The weather finally broke here in NY and I got to go to the range. I took my Ruger #1V 25-06. I wanted to check on a couple of things and hope I didn't get too many variables in the mix to make a determination of what's better than what.

I developed a kick-butt, highly accurate load with Retumbo powder, CCI 200 primers, and Nosler 100 grain ballistic tip bullets. All my loads are made using fire formed brass with the primer pocket and flash hole uniformed. I get some blackening on the case neck but nothing below the neck in the shoulder area. When the cases are seated and locked in the barrel it is a nice snug fit.

I was of the opinion that I was getting blow back (blackening the case neck) because I had low pressure from the slow powder and the case neck was not expanding enough to fill the chamber. So.....I switched to a Winchester magnum primer to speed up the powder burn process using the same amount of powder as before. The thought was to generate higher pressure sooner, expand the neck, and eliminate the backening without giving up accuracy. Wrong. I also indexed the loads by putting a black mark on the "25" part of the 25-06 on the head stamp and chambering them all with the mark at 12:00.

Observations - the most obvious result was a significant loss of accuracy. I'm used to easily covering 5 shot groups with a nickel at 100 yards, today I was 2" - 3" at 100 yards shooting the loads using the magnum primers. And, there was no less blackening on the case neck. I am now of the opinion my gun simply has a generous throat. I went back to shooting ammo loaded with CCI 200 primers and all was good again. Also, the primer pockets in the brass that had the magnum primers were absolutely filthy compared to the non-magnum primers.

The barrel had very little powder residue, it was remarkably clean given the appearance of the case neck and primer pockets. I cleaned the barrel with a bore snake every 5 rounds. I shot 50 rounds today.

Indexing - I shot al the loads with the index mark at 12:00. I hope to load them up tonight and, weather permitting, get out tomorrow to see if it makes a difference, the problem is I had poor accuracy from the magnum primer loads so just going back to my original load is a significant improvement so I don't think this go-round wil tell me much about the potential benefits of indexing.

Sounds like you shot enough rounds to know what was going on. I haven't done anything different to the load you gave me, it just shoots so good I don't think I can improve. I also get the black on the brass neck but I was not concerned with it.****, You shoot more Than I do. I usually shoot 10 to 20 rounds a day unless I'm shooting the .22 then I go for broke. Q :D

I went to a gun show in Springfield Mo.last week-end. I saw 3 real nice 45-70s for sale. I like the 1885 highwalls and similar type guns. You have a 45-70? Yes? Is there any benefit to the 45-90 over the 45-70? What type of load do you use in your 45-70? Have you ever used black powder in the 45-70? I just bought my daughter a mossberg silver reserve .410 over and under shotgun for our first turkey hunt together.My next gun purchace is leaning down the 45-70 road.Q

Yes, I have the Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. I like a full case of Varget powder and Hornady 350 grain RN bullets (agian CCI 200 primers). I have been surprised and pleased at how accurate the gun is. My loads are not tweaked in any way, just consistent. I tried several kinds of factory ammo and the best was the Federal 300 grain hollow point stuff. Never did any black powder shooting, it just never appealed to me but I think the 45-90 would have an advantage with black powder. With smokeless powder it may not make sense to choose the 45-90 over the 45-70.

Did you shoot the 25-06 again? How did things work out for you? I have been shooting my 22-250 quite a bit latley. I had some problems with neck sizing and not loading well but, as long as I F.L. size I'm ok to shoot. I worked up 200 pieces of brass for my .243 and plan to shoot it next ,I'm using 42gn of IMR 4064 with a 55gn nosler ballistic tip bullet. This is a very good load for me and my gun. If you ever get down this way please look me up. I can set you up for a horse ride or a rifle shoot or both. Q

I got to the range again today. Indexing my 25-06 loads didn't amount to a hill of beans difference. I shot pretty much what I expected. 4 five-round groups gave me about as good as I can hold with the heavy trigger I have on my gun and I pulled 2 shots (my error) that looked like fliers but they weren't.

The most interesting part of the day was the ladder test I did with my CZ 550 FS in 243 Winchester. I loaded 20 cases from 39.5 grains to 49 grains of IMR 7828 in 0.5 grain increments and shot them in succession low to high. The first 5 shots trailed down and to the right about 2 inches, the next 2 clustered, the next 6 jumped up about 3 inches and made a crescent moon shape bending to the left, then at 46 + grains the shots jumped right about 3 inches and clustered touching one another. 49 grains flattened the primer. I think 46.5 - 47.0 grains is the load to go with and I don't think I can get a better seating depth than I had. I've done ladder tests before but this is the first time I've seen such telling results. The set trigger on the CZ is a joy to shoot on the bench and is inspiring me to get a set trigger for the Ruger.

I also took Mr. Boomer my Guide Gun. I tweaked the scope setting to give me 2" high at 100 yards. This gun has been the most consistent of all the guns I have. It just keeps printing clover leafs. I will be trying in out on crows at about 150 yards along with the 243 and 25-06 over the spring and summer. I have a perfect backstop, the earthen berm around my pond, and will be setting out bait for the crows as soon as I build my shooting bench.

Thats cheating baiting crows but I like it. Those dang birds drive me nuts when I'm bow hunting. By the way crows like crushed corn. Q :D :D :D