thankfully I didn't see a deer this weekend!
It was the last weekend of ML for me, and I was going to fire the bore empty. Used up 4 .25acp's (CCI Small Rifle Primers) and could not get ignition. These cases were loaded last year, and the temps were hovering at about 15F. I extracted the bullet, and verified the flash hole was clear. I fired another .25acp primer and it was a very quiet pop. I loaded up a couple others with fresh primers, and with the temps couldn't get more then that soft pop.
Changed out to the 209, and bought the last pack of 209's I could find in town, CVA "inline 209". Tested one in the plug, and got a good solid pop off a bare primer. Loaded up 85gn of Pryrodex P, and let her rip. Trigger pull resulted in a large bark, and the ball smacking the dead oak at 75yrds right at POA with a big chunk being blasted off the stump.
Looks like 209 is the winner for me!