In addition to working out my 458WM today, I continued to work on finding a load that will "regulate" in my Merkel.

My last test indicated that 66.5gr of H414 was right in the middle of the sweet spot, but I needed to refine the load. I loaded four rounds of 286gr Privi Partisan with 66.4grs of H414 and a FC 210Match primer; four rounds of 66.7grs (I'm not loading 66.6grs of nothin' and four rounds of 66.9grs.

On of the 66.9 pairs "crossed," and the other pair were very close together. The 66.7gr loads were also very close together. Both the .7 and .9 loads were essentially behind the front sight blade at fifty yards.

Velocities of the 66.9gr load ran right at 2400fps, and 66.7gr load was about 25fps slower. This is slightly faster than "book" values; however, this load is a full grain under the book max.

My conclusion: Load up 10rounds with 66.8gr of H414 and test them. This should sync well with the sight picture; should be just at the "cross over velocity; and will produce velocities in the high 2300's (I expect to average @ 2375fps.)

I'd appreciate any feed back on observations about velocity and over pressure in this rifle.

By the way, accuracy appears very promising. The .9 loads were both separated by about 2" and right on the point of aim. Unfortunately, we do not have a 75 yard target pitch. As mentioned earlier, I think that the point of synchronization is 50 meters, which means that at 50yds the bullets are still coming together.

I want to thank those of you who made suggestions on how to approach this project. I hope my reports might be of assistance to any of you faced with a similar task. Kudude

My only concern would be your choice of bullet. I have inquired on this forum and the concensus was that they (PRVI) were not a quality bullet, and certainly not suitable for Africa, which is, after all, where the Holy Grail is. If you were going to use this to hunt pigs and deer, I would think it would be fine, but anything other than that I suspect you would have to go through the whole thing again! (Undertsand that I have a whole bunch of PRVI bullets). Have you tried the 270 gr. Speers. I have had good luck with those. However, I have had NO luck with 250 grain Swifts! Let me know when you want to come over to Jax to shoot!
Peter.

Peter,
I elected to regulate the rifle with 286 Privi Partisans because they are (were) 19 cents apiece vs close to a buck each for other high end bullets. I found earlier that the Nosler Partition and the PP shoot to essentially the same place.

I have used the 286 Partition and 250 Ballistic Tip with great success in Africa with my 9.3x62. I also have taken deer with the 286 Woodleigh soft point which I loaded to "mate" with Woodleigh solids for an African hunt when I used my 9.3x62 as back up for my son's 375HH.

I was pleased with the Woodleigh's expansion on a 120# doe and shocked at how tough the partition was on Zebra and large antelope. You can kill anything up to large bears and buffalo with the 250BT, which opens well and holds together. I suspect the new version from Nosler will be even tougher.

We need to do what they are doing out at Houston, and collect all the North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama guys here at Tallahassee. We have a wonderful range (100,200 and 300 yard rifle) here, and it is largely available on week days. I'd talk with the club's officers and see if we could schedule a special event, but that would take several months lead time. Kudude

I belong to a couple of ranges here in Jax. One is an FOP range that is a lot less "formal" than the other. Ranges are open but no longer than 100 yards. Certainly plenty for doubles! Let me know if you are over my way.
Peter.