Oh boy, oh boy, the weather is perfect, there is just a light breeze, and it’s on only 77 deg. I’ve got a whole lot of things I need to do today, and the list consists of the following:

• Browning 30-06 A bolt to test 180 gr Barnes TSX loads.
• 300 RUM also to test Barnes TSX. & MRX.
• 338 RUM to zero in new scope and shoot misc loads to see what it might like.
• 338 Win Mag, brand new, that dos not like the factory ammo it has been fed so far, so will try some reloads of misc recipes.
• 7mm Rem Mag to zero in a Kahles scope I am testing.

Being that it is not a terribly hot day, the rifle barrels should cool off quite nicely, so I can keep right on shooting in rotation.

Rifle number one, the 30-06 seemed to settle in using 47 gr of IMR 4895 and the 180 TSX at 2644 fps.

Rifle number two, the 300 RUM, was a bit more of challenge. Seeing as how I had no previous experience with this caliber, it was a start from scratch deal. I could only go "by the book”, and see how it plays out.

Knowing the 300 RUM is a seriously over–bore caliber, I went right to H1000 and Rel 25 with 180 TSX and MRX bullets.

About the best velocity I could get was a little over 3,000 fps, but no where near the velocity of 3222 fps I got with Federal Premium 180 Nosler Partitions. However, I was absolutely impressed with the groups I got with those new Barnes MRX bullets. MOA was the norm at just over 3,000 fps with 92 gr of H1000.

Now rifle number three, a 338 RUM, was another whole new experience. Just like the 300 RUM, it really could gobble up the powder.

I shot only 225 gr bullet of various manufactures and styles, ranging from 225 Hornady soft points and SST’s to 225 Speer BT’s and 225 gr Barnes TSX.

Again I used various slow burning powders, like H1000 and Rel 25. One of the loads I really liked was neither powder mentioned, but old reliable H 4831. Using 93 gr of it and 225 gr TSX, I got 2981 fps. I would certainly have no qualms on using it on Big Brown or Grizzly Bears, or any African plains game. Out to 300 + yards, it would shoot about as flat as 300 Win Mag.

When I slowed the 338 RUM down to 2744 fps, with 81 gr of Rel 19, it “clover leafed” 225 gr Hornady SST’s. That is just common 338 Win Magnum velocity, so it should perform just fine too.

When I filled up a case with 100 gr of H1000, it produced over 3,060 fps with Hornady soft points. Whoa, what a long range Kudu or Elk load that would be.

The scope on this rifle was a 3.5 x 10 Smith & Wesson. I was impressed with its clarity, and if it will stand the test of time and the recoil of the RUM, such a deal.

Rifle number four, as a Rem M 700 330 Win Mag that had a Hogue over-molded stock on it and a big 3.5x 10 x 50 30mm Leupold Scope on it.

The owner said it did “not shoot worth a ----“, and asked if I would check it out. He was shooting Federal High Energy 225 gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claws. I’ve used standard Federal Bear Claws in my 338 Mag for years, and was quite happy with them, but have never used the H.E. loading.

He was partially right in that this rifle did not shoot them very well, as groups went 2½”, but the velocity was quite good at 2870 fps, and 33 ES.

Things really improved with handloads. By using 200 gr Hornady Spire Points, 250 gr Hornady RN, and 225 gr Speer BT, all grouped just barely over an inch.

Now when I tried some 250 gr Hornady Spire Points, things really got interesting. With both 67 gr of H 4350 and 73 gr of Rel 22, velocities averaged 2650 +/-, but whoa, groups ran UNDER MOA, and one group had all three shots in one tiny cloverleaf.

So the moral of this rifle is, don’t shoot factory ammo, but reload 250 gr Hornady Spire Points.

Last but not least, was my old Pre 64 M 70 in a 7 mm Rem Magnum caliber that I was going to test a 3-9x Kahles scope on.

This rifle was of certain “known ability”, so if there was weak spot in this scope, I’d find it here. This was a very nice clear scope, and bit heavy as compared to a Leupold. The thing that drove me nuts were the adjustments. They must be “European”, not American, as I had to stop and figure out which way to turn them every time I made an adjustment. They were not marked “UP” or “R”, but “H” & “L”.

Their instruction book said “adjustments are clockwise for Right and Down”. It sure seems to me that if they are going to market this scope in the USA, at least put the common Up – Down and Right - Left markings on it.

Once I did get the gun zeroed, I remained impressed with the clarity, and the focus adjustments that were on the eye piece and also on the side with numerical ranges indicated.

My last group with this rifle was a real dandy, as all three shots went into one tiny cloverleaf. It was with a 175 gr Hornady Spire Point bullets and 66 gr of old Accurate Magnum Rifle Powder, or as they called it MRP. I’m sure sorry they don’t make that powder any more, and will have to hoard my meager supply.

The day was sort of a day in paradise at the range, as I had it all to myself, and the weather was perfect.

Feel free to write anytime to tblauwkamp@superior-sales.com if you need help with something.