Okay gang, here's the deal. We'd like everyone who enters Ranch Dog's Postal Match to post their load here. This will allow all of us to benefit from the knowledge of each other. Of course it goes without saying that each individual is responsible for whatever they choose to shoot in their own firearm.

So, give up the goods. Case, Powder, Primer, Bullet, overall length; share it all. Just give the information from your loads that give the best accuracy.

We're not looking for your favorite fire-breather, unless that's the one you've entered in the match with one small hole right in the center of the target.

My .44 Magnum entries for the open sight bench and off-hand match were shot with the following load:

240 grain Magtech SJSP bullet
15.5 grains Alliant 2400
Winchester brass
CCI 300 primer
Lee carbide dies

Notes:
1. Medium crimp in forward cannelure.

2. I believe this to be the very minimum charge of 2400 that will give good results with the components stated and MY rifle. 1/2 grain less gave very erratic results.

3. No chronograph data.

Ok here are some of the goods. I will post more later.

38/55
250 gr .378 JFP made by Stone Fence
37.5 gr H335
WW Brass
CCI 200 Primer
MV 2012 FPS

45LC
Hornady 250 gr XTP
17.0 gr AA#9
Mixed brass RP, WW, Star line
WLP primer

32 H&R Mag
Hornady 85 gr XTP
11.0 gr Lil gun
Mixed Federal, Star Line brass
WW small pistol primer

25-20
Rem bulk 86 gr JFP
12.0 gr AA2015
RP Nickel
CCI small rifle primer

30-30 WIN
Rem Bulk 170 gr RN
30.5 gr AA2520
Mixed brass Fed, Rem, Win, Peters, Sears, Frontier,ect
CCI 200 Primer
MV 1989 FPS

35 Rem
Hornady 200 gr RN or Rem 200 gr RN
35.0 gr AA2015
Mixed brass Fed, Rem, WW, Hornady
CCI 200 Primer
MV 2045 FPS

35 Rem
180 gr Beartooth FP
6.5 gr International clays
Mixed brass
CCI 200 primer

Note all have crimp in the canular except fot the Beartooth 35 rem 180 which is seated so the bolt will close.

My Marlin 375W load:

220gr Hornady FP
38gr of RL-7
Fed210 Match primers
WIN brass
COL 2.540
Crimped in cannelure
2100fps

32-20 50 yard load

Hornady 100 grain XTP
10.0 grains IMR4227
Starline brass
CCI 400 primer
Lee dies w/factory crimp die


32-20 100 yard load

Speer 100 grain JHP
13.0 grains IMR4198
Starline brass
CCI 400 primer
Lee dies w/factory crimp die

Here is a 45-70 load that looks real good.

405 gr Chey cast bullet .458 dia
8.5 gr tite Group
WW primer
Mixed brass, Starline, WW, RP

Here is my 50yd Open/Bench load.

35REM
200gr Rem CoreLokt
40gr Varget
WIN brass
Fed210 Primer
2060fps

OK here is what I shoot in my 444 marlin.
Heavy load 2100fps
47.5 Rel. 7
265g Hornandy
Win. LRP
Remington brass

Medium load This shoots good at 50yds and 1700fps
47g IMR4895
240 Speer sp
Win. LRP
Remington brass

lite load This will shoot one hole at 25yds cheep to shoot
1183fps
11g Blue Dot
Laser cast 240g
Win. LRP
Remington brass

the medium load should be 48g in stead of 47g

JB's Open sight load (stolen from Dr. A)
32 Win Spec.
Win Brass
WLR Primer
6gr HS-6
170 gr. Beartooth or Mike Buchannan Cast

Not to cast any negative light on these loads but..........KenK just tickled me in my 1894 developement thread about his Magtech load for the 44 that was posted here. I could not help but notice while going thru the loads that there were no cast bullet hunting loads in the group.

Just an observation. No problem. I have a light 220 gr Sierra FPJ load that shoots better than anything else in my 1894 but I was trying to submit targets with a hunting load and in my case a hard cast bullet hunting load.

You guys have got me thinking.

Chief RID :D

Some of us submit full house hunting loads for our PM targets and others tweak and fret. ;) I just try to wring out the very best accuracy I can from my hunting loads and have never loaded 'down'...yet. :D The fellas that do get some very fine groups for sure.

Dave :cool:

I plan on shooting at least one deer with my 405 gr load with 8.5 gr of Tite group this year. I think it will do the trick. ;) I have been working up some loads for the 405 Rem that gives me whiplash off the bench. No BS! I had a headache after shooting about 50 loads that I'm testing, and I thought to myself "Self,why?" That 405 lead load will likely kill inthing within reason. And I plan to do just that this fall :D

VTDW

Perhaps you could post your 290gr. BTB load here, for the fellow 444 shooters who missed it on another thread.

Took 30 of um to the range today. What can i say, but they kick-ask.. Nice tight groups.

Whiplash, lmao i know it feels like..

Sure Rowdy. I am glad that load works for you.

Try 47 gr. H-322 behind the BTB 290 gr. LFNGC. A few tenths one way or the other can even tighten up a bit more.

Dave :cool:

Thanks Dave,

I'm going to base my elk and bear load on that, and shoot Postal Match with it, it's that good.

Ran out of bullets, bummer. Put in a order for 500 290gr BTB just now. So maybe i'll drive by Marshall's house 4:00AM blow the horn make sure he gets to work on time.. He'd like that.

My Loads:
.454 Cassull
300 Gr WFNGC
11.5gr Herco
CCI 450 SR
Win Cases
50 Yd Open Bench

.45 LC
255 SWC
7.5 Gr W231
PMC Cases
CCI 300 LP
50 YD Open Bench

Chief RID
Both my loads are cast hunting loads- The 300 WFNGC is a lighten load for the Casull usually pack 30.5gr of H110 behind it. Just couldn't see putting my shoulder through that again this year! Last year all my groups where shot with full bore loads! By hunting time my shoulder was worn out!:(

I shoot my share of 3" groups for sure but here is a bit of knowledge I am sure you already know but lots of folks do not. We have all heard the term "Call your shot". You cannot call the shot if you do not know your rifle very well. After a while you will be able to predict just where your rifle is going to shoot as the barrel heats up and begins to string. The tip is to anticipate how to hold when you shoot. I sometimes hold below the little white circle but started out the group aiming in the center of the circle.

My cold barrel first shot is usually in the white circle ;) Once you pull the trigger that first time, all bets are off as to where the next shot will go...with a levergun :D :D

I hope this helps some of the PMIV shooters a bit.

Dave :cool:

I have a couple of real good 45-70 loads (for my rifle) but the one that I think is the best is:

52grs IMR 3031
350gr jacketed Hornady RNFP
Winchester brass
Fed 210 primer.

pretty sure this is the load I used in the offhand scope...
was shooting several loads that day and wrote it on the target . took a picture of the target, so I sent the target in... need to see where on my computer target is stored!! :confused:
whizzum

Here are the loads my guns seem to like for at least 4 out of 5 shots! Mike Buchanan

38-55-Win 1894 26"Barrel made in 1908
RCBS 37-250-FN
Win Cases
Win WLR primers
18.0 grains XMP 5744
Lyman Dies-Lee Factory crimp

45 Colt-Marlin 1894 CB 24" Barrel
Lee 452-255-RF
Starline Case
CCI 300 primers
10.5 SR4756
Lyman Dies

30/30 Win 94-20" barrel
Lee C309-170-F
Rem Cases
Rem 2 1/2 primers
15.0 SR 4759
Lee Dies-fact. crimped

250 Savage-Mod 99A
75 Hornady V-Max
Win Cases
CCI LR primer
42.0 H414
RCBS Dies
Chrono 3163

250 Savage Mod 99A
90gr Sierra HP GameKing
Win Cases
CCI LR primer
35.5 IMR 4895
RCBS Dies

.32 Win special -Win 94 20" barrel
RCBS 170FN
Win Cases
Fed LR primer
17.0 XMP 5744
Lee Dies

44 Mag Win Mod 94 20" Barrel
RCBS 44-240-SWC
Starline cases
CCI LP primer
11.0 SR 4756
Lee Dies

300 Savage Mod 99-(didn't get to send it in for this year but it's a good one)
Lee C309 150 F
Win Cases
Win LR primer
15.0 SR4759
Lee Dies

25-35 Winchester-Win 94 Trails End
RCBS 25-100 FN
Win Cases
CCI Primer
14.0 gr XMP 5744
Lee Dies
Lt Crimp-2.524 OAL

45-70
405 gr Oregon Trail Laser-Cast RNFP
33 gr. IMR 4198
WLR
W-W brass
2.530" OAL
~1450 in my Guide Gun (off hand) and ~1500 in my 1895 (bench)

A buddy took his Elk with this load. Busted through both shoulders and as far as he knows, it's still going...

44 Rem MAG
240 gr Speer JFP (bench) 240 gr Montana Gold JSP (offhand)
18.7 gr of 2400 (Alliant's data MAX load)
CCI 300 primer
1562 fps avg

Didn't do as well as last year with this load.

30-30 (not yet submitted)
150 gr Hornady JRP
33 gr of Varget
CCI 200
R-P Brass
2.540"

336's favorite load. Nice groups but need to center them on the target

Here are the loads my guns seem to like for at least 4 out of 5 shots! Mike Buchanan

There must be a gnome somewhere who thinks it's funny to push one bullet out of five off to the side a little bit. No other answer seems to fit. . .

Here is my new and improved 32-20 load:

14 grains Hodgdon H322
Starline brass
CCI primers

Your choice of either the Hornady 100 grain XTP or the 100 grain Speer. I've shot hundreds of each trying to figure out which is more acccurate, in my rifle there is absolutely no difference, either in group size or point of impact.

NO CRIMP

If you are worried about the bullet moving you can figure out how much powder you need to get a good compression. About 16 grains in Starline brass. Not a whole lot of difference in my rifle anywhere between 14 and 16 grains.

Marlin 336 rebarreled to 25-35 Win. 24" barrel, Redfield reciever sight, Lyman 17A front sight. Rem. 86gr FP, 26gr AA2460 for around 2600 fps. I've pretty much settled on this powder with the 86 and 117gr bullets, good veloctiy and accuracy.

Marlin 1894CL 218 Bee. Bushnell 4x scope. Rem 45grHP, 13.8gr AA1680 for2700 fps. This powder works fantastic in the 218 and 25-20.

Marlin 336 Cowboy 30-30. Refield reciever sight, Lyman 17A front. Rem 110grRN for 30 M1. 36grs AA2520, 2500 fps. This is a fairly mild load but shoots great. This bullet is my favorite for target and varmint shooting with the 30-30, I've gotten good accuracy in several rifles and they're fairly cheap to buy in bulk.