Middle of the road powder IMR 3031 has produced 5/8 inch groups with 150 grain sierra pro hunter pills.If you look at reloading charts, it literally IS middle of the road as far as heat goes, but proof is in the puddin. Varget is top of the heap with simillar results and a few hundred feet per second faster, not that a white tail will know the difference.
When I reload, I stick with the listed guidelines for a particular load. I refer to "several" manuals for load consistencies. I look for accuracy, first and foremost. But, at the same time, I inspect each and every fired case for signs of excessive pressure. I NEVER "hot-rod" a load. All of my loadings fall into the "middle of the road" class. Except for moose, I never waste money on premium bullets. In New England, shots aren't in the "from one county to the other" catagory. You don't need extreme penetration, and deer are a thin skinned animal. I try to be kind to my 99's. They fill my freezer with neat meat every year. JMHO,,,,,,,,YMMV.
