Factory Savage 6.5 small shank in 6.5 CM that I had spiral fluted, cut and crowned to 21" and Cerakoted in graphite black. It matches the Savage factory finish very well. Along with the barrel I have a pair of lightly used Lee dies, 100 pc. of Hornady brass and over 420 bullets (see pictures)...
I own this exact shotgun and it is by far the best shotgun I've ever owned, bar none. Balance and pointing are effortless and it is incredibly well made. GLWS!
I have some 6.5's I am not going to use. Brand new unopened box of 143 ELD-X, box of 87 ELD-X "factory 2nds" from Midway, partial box of 100 TTSX (10 ea) and 120 TTSX's (41 ea)
$80 for all of them shipped to your door.
I keep hearing about these speeds with 20" barrels from a 7-08 but I've owned five 7-08's now and probably loaded 3k rounds with 10 different powders and I've never gotten close. Even my fastest barrel ever - that shot 120 TTSX's over 3100 fps with CFE 223 - would only give me 2800 with 140's...
2720 is about typical for 140's from a 7mm-08 in my experience. I've loaded for that cartridge for about 7 years now, and dozens of loads amounting to thousands of rounds. Some guys can get 2800 (some even claim more) from 140's out of a 7mm-08 but I've never gotten close out of hunting-length...
Almost every backpacking guide you will find recommends a gallon/day. That said, everyone is different. I can get by on 2 quarts/day even in the hottest conditions while a good friend of mine needs at LEAST a gallon if not more.
Also depends on if you're doing any washing or cooking at all...
This is typical of what I'm getting. Three trips to the range and all have been like this. This group was 3 shots with the H4350 and 3 shots with the IMR 4350. 0.6" total for six shot group. ELD-X's out of this gun are nothing special (1"- 1.2") but it sure seems to like these 120 CX's...
good questions
Loading with factory Hornady brass, CCI 200's and both H4350 and IMR 4350. Primary load will be 43.5g of H4350 @ 2830 fps. and my backup will be 44 grains of IMR 4350 @ 2840 fps. when I can't source the H4350. Seating the bullet at the bottom of the 1st cannelure. Both shoot...
Understand. I've been using 120 TTSX's for about 5 years now. I don't mind a little blood tracking. Been doing it for over 40 years with a bow. Most TTSX-shot deer I've killed made it between 50-100 yards before dying, similar to many bow-shot deer I've taken. If I want DRT I'll use SST's...
I think you made some good choices. I've always heard that for AI's 7x57 or 7mm-08, to use the max published load as your starting load, but I've never had an AI's round either. I think of all the AI's, the 7x57 makes the most sense. As you say, she can grow with it. Should be a fun one to...