Standard barrels without the Nitride do seem to run right at or just under 2700 with the factory loads that HSM puts out for me. I have twin rifles here in 30-06 so I will do a comparison some time soon with Nitrided vs Non Nitrided barrels, with that load and check the velocity on both to see what we get. On average the Nitride adds 100-150 FPS to a barrel with no other changes made. That is how we get the higher velocity with the same loads. I now do this to almost all the rifles I build and it is worth it, for the speed, longer barrel life, ease of cleaning, and most of all corrosion resistance. The rifles
I will test side by side are 1903A3 sporters with brand new 2 groove USGI barrels. I will use ammo from HSM from the same lot, and will test both the 208AMAX and 210 Berger VLD loads for you guys. Both barrels were chambered by me with the same reamer, and are remington 8-44 barrels cut and crowned to 23 inches by me. I used the one to kill a Bison last year, and a customer saw it and bought it for an upcoming hunt in Africa for plains game. The other his hunting buddy had me build for him to be a twin of the first. They are nail driving beasts that retain the classic smooth 1903 action and handle like a dream.
I will give a plug to HSM here, I used their basic 180gr SPBT ammo to take the bison, my dad took a hog with it, as did I, and also my brother. All the game has been One shot dead on the spot, no steps taken. The hogs were all shot heart lung, and just fell over dead, the bison was a head shot and just shut off like a switch. I want to say the 180 BTSP seems to be good solid inexpensive hunting ammo for off the shelf use. It shoots about 1/2MOA out of all my rifles that I have used it in. Per HSM its a Speer bullet, the basic Spitzer BTSP 180. It has a BC Of .54, so it should have decent legs for longer shots launching at 2750, but all mine have been under 200.