NitroX,

My hunting loads were:
The rifle had a 25" barrel

600 grain bronze solid
Fed 215 or CCI 250 primer
128.5 grains of IMR4350
muzzle velocity ~ 2300 avg(avg velocity typical ran between 2300 and 2320 depending on lot and ambient temperature)

525 grain soft point
Fed 215 or CCI 250 primer
133 grains of IMR4350
muzzle velocity ~ 2445 fps avg(ran between 2445 and 2470s as I recall depending upon the same parameters as the 600 grain load)

I ran hotter loads, but recoil was not always pleasant. Also, when operating pressures got over ~ 43,500 psi / 44000 psi extraction would start to become an issue, which also helped me decide to stay where I did. No the brass was not "soft" I had it checked by a metallurgical lab.

Case volume varied from ~ 173 to 178.5 grains of water.

Satisfied? This information is from OLD notes which are not too well kept anymore, and memory as I have not owned a 505 Gibbs for over 10 years.

Scott