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Gents
Some advice on creating a reload that will regulate in my little rifle would be great. I have been looking for a 450BPE DR to have & to hold but as yet no luck. Until then I picked up a Merkel 141 in 8x57 to hunt Whitetails, Black bear & Moose at close ranges in thick cover on the East Coast of Canada. Merkel regulates this rifle with Norma Oyrx loads using 196 grain bonded bullets going over 2400 fps. I have some of the Norma ammo but it is hard to get here. I want a reload for it but so far have not be lucky enough to get one to regulate. On the Norma site they give data using Norma #2 powder at 40-42.2 grains & the 196 gr lead. I have loaded IMR 4064 around the 40 gr mark under a simliar shaped Hornady bullet weighing 195 gr. to no avail (yet). Two question;
1. what powder comes closest to Norma #2?
2. anyone using a small DR in 8x57IRS & if so what has been your recipe for reloads or best loads? and what do you use it for?
Thanks in advance.