Range Tested: Federal Premium HammerDown Ammunition

by
posted on September 25, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
There are few things more important to a hunter than what sort of ammunition is taken into the field. From what runs best in a particular gun, to ballistic characteristics, to terminal performance, everything plays a factor in the final decision. For a while, lever-action hunters have had to deal with a few compromises, due to their preferred firearm's unique loading system. They are forced to no longer. With the introduction of HammerDown ammunition, by Federal Premium, lever-action hunters have a cartridge designed specifically to maximize their effectiveness in the field.

Federal HammerDown .45-70 Gov't

A line targeted at the full spectrum of lever-action aficionados, HammerDown includes not just traditional rifle calibers, like .45-70 Gov't. and .30-30 Win., but also pistol calibers, like .327 Mag., .357 Mag., .44 Mag. and .45 Colt. To design these cartridges, Federal teamed up with the lever-gun experts over at Henry Repeating arms, to determine the characteristics needed to make a cartridge load, feed and shoot reliably every time.

Federal HammerDown .44 Magnum

Cases are nickel plated to resist corrosion, and have had their case rims chamfered to reduce snags in loading and feeding; bullets are either molecularly bonded soft-points or hollow-points, depending on caliber. These feature reliable expansion and near-total weight retention, for deep and devastating wound channels. While loads for the available rifle calibers tend toward the traditional, HammerDown pistol calibers have been loaded to optimize performance out of a rifle. This means an increase in velocity of 400-to 600-fps, thanks to the longer barrel. Further, heavy-for-caliber bullet weights are used to more efficiently increase terminal performance at these velocities.

Federal Hammerdown Rifle Trio

For more on how these cartridges fared at the range, join Executive Editor Jon Draper in this exclusive video, and for more on the HammerDown line, check out federalpremium.com.

Latest

Praxis Frame Pack LEDE
Praxis Frame Pack LEDE

New for 2026: Latitude Outdoors Whitetail Frame Packs

Mobile whitetail hunters have long faced a familiar compromise: carry a lightweight pack for the hunt, or haul a frame pack for the pack out. Latitude Outdoors has released a pack to solve that problem, with a frame system built from the ground up for the mobile whitetail hunter.

The Problem with Pressures: A +Peak Revolution?

The history of the projectile, and of the centerfire cartridge, is fascinating, and it seems as though we are ready to take the next step forward. Or are we? Let's take a look at how pressures have affected cartridges throughout history, and the evolution that seems to be currently starting.

More than $1.3 Billion Raised by Duck Stamp Sales

On June 26 the 2026-2027 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, aka Duck Stamp, went on sale. The fact it raises about $40 million for conservation annually gets the headlines, but there are underpublicized benefits for making the $25 purchase—even non-hunters.

Hardware Review: Henry H23 SPD PREDATOR

Check out Frank Melloni's review of the Henry H23 SPD PREDATOR.

First Look: Hawke Optics Vantage HD 30 SF

Hawke Optics has introduced its Vantage HD 30 SF, a second-focal plane riflescope line boasting System H2 optics for clarity.

Pyrodex Turns 50

Pryodex, the revolutionary black powder substitute that continues to be one of Hodgdon Powder Company’s most popular products for hunters who head afield with a “smoke pole,” was first introduced at the 1976 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.