.260 Ackley R-26 Results

[STOMP442]

As promised I said I would post my findings when I got a chance to try out Reloader 26 in my .260 Ackley. First I will start off with my rifle specs.

Savage Model 111 Action
26" Mcgowan 8 twist Varmint contour barrel
Lapua Brass
CCI LR #200 primers

My current load is 42.5gr of R-16 and a 147gr Hornady ELD-M seated with a .025" jump. The velocity of this load is 2880 fps with a SD of 7. Shoots really well.

Friday morning I went out to the range for the Reloader 26 test, I used the same 147gr Hornady and the same seating depth. I started at 49 grains and worked my way up in half grain increments to 50.5 grains. I shot four five-shot groups at 100 yards looking for good accuracy before I dug out the Magneto speed. The first three groups were nothing to write home about but impacts were about 2.5" higher than my Reloader 16 load. The last five shot group printed a very nice group with a cold bore flyer. Brass had a slight ejector mark but no other signs of pressure. Temp was in the low 60's and each group was shot about 15 minutes apart. Saturday Morning I was back at the range with 15 rounds loaded with the 50.5gr load. I ran five shots through the magneto and recorded a staggering 3135fps with a SD of 3. I couldn't believe the speed! Plugged in my info and dialed out to the 1000 yard gong. I shot 10 rounds at the gong, 8 of which printed a very nice group, well under half moa. My last two shots hit short and I actually blew primers on my last two shots. I think I will load up some more starting around 47gr and see if I can find a lower node around 2950-3000fps.

In conclusion, I think 26 is a viable powder in the .260 Ackley and gives very good speed with the potential for some great accuracy as well. As always, please use my data as a reference only start low and work up. Happy shooting.

 

[86alaskan]

good info, I used some RL26 in my straight 260 with 130gr norma diamond line bullets. I was topping out at 50gr compressed seated at 2.80 and getting 2950fps out of a 22" criterion suppressed. I'm still playing around with seating depth and what not, but it seems to be doing pretty good with no obvious pressure signs. I recently cut the spacer plate out of my accurate mags to get a little more range in seating, so we'll see how that does.

 

[JLT]

As promised I said I would post my findings when I got a chance to try out Reloader 26 in my .260 Ackley. First I will start off with my rifle specs.

Savage Model 111 Action
26" Mcgowan 8 twist Varmint contour barrel
Lapua Brass
CCI LR #200 primers

My current load is 42.5gr of R-16 and a 147gr Hornady ELD-M seated with a .025" jump. The velocity of this load is 2880 fps with a SD of 7. Shoots really well.

Friday morning I went out to the range for the Reloader 26 test, I used the same 147gr Hornady and the same seating depth. I started at 49 grains and worked my way up in half grain increments to 50.5 grains. I shot four five-shot groups at 100 yards looking for good accuracy before I dug out the Magneto speed. The first three groups were nothing to write home about but impacts were about 2.5" higher than my Reloader 16 load. The last five shot group printed a very nice group with a cold bore flyer. Brass had a slight ejector mark but no other signs of pressure. Temp was in the low 60's and each group was shot about 15 minutes apart. Saturday Morning I was back at the range with 15 rounds loaded with the 50.5gr load. I ran five shots through the magneto and recorded a staggering 3135fps with a SD of 3. I couldn't believe the speed! Plugged in my info and dialed out to the 1000 yard gong. I shot 10 rounds at the gong, 8 of which printed a very nice group, well under half moa. My last two shots hit short and I actually blew primers on my last two shots. I think I will load up some more starting around 47gr and see if I can find a lower node around 2950-3000fps.

In conclusion, I think 26 is a viable powder in the .260 Ackley and gives very good speed with the potential for some great accuracy as well. As always, please use my data as a reference only start low and work up. Happy shooting.

* edited to remove stupid question *

Thanks very much for the information. Very timely from my perspective. I had planned on doing a work up in my .260 AI this weekend and your information is very helpful indeed.

Any plans to try a magnum primer? I use magnum primers in my .243 AI RL-26 loads and I've never had one pierce or leak on me. CCI and Sellier & Bellot large rifle magnum primers have both worked very well for me, with S&B getting a slight accuracy edge.

 

[sbhooper]

I settled on a load of 47 grains in my standard .260 with the 147 and got 2825 with 1/2 moa accuracy. It was OK a bit hotter, too, but I figured that was enough speed. 24-inch barrel.

 

[STOMP442]

Well, I resized my cases last night. I was expecting my primer pockets to be loose but they weren't. The only two that were toast were the ones that actually blew the primer and now I am not sure why they would do that when everything else is just fine. I'm hoping to get back to the range this weekend and work up from 47-49gr and see if I can find another node with good accuracy or its back to 16.

 

[VaRandy]

Enjoyed the results of your testing. You had me already to change until we got to the blown primer part! I am shooting 140 Hybrids in my Ackley and don't know how much speed I would get if I added 7 grains of bullet.

Since I have a 3 shot group of about a bullet hole and speed of 2950, I will stick with my H4350 but continue to watch all well reported results such as yours. Would be interesting to know what your speed would have been and whether you would blow primers at your highest load but with 140 Hybrids.

I do not doubt there is a strong place for R26 for the .260 Ackley. Those of us that precision handload for them and have good equipment are absolutely in love with these riles.

As promised I said I would post my findings when I got a chance to try out Reloader 26 in my .260 Ackley. First I will start off with my rifle specs.

Savage Model 111 Action
26" Mcgowan 8 twist Varmint contour barrel
Lapua Brass
CCI LR #200 primers

My current load is 42.5gr of R-16 and a 147gr Hornady ELD-M seated with a .025" jump. The velocity of this load is 2880 fps with a SD of 7. Shoots really well.

Friday morning I went out to the range for the Reloader 26 test, I used the same 147gr Hornady and the same seating depth. I started at 49 grains and worked my way up in half grain increments to 50.5 grains. I shot four five-shot groups at 100 yards looking for good accuracy before I dug out the Magneto speed. The first three groups were nothing to write home about but impacts were about 2.5" higher than my Reloader 16 load. The last five shot group printed a very nice group with a cold bore flyer. Brass had a slight ejector mark but no other signs of pressure. Temp was in the low 60's and each group was shot about 15 minutes apart. Saturday Morning I was back at the range with 15 rounds loaded with the 50.5gr load. I ran five shots through the magneto and recorded a staggering 3135fps with a SD of 3. I couldn't believe the speed! Plugged in my info and dialed out to the 1000 yard gong. I shot 10 rounds at the gong, 8 of which printed a very nice group, well under half moa. My last two shots hit short and I actually blew primers on my last two shots. I think I will load up some more starting around 47gr and see if I can find a lower node around 2950-3000fps.

In conclusion, I think 26 is a viable powder in the .260 Ackley and gives very good speed with the potential for some great accuracy as well. As always, please use my data as a reference only start low and work up. Happy shooting.

 

[6MMsteve]

I'm shooting a 260 ai well 2 actually xcal barrel 27in I went in and done some throating to .180 left my bullets seated at the old freebore, the barrel went from .750 down to .500 and some lower groups jumping the RDFs with 45grs 4831sc, using palma brass, br4 primers velocity is 2880 140 rdfs, I went in and throated my Krieger to 180 also have not shot it yet after bore job. been shoting 41.5 and 43 gr H4350, it slings some but I'm fireforming also not weighing charges or anything, I should but I didn't, I have 1 pound of Re26 been aiming to try gonna give it go this week

 

[STOMP442]

Enjoyed the results of your testing. You had me already to change until we got to the blown primer part! I am shooting 140 Hybrids in my Ackley and don't know how much speed I would get if I added 7 grains of bullet.

Since I have a 3 shot group of about a bullet hole and speed of 2950, I will stick with my H4350 but continue to watch all well reported results such as yours. Would be interesting to know what your speed would have been and whether you would blow primers at your highest load but with 140 Hybrids.

I do not doubt there is a strong place for R26 for the .260 Ackley. Those of us that precision handload for them and have good equipment are absolutely in love with these riles.

I totally agree. I was ready to change until the blown primer part as well. My particular barrel has a short free bore, the bullets seat pretty far in the case but it has always shot really well. I have a great H4350 load with the 140 Bergers but its slow and shows some signs of pressure with my brass only lasting about 3 firings. Reloader 16 and the 147s shoot really well for me and doesn't seem to be nearly as hard on brass.

 

[VaRandy]

I'm shooting a 260 ai well 2 actually xcal barrel 27in I went in and done some throating to .180 left my bullets seated at the old freebore, the barrel went from .750 down to .500 and some lower groups jumping the RDFs with 45grs 4831sc, using palma brass, br4 primers velocity is 2880 140 rdfs, I went in and throated my Krieger to 180 also have not shot it yet after bore job. been shoting 41.5 and 43 gr H4350, it slings some but I'm fireforming also not weighing charges or anything, I should but I didn't, I have 1 pound of Re26 been aiming to try gonna give it go this week

The history of great shooting 260 Ackleys shows STRONG consensus when shooting 140 grains is Berger Hybrids, H4350, and big jumps. The RDF would be my absolute LAST choice to find the most repetitive grouping . If you have a 1 in 8 twist, your best loads will be at 2950 or a little more. I have a 30 inch barrel but have a moderate load with 45.6 grains of H4350.

 

[6MMsteve]

The history of great shooting 260 Ackleys shows STRONG consensus when shooting 140 grains is Berger Hybrids, H4350, and big jumps. The RDF would be my absolute LAST choice to find the most repetitive grouping . If you have a 1 in 8 twist, your best loads will be at 2950 or a little more. I have a 30 inch barrel but have a moderate load with 45.6 grains of H4350.

I just shot a .2125 group with RDFs jumped .060,, and .230 group with vld hunting seated same as RDF but I do like the Hybirds I don't have any right now Kreg barrel 30.5 1n8

 

[STOMP442]

I made it back to the range this last weekend to try some more loads. I started at 47 grains and worked my way back up to 49 and found a nice node at 48.5 that produced a nice five shot group that measured exactly .300" for five shots at 100 yards. Velocity according to the Magneto is 3037fps with a SD of 5. Still much better velocity than either my H4350 or R16 loads with the 147s. I'm going to load up some more and stretch its legs a bit and see how it does.

 

[JLT]

I made it back to the range this last weekend to try some more loads. I started at 47 grains and worked my way back up to 49 and found a nice node at 48.5 that produced a nice five shot group that measured exactly .300" for five shots at 100 yards. Velocity according to the Magneto is 3037fps with a SD of 5. Still much better velocity than either my H4350 or R16 loads with the 147s. I'm going to load up some more and stretch its legs a bit and see how it does.

I completed a preliminary work-up today and I had results very similar to yours. I haven't run them through the chronograph yet, but it seemed pretty clear that what I'm looking for lives between 48.0 and 48.5 gr. of RL-26. I'm using CCI 250s and I started getting faint ejector marks at 49.5, although the primers still looked fine. I'll poke around a bit between 48.0 and 48.5, get some chronograph data and we'll see what we get.

As a final note, there is no way on God's green acre that RL-26 is slower in burn rate than RL-25!!!! It's slightly slower than RL-23, based on what I saw today. I settled on a load of 47.2 gr. of RL-23 behind a 140 with no pressure signs - not that far behind RL-26 in terms of charge weight. Can't wait to see what the Magnetospeed tells me, though. This stuff has always produced serious speed.

 

[ShootDots]

I completed a preliminary work-up today and I had results very similar to yours. I haven't run them through the chronograph yet, but it seemed pretty clear that what I'm looking for lives between 48.0 and 48.5 gr. of RL-26. I'm using CCI 250s and I started getting faint ejector marks at 49.5, although the primers still looked fine. I'll poke around a bit between 48.0 and 48.5, get some chronograph data and we'll see what we get.

As a final note, there is no way on God's green acre that RL-26 is slower in burn rate than RL-25!!!! It's slightly slower than RL-23, based on what I saw today. I settled on a load of 47.2 gr. of RL-23 behind a 140 with no pressure signs - not that far behind RL-26 in terms of charge weight. Can't wait to see what the Magnetospeed tells me, though. This stuff has always produced serious speed.

I am quite certain that Alliant has given incorrect burn info out on their newest powders. They state that RL-23 is slower than RL-22. HOGWASH! RL-23 is only 1/2 shade slower than RL-19! It is definitely faster than H4831SC.. Now I have seen and heard from several people that RL-26 is definitely faster than RL-25. QL shows RL-26 to even be slower than H1000. QL shows this based on the info Alliant has given them. However, a friend of mine who uses RL-26 extensively and he states that it is NOT NEAR as slow as H1000! Something is amiss here... I think Alliant needs to revise the numbers it is using to determine it's burn rate..

 

[mule]

has anyone noticed any temperature sensitivity with reloader 26

 

[JLT]

has anyone noticed any temperature sensitivity with reloader 26

There is some sensitivity, although it is linear and, therefore, predictable. RL-26 is no where near as temp sensitive as typical ball powders but one needs to be mindful when the ambient temperature starts to creep above 90 or so.

 

[earlcurtis67]

Tag

 

[Shawnba67]

I am a relative newb, but RL26 in my 243 seemed very sensitive to a hot rifle. Might be why you blew primers at end of hour string. I tried 1 f class match with rl26 and my single digit es load went all to hell mid string. 3 relays in a row. Was 1 gr under slight ejector marking.

 

[sbhooper]

I would get rid of all of my other powders for my 6.5s and keep re 26 and 16 if it was necessary for some reason. I really like Re 26 and I think that it would work real well in my 7 mags, too, but I have other good loads for them. I also like the 147 ELDM real well. It smucks deer and antelope.

 

[dminn1]

has anyone noticed any temperature sensitivity with reloader 26

I have shot about 4 pounds of RL 26 through a .243 Win with 105 Berger Hybrids this past year. When temps are 70 or below it is very stable. When temps go above 80 your velocity on any given day is a crap shoot. It does well for 5 shot strings but barrel heat combined with high ambient temps will spike velocity in my experience. But man it sure does give speed in the .243 with the heavy bullets that nothing else can touch.

 

[Shrek]

Just to pile on , in my experience RL26 is way faster burning than H1000. It was a real disappointment in my 6.5 SAUM with 150gr Matrix VLDs.