All loaded up!

FOTIS · Nov 3, 2011

Well I do not know if this is a wise move but I decided to shoot my new unfired Sako Finnwolf in 308 Win. Way too nice to shoot but a total waste just to sit in the safe.

Anyway I loaded up a couple of rounds with 165 accubonds with varget and RL 15.

Also for my guide gun in 450 Marlin I loaded 350 Hornadies with rl7 and h322.

For my 30-378 bee I loaded up with 180 gr Etips and 200 AB's. With te 180 I took 109 gr of Retumbo witch shot 1.7" at 200 yards. I sat them .10 and 20 thousand in further to see if I could tighten up the group. Also I did a full case prep including neck turning.

Same deal with the 200 gr Accubonds with 106 gr of retumbo.

Now to wait until next June when the wind falls below 40 mph to test! :twisted: :evil: :evil: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

wildgene · Nov 3, 2011

...June's usually pretty windy around here, generally 2 or 3 days in August that are pretty good, tho... :mrgreen:

DrMike · Nov 3, 2011

Let 'er rip, Fotis. We're all waiting with deepest anxiety to see the results. :lol:

Guy Miner · Nov 4, 2011

"Also for my guide gun in 450 Marlin I loaded 350 Hornadies with rl7 and h322."

Good powder, good bullets. The Hornady FNSP expands pretty fast, but hangs together too. Reflex, who posts here time to time, has had excellent results from them using his .450 Marlin. As I recall he loaded ammo for several hunters who used that .450/350 gr combo on elk with excellent results.

I shot quite a few of them in target practice and a few in bullet testing, from my .45/70 Marlin, but didn't ever take game with them.

Something to consider, should you want a bullet that hangs together even better, is using the very expensive, heavy jacketed and bonded 350 gr Swift A-Frame. Really a tough bullet.

350 Swift on the left, fired into the water-filled milk jugs at 20 yards. MV of 2040 fps. On the right is the 350 Hornady, same test, MV of 2080 fps. Both did well, the Swift remained more intact and penetrated a bit farther, but I'd hunt with either - no doubt.

Wasn't the FNSP Hornady the initial bullet offered in the .450 Marlin factory ammo? I remember reading a report in American Rifleman about someone taking a huge Alaskan moose at very close range with the then new .450 Marlin and getting very good performance from the bullet.