[pharmseller]

@pharmseller Do you have a progressive press set up or "unlimited" time? asking for a friend trying to decide whether to jump into reloading mass quantities.

I use a progressive press but like a single stage, I took the indexing arm out. It saves quite a bit of time just installing new 4-hole turrets. Plus, I use a powder thrower for .223 instead of weighing charges. Remarkably accurate and consistent.

And I neck size instead of full-length.

 

[bumpus]

Did you know that marmots are a staple food for the folks on the steppes of Mongolia? They are also a vector for Rocky Mtn Spotted fever, so clean em with nitrile gloves on before you eat em.

 

[pharmseller]

Crockpot marmot with taters and cream of mushroom soup. Meat just falls off the bone.

 

[Randy01]

I spent some time in the reloading room this weekend prepping brass and loading cartridges.

View attachment 1074724

For the third year in a row I’ll be using my stainless Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 Rem with 75 grain ELDM at 2915 fps muzzle velocity.

View attachment 1074723


Last year I filled my tag on a nice forkie at about 125 yards, the year prior I shot a spike on the last day (spike meat is better than no meat) at 475 yards. That ELDM is an angry little bullet.

I’m saving the Mighty -08 for elk.




P

I am curious on the rate of twist for your Tikka? I can't get my .222 or 22-250 to shoot the Nosler 55gr E-tips worth a dang. The best bullet so far is the Nosler 40gr ballistic tip. I don't hunt deer with either, just predators. The 55's don't seem to stabilize in my 1:14 twist barrels and seem to hit the target sideways. I am picking up a couple of boxes of Nosler 40gr E-tips (lead free) this week. I occasionally hunt in N. CA. and they require lead free ammo.

 

[baltz526]

I am curious on the rate of twist for your Tikka? I can't get my .222 or 22-250 to shoot the Nosler 55gr E-tips worth a dang. The best bullet so far is the Nosler 40gr ballistic tip. I don't hunt deer with either, just predators. The 55's don't seem to stabilize in my 1:14 twist barrels and seem to hit the target sideways. I am picking up a couple of boxes of Nosler 40gr E-tips (lead free) this week. I occasionally hunt in N. CA. and they require lead free ammo.

bullet length is the critical measurement.1-14" is best for bullets under .800" which is why speer makes the 70gr semi pointed at .790.wichester makes the 64gr power point at .805 works in my 22-250 1-14 the .805 55grain ballistic tip is marginal if i push it hard. the perfect bullet length for 1-14 twist is like the55gr sierra flat base spitzer at .715" the 40gr is .696" so it is in that middle sweet zone for 1-14 remingtons 55gr flat base spitzer is .690 for a reason

 

[Randy01]

bullet length is the critical measurement.1-14" is best for bullets under .800" which is why speer makes the 70gr semi pointed at .790.wichester makes the 64gr power point at .805 works in my 22-250 1-14 the .805 55grain ballistic tip is marginal if i push it hard. the perfect bullet length for 1-14 twist is like the55gr sierra flat base spitzer at .715" the 40gr is .696" so it is in that middle sweet zone for 1-14 remingtons 55gr flat base spitzer is .690 for a reason

Thanks for the info!

 

[pharmseller]

Both of my Tikkas are 1-8”, which stabilize the 75 gr bullets well.

This was today, only 100 yards but 8 shots under .8” ain’t bad. Quite windy so I had a little more lateral dispersion than I like.

1-14” twist, what kind of rifle do you have? AR style?

 

[pharmseller]

I found this chart on another board years ago.

As you can see, the slower the twist the lighter the bullet. Monometals are slightly different, as Baltz said, since they tend to be lighter per length, so you can get away with longer (therefore heavier) bullets.

Velocity also factors into stability, so if you’re marginal, push it fast (safely, of course).

 

[Reacher]

In general with a 14 twist .22, stay under 60 gr. With lead free bullets go even lighter. Some barrels just don’t shoot lead free well and seating depth can be very finicky to make them shoot.

 

[Blackbeardown]

Took my sons rifle out to assure it was on target since he is out of town working and will come into camp late Wednesday during season…and I brought my 7mm-08 that I took to Idaho to make sure it hadn’t got bumped. As I pulled up to set my target up I noticed 4-5 starlings had landed in a snag tree against the base of the hill. Seeing there was a safe backstop behind them…I grabbed my 7mm-08 and my rangefinder. 163 yards. I’m sighted in dead on at 200…so I load a round and rest off the back of my pickup and let a 140 gr Accubond go…feathers fell off the bird I shot at as they all flew off. Close. As I was contemplating the shot, two more flew into the same tree. At the next shot I dropped one out of the top of the tree. Wow…lucky shot I guess. I was about to put the rifle back and get my target out when another small batch of starlings lit in the same tree. Another round was ready and I settled back into the scope off the back of the truck. I’m shooting suppressed now…and at the shot I see the bullet impact the starling in the breast and he tips over backwards. Dang…I guess she is still sighted in. Savage model 11 Light…Leupold fire dot 4-12 CDS.

 

[Randy01]

Both of my Tikkas are 1-8”, which stabilize the 75 gr bullets well.

This was today, only 100 yards but 8 shots under .8” ain’t bad. Quite windy so I had a little more lateral dispersion than I like.

View attachment 1074950



View attachment 1074951

1-14” twist, what kind of rifle do you have? AR style?

Both of my Tikkas are 1-8”, which stabilize the 75 gr bullets well.

This was today, only 100 yards but 8 shots under .8” ain’t bad. Quite windy so I had a little more lateral dispersion than I like.

View attachment 1074950



View attachment 1074951

1-14” twist, what kind of rifle do you have? AR style?

I mostly shoot an old Remington 788 in .222. I bought it in 1975 used for $125 with a 3x9 leupold gold ring on it. Over the years I have tricked it up a bit with a Timney trigger, Boyd's stock, Cerakote barrel (shortened), and suppressed. I also occasionally shoot a Olympic Arms AR and a Ruger 77 in 22-250. I have been calling coyotes since 1969 and can't possibly tell you how many coyotes that 788 has taken. I am always looking for the Holy Grail of bullets...minimal pelt damage and accurate. With CA going lead free (I live 45 miles from the border) and Oregon probably not far behind, I am looking for a lead free alternative. Nosler makes a 35gr E-tip (currently out of stock) and a 40gr E-tip that I have ordered. The 35gr E-tip shoots pretty well, I called in and shot a big tom bobcat in the head a couple years ago at 274yds. Bullet performance was impressive.
The first photo is 3 shots with the 55gr, you can see they don't stabilize and went in sideways and all over the target. The second photo is the 40gr Nosler BT. 3 shots, 100yds.you could probably cover with a dime.

 

[Scrillznac]

Good Luck!

 

[pharmseller]

I have Red Death, the Mighty -08, as backup.

 

[Timber hunter]

.300 win mag RL 19 165 gr Grand Slam bullet is my deer recipe this year.

 

[baltz526]

Thanks for the info!

45gr tsx flat base hollow points are.695" long so if you need a copper bullet for a 1-14 22-250 this might be the bullet

 

[pharmseller]

View attachment 1075031
.300 win mag RL 19 165 gr Grand Slam bullet is my deer recipe this year.

Some of us are good enough not to need a 300 Win Mag for deer.

i mean seriously. Deer?

Here’s your pink panties.




P

 

[Timber hunter]

Some of us are good enough not to need a 300 Win Mag for deer.

i mean seriously. Deer?

Here’s your pink panties.




P

I usually use 25-06 just wanted the biggest baddest one I got this year. When I sighted the .300 in it was with 165 bullet but I’m hunting with 200 gr Grand slam. I only have about 10 of them left and didn’t want to waste them on a target.
I’m Hunting thick timber and if I see him in the daylight I going to dump him in his tracks no matter what angle or shot he gives me he’s grave yard dead !

 

[pharmseller]

I usually use 25-06 just wanted the biggest baddest one I got this year. When I sighted the .300 in it was with 165 bullet but I’m hunting with 200 gr Grand slam. I only have about 10 of them left and didn’t want to waste them on a target.
I’m Hunting thick timber and if I see him in the daylight I going to dump him in his tracks no matter what angle or shot he gives me he’s grave yard dead ! View attachment 1075036

You‘re making me do this…

This bull took exactly one step (how many? One) after I shot him behind the shoulder with a 140 Partition from my 7mm-08.

Thick timber, 68 yards.

But hey, pink panties look good on you, so…

 

[Timber hunter]

You‘re making me do this…

This bull took exactly one step (how many? One) after I shot him behind the shoulder with a 140 Partition from my 7mm-08.

View attachment 1075038

Thick timber, 68 yards.

But hey, pink panties look good on you, so…

I can kill stuff with little bullets too. 100gr AB

25-06

 

[Timber hunter]

In alll seriousness have a great deer hunt Pharm and nice work on the handloads 👍🏻