If the 225 Sierra performance reports are true, a deer inside of 400 yds. is in deep schidt. Guessing about 3.5" high @100 will still be climbing @200, zeroed around 300, & 10 to 11" low at 400 while still packing 2400+#s pf energy.
The lightest bullets I've messed with was 200. No... Wait... I tried some 150 PSP corelokts with 3031, but they weren't up to groundhog accuracy much beyond 150-200 yds. Almost bought some of those 185s that were on sale but didn't. More pressing things in the budget this month.
Since the case was FULL of 2000MR, PPVarmint was logically the next step for 200s. Same PPU brass, Fed 215 with 200 Hornady Sp Pt. @ 3.300". 2 shot groups to start looking for speed & pressure.
68=2804 & 2901
68.5=2829 & 2905
69=2814 & 2826- did muzzle up to settle powder before shooting from here upward. ES improved.
69.5=2817 & 2837
70=2870 & 2886
70.5=2887 & 2915
71=2881 & 2941
71.5=2923 & 2964
72=2932 & 2933
72.5=2967 & 2983
73=3027 & 3040
73.5=3048 & 3050
Continued upward with 4 shot groups. Have not retested these yet & probably wont. All shot 3 & 1 on a calm 80* day. 73.5 to 74.5 shot 3 into c.3/4" & the 4th was out by another 1/2 to 3/4"
73=2980
73.5=3010
74=3040
74.5=3037- slight bolt lift?
75=3080-definite bolt lift. These resized notably harder as well. The bulge above the belt was visible as a shiny spot... not to be confused with incipient separation... it just grew in diameter.
So... in my rifle with 200s PPVarmint pressured out at a lower velocity than 2000MR & wasn't as well behaved in any way. Thinking that the 85.5gr of 2000MR is flirting with max, just not able to go any higher to prove it without a pressure measuring device. If you have some of those Barnes 185s, Varmint could be your huckleberry... or not.
