3...........These days ($$$), I take a quick look at QuickLoad, and manuals, and pick the best Hodgdon powder that nearly fills the case and delivers top velocities, the appropriate CCi primer, the correct type and weight of bullet for that rifles intended use, 1 Hornady, 1 Sierra, and 1 Nosler. If tweaking charge and seating depth does not do 1" at 100, that rifle makes a hasty retreat, and I start with a new rifle.
How many bullets do you try in new rifle?
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lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
I use them in quite a few.
6.5CM
6.5SLR
.260AI
20" 6.5SS
They are extremely accurate, have good BC for the weight, easy to tune, and absolutely wicked on game. My daughter is a surgeon with her 6.5SLR. Pushes the 130 OTM @ 2925fps. She has taken 3 big mule deer bucks @ 454, 532, 637. Also 4 pronghorn bucks @ 260, 381, 391, 771.
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I burned out a 7mm RemMag barrel trying to find a bullet it would shoot with acceptable accuracy.
I'm about to impose a 200 shot limit on barrels, after a run of bad luck recently.
These were confirmed to be bad AFTER I wasted too much time and too many components.
By the manufacturer
Wow! Sorry for your bad luck. I hope you have a good source for reasonably priced barrels.
So far so good…and my best shooting pal/oldest hunting friend does the reaming and threading at Sherwood Tactical so I don't have terrible wait time.
This depends on personal preference and intended purpose. My .270 AI was built primarily for heavy bullets in 2012, particularly the 165/175 Matrix bullets. Yes, Matrix is no longer making these bullets because the newest owner only does pistol bullets. However, I acquired enough bullets for the life of the barrel. Today, the Berger 170 is the only bullet I will consider using.
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
Hopefully 1 bullet.
I usually have a combo or three in mind when I buy a rifle, and if that doesn't work, I'll have a fallback or 20 around to try. When I find a bullet working in a couple of rifles I'll lay in some supply. I also do this with powder/primers. I've got a "fair" amount of powder around, but I should have picked up a bit more of a few powders before covid hit. I really hate to burn up 50–60-dollar a # powder perforating paper, and I loathe buying it at that price.
I usually have a combo or three in mind when I buy a rifle, and if that doesn't work, I'll have a fallback or 20 around to try. When I find a bullet working in a couple of rifles I'll lay in some supply. I also do this with powder/primers. I've got a "fair" amount of powder around, but I should have picked up a bit more of a few powders before covid hit. I really hate to burn up 50–60-dollar a # powder perforating paper, and I loathe buying it at that price.
Lefty7mmstw
Well-Known Member
I think everyone's been there or will be eventually. I know I've virtually roasted a couple of barrels trying to find a load that's acceptably to me. It's a bit tough lately to get a barrel spun on around here, so there are rifles I simply don't shoot much to save them. Then I have a couple rifles that are either "garbage cans-they'll eat anything I shove in 'em well enough for paper" or not very overbore that get shot a lot.
I know exactly what you mean. I do not know if you've seen this thread I started in December 2020 - "My" never leave the local gun store empty-handed rule ...
https://www.longrangehunting.com/th...the-local-gun-store-empty-handed-rule.255740/
catch 22
Well-Known Member
Buzzsaw
Well-Known Member
A good rifle will shoot everything well. If you want to "shoot" get a .223. Yes, test but pick a bullet and known load data and seat .02 off the lands. .280Ai is not hard to get to shoot great if you have a good rifle.
There is a new thinking that we spend way too much time on testing and getting very anal with our reloading procedures.
There is a new thinking that we spend way too much time on testing and getting very anal with our reloading procedures.
memtb
Well-Known Member
That's the reason that I do not visit any gun store very often! Unlike our government……I can't pass on the bills to someone else!
memtb
Nimrod
Well-Known Member
I once bought a brand new Remington Sendero in .300 Ultra specifically to shoot the 230grain Berger, it didn't like anything over 180 grains but was sub moa with about any 180, I sent it down the road. My current plaything is a 7mm RM that I bought for bullets in the 160 grain class, hopefully it likes something that's available.
