So who's going to convert their AR to 300 Ham'r?

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CoalTrain49

CoalTrain49

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I just watched this video from Wilson Combat.



I'm not an AR guy, don't even own one, but found this interesting. He states that the project goal was a cartridge equivalent to the 30-30. We all know how popular the 30-30 has been so now it seems we have the modern equivalent and AR-15 based.

I'm not a huge fan of new cartridges either but I realize that in time everything changes. I'm not sure some of the new cartridges offer much of anything that's actually better but some do like the Creedmoor. It seems it's taking a firm foothold with both hunting and LRP shooting.

The reason I'm interested in this 300 Ham'r is I'm looking for a rifle cartridge that's 308 and low recoil. I have a 30 carbine but it isn't exactly a modern rifle. I also have a .223 bolt rifle which I like but I still want a 30 with a small case like a .223 with moa accuracy.

This new 300 Ham'r looks like it checks all of the boxes for me. I can even make my own brass from the thousands of pieces of .223 range brass I've collected.

I might have to buy an AR in 300 Ham'r when S&W or Ruger gets on this wagon.
 
Last edited:
1KPerDay said:
Have you considered .300 Blackout?
Click to expand...

Yes. I was about ready to buy one when I saw this. The thing about 300 BLK is it was designed for heavy bullets with most rifles having 1/7 twist. I'm not going to use a suppressor or load anything heavier than 125 so it just isn't optimal for me. I do like the .223 based case however. If I could find a 300 BLK rifle with a 1/10 or 1/12 twist I would be all over it. I don't think anyone even makes a barrel in that twist.
 
If Bill Wilson's velocities are true and one doesn't need the subsonic/suppressed performance, than 300 Blackout is dead in the water compared to this for supersonic use; an increase of 300 fps and 400 ft/lbs with the same bullet weight over the 300 BLK is significant. And it utilizes standard 5.56 bolts and easy to form brass.

I'm on the 6.8 SPC II bandwagon (and still feel its about the best all around for hunting with the AR15; personal preference), but if not this would be a definite contender for a good mid game hunter; based on the interview's velocities/terminal perfomance/accuracy statements.
 
Hmmm... take an established cartridge and move the shoulder forward and call it Ham'r. Wilson Combat has done with with 458 SOCOM and now 300 BO. I am not terribly impressed with either. This new 300 Ham'r eeks out a slight bit more supersonic performance at the expense of being able to do sub-sonic loads. I will stick 300 BO, 300 Ham'r offers me nothing I want or need.
 
I’m not sure what to think.
My gut says this is Wilson Combat trying to up sales.

I didn’t hear anything that excited me. Nothing that makes me say WOW
That said if the goal is a better supersonic 30 cal in an AR and it achieves that I see it as a niche.

I guess the question I have is does this increase supersonic performance enough to justify this? Or is 300 Blackout good enough?

Then, is there enough market for this? Or is it just trying to take from the 300 Blackout supersonic share of the market?

I do like the name, and I like that they have dies and gauges available.

I guess it’ll be fun to see how much excitement is stirred up by the rags, and discussions and how long it lasts. Then if this is a fad or if it gains tracti9n and enough market share to be more than a niche
 
I watched this video on the .300 Ham'r the other day and thought I'd was an interesting demonstration.



The only thing interesting about the .300 BO to me is subsonic use, other than that it's a weak substitute for several other better options. Personally I like the 6.8 SPC (and 6.5G) for AR-15 hunting duties, but if you want a .30 cal, aren't interested in subsonic use and load your own, I don't see why the Ham'r would be a bad choice, certainly better than the BO for supersonic duties.

Btw, is it just me or does the .300 Ham'r look alot like Wilson's 7.62x40wt with a new name?
 
Gtscotty said:
I watched this video on the .300 Ham'r the other day and thought I'd was an interesting demonstration.



The only thing interesting about the .300 BO to me is subsonic use, other than that it's a weak substitute for several other better options. Personally I like the 6.8 SPC (and 6.5G) for AR-15 hunting duties, but if you want a .30 cal, aren't interested in subsonic use and load your own, I don't see why the Ham'r would be a bad choice, certainly better than the BO for supersonic duties.

Btw, is it just me or does the .300 Ham'r look alot like Wilson's 7.62x40wt with a new name?
Click to expand...


I would not be surprised if they are the same. Sort of like a 244 Remington becoming 6mm Remington

300-AAC-7.62x40wt-5.56.jpg
Wilson_300_HAMR_15.jpg

Top image left to right: 7.62x40WT, 300 BO, 5.56x45
Bottom image top to bottom: 300 Ham'r, 300 BO

ETA: According to this article https://www.ballisticmag.com/2018/08/21/wilson-combat-300-hamr-cartridge/

300 Ham'r is slightly longer and has a different shoulder angle than 7.62x40WT. But they sure look very similar.
 
My FIL has one of Wilson's earlier attempts at stuffing a .30 cal in a AR frame. The 7.62x40WT. Nothing wrong with the concept and his has a Noveske barrel which he bought for hunting. It is darned accurate but brass and the dies are single sourced of course with no factory ammo I am aware of.

The concept limiting idea of fitting things into the AR frame results in less impressive ballistics than a .300 Savage. I can see a greater appeal for the Grendel, 6.8 SPC, or even the Valkyrie due to factory ammo availability.

FWIW, Saw a .300 Savage Remington Model 81 in good shape at the LGS, think that would be more appealing to me than the Ham'r and be cheaper in the long run.
 
I plan to study things a bit more before making up my mind, but if I wanted more punch than 223/5.56 in an AR-15 package I'd go with the 6.5 Grendel right now. WAY better than 30-30 performance so I have my doubts about the 300 hammer.

The 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor in an AR-10 package is more performance, but in a bigger, heavier package than I want.
 
Gimmick. Fad. Ploy. All to get someone to buy the latest and greatest. I find it funny that in many discussions, the 30-30 is such a weak cartridge. It’s old and past it’s usefulness. Except to those old fogies who don’t know better. But bring out similar performance in an AR and it’s suddenly new and exciting. I’m all for new and exciting. But give me a reason to be excited. It won’t perform as well as the 300BO for subsonic. And won’t perform as well as the 308 in supersonic. And looks like the 6.8 gets the nod at distance. So....it’s new. Just come out with a 6.5-08 and be done with it all.

“But it fits in my standard AR mags!!”
Yeah? Buy new mags. You’re gonna spend $200- $600 on optics, $80+ on new hand guard, $200+ on a drop in trigger, $80+ on flip up sights, $70+ on a new door breaching muzzle brake, oh, and gotta have the tac-light too. Now you still have to buy the dies and reform the the brass.

My goodness. You can buy a stainless AR-10 right now for $480. And then feed it ammo all day from Walmart. Or load your own for 1/2 price with better performance than factory. Download it even with lighter bullets and some H-4895. There’s your reduced recoil.
 
BigBore44 said:
Gimmick. Fad. Ploy. All to get someone to buy the latest and greatest. I find it funny that in many discussions, the 30-30 is such a weak cartridge. It’s old and past it’s usefulness. Except to those old fogies who don’t know better. But bring out similar performance in an AR and it’s suddenly new and exciting. I’m all for new and exciting. But give me a reason to be excited. It won’t perform as well as the 300BO for subsonic. And won’t perform as well as the 308 in supersonic. And looks like the 6.8 gets the nod at distance. So....it’s new. Just come out with a 6.5-08 and be done with it all.

“But it fits in my standard AR mags!!”
Yeah? Buy new mags. You’re gonna spend $200- $600 on optics, $80+ on new hand guard, $200+ on a drop in trigger, $80+ on flip up sights, $70+ on a new door breaching muzzle brake, oh, and gotta have the tac-light too. Now you still have to buy the dies and reform the the brass.

My goodness. You can buy a stainless AR-10 right now for $480. And then feed it ammo all day from Walmart. Or load your own for 1/2 price with better performance than factory. Download it even with lighter bullets and some H-4895. There’s your reduced recoil.
Click to expand...

I said the same thing about the Creedmoor. Boy was I wrong.
 
The 300 HAM’R is interesting to me, but doesn’t solve anything for me that my .277 WLV doesnt already solve.

Your comments about the 30-30 don’t really make sense to me. You can kill a moose with a 30-30 at forested hunting range and they will be just as dead they were 100 years ago. I have a friend who takes an Elk annually with a 30-30. 30-30 is a very capable cartridge. It wouldn’t surprise if it was responsible for cumulatively more meat in North American freezers than any other single cartridge.

BigBore44 said:
Gimmick. Fad. Ploy. All to get someone to buy the latest and greatest. I find it funny that in many discussions, the 30-30 is such a weak cartridge. It’s old and past it’s usefulness. Except to those old fogies who don’t know better. But bring out similar performance in an AR and it’s suddenly new and exciting. I’m all for new and exciting. But give me a reason to be excited. It won’t perform as well as the 300BO for subsonic. And won’t perform as well as the 308 in supersonic. And looks like the 6.8 gets the nod at distance. So....it’s new. Just come out with a 6.5-08 and be done with it all.

“But it fits in my standard AR mags!!”
Yeah? Buy new mags. You’re gonna spend $200- $600 on optics, $80+ on new hand guard, $200+ on a drop in trigger, $80+ on flip up sights, $70+ on a new door breaching muzzle brake, oh, and gotta have the tac-light too. Now you still have to buy the dies and reform the the brass.

My goodness. You can buy a stainless AR-10 right now for $480. And then feed it ammo all day from Walmart. Or load your own for 1/2 price with better performance than factory. Download it even with lighter bullets and some H-4895. There’s your reduced recoil.
Click to expand...
 
CoalTrain49 said:
I said the same thing about the Creedmoor. Boy was I wrong.
Click to expand...
The Creedmore actually does give advantages over the 308 at distance. Certainly out does the 300BO unless you’re talking subsonic. Like I said, I’m all for new and exciting. Just give me something to be excited about besides the fact it’s new. It’s simply a cartridge that won’t go anywhere because it doesn’t offer anything better. It’s not a bench cartridge. It’s another AR, “squeeze it in this niche and hype the hell out of it” cartridge so some guy can be the first at his range or hunt with the newest offering. Because marketers know we’re just obsessed with that.
 
ColoradoMinuteMan said:
Your comments about the 30-30 don’t really make sense to me. You can kill a moose with a 30-30 at forested hunting range and they will be just as dead they were 100 years ago. I have a friend who takes an Elk annually with a 30-30. 30-30 is a very capable cartridge. It wouldn’t surprise if it was responsible for cumulatively more meat in North American freezers than any other single cartridge.
Click to expand...
I think you misunderstood my post. You won’t ever hear (read) me say the 30-30 isn’t an outstanding round. It certainly is. Taken thousands of tons of meat for hunters. And it will be around long after this new AR round has been forgotten.
 
BigBore44 said:
I think you misunderstood my post. You won’t ever hear (read) me say the 30-30 isn’t an outstanding round. It certainly is. Taken thousands of tons of meat for hunters. And it will be around long after this new AR round has been forgotten.
Click to expand...

I interpreted what you had said as your own thoughts, but in rereading I see that you must have meant that others often believe that it’s old fashioned, but you don’t necessarily agree with that. Makes sense. Sounds like we’re in violent agreement then :)
 
If the hamr had been available in the RAR when I bought mine I'd have gotten it instead of the 300aac. Now with the x39 being an option I'd go for that instead of either the hamr or 300aac.

Personally I think it does offer some interesting performance advantages over the .300aac, since it's optimized for the shorter lighter bullets.
But I feel it doesn't offer anything over the larger existing cartridges.
 
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