Hello Folks,

This spring I’ve been doing a lot of load development with my 10-inch Contender in 30 Herrett, and think I have it worked out. Nosler never did answer my question about the 150-gr Partition bullets, but I found that the 150-gr Ballistic Tip bullets are claimed to expand well down to 1600 fps (Nosler loading manual). The only Sierra bullets that will open at this slow speed are the 30-30 bullets, and they lose speed too quickly. So, the Ballistic Tip is my bullet.

Previously I had been working with 2400, but it turned out to be a little too fast for my needs. IMR-4198 is working well for me though. My somewhat arbitrary goal was to maintain 1000 ft lb energy downrange. My load, with an average muzzle velocity of 1938 fps, does that out to 125 yards, and has 1690 fps and 951 ft lb at 150 yards. Sighted in one inch high at 50 yards, it’s one inch high at 100 yards, zero at 125 yards, and less than two inches low at 150 yards. I’m satisfied with the ballistics.

As an interesting side note, I used to use IMR-4198 and H4198 interchangeably. H4198 will not burn in this cartridge. It will only produce 1000 fps, and large amounts of golden colored, unburned powder remain in the case. I use both of these powders in the 6 mm PPC, and never noticed a difference.

Take care, Tom