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Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 11:11 pm
by 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. :?:

Re: Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 11:17 pm
by 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

Re: Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 11:31 pm
by BigAl52
I hadnt heard of it until this thread but its pretty pricey. I guess if i didnt reload I might try it.

Re: Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 11:37 pm
by Vaquero
BigAl52 wrote:
Fri May 08, 2020 11:31 pm
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?? :lol:
I know there was at least one other thread about it when it was first introduced. :roll:
I load my own so I don't really even look at ammo that much any more.

RP

Re: Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 11:40 pm
by 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

Re: Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 9:06 am
by 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

Re: Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 9:30 am
by leverjc
Seems to me it's a solution looking for a problem.

Re: Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 10:01 am
by GunnyGene
leverjc wrote:
Sat May 09, 2020 9:30 am
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. :)

Re: Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 10:56 am
by 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.

Re: Federal HammerDown ammo

Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 10:26 am
by 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.