What is the saying about 'well laid plans'?
My brother has been anticipating buying a hunting rifle for some time, I got him settled down and aimed towards something like a Bergara B14, some $800-1000 glass, in 6.5CM. I thought it would be a nice fit, and the lower recoil of the 6.5 meant he could get some trigger time in before the hunt, without developing bad habits from a heavier recoiling rifle. I picked up 8# of H4350, and 350 6.5CM bullets... 50 Noslers for hunting, and 300 SMK's for target shooting... and laid in a supply of 6.5CM brass.
Sooooo... we're at the gun show yesterday (Mesquite, TX) and he sees this Ruger American in a Magpul stock, all fixed up with a bipod and (el cheapo) scope... but it's in .308. Yep, he bought it. And that's all well and good, of course, I already handload for the .308, and my big bolt gun is in .308.... but now I have 8 POUNDS of H4350 setting under the bench... so I decided the AR-10 receiver set I have languishing on the shelf in the armory will be built up in 6.5CM, so I can put all that to good use.
We did go to the range today... his Ruger did well, with both 168grn FGMM, and my handloads (TAC and the168grn Nosler CC.) It didn't particularly care for my IMR4064/169grn SMK handloads, but that's fine, because my Savage 10TAC sure did like them. I finally shot a sub-Moa group with my Savage and my handloads! ...I put 8 rounds into .95" at 100yds. That's FGMM territory.... and something I've been looking for, for about a year now.
My first foray with the 169grn SMK did not go well... I had pressure signs right off the bat, and ultimately had to pull 75 rounds. I re-reloaded them at the standard 2.800", but backed the charge of IMR4064 down about 1.5grn, and worked back up.... no pressure signs, and fantastic accuracy. Victory. I'll have to run them over the chronograph next chance I get to see where they are at.
Patted myself on the back, put everything up, and threw the brass in the tumbler.