300 HAM'R

I guess you could say the project originally started way back in 2005 when J D Jones sent me one of his 300 Whisper uppers and a set of dies. This cartridge seemed like a good idea to me other than in order for it to fire heavy subsonic bullets a short case with minimal powder capacity was required. Being an avid hunter my primary interest was terminal performance and the 300 Whisper just didn’t get the job done for me. So, at that point I moved on to the 6.8 SPC and did a lot of work with it and killed a LOT of hogs and deer.

I’ve always been a bigger bullet is better guy and a .277” diameter bullet just wasn’t exactly what I wanted. Then, in 2008, Remington came out with the .30 Rem AR and I started getting the terminal performance on game that I was after. However, that caliber has its share of issues such as a proprietary upper receiver, bolt carrier group and magazine, and then you add on the fact that shortly after Remington brought this caliber to market they quit supporting it. I never did understand this.

Along came the 300 Blackout that Robert Silvers sent me early on for testing. I didn’t see any terminal performance improvement over the 6.8SPC with 110-125gr bullets and it didn’t shoot nearly as flat. I briefly tried shooting hogs with heavy subsonic bullets, but the rainbow trajectory and poor bullet performance on game turned me off quickly.

This brings us up to the 7.62×40 originally the brainchild of Kurt Buchert. Kurt’s cartridge that Wilson Combat brought to market as the 7.62x40WT, is a well-balanced cartridge that met Kurt’s requirement for it to accept virtually every .30 caliber bullet in the 110-135gr weight range. However, to achieve this with the long-pointed bullets the case length had to be limited to 1.565” (40mm). Don’t get me wrong, I really like the 7.62×40 and have done a lot of successful hunting with it. But I always wanted more; to at least equal the legendary and time proven .30-30 Winchester in terminal performance.

So, I came up with this quest to create a .30 caliber cartridge that could be fired from an AR15 platform utilizing the original 5.56 bolt, and I was going to call it the .30-30AR. Obviously the logical place to start was with Kurt’s 7.62×40. As I mentioned above, the problem was a lack of powder capacity so the first thing I did was to lengthen the throat by .060” to allow for the bullets to be seated out longer. This didn’t gain anything with the long nose pointed bullets that were already being seated out to maximum magazine length. It did allow for me to seat bullets designed for the .30-30 out an additional .060” giving me an additional grain of powder and reducing pressure due to the larger case volume. The result is I gained about 50fps with the Speer 130gr HC which proved to be a VERY terminally effective projectile.

Now, I have a problem, we can’t just start chambering the 7.62x40WT with a different chamber! Also, in my opinion, the two main factors that prevented the 7.62x40WT from being more successful in the marketplace was the name and the other was bad timing. When Wilson Combat releases a new and similar cartridge at basically the same time as the SAAMI approved 300 Blackout with Remington Arms behind it, let’s face it, who’s going to win? Therefore, a minor facelift of the 7.62x40WT wasn’t going to meet my goals for this project even if I could get close to the .30-30 in performance. So here I am back to powder capacity, or the lack of and the first step is to determine which bullets the cartridge must be compatible with and decide if this selection is adequate to meet all of the goals for the intended use of the cartridge (hunting, target and tactical).

Once I determined the answer was yes, measurements were made to determine how long the case can be and still work with the bullets I had selected. This turned out to be .040” longer than the 7.62×40 or .260” longer than the 300 Blackout. At this point I called Pacific Tool and Gage and worked with Dave Kiff to finalize a chamber reamer. The reamer arrived in early January 2018 and my testing began.

It was immediately apparent that there was potential and that we could probably gain 100fps over the 7.62×40 and lot more over the 300 Blackout. My good friend Terrill Hoffman and I shot thousands of rounds testing loads and barrel twist rates since I also wanted this cartridge to be optimized for accuracy.

Then one day I was corresponding with Ron Reiber of Hodgdon Powder Company and he strongly suggested that we try their new CFEBLK powder. To make this long story shorter, this ended up being a game changer and the final piece to the puzzle. It gave us improved accuracy and more velocity with less pressure allowing me to exceed my original velocity goals. Once I decided on a 1-15 twist rate for the barrels and we were good on ballistic performance and accuracy, all that was left was to decide on a name and test real world terminal performance.

During the early testing we were calling it the .30-30AR. That was the name on the original chamber reamer print and what we engraved on early test barrels. My buddy Terrill said something to the effect of “only us old guys know and care much about the old thuty-thuty”. So we came up with a bunch of potential names and my son Ryan said “we just came out with the 458 HAM’R and we have a trademark on HAM’R so let’s call it the 300 HAM’R”! Now 13 years later, THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of rounds downrange, several scrap barrels, one upper blown up and thousands of dead TX feral hogs we have the 300 HAM’R that not only meets all of my original goals, but EXCEEDS them!

– Bill Wilson

300 HAM’R

• 16.25” Barrel
• Sierra 110gr HP 2600FPS MV, 1651FP ME
• Sierra 125gr SBT 2520FPS MV, 1763FP ME
• Sierra 135gr HP Varminter 2400FPS MV, 1727FP ME
• Hornady 150gr SST 2290FPS MV, 1747FP ME

300 BLACKOUT

• 16.25” Barrel
• Hornady Black 110gr V-MAX  2395FPS MV, 1401FP ME
• Hornady 125gr HP American Gunner 2175FPS MV, 1313FP ME
• Hornady 135gr FTX 2055FPS MV, 1266FP ME
• Federal 150gr Fusion 1900FPS MV, 1202FP ME

AS YOU CAN SEE THE 300 HAM’R HAS A SOLID 300FPS VELOCITY AND A 400FP ENERGY ADVANTAGE OVER FACTORY 300 BLACKOUT AT THE MUZZLE.

300 HAM’R vs 7.62×39 BALLISTIC COMPARISON

300 HAM’R

• 16.25” Barrel
• Sierra 125gr SBT 2520FPS MV, 1763FP ME
• Hornady 150gr SST 2290FPS MV, 1747FP ME

7.62×39

• 16.25” Barrel
• Remington 125gr Cor-Lokt 2365FPS MV, 1552FP ME
• Winchester 150gr Razorback XT 2056FPS MV, 1408FP ME

MAXIMUM POWER AND EFFICIENCY IN A SMALL PACKAGE

The 300 HAM’R is capable of duplicating the proven ballistics of the legendary .30-30 Winchester from a comparable barrel length. However it does this with much more efficiency taking only 25-28 grains of powder compared to the 34-38 grains the .30-30 requires. No other caliber that can be fired in an AR15 platform rifle utilizing a 5.56/.223 bolt can come close to this ballistic performance!

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 300 HAM’R

Tactical/Home Protection: The 300 HAM’Rs performance in the hunting fields prove the cartridge’s increased terminal performance over it’s 5.56, 6.5 or 6.8 rivals and make it an optimal choice for home-defense. It’s terminal performance and magazine capacity make it a smart choice for tactical use or protecting your family.

300 HAM’R compared to a 5.56/.223

• .308cal vs .224cal bullet diameter
• 95-150gr vs 45-77gr bullet weight
• Same ammo capacity

300 HAM’R compared to a 6.8SPC

• .308cal vs .277cal bullet diameter
• 95gr-150gr vs 85-120gr bullet weight
• 20rds vs 15rds/30rds vs 25rds or 17% more ammunition capacity

Hunting: Think of the 300 HAM’R as a 300 Blackout on steroids, in the hunting field the HAM’R will substantially out perform the BLACKOUT or 7.62×39 in all relevant areas: velocity, energy, trajectory and terminal performance. The light recoiling 300 HAM’R is an ideal choice for young hunters or anyone sensitive to heavy recoil.

Target/Range: With its stellar accuracy and low recoil the 300 HAM’R is a natural for the range. During our extensive testing groups as small as .2” were recorded and sub .75” 100 yard groups were very common.

All of our 300 HAM’R ammunition velocities are listed from an 18″ barrel. The velocity rises and falls at an average of approximately 25-35 ft per second per inch.

WHICH LOADS SHOULD BE USED FOR BEST ACCURACY FOR RANGE USE TARGET SHOOTING?

WHICH LOADS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR HOME/RANCH DEFENSE?

• Hornady 110gr SP, Lehigh 110gr CC, Sierra 125gr SBT PH, Speer 125gr TNT, Speer 130gr HAM’R HOT-COR, Sierra 135gr HP-V or Hornady 135gr FTX

AMMO APPLICATIONS:

• 95gr Lehigh CC (highest velocity for the cartridge, explosive terminal performance)
• 110gr Lehigh CC #05-308-110-CUSP (our sister company Lehigh Defense designed this bullet specifically for the 300 HAM’R to provide extreme accuracy and deadly terminal performance)
• 110gr Hornady SP (good all around 110gr bullet)
• 110gr Speer SP (tougher than the Hornady due to HOT CORE construction)
• 110gr Hornady V-MAX (accurate and explosive varmint or low penetration choice)
• 125gr Sierra SPT PH (extremely accurate, great all-around bullet)
• 125gr Hornady FMJ #30196 (range and target)
• 125gr Speer TNT (good range and varmint bullet)
• 130gr HAM’R HOT-COR (solid accuracy and proven terminal performance)
• 135gr HAM’R BONDED (great all around bullet)
• 135gr Hornady FTX (great all around bullet and possibly the best choice for whitetail deer)
• Sierra 135gr HP-V (very accurate in most barrels and extreme terminal performance)
• 150gr Hornady SST #30303 (for the largest game the cartridge is suitable for)
• 150gr Speer BTSP #2022 (great all around bullet with a high BC)
• 150gr HAM’R BONDED (for the largest game the cartridge is suitable for)

AVAILABLE AMMUNITION

300 HAM’R HANDLOADING DATA
Accurate/Western Powder Load Data for A1680

WILSON COMBAT LOAD DATA
300 HAM’R Load Data
NUMEROUS BULLETS ARE SUITABLE FOR THE 300 HAM’R AND COVER A WIDE VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS

RECOMMENDED  BULLET CHOICES SUITABLE FOR THE 300 HAM’R

• 95gr Lehigh CC (highest velocity for the cartridge, explosive terminal performance)
• 110gr Lehigh CC #05-308-110-CUSP (our sister company Lehigh Defense designed this bullet specifically for the 300 HAM’R to provide extreme accuracy and deadly terminal performance)
• 110 Hornady SP #3010 (good all around 110 gr bullet)
• 110gr Speer SP (tougher than the Hornady due to HOT CORE construction)
• 110gr Hornady V-MAX #23010 (accurate and explosive varmint or low penetration choice)
• 125gr Sierra SPT PH (extremely accurate, great all-around bullet)
• 125gr Hornady FMJ #30196 (range and target)
• 125gr Speer TNT #1986 (good range and varmint bullet)
• 130gr HAM’R HOT-COR (solid accuracy and proven terminal performance)
• 135gr HAM’R BONDED (great all around bullet)
• 135gr Hornady FTX (great all around bullet and possibly the best choice for whitetail deer)
• 135gr Sierra HP Varminter #2124 (very accurate in most barrels and extreme terminal performance)
• 150gr Hornady SST #30303 (for the largest game the cartridge is suitable for)
• 150gr Speer BTSP #2022 (great all around bullet with a high BC)
• 150gr HAM’R BONDED (for the largest game the cartridge is suitable for)

WILSON COMBAT SUPPORTS THE HANDLOADER
The following are available from shopwilsoncombat.com

• Lee Reloading Dies
• RCBS Reloading Dies
• Wilson Combat headspace/bullet seating gage
• WC 300 HAM’R Headstamped Cases
  Bullets
  Accurate/Western Powder Load Data for A1680

WHAT PRIMERS DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR RELOADING 300 HAM’R AMMUNITION?

SUPPORT PRODUCT AVAILABLE

Lee and RCBS Reloading Dies

Wilson Combat Min/Max Headspace Gauge

Wilson Combat Bullet Seating Depth Gauge

Cartridge Cases with 300 HAM’R Headstamp (SIG and Starline Mfg.)

Barrels in 8, 11.3, 14.7, 16.25, 18 and 20 inch lengths, round or fluted, crowned or threaded

Complete Forged, Billet or Lightweight Billet Uppers

• The 300 HAM’R has 18% more retained velocity, 40% more energy and a 56% flatter trajectory than the 300 BLACKOUT at 200 yards!
• Enhanced reliability due to the longer gas systems, 16.25” is mid-gas and the 18”/20” are intermediate gas system.
• Any AR15 platform rifle can be converted to 300 HAM’R with a simple barrel change and the use of 300 Blackout magazines.
• The 300 HAM’R  1-11.25, 1-13, or 1-15 twist match grade barrels are optimized for accuracy with 95gr to 150gr bullets from 8″ to 20″ barrel lengths.
• Factory Starline and SIG produced 300 HAM’R cases are available, but cases can be made from common and available 5.56/.223 cases.
• The 300 HAM’R has a 300 FPS velocity and 400 FP energy advantage over the 300 BLACKOUT at the muzzle.
• 300 HAM’R rifle and pistol barrels are available in 8″, 11.3″, 14.7″, 16.25”, 18” and 20” lengths with different profiles.

• American Hunter
• Shooting Illustrated
• Guns & Ammo
• Ballistic Mag
• The Truth About Guns
• The Firearm Blog
• Empty Cases
• Range 365
• Down Range Part 1
• Down Range Part 2
• Getzone.com
• Guns.com

“The 300 Blackout proved to be an insanely enticing development when it hit the market a decade ago. The capability to quickly convert your AR-15 from a .22 caliber to a .30 caliber with just changing the barrel was amazing. However, there was still room for improvement, and that’s when Wilson Combat took interest and came with the 300 HAMR. A slightly different version of the 300 Blackout, which many people consider better.“

Read the full comparison at:

300 HAMR vs 300 Blackout Ballistics & Uses – 2022 Comparison