Ian, I owe you a beer I think
Here are the handloads I put together as well as some other ones with the equivalent 155 Sierra Palma bullet (all with Varget):
Some loaded at 2.785" and others right at 2.800" - all fit in the magazine just fine:
Testing at 50yards with no suppressor. I had the gas block fully open and with max venting forward (screw all of the way out) - got perfect functioning and no over-gassing:
Best 50 yard group with that 4x scope with the Nosler bullet:
Then moved to 100 yards, with the suppressor. Man, I had to go to almost fully "closed" in the gas block before I got no over-gassing and smooth functioning:
Once I did, even with just a 4x at 100 yards, where I can hardly see the black dot I was aiming for, I still got "decent for me" 5-shot groupings with the Sierra Palma bullet, and perfect function:
I think I need to put the 10x scope I got for load development, but to say that I am pleased with this PSA rifle on its first outing doesn't quite cover it. Thanks Ian
Will