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Bob, I tested a box of the .30-06 180 grain BondStrike when they first came out. Nominal MV is 2,756 fps, but thru my 24" Lilja barrel I recorded 2,630 fps for 10 rounds. To date my barrel has only been fed 180 grain cup-n-core and bonded bullets across its 20+ year life and those bullet types...

Pretty much all that was used on the ranch growing up. My dad would say when going into town on a vittals run to pick up a couple of boxes of 'greens' in .30-30 and .30-06. Don't know how they are constructed today, but back then, in .30-06, they were intended for the 'classic' MV's - 150s @...

Nice! Good ol' PA :) I'm Whidbey Island. I don't fish tho, well, not since dynamite was outlawed...

Born and raised on a working cattle and horse ranch in the Big Empty of central Oregon. It all started when my dad taught me to shoot with a single-shot .22 rimfire with a tiny wedge of wood under the rear sight to get the sights aligned at 50 yards. My hunting education began when my dad...

IDK, but I'm certain I'm the opposite of you. After a touch of SE Asia malaria, I'm convinced the mosquito's support group on Facebook put out a pic of me with the tag line "Extra Yummy!". Around a campfire, I'm literally the only one getting hits.

Yup. When Remington puked around 2020 or so the Barnes subsidiary ended up with Sierra (who had previously ended up at Clarus) it's very incestuous. So, if you've been going to the dance with one outfit and then switch partners to another, you just gotta change your wardrobe!

I forgot to add to my previous post that I've found H4350, in both of those cartridges and bullet weights, to perform most consistently and accurately when the load density was hovering right at ~90%. Much beyond ~94% the consistency would lessen. Also, if load density was below 85% I'd...

I've used H4350 with a 180-grain cup-n-core and bonded bullet from my .30-06 since forever. Extraordinarily consistent with loads just over 2,700 fps MV from a 24" barrel. I also use H4350 with a 300-grain bonded bullet to target 2,450 fps MV from my 24" .375 H&H barrel. If you want the same...

Probably, probably, and probably not. When I bought my M70 SE some 20+ years ago it came with a lovely stock. Problem was, with my chosen optic (Vari-X III 1.5-5x20mm) mounted in Talley's when I brought the rifle up, fast or slow, I was always 'skooshing' my cheek weld just a touch to align my...

The comment by your gunsmith regarding cheek weld and eye alignment with the optic would give me pause regarding having him stock the rifle. I always choose functional first, purty later.

I've pontificated on this before around here, but at my advanced age, I've learned to stay in condition year-round. It's just simply less painful vs. "getting into shape" for a hunt. I'm fortunate that I can do daily morning 5-mile strolls in the foothills around the shack, always packing a...

During the last unpleasantness called COVID I could not find a bonded bullet for sale anywhere for use with cow elk hunting. But I'd been testing ELD-Xs. So, I broke my personal rule about bullet choice based on live weight (see above), but I knew I was breaking my rules and adjusted...

In today's world, given the plethora (word for the day) of bullet options, I see it more an example of trigger-puller failure - people choosing the wrong bullet for the given conditions. Cup & core bullets are still a viable option given the expected conditions. My personal (emphasis on...

In any case, if Swift is having troubles gettin' it done, then I guess I'd better start thinking about coming up with Plan B...

Man, if Swift was in my neck of the woods, I'd work there just to experience making A-Frames! And perhaps an employee discount? Just sayin'....

Moved from a MagnetoSpeed v3 to a Garmin. I'm out on the range once a week, sometimes more, and setting up the Garmin is an afterthought. If I was out monthly or less, then I'd stick with the MagnetoSpeed.

Yup. The exception is some lines of defense work. In some cases, the OS is written from scratch.

2 points - You have a CZ550. Last thing I would worry about are style points with the mannlicher stock. First thing I'd do is torture test that action with your chosen dummy ammo to find anywhere that needs polishing. WRT the stock, make sure you can get a solid cheek weld with your chosen...

I forget just how many primer brands Vista owns as well...

Yup. As I've related before in another thread. The first factory DG round went "click", then the second round went "click". Thank goodness it was during field practice rather than otherwise. That was enough for me. No more "Safari Grade", "hand inspected", DG ammo from that vendor for me. Ever.

I reload, and I've been steadily acquiring a couple lifetimes worth of 450/400 components for the day I get my hands on one. I blame 'ol Don for letting me try his Manton. Bad mistake.

May or may not shoot, but it'll be stylin' on the sticks!

I punt. 2.5x fixed. And 100 yards? I wiggle closer.

Gotcha. You can currently order StaBALL 6.5 direct from Hodgdon, and from many other online vendors.

For the 120's I use Varget. For the 143's (ELD-X & Norma BondStrike) I've used both H4350 & StaBALL 6.5. I've a pile of 156 gr. Oryx that I'll be working up a load using Vihtavuori N555. If that works well, then I'll try N555 on some 160 gr. Weldcores.

I agree with others views that the 300 grain A-Frame is at its best between 2,400 - 2,500 fps MV. I've settled on handloading the A-Frame from a 24" barrel to a MV of 2,450 - 2,460 fps. This is for use on buffalo under 100 yards. I gave up on using RL-15 for the 300 grain A-Frame. A great...

The last mount I envision will be a Sable floor pedestal. Everything else lately has been 8x12 glossies. Now to find that monster Sable...

Well, my big bore only reaches up to 450/400 #1. However, this Spring I'm quite busy working on back-up loads for all the cartridges that rely on H4350. That involves 20+ different loads including 9.3x62mm and .375 H&H. Just too many dang loads depending on a reliable supply of H4350. However...

One thing that hasn't changed is during the dead-dark winter months I'm doing full-anal prepping of a few thousand brass across a number of cartridges so that my 'on demand loading' approach isn't hindered.

I'm still at the range once a week fussing over this or that load and I'm carrying a loaded rifle on my daily strolls in the hills. Spring is breaking out in my neck of the woods and the critter's have started moving. What I've stopped doing is loading several hundred rounds at a time in...

That's why my teenage son and his teenage buddies love that 6.5 CM cartridge. They take their ~$400 rifle + scope combos, buy the cheapest ammo that their part-time, after-school jobs can afford and head to the range where they compete with each other for target bragging rights. The target...

Sure! Both the SP & FMJ are just fine and affordable too for walking around field practice. I use H4895 because I can either handload full power loads or safely handload 40% reduced power loads. So handload a magazine's worth and go for a stroll...

Probably were still working on their personal cartridge wall collection...

Here we are in 2024 and I continue to be amazed (I've long stopped being surprised) at how far off factory ammo printed MVs are compared to actual MVs. When it comes to DG factory ammo the variances can be enough to be no laughing matter. Consider a manufacturer's marketing spiel regarding their...

Yup. I drive the 165 mono's at 2,900+ for just that reason.

My rule of thumb is with big game live weight up to ~300 lbs I'm fine with using a cup-n-core bullet. The 165 grain HotCor at around 2,800 fps MV from the .30-06 will do just fine out to ~300 yards. When big game live weight gets much past 300 lbs then I'm loading either a 180 grain bonded...

I used to believe that as well until I met the factory DG ammo from a very familiar manufacturer that simply went 'click' during a practice session. Never again.

There needs to be organized a Convention on the Rights of All Peoples to be Protected from the Sheer Stupidity of the UN.

Huh. Norma & Woodleigh. Woodleigh must be back up and shipping.

My brother is afflicted with Elk Madness and regularly hunts the western US for record book trophies, however that is measured. He hunts with a suppressed .300 PRC. I forget the name of the outfit that loads his 212 grain ELD-X ammo so that the MV aligns with the doodads on the glass he uses...

Huh. So that must be why in videos here and there you see a hunter taking his eyes off the prize after firing and scrambling to locate their spent brass. Could never figure that out...

When they sweep out the ridiculous size of the board of directors and start over, then I'll sit up and take notice.

I simplified things between the two cartridges, which is in my nature, and when carting them both across the pond. 300 grain A-Frame. In the 9.3, 2,425 fps MV using a temperature resistant powder. in the H&H, 2,450 fps MV with a different temperature resistant powder. This one duplicates the...

I put 934 miles last year on my last pair of macv1. There's a decent amount of tread left on them. I have 200 miles now on my first pair of macv2. The tread on those is perfect for my daily strolls in the hills.

What bullet type - cup-n-core, bonded, mono, solid?

Set Rant On Now if Hornady would just make a DGX-Anything to go along with the DGS they offer in 9.3x62mm ????????? Set Rant Off

I long ago skipped the "getting into shape for hunting" routine. It's just too dang painful and seems to take longer to reach "hunting condition" as I age. I'm fortunate to live in rural hill country whereby each morning I gear up, choose a rifle sans sling (the heavier the rifle the better)...

Well, if the CXs shot well for you, then perhaps the Nosler 260 grain E-Tips factory ammo? I've never tried them, so dunno. They look readily available online. Here's hoping Plan A works out for you.

Given the time remaining and you depending on others it sounds to me like you also need a Plan B to fall back on. 2 boxes factory ammo. 1 box for testing here, 1 box to travel with you. Be sure to test feeding all of box #2 from the magazine before leaving.

Handloaded or factory ammo, I run each completed round through a case gauge, and on passing that check, I then feed the rounds from the rifle's magazine and eject them. Thus, insuring there are no hiccups later when it's too late to do anything about it.