals' new Hammerdown 45/70 ammo? As advertised, it was designed in conjunction with Henry arms,
to cycle better thru lever action rifles.
It got my curiosity up, thought about getting a box ( if you can find any ), and see how it works. I'd like to hear some reports, before
I waste my time & money. It is nickel plated, which I'm not particularly fond of. Not a biggy, just personal preference.

[Vaquero]

I haven't seen any of the new ammo, but I haven't really been out to see to much either.
But I load my own and but VERY little factory stuff of any kind.

RP

[BigAl52]

I hadnt heard of it until this thread but its pretty pricey. I guess if i didnt reload I might try it.

[Vaquero]

I hadnt heard of it until this thread but its pretty pricey. I guess if i didnt reload I might try it.

What rock you been hidin' under??
I know there was at least one other thread about it when it was first introduced.
I load my own so I don't really even look at ammo that much any more.

RP

[BigAl52]

Ive been on lock down here so not contact to the outside world and my mask has been riding up over my eyes. Cause I dont want to sees things

[John E Davies]

It will always be a little expensive because it will always be a niche market, but it isn’t really expensive like the high end or exotic stuff. MidwayUSA has some .45/70 for $1.75 per round if you don’t mind waiting.

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSearch ... PerPage=24

I am waiting on actual user reports rather than paid media so-called tests. “Here are 300 rounds of free ammo, go shoot it and please say a lot of nice things about it, refer to the attached press release, or we won’t let you have any more free stuff next month.”

If the rim chamfer proves to be useful, it would be dead easy to do that on regular brass on a small lathe or even on a drill press. I quite like nickel cases for SD rounds but not for reloading.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[leverjc]

Seems to me it's a solution looking for a problem.

[GunnyGene]

Seems to me it's a solution looking for a problem.

No, it's just a company looking for a share of a small, but growing, market and a little profit.

[Grunt67]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Likely won't buy any, mainly
curious as to what it looks, measures, like , compared to my own. Of course, we know the end result of curiosity.

[lovesleverguns]

I've tried the HD ammo in .30-30 and while I did find it easier to slide the magazine tube in, the accuracy was not as good compared to Winchester white box. Based after only 1 range visit though and I didn't notice any difference in cycling.

[Grunt67]

I can kinda see the benefit of the chamfer, in extreme cases, but not really worth the extra milling to me. I have checked some of my brass I'm reloading; Federal, Starline. You can see mill marks that are not smooth. How much of an issue that is, don't know.
If you're having major cycling issues, it may not be the ammo. JMHO.

[Travlin]

One review that gave it two stars, I think that I will stick with my own loads.

[Grunt67]

One review that gave it two stars, I think that I will stick with my own loads.

Two stars that will likely stay blank is due to price & nickel plating. JMHO

[GFK]

One review that gave it two stars, I think that I will stick with my own loads.

Two stars. I picked up a box in 30-30 flavor today at Walmart ($15 and some change). I though that I would give it a try. The Federals in the blue box have not been bad. So, I thought the HDs should not be too bad.

[RanchRoper]

Ive been on lock down here so not contact to the outside world and my mask has been riding up over my eyes. Cause I dont want to sees things