by Wapiti » 17 Apr 2026, 7:19 am
Yes you're right, you won't be able to get the speeds that 2217 will give you. I only mentioned it as an alternative and one I found is strangely accurate.
2225 gave me the highest speeds.
But Dye243's tip on finding a mag with more space, these are usually steel mags that have thinner walls that will fit in the mag wells, hence more space. But a mate has a Tikka Super-varmint and the mags are proprietary plastic things, and does anyone make steel mags to fit in there?
I've heard, which may be incorrect , that to do that you need a new chassis stock like an MDT to take these mags?
He's right, if you can seat the bullets out, you get more volume in the pressure vessel hence can increase your powder charge to get more velocity without too much extra pressure jump. That's what Roy Weatherby routinely did in his rifles, the ones made in the US at least.
But regardless, if you tinker you will find a load that gives great accuracy without trying to sit just off the lands, and seating the bullets further out does give a bit more speed, but it's a very small percentage more. Finding the best powder, with the highest SAFE load for it, is the key.
Also remember, that due to tolerances in chambers and barrels, some rifles shoot markedly slower that another same example and there is nothing you can do about it.
I have two Sako 90's in 300WM, one a Walnut Hunter, the other a SS Peak, and the blued timber one shoots 100fps slower than the lighter one with tge same load. I also have a TRG42 in 300WM and it shoots super fast with 2209.
In it, with 71gns 2209 and a 168 Matchking I get the speeds easily of a maxed out 150gn bullet in the other two.
So sometimes, in some rifles no matter what brand, you get a slow shooter compared to another. You will find this out in your testing and I don't doubt people blow guns up trying to match the mythical speeds they sometimes here out there.
"The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."
Aristotle.
Regards G,
AKA Dr. Doolittle