Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Ramshot Hunter?

Anyone using this powder? What is it being loaded in? Temp sensitive? Bought 8 lbs to try in 30 06. Are best results with 165 or 180 grain bullets?

Some of us were just talking about this powder in another thread. It has been great in my 6.5 creedmoor's and 6.5x55. I've also used it in 30-06. I tried it in a new rifle just the other day. Getting some decent results, but kind of sporadic as well. When double checking loads, I would get one group at .6" and the next with the same charge wt would be 1.1". Kind of fluctuating a little more than I like to see. That was with the Hornady 180gr SST, which I've never experimented with either. Groups at 400 were sub moa and others at 1.5 moa. Kind of hit and miss.. Not used to that, so I am thinking about trying a different powder. Maybe a more tried and true H4350.. I also tried it in my 7mm08 with 150gr Nosler partitions. Works very well for that application. If you haven't looked at the PDF of Western powders load data, download it and print it off. it has some damn good information in it. I look through it a lot..

I found a good load in my 30-06 with 165gr bullets.I used Win. cases,WLRM primers,load was 59.5grs of Hunter.I found I really liked it in my 300 Win Mags.73.5grs with 180's and 71.0grs with 200gr bullets.

I’ve been playing with it lately in .243 Win. The rifle was my dad’s Rem 742, and it likes 100 gr Rem Corlokts factory loads, but I’m using with with 95 gr BT’s and the Hunter now and getting decent groups. I’m also using it in .260 Rem and 6.5 CM

That's good info. I think next time I mess with it in my 30-06, I'll try some magnum primers.

Any idea of velocity on the 06?

A little over 2900fps.

Thanks! Nothing wrong with that

I've loaded as high as 60.0grs with a 168gr bullet.The load data shows you might even be able to go a little higher,maybe a grain or so.Hunter is a little slower on the burnrate scale than the 4350 powders.I'd put it right there with IMR-4831.Here is Western Powder's load data. https://ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WesternPowdersHandloadingGuide8.0_WEB.pdf

Appreciate the info! Going to try some Sierra Gamechanger 165s and Hornady 178 ELD Xs in the 06 with this powder. Might give it a go in a 6.5-06 also.

I've used it in the 6.5 Creedmoor with 130 and 140 grain bullets and in the .243 with 95 and 100 grain bullets and it works quite well for those loads. According to Mule Deer, it is somewhat temperature sensitive (more so than Big Game) so it might not be a good choice for really cold weather use.

As BSA mentioned, just talked about in another thread.
But in the 06. It’s my go to with 180s. My 168s get the big game. Another great powder for the lighter bullets.
The 180s Sierra game kings with 59.5 gr of hunter pushed them 2860-2898 fps, Base to ogive 2.700….It’s a stout load getting to factory 300 mag loads.


It is also my go to powder I use in 270 win. Very consistent. 140 SST can be over 3100. But I stick with accuracy at 3050

H4350 has always been my go-to powder for 30-06 and 6.5CM. But a few years ago my supply of H4350 got very low and I couldn't find any. I could find Ramshot HUnter and gave it a try. Initial results were very good. But about that time H4350 became available and I stopped load development and went back to established loads with H4350. But based on my initial results I'd feel very good about using it.

It’s all I use in the 30-06. 178 gr ELD-X, 180 AB and PT, 185 VLD Hunting.




P

You save your Big Game for your 7mm-08. That is understandable. Don't overlook Hunter in that cartridge though:




It's been extremely consistent in the little 7mm with those spendy 150gr partitions.. I had to go back and check target pics. The best way for me to keep track, besides writing it down in a book. Pics are usually the best way to get the point across though. That load holds about .7 moa out to 400 yards and is actually very good in the wind.

A great powder, one of my top ones in 270 Win. I just loaded some with 178 ELDX's in the '06 but haven't had the chance to get out and fire them yet.

Gives good groups in my 270 Win with Hornady 130gr. Little more velocity than Staball 6.5

Let us know how it does in that 06, when you get a chance to shoot them. I was thinking about trying those bullets next. Probably colder than a sumb itch over there right now.

Tried Hunter.

I got better velocity with BG.

Like you kept telling another poster here in another thread, "stop thinking about energy"!!! i could care the fu ck less about top speeds, as long as the load is consistently accurate. My hunting rifles use scopes with ballistic type reticles, or dials I trust. You shoot a 7mm08 a lot and have made some nice long shots on big critters. That is commendable. But if one load is 50-100 fps slower and shoots better, I'm going to use the one that is considerably more accurate/precise. That load above with the measly ol 150 partition flies very well out to 400 yards. That's not far, but like I've said, that is what I've tested it to. Many times. It will easily and consistently make kills out to that range. No problems whatsoever, and that is with a cheap (but proven) Burris FFII 3-9x40. As for your loading style, I've said this before, but it is borderline reckless. You like starting out at top book loads and then adjust OAL to find a decent load, where I "WORK UP" and find loads by means of OCW. Most times keeping bullets at a reliable .020" off the lands. That is the safe way to develop loads. It is funny how you kept telling one poster over and over again, don't worry about "energy", yet you continually focus on high speeds. That schidt just doesn't compute...

Here's my 300 win mag load, 3300+fps and dead nuts accurate in a few different rifles.

Accuracy is implicit.

Spare 7mm-08:




Primary 7mm-08:




I don’t feel reckless…

2790 fps with the above bullets isn’t pushing the envelope at all.

Do what works for you, I’ll do what works for me.






P

Don't forget it is a ball powder.

A magnum primer can be of big help.

That looks and sounds nasty!

That’s what I use.

A little windy, left to right.








P

Have killed a couple moose with a 200 gr. partition over 62 gr. Hunter. Fed case and probably cci 250 primer. My magnetospeed said 2600!

I've been using Ramshot Hunter for the 178 ELD-X and 180 Berger Elite Hunter as well as other 180's from my 30-06 for some time now. Consistently good accuracy and velocity.

Took a cow elk with the 178 ELD-X a few weeks ago, and in 2021 took a fat muley buck with the 180 Berger, both with Ramshot Hunter. Good powder for that bullet weight.

Guy

I developed a load for my brother’s Tikka 30-06 using Hunter and the 178 ELDX.

Can you give me the specifics of your experience?

Just picked up 8lbs of Hunter...can't beat the price.
Going to try it in my 270, and 7-08... and prolly my 280.
I got a chitt load of 150's for my 7-08...so hopefully get the same results as BSA

Love the stuff.... Burned about 5 pounds of it in various chamberings. Really shines in the 243, 7-08 and 270.

Thanks Pharm. I agree.

It was, warmed up and high of 38 Friday so I may try to get out then and see how they do.

Nice, what kid of velocities were you getting?

I have only one observation so far. I loaded some rounds today in my 280 AI with 162 ELD-Ms as a test load. My observation? This stuff meters like air.

That's a big reason I went all in on Ramshot. They might not always be the absolute best match, but they've always been good enough or better for me.

I love how big game, and hunter meters. So smooth. The same can be said for StaBall 6.5. Great stuff..

Well, over the weekend, I found out I am down to my last pound of Hunter. I went to three different gun stores today and not a one of them had it. I guess all of you are buying! 😂

Order it online. The nice thing about Hunter, is it is still fairly inexpensive. The LGS here has had an 8 pounder here for over 3 months. It is priced around $260.00..

Yeah all the Ramshot powders I have tried are very reasonably priced, I bought 4lbs of TAC at My LGS the other day for $31.95 per ....Hb

I respect them because they have not really been trying to gouge us like the Hodgdon has. I'll keep using them for sure. I've been buying their powders for around $30/pound for the last 2 years. Thanks Ramshot!!!

You know Hodgdon bought Ramshot and Accurate powder couple years back??

https://hodgdon.com/hodgdon-acquisitions/

Hodgdon can kiss my fu cking azz..

The lone one left is Alliant powder. Well shooters world powder as well.

Is Alliant still in business? Sure as heck can't find any Reloader 16 or 26.

Got it at $216/ 8 lbs.