Don't like to disturb the neighbors.



Jeep is used only for running out to the paper targets to change them. Steel targets are automatic resetting.







Too lazy to change primer setups, so keep one or more Dillons dedicated for large rifle, small rifle, large pistol, and small pistol in both 550 and 650 models. The 1050 is dedicated to large pistol.













[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/Hammer100/IMGP0368.jpg[/img]


[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/Hammer100/IMGP0371.jpg[/img]


[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/Hammer100/IMGP1206.jpg[/img]

Measure each bullet velocity with seven different chronographs setup on a single rail and centered at the same place. In order to double-check, have another chronograph setup on its own single rail.



[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/Hammer100/IMGP0200.jpg[/img]

Have targets setup at 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and on out a ways. At a 30 degree angle from this view, have resetting steel targets setup on a mountain at varying distances. Have another range setup at 90 degrees to this view. Need to be able to test different wind angles and their effects.



[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/Hammer100/IMGP0260.jpg[/img]

Looking back from the 1,000 yard targets.

[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/Hammer100/IMGP0186.jpg[/img]

Testing should include various terminal ballistic media. There are advocates for wet and dry newspaper, water, gelatin, Corbin's SIMTEST, and others. Tried and like them all. After testing on these, complete testing by going into the field.


[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y114/Hammer100/IMGP0185.jpg[/img]

OK, I'll just go to my room and pout now. Man that is a class setup Sir.

Wow !!

Double WOW!

That's a superb setup! Inspiring, too. My compliments all the way around. You've given me some ideas for a setup I've been planning. Mine won't be that extensive, but I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for the pictures of a well-done plan.

Wow! Thanks for the pics.

Holy schidt, that's nice!

Paul

My word...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

can't speak.....

I have a reloading overload....

fantastic setup!

Some people have really got it goin' on!

He's probably married to a beautiful woman who likes to clean guns too........... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Nice set up you have there!

I take it you don't own that many Savage 110's. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Guess wrong.

Savage 110 is a great vehicle for experimentation because of the ease and quickness of switching barrels and calibers.

Currently have 30+ Savage barrels ranging from 20 Tactical and 6/250 to 416 Taylor and 458 Lott.

Have a Savage action setup with aftermarket trigger on a McMillan stock and with a Nightforce scope.

I guess it's an okay set up. I've seen better...


<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Looks like a great setup!!

Unbelievable! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> A very impressive and professional setup, I must say.

If you ever find yourself looking for a long lost relative to leave it to....I'm available <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The next time my wife starts to think my reloading room is a little over the top I will show her your pictures. Quadruple WOW. Mart

Do you charge admission? I would pay to be able to play in that 'clubhouse' for a couple of days! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I didn't think anything would ever touch the "Accurate Reloading" set up!

Some of the rest of you guys can convince Hammer1 that Savages don't shoot. I'll just watch.

WOW!

Hammer1,

I'm available for adoption.

I'm 39 and could learn to make my bed in the morning.

I'm sure my parents won't mind. My wife probably would, though.

John

WoW-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeee

Hammer,

Thanks for posting the pix! I feel better already! Someone has more reloading stuff than I do. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I just today bought my 2nd. Dillon RL-550 at a gun show for $150. Needs some TLC & spare parts, but I believe I can make it work. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm putting this one on my favorite threads. Next time someone tells me I have too much junque, I 'll show them this. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wow. That is one heck of a setup.

Hammer, I'm a Savage enthusiast as well.........not as many as you have, though; does that gain me any points in coming over to your house to play someday? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I would like for my wife to see this set up,she thinks I have too much. I think it's great. I like the idea of loading and being able to shoot at the same place. Nice setup!

What a great setup. Looks like you have it all.

muddy

Saw this one early this morning...

Still pretty much speachless (and to do that to someone in my profession is danged hard)...

Wow...

Now I see what I'll be working toward when I finally start reloading next year...

Wow...

Holy Crap! I am experienceing everything envy right now. Damn nice.



Mac

Hammer1,

You have a spetacular set up. If someone shot a .22 short outside but near your opening and you shot a 7 Mag from your rest, which would be heard easiest about fifty yards away?

Beer,bottled,or draft??? Dr. Mann Would envy you,good work
GTC

OMG!

That's pretty inspiring!

Thanks for sharing your set up.

That sure is impressive. I can't begin to imagine how much stuff I'd lose in a room that size! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Geez BW! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />




MtnHtr

Holy [bleep] man- What the hell is wrong with you? My wife now has nothing to bitch about. You are a god and I think I will worship you. I'm jealous, the place is even relativily clean and organized. --Mike

I've been spending every weekend looking for a home that , along with other criteria, will have the space I need for my modest reloading efforts. Then I see this.

I could cry...

Savage24,

Must reply that I do have a very beautiful wife.

And we spent most of Sunday afternoon up at the lean-to cleaning. Since she is an engineer, she has her own preferred formula for cleaning and very high standards for what is clean. She likes to debate the merits of single-base versus double-base powders too.

Hammer

can I come stay with you??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hammer, Ol' Buddy, looks to me like you're 'bout to run outa room.

So I'll try to help.

Will keep you in mind and keep space available for you to expand your operation into when I get the Powley Center lab up and running in New Mexico.

.

Ringman,

The 22 Short.

But you need to be more specific. Do you mean the 7mm Remington Magnum, the Short Action Ultra Mag, the long Ultra Mag, the WSM, the STW, the Super Mashburn, or the 7mm/300 Weatherby Magnum ? Each has a distinct decibal signature.

Now when the 50 BMG is being tested, it is a different story.

There is actually a total of four acoustical walls plus the walls they're hung to. Three walls of 3-inch egg carton plus one wall of R30 fiberglass insulation.

Most of the time a round being fired sounds like a 2x4 being dropped on the floor.

Using handguns and rifles, have tested the sound level at a hundred yards off to the side with decibal meters. Compared the shooting noise while adjusting the number of acoustical layers and with no insulation at all. Did not get noise level readings that could be trusted on a scientific level. But people who were witnessing the test reported they could tell a difference. The tests were "blind" so they did not know which level of insulation was being used when the rounds were fired.

Hammer

Boomerboy,

The place is clean and organized because my wife keeps it that way.

Besides having high engineering standards, she will not accept the appearance of anything not presentable to guests. Martha Stewart could learn a few things from my wife.

This past week she had the windshield on my Excursion changed out because it had a small crack in it from a small piece of gravel. Most people would have driven it for another umpteen years and not noticed it. I didn't even notice she had the windshield changed until she told me.

Hammer

WOWWWWWWWW !!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Now that is a serious settup.

Tony

In response to some off-line questions...

The Bonanaza Co-Ax, the Redding, the Lyman, the Hornady, and other presses are on the other side of the room. The three Ted Smith Mity-Might bullet swaging presses are setup to be portable and mounted when being used.

Bullet casting in the winter is done in front of the exhaust fan built into the wall for that purpose. In the summer, the casting setup is just inside the building with the garage door open. There is a 1000-gallon propane tank just to support this building and there is propane plumbing to both casting locations in the building to support bullet casting. There is also 220 electrical service to support bullet casting at both places too.

Hammer

Hammer, you da man!

I feel like such a piker.

Thats enuff to drive a man to never leaving the house - have "Meals on Wheels" come and bring me lucnh - don't think I would ever get bored.

PLEASE adopt me!!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Response to more off-line questions...

My wife does have sisters, but the last single one is getting married in May.

My wife does put limits on my hobbies. She only allows me to have three. In addition to things that go bang...

I hate you!

(I mean that in the nicest way possible . . . . . . . . *wink*)

BMT

Wow, nice set up and nice mounts. I like the range too.

A Mooney, CLASS TELLS AGAIN!

Heck I have horses, finally a comparison! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Wow, just caught this thread today! What an impressive setup, thanks for sharing it with all of us and keeping the dreams alive. Seems like your living my signature line. I congratulate you for doing so. Just so I don't hate you please tell me your money wasn't inherited <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Just kidding Hammer, none of my biz how you came by your funds, I'm just glad to see they are put to good use! Congrats on a wonderful setup, some good looking horse flesh, a beautiful spread, and what seems to be a wonderful wife along with a good life. 1ak

tturner,

Next to the shooting port and within reach of the pivoting chair, there is a Dillon 550 (formerly a Lee turret press), a Harrelson Precision powder measure, an RCBS priming tool, and a case length trimmer. Without leaving the shooting stool, can take the just fired cartridge and completely reload it. A five-shot group with the same case can be fired in less than 2 to 3 minutes. With the Harrelson Precision powder measure and utilizing the chronographs and micrometers, a load for a given powder and bullet can be worked up in minutes including bullet seating depth.

Depend on the spotting scope and gridpaper targets for immediate group size which will be verified later in the shed.

The Windprobe is valuable for determining the wind conditions and giving a recordable wind value for later comparisons.

EVOP and Response Surface Methodology utilizing maximum ascent/descent strategies speeds the process and assures statistically valid results.

Hammer

100+ hour work weeks for nearly thirty years. And continuing.

Hammer

Reply to another off-line question...

The credit for the idea behind the handloading and shooting lab should go to Bob Hagel. Over the past 25 years he has tolerated my visits both to Gibbonsville and his current home near Salmon. Tolerated my never ending questions.

Seeing his handloading shed behind his house at Gibbonsville inspired all this. Loved hearing how he worked up loads for Handloader magazine articles.

My shed is just Bob Hagel's shed on steroids.

Have never been satisfied with my reproduction of Hagel's shooting box, aka bullet penetration box. Have spent more hours trying to duplicate it than anyone could imagine. Have been tempted many times to sneak to Salmon at night and steal it. Short of that, guess could go to Gibbonsville and scoop some silt out of the creek across from his old house and visit the old lumber yards near Salmon and get some genuine Hagel sawdust. But then the exact mixture is still a problem. And probably the water from the creek would not match the water from my wells. So would have to bring back a large supply of creek water to keep the proper dampness to the bullet penetration mixture. Ah, well... The pursuit of...

Hammer

Hammer,

I am very glad that you posted these pictures and your commentary. When I first saw these, I was speechless. You really have a first class set-up.

To all,

I have had a couple of off line conversations with Hammer and he is as classy as his shooting/reloading set-up. Can anyone get past how beautiful his view is???? I'd be afraid to shoot off my Lott in fear that it would wake me up or something....

One more picture for Longbob...

Looking east from the shed...






Appreciate all the kind words from everyone.

Hammer

Hammer,

If you've been working 100+ hours per week, where do you find time to play with your toys? If I worked that hard I wouldn't have the energy to do much playing. I hope retirement is in your sights.

As Steve said, "You da man!"

Paul

ALL I can say is GOD's country, yeah, you da man Sir.

I saw this post yesterday and was so awestuck that I too was speechless. What an incredible setup & I'd be happy to just have the view ... let alone the reloading/shooting setup.

Just a thought, but you ought to have your engineer wifey set up a data acquisition system with your chronos & equipment. That way you could catalog everything ... time ... temp ... wind speed ... load ... velocity ... group size? and dump it into your computer for load development. (granted this idea is coming from another engineer <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ... let one of us come up with an idea and within 10 minutes another will have "improvements" already planned)

After seeing your place, my basement bench sure doesn't look like quite the "get-away" that it used to be. Thanks for sharing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Paul,

My wife ask about retirement every day, but...

My Father was traveling and tending to his business affairs until six weeks before he died at age 94. My mentor was doing likewise until two days before he died at age 93. Neither man told me that not working was an option. Both considered the word "retirement" a four-letter word. They also maintained that there was plenty of time for sleep after we're dead.

This is not a recommendation for anyone else. Just the way I was raised.

There are days that I envy my retired friends.


Hammer

WOW!!! In addition to everything else a nice Jeep for hanging paper targets! Very nice setup!

Jian Wa

Who tends the ranch? Got a foreman and crew? At that altitude there is always something. -- no

Hammer,

Again, all I have to say is WOW. I truley envy what you have accomplished, where and how you live.......Ever think about adoption of a 47 year old kid !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Tony

My brother and a fulltime crew (all who claim to be long distant relatives, but all the DNA tests ain't back in yet).

They have all decided that brass, primer, powder, and lead are community property. Don't begrudge them stuff for 45s, but claiming to use the 416 Rigby on coyotes is a little much. And it don't take a thousand rounds of 20 Tactical to sight-in.

Hammer

My favorit pic is the very first one. Idyllic, pastoral, peaceful, not to mention utterly beautiful.

George

Other than the jeep, the trophys on the wall, and the outdoors... I don't have a clue what I'm looking at in all of those pictures. I hear people talking about dies, and presses, and case trimmers, and tumblers, yadda yadda yadda .... whatever all that means, I'm sure that most of you know.... but not I.

Never the less, I'm very impressed by what I see in the pictures. All of the "stuff" is so neatly and meticulously placed and cared for. This is obviously a mad scientist's laboratory, and that alone makes me envious ...

WGM,

You would hate to know all the stuff that has been the subject of my experiments.

Hammer

Looks like I still have a little way to go before I get to your level.

Understatement of the year candidate there Scott, after your recent post re: your "apartment sized" setup

And Scott, I hope you're enjoying your Saturday over west of here.

I'm sure glad you brought this thread back up from the depths. I don't recall having ever seen it. It has awakened the green juices of jealousy and I will have to reappraise my meditation technique so that the powers that be can change my Karma and I can have a reloading and shooting "shed" like that.

If not in this life at least in the next!

OP, sure is a nice place all around and you get to share it with a nice wife and even family, brass consumers tho they be.

Geno

Damn, that's impressive!

I got a lot of catchin' up to do, my wife ain't gonna be happy when I come home with a whole bunch of new crap!

Point of 7 chronos?

I scanned and don't think that was asked!

NICE setup! Congrats all around.

Someone needs to inform him that you can just buy ammo.


mike r

Buy ammo? When did that happen?

Very impressive. What I'd really like to see is your gun safe, if you care to share.

What I'd really like to know is who your stock broker is....

That is the sweetest setup, I have ever seen. My hat is off to you sir.

Looks extreemly similar to a reloading room posted years ago by someone that said he was a mathmatician

Years back somebody used the term "inspirational"

...still applies.

GTC

Same one. Note the dates. Originally posted back in 2005.

No wonder it looked familar

Money can buy extravagance.
And I really like your set up and the time you put into it.
However I am much more impressed by the guy with a single stage in a corner of his garage who puts out accurate ammo without spending 10's of thousands.
But...good work. Keep it up.

I'd say in Hammer1's case it's the nature of the man and his drive to learn all he can about things that capture his interest than any desire for extravagance or to impress anyone.
Undoubtedly that same trait has also played a large part in his obviously very successful private business life.

I was absent from the 'fire for a good bit of 2005, so I missed this thread.

It ought to be a "sticky".

Oh...... and "tapeworm"....... The guy with a single stage press in his basement may be doing the best he can with what he's got........ but it took a DAMN sight more than $$$ to build Hammer's setup.

Try not to choke yourself...

I don't know, guys. Seven chronometers and two angles? Is that really enough? And only five Dillons? C'mon H-man. Go large or go home!

What the...

I feel so inadequate...

You know, of course, that I am just envious.

Maybe we should list in order what we are most envious of?

I'll start with the "east view".