Thanks for starting this thread, JonB. I hope everyone behaves as in the past this subject has gotten a bit heated at times. I know that techniques that work for others may not work for me and also know that what works for me may not work in everyone's rifles. Looking forward to some spirited discussions and some range (and field) testing, not arguments or name-calling.
Last year I was able to push a good-fitting RD boolit (360-230) to 2200ps in my 35 Whelen using a HT 50/50 alloy. I HT'd the boolits after sizing and before installing GC's to keep from annealing the GC's and work-softening the boolits. I know this adds a few steps but it was worth it. I used BAC but I suspect 2500+ may be a better lube to push the envelope on this project. I've detailed my target and field-testing elsewhere so won't bore anyone with it here.
Case prep is a given; it's important for any accuracy pursuit but has little to do with this project any more than any other project, IMHO.
I'll be focusing on alloy, HT methods, throat fit, sizing and lube. I'm thinking powder will also be critical but suspect that a general class of powders and their pressure curve characteristics may be more important than a specific powder.
This is going to be fun. Started a couple of other projects today but will give serious consideration to starting a HV CB 30-06 project as well.