I did want to follow up on this one as well. Last week, I sent an email to VV to ask their opinion, but as of yet have not heard back.

I went down to 35 grains and was still massively over-pressured. Headspace seems tight without being too tight (.004 inches or so), and was certainly not excessive. I have a case gauge on the way, and will go to full length sizing instead of neck sizing. I have fired off all of my primed cases, so am at zero. I have about 40 once fired RWS cases, and another 40 once fired Norma cases. The rest of my collection is RWS and Norma virgin cases, so they would need full length sizing to start.

At this point, the only thing to which I can place the blame is bad powder. I can think of no other change I could make (to include having the manufacturer recalibrate my balance scale). I was using Woodleigh PP bullets, but they were loaded to a COL of 3.009, which is well within max COL specs, and the meplat of that bullet would keep it farther from the lands than a simple round nose bullet. At this point, I will try and source another powder. Hogden and IMR are back on the shelves, so that is easy. I've also seen some Norma powder, and they have recommended loads on their site.

I'm hoping I haven't damaged the rifle by this. Certainly the cases did not rupture (though the bolt was extremely difficult to open) so I probably have not exceeded the proof load originally performed in late 1939.

Thanks everyone for all your advice, recommendations and patience. The only way I can use this to continue to be a threat to Odocoileus virginianus is to learn to reload, so I am trying to blunder my way through.