Gm54-120

I plan on making them tighter. This was an experiment. I didn't even know if the primers would come out properly. Lead bullets i can size to .451 and they load and shoot no problem. You have to be far more precise with copper or you will end up needing a hammer.

Ive shot these same bullets in my Pacnor 45 with smokeless but BH209 doesn't make nearly as much peak pressure. It also does not spike the pressure as fast so bullets don't "swell up" into the rifling as well. Smokeless also has far less fouling and i can easily size on a fouled bore without worrying about corrosion.

Now ive got a good starting point and a fouled bore.

WV Hunter

Nice. Wonder what caused the keyholes? Seems like even if they didn't shoot real well, they wouldn't do that.

Gm54-120

I had one key hole. It was the third 225gr FTX shot. At least it looks like a key hole to me. It seems odd it wasn't very far out of the group. That group is still roughly an inch. The target backing at this range is a thick foam so i could not confirm it by looking at the backing.

Next time i will bring some cardboard to add between the target and foam backing.

Triple Se7en

I question the keyholing too. At 25 yards, even 60 grains should work fine. I'm guessing your shot entered a prior enlarged bullet hole within that foam backing.

Gm54-120

I cant get over how well this rifle shoots say-bo-less. It loves those .451 460gr NoExcuses. Straight from package to bore with a fiber wad. SLightly tight but no short starter is needed. They start with just finger pressure....barely.

460gr NE 70gr BH209 at 50 yards. Shot on left is first shot from a clean bore.


This is my wallet group and probably the best large conical group ive ever shot without a sled. Recoil is very stout at roughly 1440fps.


I got the 225gr FTX figured out. It needs a harder kick in the pants to obturate and some knurling.

225gr FTX 110grBH209 100 yards


275gr BE 110gr BH209 100 yards (sized to .4495, knurled and sized to .451)


I had to try some of the Sierra 458 300gr JHPs i resized to .4495. My guess was correct. The jackets are thin and obturate easily. No key holes even with lighter loads.

Sierra 458 300gr 110gr BH209 50 yards. I wrote down 100 but when i looked at my powder measure i had set it on 110gr by mistake.


Sierra 458 300gr 120gr BH209 100 yards....This load is not pleasant to shoot but i may use it if i get selected for the managed hunt.

Triple Se7en

That ML reminds me of my Omega. No matter what I stuff it with, it's going to group real well.

Gm54-120

I got it as new old stock (NIB) from a place in Omaha for about $260 shipped. I have about $25 in the plug and $75 in the trigger. The trigger is still factory set and smoothing out nicely.

Knights are going hunting this year. ULA is staying home.

Gm54-120

Rifle really like those BEs and it hates the 300gr SST. SSTs and Barnes were keyhole city no matter how tight i sized them.

Tried for the 300gr PT Gold group and only had 2 left. These are sized pretty tight.


Its hard to shoot a bad group with the 275gr BE..Also sized tighter.


I think i found the winner though for 100 yards max and its far less painful to shoot. Just need to dial it in after my shoulder quits throbbing

Ed's wonderful 350gr HP and 70gr of BH209 should flat out hammer deer. I liked it so much i chanced a 5 shot group at 50 yards.