I was going to start a new thread, but this also seems to fit here. I don't have a lot of experience reloading, in fact I got into reloading specifically for this rifle.

I have Vihta Vouri N160 powder. While VV does not have a listed load for the MS, I contacted them directly and they mentioned that while they hadn't tested a load, N160 would be the idea powder for the rifle. They recommended 37 grains at 2000 fps as a safe starting load, and do not exceed 40 grains at 2200 fps.

Brass was once fired RWS neck sized, bullet was Woodleigh PPSP 160 grains. COL was 3.009 which is less than the max 3.063 listed in the Hornady manual (I went a little bit longer than my stock RWS with a round nose in order to feed) and used a very slight taper crimp.

First shot @ 37 grains: bolt extremely difficult to open, primer unseated. Clearly I had an unsafe load, so I stopped. Curiously, my chronometer listed only 353 fps, which made no sense whatsoever.

So I guess my first question is: could the taper crimp lead to overpressure?

Does anyone have any other thoughts on where I should go from here? Starting with a completely different powder is my first thought, though that seems simplistic. Load too long was another thought, but without a comparator, the best I had was to place a bullet in the brass without crimping, and hand feed to see where the bullet would end up. I didn't write that down, because it seemed far too long, but if memory serves it was 3.206. By staying below the max overall listed in the Hornady manual, I really thought I would be OK.

I'm also considering going to the Woodleigh round nose, as Hornady has stopped making 160 grain bullets. I have fired the rifle with those crimped to the cannelure, but those would not feed and were too short. Stock RWS were slightly longer, fed well, and took a whitetail last fall with absolutely no fuss. The only issue I have with those bullets is that RWS no longer lists them in their catalog, and they are becoming fewer and farther between on Gunbroker. I do have a lot of Norma and RWS unfired brass (and a full length die).

I'm really open to suggestions on this one. Thanks!