Originally Posted by
memilanuk
The Palma has a slightly shorter throat... probably closer to 0.050" vs. 0.085" for the F/TR. With the Palma I would doubt you'll have much luck with anything over 175gn just due to twist, and with that short throat... even that might be stretching a bit. The F/TR I know can spin a 185 just fine, and in theory might be able to shoot a 200 under the right atmo conditions.
As mentioned, you might look at alternative powders... Varget (can't recall what Hodgdon calls it down in your part of the world) is the de facto standard, but others do work. Like I said, Alliant 2000MR seems to work well behind the heavy bullets seated a bit short like in the factory F/TR barrel. Hodgdon 100V is another that is in the same general category, and might be more readily available.
155s, espescially the modern designs like the Berger 155.5BT 'Fullbore', the Sierra 155 MK 'Palma' (the new one, model 2156, not the old 2155), and the HBC 155 all have about as high of BC as you can get in a .30 cal 155 and will get you a long ways down the road with either gun. If you have aspirations of shooting anything heavier than a 155, get the F/TR not the Palma.
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