Roskoe by "NP3 OX bullets" I suppose you mean the Lazerheads by Lazzeroni? They are ALL I use in the gun! I don't see a need for anything else. This will be my 3rd season with the Lazerheads and they group .5" @ 100yds and 3.5" @ 400yds, the best the 130Xbullets (NP3 plated as well) would do @ 100yds was 1.5". I NEVER blew up a 130 either, I just went too the 150 because of the extra accuracy John Lazzeroni promised me. Some hate the man, many never met him. I have talked on the phone and emailed him several times and he KNOWS his chit, doesnt lie and will tell you the good with the bad. He swears the 150 Lazerhead will out penetrate 180 Nosler Parts, I believe him. They sure wont stay in a whitetail, even at 400+ yds and driven lengthwise! If I were goin elk huntin tomorrow I wouldn't hesitate to take the gun as it sits, with the 150s.
ej, I have the "poorboys" edition Lazz. I bought a first run Sako TRG-S (even has Stoeger on the barrel, before Sako started importin em) and will probably be buried with that rifle!
Lazz also built the Sakos in the 7mm Firebird, which is an equally BADAZZ round. Savage built about 500 shortaction Patriot Lazzs. For now the only gun available in standard production is Lazzeroni's own guns, which are now in the $6k range! [:@] I have a friend who has a large lease in KS and he bought an L2000 in the 257 Scramjet for those BRUTES he hunts near Manhattan, KS. He just HAD to have one after seeing my Lazz when I hunted with him a couple years ago out there. Other custom makers offer Lazz calibers as well, reamers are available. On Lazz's website one of his customers even has a custom barrel in his Patriot caliber on a TC Encore! THAT is an interesting thought and would probably be the cheapest way to go about one.
And yeah Roskoe, that NP3 plating is some BAD STUFF!!! It's head and shoulders above other coatings, it works, eliminates fouling and substantially reduces pressures.
Damn all this talk is gettin me ready for fall,
RA