lancetkenyon

Ladder test once you figure out what projectile and powder combo you want to shoot. Shoot slow enough your barrel does not heat up. Sounds like you have a light contour barrel if it starts walking at 5 rounds. Load one of each charge weight from low to 2 grains above max in .5 grain increments. Go to 400 yards and shoot at the same point of aim. You will have 2 nodes (group of 2 to 3 that group together vertically), one low and one high. Stop as soon as you see any signs of pressure. That could be a middle load to above max, only your gun can tell what is too hot for it. Then take those two nodes and start .2 grains below and go in .2 grain increments to .2 grains above. Load 3-5 each and go shoot at 100 yards for groups. Best group is your load. Then play with seating depth to really fine tune. 400 yard ladder test should look something like this. Shots 1-3 (40.5, 41.0, 41.5 grains) are the low node, shots 6-8 (43.0, 43.5, 44.0 grains) are the high node.

185-210 Berger HVLD or 175-210 Sierra Match King would be my choice if I were shooting a .300 WM.

I have noticed game animals are far more on edge at water holes than on the trails to and from. Much easier to ambush game before they get to the water where they are expecting predators.

Maybe not legally, but in my opinion, there is a difference between taking game out of season for the sole purpose of food to survive, and poaching like the other 99% of poachers do. Most who take game out of season for the purpose of survival don't shoot the monster bulls/bucks/rams.

Check the limbs carefully for cracks. If none are found, should be fine. Might want to have a professional check it while installing a new string.

Is anyone who posted on this thread in the group of people who have spoken for the pups?

PM on the way.

Any males that are ticked and patched? I like the looks of the one straddling Mom's hind leg.

All loads from a 24" barrel Winchester brass (fully prepped) CCI 200 LR primer 54.8 grains IMR 4350 130 Sierra Game King 3120 fps @ 3/4 MOA Winchester brass (fully prepped) CCI 200 LR primer 55 grains IMR4831 150 Barnes TSX FB 2950 fps @ 1 MOA Winchester brass (fully prepped) CCI 200 LR primer 58.3 grains H4831 140 Berger HVLD 3090 fps @ 3/4 MOA Winchester brass (fully prepped) CCI BR-2 Match primer 57.8 grains H4831SC 150 Nosler Accubond LR 2909 fps @ .5 MOA

Look at the nasal cavity on that skull!!! Wow.

Wow, seems like only yesterday you were 25......happy birthday buddy.

How many males/females? I am really interested. Meaning the wife wants one....

Limiting movement is more important in my opinion. I have had deer and elk walk within 2' of me with nothing more than camo on. No scent control. Just a daily shower. And I had a bobcat within 5' of me while wearing jeans and a black t-shirt.....until my phone rang. You would have thought that cat stepped on an electric fence...... But I think scent control is important for some of my old hunting buddies......just saying......

My 12 year old daughter has another bull tag this year, and our goal is a mature animal again. I don't care if it is a decent 5x5 like last year, or a 400" bull. The enjoyment of the hunt, and sticking to taking mature animals is our goal. Filling the freezer is a priority, but not at the expense of fun. A 350" bull, or even a 300" bull would be a fantastic accomplishment for her. And from what I have seen in my own experience in the elk woods, I would think 200" is the average. It takes a 440" bull to make up for each spike that is taken. And most raghorns can't gross too much more than 200". I see a lot more spikes and raghorn shot than 300+" bulls every year. Just the 300"+ bulls get a lot more interweb time.

If the frame is bent, I would rather they total it. But it just looks like a new bed is in order.

Glad we could help.

Just because the numbers on the bottle are the same (4350), does not mean the powder is the same between manufacturers. IMR, Hodgdon, and Accurate all make a "4350", but they are different burn rates and max charge weights. Accurate and IMR are right next to each other on the burn rate chart @ #212 & 213, and Hodgdon is @217. But looking at the load data, you can see there is a full grain difference in max charge weight. I am REALLY glad you figured out the scale issue. There should be a way to calibrate the Hornady electronic scale you have. I am just wondering if the old scale is accurate too. You should weigh the bullet in the pan to see if it weighs 165 grains, but I don't see that pan only weighing 5 grains. The pan on my Hornady scale weighs something like 142.5 grains. You should have a weight supplied with the scale to calibrate it. And a "zero" function on the scale too, for when the pan is empty. This is why reloading can be dangerous, faulty equipment can be hazardous, and possibly even deadly when mistakes are made. I know of a guy who used the wrong powder in haste to get to the range, and blew up a new .338 Lapua. He accidently loaded Varget instead of H1000, and it could have cost him his life or eyesight. Great job on posting the question, with photos so the community could help you catch a mistake. As for scales, I always, and I mean ALWAYS, double or triple check charge weights. I weigh my electronically thrown charges on my RCBS 5-0-5 for every load. And I look in the case after putting in the powder, every time, and I can usually tell if something is off by the powder level. A quick shake of the cartridge after seating the bullet too, to listen to the round. But that doesn't work with a compressed load.

I would buy this.....so when I am done with a day of shark fishing with my bare hands, my supermodel wife can go get the truck while I wrestle giant squids before trailering my 100' diesel cruiser and pulling it to my mountaintop 50000 sq/ft log cabin I built from scratch. You are all too judgmental.

I knew sheep could climb a near vertical wall, but DANG! They are 90° from the wall........

Put your wife in for a general hunt, and if she draws a tag, sign it over to your son. Or sign over your own tag if you draw one.

I guess the NBTs could be a 150gr., and you could easily push them to 3200fps with a charge weight of 68.5gr. of IMR4350, which is 1.5 grains under listed starting charge weight. That would make me feel better. But it still does not clear up the 59.9gr. for the bullet with no pan.

I just went and weighed 8 of my old "165gr." NBTs, and 6 of the 8 were 165.0, and two were 165.1gr. Again, Nosler does not make a 160gr. NBT. So please, please check your scale calibration. How did you zero your scale to weigh with the pan for the powder at 68.5, and with no pan for the bullet at 159.9? Please don't think I am being negative, I just don't want to read about someone who blew their face off while shooting a rifle and it exploded. I know, worst case scenario, but better to err on the safe side.

With a 24" barrel and getting 3200fps with a "160"gr. bullet, your scale has got to be off 5 grains. And I bet that charge weight is 5 grains over what it reads too, more like 73.5 grains. Which, if that is the case, is a very dangerous situation. Please verify with another known bullet to verify accuracy, and calibrate as needed. IMR4350 and a 165gr. NBT with a charge weight of 73.3gr. from a 24" barrel should be right around 3150fps, which is a MAX load according to IMR/Hodgdon website. My Nosler book shows (all MAX loads) w. 24" barrel: H4350, 165 NBT, 73.0gr. @ 3170 IMR4831, 165 NBT, 74.0gr. @ 3260 IMR4350, 165 NBT, 72.0gr. @ 3260

And my daughter is saying "we will take them all"....just because I have 2.5 acres, I don't want a zoo.

My wife and daughter are looking over my shoulder as I type this....."WHERE ARE THE PUPPY PICTURES" they are screaming in my ears......