Finally got the Norma brass, the DNZ Reaper scope mounts, and the Nosler 120 gr BTs for the brother’s 6.5 CM. Since Nosler always seems to have good load info on what works well for their bullets, I went to that book. Worked up to the load they liked, with H4350, to the COAL they recommended. All the workup loads shot real well, and when I got to their suggested best load, that Bergara put the first couple in one hole, with one just out. That was easy. Recheck in the morning with cold barrel.

That’s a dang nice rifle. Maybe not quite as smooth a bolt as the Tikka, but the stock is better, for sure. Also a good trigger and excellent recoil pad. Only problem is how do I weasel it away from my brother....

Just to say it, my thinking that I had found the magic load was wrong, dang it. So I cleaned the rifle (not much copper, but there was copper) and ran a few rounds through it, let it cool, and tried other loads. Finally I got to a moderate load of 43.8 gr of H4350 behind the 120 gr Nosler BTs, and that went into a tight little group (haven’t measured it yet).

I do like the rifle, but oddly enough it seems to have more recoil than my Tikka in 260 when shooting the same bullet at similar velocity. Could be stock design? Could be my imagination? Rifle and scope weights are about the same.

Some rifles just feel like they recoil more than you would expect. Shooting 2 different 25-05 one day I would have sworn the Ruger M77 was chambered in at least 30-06 shooting 220s. Something about the stock fit to me that just doesn't seem to work for me.

Fully agree, and the two stocks can seem very similar in design and not feel that much different until you pull the trigger!

I re-stocked my Win M70 .308 in a different Winchester stock (went from plastic to laminate). Yes, it added a small amount of weight, but that rifle used to move significantly. Between the stock and the suppressor, you'd think you're shooting a .223 now. If it wasn't for the 90 degree bolt it would be my favorite hunting rig.