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It will be too slow for the Absolute. Look for the Absolute Hammer thread in this section of the forums. There is a huge spreadsheet full of load info, so you should be able to find what you need to get started.
I used superformance per the absolute hammer load data thread. federal magnum primers. new lapua brass. average 3441 fps. 4 shots were between 3440 and 3453 with an oddball at 3422 for some reason on magnetospeed. sd 13.4. shot .5 moa or better shot from two different savage ultralights (24" proof carbon). I worked the loads up last summer in high 80 degree temps and backed off .5 grains from pressure signs. did not get to shoot an elk with it but did shoot a whitetail. alot of internal cavity destruction but not much meat loss. I'm pleased with the results.
I did superformance as well and got around 3400 fps but I lost 100 fps when it went from 70 to 40 during the testing phase so I stopped.
N560 will be your best choice , but RL23 will work . You will have a compressed load and probably will leave 100 fps on the table , but you should still get between 3350 and 3400 fps from a 26 in barrel.
N165 is close too RL 23 and 63.5 grs of N165 gets me 3452 fps and the load I settled on is 62.5 grs at 3406 fps . N560 will be my final load development with the 123 gr absolute I'm expecting 3500 fps plus I will post it soon . I would also try standard large rifle primers instead of mag primers. I also finished load development on the 109 gr absolute with N560 with cci200 s 65 grs got me 3728 fps . I settled on a 64 gr load at 3649 fps . Hope this helps
At 56 grs of RL23 you should still have room in the case too increase the powder charge for the absolute you said 121 gr the absolute should be 123 gr. When you go from the 124 gr too the 123 gr absolute with the same powder charge of the same powder , you will have less vel because of less bearing surface . Until you run out of powder space or hit pressure , that is the reason too go too the next fastest burn rate of chosen powder .Example I hit pressure at 59 grs of N165 with the 124 gr at 3300 fps and get 3452 with 63.5 grs of N165 and out of powder space with a little room too go on pressure , now I will move too N560.
I have only one pound 560. I was going to try more RL23 with absolute but l was on a mission to find a load with 124 hammers I had more of for hunt I burned my deer points on in California. Copper only. Long story there but killed a nice buck. I kept my CDS dial on and was within an inch of my 156 Berger load at 200 yds. I thought well that's ok. At 598 it wasn't ... My dumb *** ....
I had a box of my 156 Bergers in tent... Oh well. Would of been a bigger buck but I ended a 9 yr. Curse.
