I have a 20” Proof MTR 25 Creed that’s a hammer with 134 ELD-M’s. I haven’t loaded them hot at all. I’m using Alpha SRP brass with 40.7 grns of H 4350. It’s a slow load at 2569, but I’ve only got about 80 rounds on this barrel so it will gain another 75 fps or so in the next 100 rounds. Even at those slow speeds, I’m still at 1800 fps at 650 yards, and it’s a freaking tack driver.
I also loaded up some Sierra 110 Tipped Game Kings. Using the same powder charge, I’m getting 2808 out of them, also with great accuracy. Both loads also shoot to the same point of aim, and I’ve trued them out to 600 yards and they’re within 1/10th both in wind and drop.
I’m going to push those ELD’s up to 41.7, which I think will net me 2750-ish fps once the barrel is broken in. Since I don’t really like shooting at game much over 500 yards it’s all kind of academic at this point.
I did kill a large bodied deer with the 134’s in South Dakota a couple weeks back, and true to their reputation, they performed flawlessly.
Very happy with this rifle, and it’s becoming my main squeeze for sure. Even over my Proof 223 Conviction, that’s another little hammer!
And for the 18” question, for most barrels subtract 35-50 fps and you’d be real close to the speed you’d get from a 18” tube. Of course brass used, and how tight the chamber and barrel are, will also have some bearing on the speeds achieved. For the most part, Proof barrels usually seem a touch on the fast side, but this barrel seems a bit slow in my opinion.
