Fun with my projects

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ligonierbill

New member
And making some progress. I mostly finished loads for the 1895 35 Winchester, guided by Ken Waters' article. Got the 250 Hornady's on target (the 200s run too high for the current sights) at 2,143/10.3 using Waters' IMR-3031 load. I'm 80 fps slower than his, but he had a brand new, rebored Browning, probably tighter than my 1907. Shows how much he liked the round. Still need to try IMR-4320, which Waters favored for 250s, and find some 225 Partitions.

I did my first workup on the 220 Swift. That's a 1972 M70 in a Richards Microfit AAA myrtle stock. No stain, just Linspeed. At Sierra's Re-16 max for their 55 HPBT, she's running 3,724, not much faster than Sierra got with a 24" barrel (this one is 27 1/2" 1:12). I want to try some 50 gr Nosler BT and some different powders. Folks seem fairly conservative in loads, trying to preserve barrels, I guess. Speer runs 2.8 grains more than Sierra with their 55s, and QL still predicts fairly low pressure.

And the 338 RUM: wearing a new B&C "Weatherby" stock. It seems to fit me a little better than the Remington original, but I only put 10 rounds downrange. Hornady 270 ELD-X went 2,566 with a modest load of Ramshot Magnum. I think I will get about 2,750 from this combination. Couldn't group, as I was roughing in the scope. Did get an initial 1" and 3,063 from 210 Barnes TTSX over Re-25. Seems to track their data, which should yield 3,185 at max. I'm still getting to know this rifle. More bullets, maybe some Re-33 if I can find it.

Guess which gun made a mark? Yep, crescent steel buttplate Winchester. Ken Waters' new one at least had a shotgun butt, but even at that, he was looking for a good recoil pad.
 

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stagpanther

New member
I've fired smaller caliber RUMS without a brake and they're OK, but firing a heavy 338 bullet at high speed is going to whomp you fer sure. :) Is that B&C holding up OK? I find that material they use is kinda "mushy" and can compress easily, I've never been 100% convinced it can hold up well to sustained heavy recoil, but maybe I'm just imagining things.
 
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ligonierbill

New member
The B&C (and me) are holding up fine. The stock seems to fit me a little better than the 700 BDL stock, although I've never had a complaint about the original.
I have a run of 270 ELD-X ready to test, and 300 SMK are on the bench. Regards recoil, I don't mind being rocked back if I don't get hurt.

Hurt is that 35 Winchester. Nothing like a steel crescent buttplate to put some color on your shoulder. Bench work requires a pad. But I went up a little on the IMR-3031 to Mike Venturino's load for 2,204/16.8 with the Hornady 250's. Using up my discontinued IMR-4320, I have the 200s dialed in at 2,200 also. I need to refine my sight in, but I hope to get them close on POI.

I think I've reported already that my 220 Swift will put the Nosler 50 VMG inside 3/4" at 3,900 (Re-17). I have obtained some 53 gr SMK and more Re-16, so a little more work. But I doubt I'll better those Varmageddons.
 
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stagpanther

New member
Hurt is that 35 Winchester. Nothing like a steel crescent buttplate to put some color on your shoulder. Bench work requires a pad.
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I can relate, my henry brass big boy in 45-70 has a metal brass buttplate too and it has given all kinds of nice tattoos.:)

I'm still kicking myself for having passed on a custom-engraved winchester in 35 win lever gun years at a LGS that was around $800 but in new condition.
 
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ligonierbill

New member
Update on the 338 RUM: The 270 ELD-X are running 2,727/15.4 over Ramshot Magnum. I need to knuckle down and shoot for group, although they look promising. Still on the lookout for Re-33, which appears to be the only powder that will best this without pushing pressure. Yet to load the 300 SMK.
 
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stagpanther

New member
How long is your barrel on that 338 RUM? You might need a long one--say at least 26"--to really get good use out of a slow burner like RL33. I tried a few test shots out of my 338LM (26" barrel) using RL33 and was not impressed by the filthy bore left behind.
 
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stagpanther

New member
As they say every rifle is different--Also, I don't pay much attention to results under 200 yds with something like the 338 LM--I like to test at least at 250 to 300 if at all possible. Do you mind my asking the charge weight of your ram magnum load?
 
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stagpanther

New member
That's pretty close to what I use on one of my best loads for 285 eldm's in my 338LM. I just logged onto Hogdon's website and they have H1000 available in 1lbrs; you might want to try that instead of something like RL33/Retumbo in the under 300 gr bullet class.
 
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ligonierbill

New member
I am going to try Vihtavouri N568. I get great results with N560 in 7mm Mag and 338 Mag, and N568 may also do well with 175 gr bullets in the 7 and 220s in 8mm Mag. We shall see.
 
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