I loaded them btw and did the load ladders, Thats my job, I'm the get 'er done guy in the group... I build them, they shoot them
Brass in Federal OF from Wideners fully prepped and trimmed, to Sammi spec, mouths VLD'd, pockets reamed, flash holes deburred
Sierra 2140's 165 grain HPBT with 48 grains of H 380 (thats almost a compacted charge) btw. COAL is 2.7 I'm at 2.9 or 25 give or take off the lands.
Sierra 2200 168 HPBT MK with 42.6 grains of H380 Sierra's recommended maximum load, compacted charge again, COAL is 2.8, I loaded them at 2.9. That gave me the tightest groups.
I also loaded some Sierra 2120's 125 grain SPT's (ballistic tipped), again H380 and again close to maximum charge (49 grains) at 10 over Sammi length of 2.7
He wanted the 125's for a varmit load. He's into midnight crooners.
My take is if you stretch out the COAL, there is more room in the case for expansion and it seems to play out. Thats SOP at Berger and it works for me too.
Being a Savage person, I really like the Kimber safety. It looks 'finished' compared to the Savage.
When I say compacted charge I say that tongue-in-cheek. They aren't rattlers but I didn't have to squeeze in the pills either.
I leave the trimming and initial case prep to the group and do the charges, seat the pills and do the workups. I let them use my shop and have access to the refrigerator for beverages...lol I set up a couple lathes with various prep stations and let them go to town.
The above loads represent just over 1500 rounds.