.260 rem loads With Berger 130 gr. VLD Hunting Bullets

[zulucross@yahoo.com]

I have a .260 Rem in a Savage Model 12 LRP. Scope is a Leupold VX-3 8.5 x 25 x 50MM. Bought this rig in June 2013 new, have run about 70 rounds through it. I have had good success working up loads for the 123 gr. Amax. Always seem to have sub half inch groups anytime I shoot anything that has the name Amax behind it. Plan on shooting the 140 gr. Amax this week.
Has anyone had good success with the 130 gr. Berger VLD Hunting bullet? I've only shot these bullets once and was not all that impressed. I used 44 gr. of RL-19 Fed 210 match grade primers and Lapua cases, jumped .015, .030 .045., averaged 2790 FPS, Temp 63-71F, Elevation 710' Ft. Worth, Tx.. I will soon repeat this same load in the next week and will include some shots at .010.

 

[nhm16]

I used H4350 with great success. 130gr hunting VLD, Remington brass, 45.4gr H4350, BR2 primer, about 0.015" into the lands. Good for about 2950fps from a 24" McGowen barrel. In fact H4350 was the only powder that worked good for me on the .260 Rem.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I've been using Viht-N160 this year in my 260 Rem with some success behind 123 gr A-Max. H4350 does seem to be the powder of choice. I've also had success with RL-19.

Regards

JCS

 

[nhm16]

I tried RL-17 and could never get it to shoot well or consistently, until I went from the usual ~0.015" or so jump to a massive jump (on my barrel, around 0.070"). RL-17 still doesn't shoot as good as H4350 but my groups shrank to a consistent sub 0.5moa, instead of bugholes one day, 1moa spray the next.

 

[zulucross@yahoo.com]

Sierra reloading manual indicates N150 is the most accurate in their 142 gr. Matchking. I've started collecting VIHT N??? what ever stuff for the workup on this machine. Nosler has a long range 6.5MM 129 gr. bullet that I will be working up when ever they are available. The Nosler factory says they will be making another run of them in Mid-January. NHM 16, that's a lot of jump but if that's what it takes. Call it witch craft. Jcampbellsmith how much are you jumping? Are you and NHM 16 shooting the Savage Model 12 LRP as well? So far, sure like the gun.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

.... Jcampbellsmith how much are you jumping? Are you and NHM 16 shooting the Savage Model 12 LRP as well? So far, sure like the gun.

For the 123 gr A-Max I have a nominal jump of 4 thou, but given the throat wear since that measurement was made, in practice it's going to be more. Here's my current 260 Rem - http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/gallery/member-galleries/p2948-remington-700-sa-in-260-rem.html

Regards

JCS

 

[wyoming .260]

I use Reloder 17 in a hunting gun, with a 30" kreiger, remington cases and federal 210 primers. I load the 130 gr. berger hunting bullets into the lands pretty deep. I worked up from 42 grs. With my good using load It shoots into the .3"s and is WAY after then a .260 out to be. Do not know if the speed comes from powder, barrel or luck. But its consistent and accurate . 6.5-284 speed was a side benefit!

 

[civil82]

I'll give some input after this weekend if the thread isn't too far down by then. I just had my prone gun rebarreled and have a stash of 130VLDs. I previously used 142 SMKs with N150 as suggested by Sierra and got it dialed in quick. IIRC, I was within .5gr of Sierra's "accuracy load". Rifle was .5MOA @ 200 yards for 10 shots. Mid-Range Prone High Master scores with 50% "X" counts.

I'm hoping the 130s are easy to tune. I don't have the time or patience to mess around much.

 

[zulucross@yahoo.com]

Habu, Cold Blooded! Good looking machine. Any Amax I've ever shot (in a .243 or .260 Rem) is very predictable. Always sub MOA. The .260 seems to produce ES's of 10's, 8's. at .015 & .030 with RL-19. Things start to fall apart at .045". So do the ES's.