260 Rem out to 1K?

[kelbro]

Just got a new 28" Lothar Walther 1:8 barrel for my Savage. I have brass, primers, several powders, and some 140gr AMaxes.

I am wanting to use this for F-open out to 1K.

I'm not too familiar with this chambering but it looks like it can do it.

Open to advice and/or suggestions for 260 Rem. I'm not wanting to AI this one but I will if I have to.

 

[jr600yd]

I've been shooting my 260 at 1K for years. I've only shot 142 smk's or 140 Berger VLD's . You'll have less wind drift than the 308's. Think you'll really like it.

 

[simplerider]

You will be very satisfied with the 260. I just finished my savage 260 (260 match chamber) about a month ago. I quickly set up a decent load for it and used it in this years Interservice Rifle Championships at Quantico. During the 1000 yard match I scored a 197 out of 200 shooting from a sling. Thats with less than 150 rounds down the barrel. It will definitely hold its own with the magnums.

 

[22BRGUY]

What is the powder capacity of the straight .260 vs. the .260AI if anyone knows?
Thanks much

 

[pburr]

I would go with the 260AI myself if I hadnt already had a custom 6.5x55 Swede made up, not that I'm complaining though mind you!

 

[kelbro]

Thanks. I'm hoping that the 28" will give me the extra fps that I need without having to AI it and replace all of those dies.

 

[spclark]

Open to advice and/or suggestions for 260 Rem. I'm not wanting to AI this one but I will if I have to.

You won't have to, it's a fine choice for 1,000 yards. Good luck & good shooting!

 

[GWY]

Kelbro;

Use a 142 SMK or a 139 Scenar and work your load up to around 42 grains of H4350 and you will be good to go.

GWY

 

[Nik]

1,000 yards target shooting is not a problem. On informal target shooting, I have made consistence hit on bricks at 1160 yards. I use AR 2209 (H4350) and Berger 130 VLD. Enjoy your new caliber. Btw, I am using 28" 1 in 8 twist barrel.

 

[XTR]

I've been reading for yrs that a 260 with the right bullets gives ballistics like a 300WM with out the recoil (or energy delivered on target). It's why the round is very popular with the tactical/UKD shooting crowd.

The 2012 TN state F-Open champion won shooting a 260 with a 28" barrel. It was a tactical rig with the brake screwed off.

 

[243DH]

I run 142 smk, nosler brass and 44.5 gr h4350 in my 260. Factory tikka t3 master sporter with 23.75" barrel. Have no problem holding moa at 1320 yds. MV at muzzle is 2830, still supersonic at 3/4 mile.

 

[jr600yd]

Another powder I've had very good results with is H-4831sc. Used in Remington cases with Russian primers pushing 140 gr bullets.

 

[kelbro]

Thanks. Due to component availability (or lack thereof) I will be starting with IMR4350 and regular cut H4831(with a droptube).

 

[243DH]

I had 5 different rifles running h4350, once i got down to 5 lbs i started changing powders up. My creedmoor and 260 are still on h4350 but the others went to h4831sc or Imr4350. I found accuracy and velocity could be matched with Imr4350. Testing was done at 50* so i stuck with a node about 70ish fps below h4350 loads. Need to run them over a chrony when it gets in the mid 90's and see what kind of a temp velocity bump i get. FYI, my Imr4350 loads were within 1 gr of my h4350 loads, granted this was my results. Unless u have really current hot loads with h4350, u could probably start 1.5-2 gr below popular 260/h4350 loads. Also i am jumping the MK in my 260 about 20 thou. My loads with Imr4350 are also jumping 15-20 thou,depending on which bullet/caliber.

 

[243DH]

sidenote, my 260 did not care for 140 amax at all. Had some 142smk's around and with little effort had them shooting in the .3-.4 range in factory tikka. My creedmoor's have done the opposite, love amax and Berger140s, but not so much for 142 smk, go figure. What lot number is ur 140 amax, there was a bad lot that i and some guys on 6.5 creedmoor.com got. Hornady tested them supposedly, but said they were fine. Hornady did replace all my bullets though with a different lot numbe, about 4 or 5 boxes. Could shoot a old lot number and group in the lo.3s, tried the bad lot and it did 1.25-1.5". Tweaked load and never could get them to shoot good, wish i had those 50 rds worth of components back.

 

[TonyR]

I had 5 different rifles running h4350, once i got down to 5 lbs i started changing powders up. My creedmoor and 260 are still on h4350 but the others went to h4831sc or Imr4350. I found accuracy and velocity could be matched with Imr4350. Testing was done at 50* so i stuck with a node about 70ish fps below h4350 loads. Need to run them over a chrony when it gets in the mid 90's and see what kind of a temp velocity bump i get. FYI, my Imr4350 loads were within 1 gr of my h4350 loads, granted this was my results. Unless u have really current hot loads with h4350, u could probably start 1.5-2 gr below popular 260/h4350 loads. Also i am jumping the MK in my 260 about 20 thou. My loads with Imr4350 are also jumping 15-20 thou,depending on which bullet/caliber.

Have you tried Accurate 4350 in your rifle? Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Idaho-45]

Kelbro, I too have gotten one of those LW 28" 260 barrels. So far i'm happy with it. In my Savage, I load 44.0 grns. of H-4831sc over a 142 SMK. I've gotten some very small groups with it. The farthest i've shot so far is 675 yards. but at that distance, only a little windage adjustment, no problem hitting steel. Keep us informed of your progress, as I'm interested how that barrel performs! Idaho-45