spaniel

The guideline for charge reduction for 777 is 15%, so around 135gr is technically the max charge though I have no idea what T/C would tell you. Some companies said 100gr when it first came out which is ridiculous.

So what are you going to shoot? 100gr looked like the best group but 140gr was good too, sub MOA, it's worth considering.

Chapman, I think that was a fair assessment of bullets. I have not tried the TMZ yet, I know the 200SW too well to switch right now. Maybe in another year or two. The only things I'd add are that the Dead Centers are good, but among the most expensive and also cannot be pushed to high velocities. My experience with Shockwaves is that they may sometimes begin to come apart at high velocities, but mine have always made it as far as the offside skin and done lots of damage.

bowbender6

I’ll probably back it down. I don’t think I need quite this much. I was amazed that the groups didn’t open up very much from 100 to 150 grains like they usually do. I have been trying for the last couple of years to push the PR Dead Centers but I lost accuracy as powder went up. My son is a senior in college and he might get to use this gun. The gun shop took my new 870 combo (that I won) in on trade so I now have a Savage 10 ML II Thumbhole to play with. Good thing my whole family hunts so I can buy new guns to try and hand them down. I also bought 3 boxes of the 290TMZ for $12 a box of 18 so I have lots of the Barnes to try. Thanks for the input. Sounds like either bullet will work fine.

spaniel

In the experience of me and everyone I shoot MLs with, Dead Centers are the flattest shooting bullet up to 1800 fps and perform well on game too. However, they cannot be consistently shot faster than that by any of us as IMHO the soft lead begins to deform and accuracy flies out the window.

I did get the 195 duplex up to almost 2000 fps in one gun, but the 200SW at 2100 fps shot just as flat for half the cost.

bowbender6

I have heard about the lead deforming but never thought about it. I guess it kind of makes sense.
I got the 175 and 195 dead center and 180 QT 2200-2350fps but the groups are 3-4 " and I am afraid the bullets will fragment. I think that what you guys are saying also. I shot a lot of deer with them and never missed but they all ran a ways before dying.

gleason.chapman

Thanks for the fair assessment compliment. I had forgotten about the Dead Centers and not being able to be shot fast, your right ,that is why they don't work in the Savage. As for the 200g SW, not many folks use them, and they appear to hold together better better than their 250g brothers, maybe it is marketing to the .45 and not the .50. Seems to me the sweet point of 50 cal ML bullets or deer is 240 to 260g, with most of them being 250. I like the 300g because they shoot thru and go deeper in penetration tests that I have shot and have seen.
Chap

Chap