What kind of work do you do that you can't shoot for a couple of months?

I finally have ol' Pink (338 RUM) shooting like she's supposed to.

Was never happy with accuracy or velocity of 225 and 250 grain bullets. I chould shoot MOA with both and with the 250 as fast as the 225 which was slow for the cartridge.

I got to thinking that if heavier bullets went faster than the lighter ones, then a heavier bullet than those two weights should perform about normal.

Bought some 300 SMKs. They sure looked sweet. Tried US869 powder and started a 96gr (low published) and with up a grain at a time to 100 gr (1 gr below max published) watching for pressure signs along the way.

Loaded several with 101gr US869 and the 300 SMK just touching lands (3.818 base to tip).

6 shot velocity averaged 2734 fps with one shot 2735 and another 2734. I've never achieved a load that consistent before.

Groups were about 50 Cal @ 200 yds.

1.7 Mils high @ 200 puts it right at about 5.0 Mils @ 980 yds.

Will check drop chart before I head for the mountains next week.

Thumps you about like an unbraked 06 w/150s @ 3000.

I am a Union Millwright and work shut downs in power houses that go 2-3 months and 6-7 days a week. That is a real impressive load with those 300gr SMK's. I will have to try some of that new powder also and see what happens. Thanks for the update Roy!

BTT JFF or maybe new life.

I forgot to post back to this thread with my results from last year's load development. With the 225-grain TSX and loads of RL25 from 92 to 95 grains (one-grain increments each), 92-94 were... "not worth writing home about, AT ALL." Each hotter load got "slightly" tighter, but I REALLY mean "SLIGHTLY." However... with 95 grains, they suddenly tightened up a LOT and all went under an inch! I had no pressure signs whatsoever, my velocity averaged (when I loaded up a bunch of 95-grainers and went back another time to chronograph the load) right around 3114, and I called things "done" as far as load development went. I know, I could have gone up to 96 grains, just to see "what if"... but, honestly, for elk hunting, sub-MOA is just fine and dandy with me; so, I left things at 95 grains. Cold bore, warm bore... they're all "right in there" as long as the action screws are tight (one of them I need to check now and then, because when the groups start opening up, it's that damn screw).

Anyway, just wanted to post for the benefit of anyone else who might be interested... RL25 and the TSX seem to be matched pretty well to each other.

Russ