G'day all,

i posted a similar thread a while ago and learned much, but feel i ned to ask some more questions to the experts.
I'm working on being the first Aussie to own a .408 chey tac.
ross at prarie gun works in Canada has been working on this rifle for me for 3 and 1/2 years and rekons he's just waiting on final export paperwork now...... (i hope)

anyhow, as there arent any 408's in Australia, there's "no need to import ammo", so factory is out of the question and cant import (specific such as GS custom) components until a rifle is in the country

having ordered it a few years ago, i've been a bit "proactive" and got a press and dies,
i've sourced some brass, and now it gets tricky.

I've been spending a few months "playing with the numbers" on "quick load" software and... well i'm not 100% on how safe my loads are, and would be quite dissapointed if the first round out of a rifle i've waited almost 4 years for, peeled it opened like a banana.

with some research i've gone for a nice slow powder adi2225, (equivalent of alliant reloader 25 but also not on quickload)

I've found 2 types of projectiles that the micrometer tell me are .408 and have had confirmation from both manufacturers that though not optimum, can be used in the chey tac (to break in the barrel or shorter range stuff).
these are the 400gr barnes xlc in 450/400 nitro (no longer in production due to lack of interest, and not on quickload) and woodleigh 400gr rnsp also 450/400 nitro.

another problem with quickload is it takes into account "overall length" but not BC of projectile. a round nosed soft pointed round may be hard up against the lands, however a high BC may be 1/2 an inch up the barrel before the projectiel's diameter touches the lands, needless to say, none of these projectiels "can be used as projectile is seated outside the case"

longish story short, i'm working on a base bracket of loads for a "ladder test" and am looking at between 109-128gr in 1gr increments, and will set seating depth once rifle arrives.

does anyone out there thimnk that these would be safe "working up" loads or could someone give better info as to where i may have gone wrong?

any response apprecaited!
thanks!