Magnum, I went back to the range last weekend to finalize my hunt loads. I've ended up with a definite: 70g RE-15 behind the 270g Barnes TSX with Fed 215 primer. It shot a group at .75" with that load, and other groups under 1.25". I also tried the 260g Partitions, but it was all over the paper with that load -- about 2.5". I've gotten my best velocities with AA2520, but best groups with RE-15.

Recoil is stout, but not sharp. It's like a BIG push. The rifle is balanced very well and not very heavy. I'd say 8.5 lbs at the most and it feels lighter than that. I'm having the stock professionally (ahem!) painted this weekend, but I feel good about my load and ability to knock down an elk at 300 yards. It is definitely not a "fun" bench gun, and yes, you do have a tendency to start yanking the trigger after 20 rounds or so, but I can't wait to hunt with it. After MRC replaced the extractor, it feeds and extracts/ejects very well. Someday I may be lucky enough to hunt in griz country in Alaska. I think it would acquit itself just fine.

MKane160 aka BigDogMK

All:

Just returned from the range. Over the weekend I've shot about 40 rounds of .375 Taylor, looking for an accurate load. This is what I've found so far (all loads use virgin Rem .338 WM brass necked up and Federal 215 primers):

8-14-04

68.0g AA2520, 270g Hornady Interlock SP, 2745 fps, ES 31, SD 13;
68.0g AA2520, 260g Nosler Accubond, 2775 fps, (no ES or SD);
68.5g AA2520, 270g Hornady Interlock SP, 2754 fps, ES 12, SD 7;
68.5g AA2520, 260g Nosler Accubond, 2787 fps;
69.0g AA2520, 270g Hornady Interlock SP, 2774 fps, ES 35, SD 24 (This load approached max. Normal bolt lift, but primers a little flattened);
70.0g AA2520, 260g Nosler Accubond, 2839 fps.

8-15-04

69.5g RE-15, 270g Barnes TSX, 2724 fps;
70.0g RE-15, 270g Barnes TSX, 2735 fps, ES 14, SD 7, promising accuracy with this load, 1.13" 3 shot group;
69.0g XMR4064, 270g Barnes TSX, 2651 fps, ES 33, SD 16, more about this load at the end, but definitely a sub-max load;
69.5g IMR 4064, 260g Nosler Accubond, 2727 fps, ES 17, SD 9;
69.5g IMR 4064, 270g Hornady Interlock SP, 2703 fps, ES 7, SD 4;
69.0g IMR 4064, 260g Nosler Accubond, 2698 fps, ES 15, SD 8.

My conclusions: AA2520 so far has given the best overall velocity, RE-15 has given the best "over-all" accuracy, and my gun does not seem to like IMR 4064 at all. Several of the 3-shot group sizes so far: 0.923 (the first group out of the gun), 1.23, 1.23, 1.91, and several 2+ inch IMR 4064 groups. Oh, I almost forgot. That one load of XMR4064 and Barnes TSXs that I tried on a whim? A three shot, one hole group. It measures .430" and is no doubt the biggest fluke group of my life. I know you'll want to see it, so I'll try to get a digital pic and post it. Side note: I was mildly surprised how well the gun shot the Barnes Triple Shocks. I've had a lot of trouble getting Barnes X bullets to group in other guns, but these really show promise. I am able to seat these further out toward the lands than any of the other bullets, crimping in the second groove. Only one of the loads listed above approaches maximum, IN MY GUN. None of the loads gave heavy bolt lifts and only one had flattened primers.

MKane160 aka BigDogMK