User blog comment:Plexioth- xD/Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate/@comment-93.103.44.122-20130317153916/@comment-5043481-20130317175146

For heavy hitters, like hammers and greatswords, raw is generally better. This is because the element does the same damage per hit, but raw varies. So, you do the same element damage per hit with a hammer with 400 fire as a SnS with 400 fire. Obviosly the SnS is going to do more element damage over time, as it hits far faster.

Interestingly, the hammer can vary its damage type with different moves. A raw hammer will be good for triple and super pounding, but one with strong element will be better used doing the spinny move, to get tons of element damage. Status hammers especially show this. One spinny move with status will probably inflict it.