My shooting was done with the 20" Van Horn 358x444, 20" 308 Bellm and my 8" shorty 44mag. I hate that 2 hr. drive, but it�s great when I get there. First off, I forgot my powder funnel and my dipper and my calipers, but I had plenty of brass, bullets and powder. I still worked things out. Just took a little longer.
Since I installed a scope[2x Leupold] on the shorty I shot it first. 2 shots latter I moved the target stand to 75yds. I didn�t load any for this one cause I had a bunch loaded for my Smith and my SRH. I just used those. I had about 5 different loads with 240gr cast SWC and it didn�t like any.
After 5 rounds of each it wouldn�t do better then 4" at 75. Then I had about 25 rounds of All American 250gr cast SWCs in front of 9.5grs of Bullseye and what a difference. The 1st. 5 went 1 �" as did the next 5 and the 5 after that. 1200 fps average and a SD of only 15fps.Not bad for a 44. I tried many other loads and different weights of bullets that I had, and other then the 250gr SWCs they were right at 2 �� or so. My best load for the 44 was a Sierra 180gr JHC in front of 23.4grs of 2400. That load went 1 1/4" with four 5 shot groups and the 5th group was opened by 1 flyer that went 2 1/4". I had loads that gave me over 1550fps but these were the most accurate.
BTW, NEVER put your finger in front of the forend when the muzzle brake is right there. Burns like hell.
With all the hotter loads [Blue Dot, H110, 296] when the hammer dropped it was like opening your oven door and looking in to check on your food, you could feel the heat.

Went to 100yds.
Next I got out the 358x444 to finish braking in the barrel. If shooting this one is fun. I�ll kiss your backside. The 1st. Time I had it out it didn't seem that bad[couple of rounds here and there] but after 40 rounds it beat me up and after 80 I�m hurtin. That�s life I guess.
The 225 gr Nosler BTs were OK but for some reason the didn�t shoot as good as the 1st. Time. This time I only got 1 �" average for two 5 shot strings and they came across the chrono at 2550fps. So I tried something different. BTW, These kicked like a mule.
I loaded up some Speer 180FN with AA2460 and this is the best powder for me with this round so far.
I settled on 53.1gr of AA 2460 for an average of 2565fps with the 180s and an SD of 14fps for five 5 shot groups and at 1 1/8", I was happy, but it still kicked like a mule, and buy this time I had a towel folded about 6 times under my shirt behind the recoil pad. What fun.
I was gettin gun shy so I decided to cut back on powder but stayed with AA2460. The very next load I tried was the best of the day for the 358. Speer 220 flat SP in front of 51grs of AA2460 for 2405fps and a SD of only 5fps. And thats for 25 rounds total. Three of the 5 groups came in at under 5/8" and all were less then an inch. By this time it didn�t matter if it kicked...Heck, If a fly would have landed on my shoulder and left a fart it would hurt. But I kept going. There is no way I was leaving there without at least one, �" group.

Next was the 308Bellm. I had 10 rounds of 150gr Nosler BTs in front of 47grs of H414 at 2400fps the last time I shot them. The 1st 5 went under 1" as did the next 4. I still was looking for a �" group and I had to keep one loaded round so I could eyeball the COL for the rounds I was about to load. By this time the Advil I took was startin to work on my arm. No Bull, My old sexy arm was hurtin for sure. But I aint leavin till get what I came for. So I looked at the load data from Mike and Don�s list. I didn�t have any IMR 4895, but I had H 4895 and I used it.
I loaded 43grs of H 4895 behind a 150gr Combined Technology BST. The 1st. Shot was dead center on the 1" square and so was the 2nd, 3rd, 4th,.... Buy this time I�m thinkin....Come on baby....one more time!!!!!!!! Bingo! All 5 bullets made a hole not much bigger then a 44 caliber bullet. Shhhhhit I aint stoppin now.
I loaded 5 more and damn near the same size group. Pain was gone now...Yea, right! and I used the same charge behind the 150gr Nosler Bts. 5 of them went less then �". I then used the same charge behind a Sierra 150gr SBT and it came in at just under 5/8" All these loads were right at 2550fps.

All 358 loads used WLR primers, All 308B loads used RP 9 � primers and reformed RP 444 marlin brass for both.
My 44 mag loads used WLP primers and Midway and Starline Brass.
That�s about it, but that fun pain is back. I guess I�m just a wus.

[ 09-08-2002, 01:59: Message edited by: Jules ]

After shooting the 358x444 that much at one time. I'm havin 2nd. thoughts about the 444 in a carbine. Maybe something inna 7mm or 6.5 will do. I have the 14" 444 in handgun form and it don't bother me to shoot 50 rounds or so at 1 setting. But that pounding of my shoulder. It's black and blue this morning. I'll be shooting all handguns this comming weekend for sure.

It sure sounds like you're a glutton for punishment. But if a 2 hour ride to the range doesn't kill ya then a few hundred rounds shouldn't either. I guess I am lucky that my range is 5 min. away and if I am really impatient I can shoot off the back porch at 65 yds. I have been on vacation for the past week and have managed to get to the range 5 days out of 8. today will make 6 as I will be back there at 7 this morning. I am taking the encore 209X50 for a little more tweaking, the VVC 6.5X55, and the 12in. 223. This should make for one last hurrah before back to work tomorrow.
Rick