Well, that's cuz you're shootin' RUM's.....
Seriously though, I've been shooting Nosler and Federal loads and have had good luck as of late. Massammo.com had Federal 7mm-08 w/ 140gr Barnes TSX for ridiculously low prices a couple years ago. I bought a box, tried it (and it shot great), then...
As a handloader, I'm finding that I shoot more and more factory loads each year. They're really good quality, and its one less thing I have to worry about prepping each year.
Unless you’re going to be shooting at extreme distances, ladder tests aren’t worth the effort IMO.
I usually start at the book starting load with the bullet seated at the lands and work up with a chronograph until I hit velocity. Then I start messing with seating depth.
Hey, why’d you have to go and ruin the fun?
All my Accubonds look the same, whether fired at game 80 yards away or 400, and out of guns ranging from 280’s up through 325’s
I don't think I'd base my bear defense choices on anecdotal evidence of someone shooting a bear and killing it with a .22
I wouldn't want a 9mm or a 40 cal, but if its what you have go for it. Odds are you'll never end up using it anyway...
I have a Lee press that I bought as a "starter" press about 16 years ago in the kit you are looking at. Still using it today, as I never found a need to upgrade.
However, I did replace the scale with an RCBS and I bought an RCBS powder trickler.