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Do you crimp your bullets?

No crimp…I only load for bolt action rifles and have not found the need to do so.

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I just subscribed to follow these guys…great videos!  Thanks for the link.

I'll be trying the vibrating tip on the next batch for sure.  I've always wanted to try it but never made the time.  It was nice to see the actual results in the video.

Post some groups of your reloads when you get a load you are happy with. 

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So looks like the charge weight around 25.5 will work for you as well…
What COAL you loading to?

How did you find fitting 25.8 in the case?  Must have been really compressed, surprising no pressure signs but that's good news.

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Don't rule out the Hornady Whitetail load without trying it yourself…

I've seen deer run 50-100yrds with a perfectly placed lung shot with small to big caliber rifles with a range of bullets…it not uncommon with a straight through lung shot. If you clip the heart and bone I've seen them take a step or 2 and drop in their tracks.

I shot a white tail this past fall with my 300wsm running a 180 Accubond @ just under 3000fps.
Perfect broad side lung shot, clipped the top of the heart, through and through….distance was about 100yrds.  The deer jumped and covered about 25yrds in 3 strides but was dead on its feet taking the 3rd stride….then it dropped in its tracks stone cold.  I was hoping for the the shot and pile up that I've seen so many times but not the case with this deer.

The same bullet took a Black Bear 3 days later…difference being,  the bear was standing staring at me about 125yrds away… I launched a bullet right under is chin for a perfect neck shot.  It fell backwards dead on its feet before it hit the ground.

Sometimes a perfect shot to save meat is not a perfect shot to anchor it where it stands.  If you want a Deer or any animal to drop in a pile where it stands, then you better be aiming for direct heart, neck or head shot.
Some animals put up a bigger fight for life then others, if you hunt long enough you will see this from time to time…a perfect shot and it won't or does not want to go down.

Its our job to be humane and responsible as hunters, and make good decisions in the field.

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My method and belief is very similar to “Gale McMillan” (RIP)
McMillan Rifles was born & built on this mans knowledge of all things rifle.

He debated the rifle breaking in process for years, and said too many people overthink this process and end up doing more damage to the rifle then anything good.

Here's a good read…
http://www.rifleshootermag.com/gunsmithing/break-rifle-barrel/

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I always clean the barrel of a new gun when I get it…”always”. I use a boresnake in all my rifles so its pretty quick to do.  Some people may not like the snake but its all I use and its had no ill effects on any of my rifles.

So for the 308 CTR..
1st cleaning at home before the range
Fired 4 shots to sight it in, then ran the bore snake through it again for 2nd cleaning.
Then fired about 20 shots and cleaned it a 3rd time.
2 pulls with a bore snake with a cleaner up front and oil at the tail seems to work great for me.
Bore/rifling is super clean.

It may differ slightly per rifle but i usually clean about 3 times in the first 20-30rds break in process and then its maintenance depending on how much you shoot. 

Some people my be more meticulous with a set break in method but these guns are all fired and have rounds through them before they leave the factory so “some” break in is already done.
Others may frown at my methods but as long as I keep getting the groups I'm getting they can cry all they want about whats right or wrong.

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T3's look good suppressed…

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Hey Swagger,

You can thread the barrel with the right setup, a special lathe is needed.
I had my 300wsm lite barrel threaded for a custom muzzle brake last year.  The brake is designed and produced by a company in New Zealand. The ports are a patented design that work very well!!!
My gunsmith had to send the barrel to a machine shop with all the greatest toys to do the job properly though. They threaded the barrel with a 9/16 thread to match the brake.

Here's how its looks…and it now kicks like my 223…I'm not exaggerating!

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You will love any CTR and its accuracy right out of the box with factory ammo…its probably the best rifle you can buy iin its price range.

Check out how my 308 did at the very first range shoot.  It loves Nosler 155gr match ammo…
https://tikkashooters.com/public_html/general-discussion/tikka-ctr-308-range-report-its-a-shooter!!!/msg3807/#msg3807

I've just started handloading for it using 178gr Amax…getting really good consistent 1/4-1/2 MOA groups using 44.8-45.1grs of Varget in Nosler or Hornady brass, right around a max load but no pressure issues.  I've shot numerous 1/2″-3/4″ groups @ 200yrds when everything is going right.  I'm using the rifle for hunting and long range target shooting so I'm loading about .030 – .050 off the lands.

I'm shooting 208 Amax's out of it as well but nothing good to report on that yet.

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Welcome to the forum.

Love the gun, its a cool build and I'm sure its a hammer on yotes!
Nice group as well, looks like a great load for the rifle.

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Totally worded that bad…

20….meaning QTY…edited above.

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Wheeler FAT wrench…for me too.

No issues, love the thing.

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I've heard this could screw up a Die, but so far no issues…

I would love to upgrade my reloading dies so they all have micrometer's for seating bullets.
Thats the plan anyhow.

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Some of the best accuracy I get out of my 300wsm comes from “Nickel Plated” Win brass / H4831sc / 180 Accubonds or 178 Amax…

I shot a few boxes of the Winchester silver tips when I first got the rifle, keep all the brass and now some of them have 5 reloads on them at least.

I have loaded the following 4 types of brass with no issues…
Federal
Nosler
Winchester
Winchester NP

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Lol…I won't advise shooting in basement! lol…

Little update…I tried the same loads in Nosler brass this past weekend.
25.5gr shot the best in the Nosler Brass as opposed to 25.2gr shooting the best in Hornady.

I need to pick one brand of brass and then stay with it and do more testing.
I tried running a few rounds over a chronograph while I was at the range but it keep getting covered in freezing rain so no correct readings to report.

I plan on loading 20rds with 25.5gr in Nosler…&…20rds with 25.2gr in Hornady brass and doing 1 more range session to see what shoots best and settle on 1 and load. Then get a custom Kenton turret for my Vortex scope.  We do a lot of Coyote hunting from Feb-April so hoping to have it all worked out in the next few weeks.