Curious About What is Being Loaded at the Present

[DrMike]

It is a holiday in Canada (prayer for a blessed Thanksgiving to all the Canadians on the board). However, rather than partying, I'm loading for several rifles. At the moment, however, I'm taking a break from the bench. Today, I'm loading for a .308 Norma (which shoots exceptionally well). It was my first opportunity to shoot a Schultz and Larsen rifle. I can't say that I'm terribly impressed with the rifle, but I must confess that it does shoot quite well. It is my first time shooting a .308 Norma. I'd take a rifle chambered in this cartridge. I'm also loading for a 300 WSM which is giving my some trouble. The owner put a gain twist barrel on the rifle. He requested a particular bullet, which the rifle simply would not stabilize--two and a half to three inch plus groups were the norm. Thus, it is back to the drawing board for this one. Then, I have a 300 WSM that shoots very well. It will be a breeze to load for it. It must be my 30 calibre week. However, I have a 7 X 61 Sharpe and Hart in the Schultz and Larsen rifle waiting for me to work up loads shortly. This will be another first for me as I have never loaded for this cartridge. It is always fun to work with a new cartridge.

I wonder what other people are loading this week, or perhaps even this month. Is anyone starting on a cartridge that is new to them?

 

[257 Ackley]

Doc -
Wish I knew you were working with a S&H 7X61. I had a bunch of new brass that I picked up years ago at a shop in Wyoming when I was thinking about having a rifle built in this caliber. I gave them away to a guy last year at a reloading shop that was building a rifle in that caliber. I had a friend that played for the North Stars (where the real "Stars" hockey fans are) :lol: that shot a 308 Norma. That rifle shot really well every time he took it to the range and it performed well on everything he hunted.

Currently finishing the hunting loads for my 25-06 with 110 AB's for Minnesota whitetail and a baldy deer hunt in Eastern Montana. Just finished reloading cartridges for my son's 7mm-08 for the upcoming whitetail season.

 

[Songdog]

Just got finished loading up some coyote rounds for the .25-06. got 50 rounds of new W/W brass all ready to roll, primed them up with some WLRs, threw 55.5 grains of RE-17 in'em, and topped them off with some fresh 85 grain NBTs seated to 3.20" OAL. Last year I tinkered with this load, it shot about 3/4" and clocked just a shade over 3600fps... not fur friendly, but it kills coyotes mighty dead.

Happy Thanksgiving up there in Canada... living here in Colorado now I sure miss fishing the Vedder and the Fraser this time of year.

 

[DrMike]

257 Ackley,

Brass for the 7 X 61 S&H was not difficult to obtain. I'll be using Norma brass. The cartridge is one that always looked interesting. It won't do anything that my 7 RM or my 7 WSM doesn't do. However, it is load development for something new, and that will be fun. The 25-06 is always a great cartridge, as is the 7mm-08. It is another of those "do-all" and underrated cartridges.

Songdog,

You really have those BTs stepping out there. I guess it isn't fur friendly, but it would put an end to any yodel dog!

So you're familiar with the Vedder are you? I spent quite a bit of time fishing for coastal cutthroats, steelhead and various salmon at DeRoche and just above Mission. I used to use a cabin on Chilliwack Lake every year and fish the Vedder for salmon and cutthroats. My middle daughter chose a fishing trip for chum and coho for her 16th birthday. It was a great time fishing with a really great fisher girl. Did you ever fish the Skagit above Ross Lake? It was another favourite hangout for me during my 18 years in the Lower Mainland. Thirty-five plus rainbows and dollies was common for me while living there. Plus, there was some fine black bear and blacktail deer hunting in the Skagit Valley.

 

[Songdog]

Ohhhhh... I love the Vedder. I lived in Lynden for several years, and prior to 9/11 I used to fish it just about weekly. I mostly fished it around (or as you say: arooond) Abotsford. I love the springer season up there, the Socks are awesome (and get pretty good sized)... and the chums are super scrappy. Hooked my first salmon ever in the Vedder... it was on the 4th of July... after that I was there every chance I got.

I spent quite a bit of time on the Skagit... mostly lower in the river fishing coho and pinks. I have fished the upper Skag and the Sauk... I love those big Dollies... they can absolutely slam a #3 black vibrax fished up-stream. We used to pound on the "pump house hole"... you know the one, down the bend from the I-5 Bridge on the East bank... just across from the huge sand bar. I remember catching 20+ coho a day in that slot. Ok, now I miss my fishin'... there's about 10 salmon/steelhead rods in my garage here in Colorado that are freaking out right now wondering when they're headed for the river.

 

[JD338]

I need to load the following.....

280 AI 140 gr AB
7mm RUM 160 AB
338 RUM 250 gr AB
45-70 300 gr BST

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Songdog,

Oh, yeah. I kept a postal box in Custer for many years just so I could get my mail on time. I know the pump house hole. I also know what you mean about salmon rods getting lonely. I'm thinking of selling off my gear as there is little need for it up here.

Jim,

That is a pretty serious lineup of bullets, covering about everything in North America and most of Africa! I need to be loading for several other cartridges. Whitetail doe opened yesterday, and I'm well loaded with my 280 for a doe. It was gusting to 70 km/hr yesterday and to 35 km/hr today, so I opted to stay at home. Tomorrow morning, though...

 

[Jar Head]

.308 here too Dr. Mike!
Worked up a good load using 150gr. speer hot-cors & IMR 4064 for my .300 savage & 165 accubonds with varget for my sons .308 win. All geared up & waiting for some decent fall Oregon weather to hit before we go back out for our pacific black tail.
"Semper Fi"

 

[longwinters]

I need to load the following.....

280 AI 140 gr AB
7mm RUM 160 AB
338 RUM 250 gr AB
45-70 300 gr BST

JD338

Boy JD,

You'd better shoot less or load faster... :lol: I just need to load up some more 7-30 Waters and maybe some 06 for my oldest son.

Long

 

[DrMike]

Jarhead,

The .308 Win is one cartridge that is not in my gun safe. All I have shot were wonderfully accurate, however. The last one I worked up with IMR8208XBR and 165 Hornadys shot consistent 0.37 groups. It was enough to make me think about adding it to my safe. However, for the moment I have a 260 and a 358 which are based on that case, so I've held off. Back in the day I shot a few rounds of 7.62 X 51. I've surely recommended the .308 to a number of people. It is another of those rounds that is boring and doesn't get all the respect it deserves because it works so consistently.

 

[Greg Nolan]

All the loading is over for now. 257 Wby, 270 WSM, 300 RUM. I just sold the 325 WSM so I'll start loading new loads for the 8MM Rem Mag. when I get back from Wyoming in a week and a half. So for now I'm just loading equipment in the truck. It can be a little finnaky. Got to get the OAL just right.
Greg

 

[JD338]

I need to load the following.....

280 AI 140 gr AB
7mm RUM 160 AB
338 RUM 250 gr AB
45-70 300 gr BST

JD338

Boy JD,

You'd better shoot less or load faster... :lol: I just need to load up some more 7-30 Waters and maybe some 06 for my oldest son.

Long

Long,

You are right on both accounts!

Shot this past weekend and sent quite a few down range at 200 and 300 yds.
Whats scary is that these big boomers don't make me sore anymore!
I need to buy Retumbo by the keg!:shock:

JD338

 

[JD338]

So for now I'm just loading equipment in the truck. It can be a little finnaky. Got to get the OAL just right.
Greg

So how far off the lands are ya?

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Greg,

The 8mm RM is an awesome cartridge; it is highly underrated. I would be proud to have one in my safe.

Jim,

That is very, very scary to hear that the big guns don't make you sore anymore! :shock:

 

[SJB358]

Man, the big guns are the fun ones. They let you know you are alive! Scotty

 

[jmad_81]

Well I'm working on some 160 ABs in my 280 AI. Also should do a few more 120 BT for my wifes 7-08, and then some 140 pts for the same gun for a friend of ours that wants to use my wifes gun for her elk hunt. That should last me for a onth or so then its time ti break out the .243 Win goodies and load up a few hundred 55 gr. BT and 50 105 gr. custom comps for a little long range fun.

 

[DrMike]

Jake,

You have the right bullets for some great cartridges. They will work just fine. Anticipation of what follows next is always pleasant.

 

[Powerstroke]

I was able to get the chance to spend most of yesterday afternoon in my old stompin grounds on the western slope shooting. I've been playing with three guns at the present time, and wanted a good confidence builder before next months elk hunt.
The .300RUM is dialed in now - new load is 86.0grains of IMR7828ssc & 180gr AccuBond. Four shot group with the first fouler - it's all but touching the other three.
The Zeiss Varminter Reticle is a dream on this one, as the milk jugs @ 650yds vanished quite easily.

I took the .257Bee as it will be the back-up / light carry round. The stock change definately enhanced the looks, but Wow did it ever change the load. I've gone from half inch groups to inch and a half groups with the 110gr Accubonds.
I'm not going to mess with it before season - I can't say I like it, but definately minute of elk. I'll start working on another load for this one.

The Rem 700 VTR in .223 I've given up on. I had 60gr B-tips, 70gr VLD's, and 69gr SMK's all loaded with different charge weights and powders - groups are all over the board. Here is my donor action I guess.......

 

[DrMike]

Mark,

That 300 RUM sounds like one of those wonderfully accurate rifles that everyone covets. Congratulations on some fine shooting. And the 257 Bee is one of those cartridges that has yet to grace my safe. However, it surely seems to be growing in popularity if the response of members of this board are any indication. There is a reason for that, I suspect.

 

[SJB358]

I hope to stuff one into my safe later on! That 257WBY is a boomer for sure. I am just waiting for you to get one Mike, just to cut down on the load work! Just kidding, but they have been taunting me for awhile now. Scotty