.260Rem Barrel Twist Rate

[Coolhand]

Gents , I have just taken delivery of a custom built .260Rem on a Pierce Eng 700Rem SA . The barrel is a 26" 1:8.So far it has produced a group of .558" using Hornady 129grain SST's and 44 grains of ADI2209(H4350)
I have also shot some 95 grain VMAX projectiles which show promise with some tweaking . I have lucked on to some Sierra 85 grain HP's cheap , but I am wondering if perhaps the 85 grain projectiles may be just a tad too light.
I would be delighted to hear from anybody with experience with the 85's.

regards
Mike
btw , I could not quite believe how well the 129 SST's shot considering they have 0.60" jump.

 

[dooley]

Coolhand,
the twist rate you have is better suited to 123-140gr bullets, I have a 26" barreled 260, I mainly use 123-139gr lapua scenars, I can get groups around 0.300-0.400 thou, it depends wether you are shooting varmints or targets, great cal, I mainly shoot 600-1000yds with it, don't forget the 130gr bergers, they seem to be the perfect bullet weight for the 260.
Regards, dooley

 

[Coolhand]

Dooley , many thanks for the reply. I guess I knew in the back of my mind that the 85's might be a mite short/light . I intended the rifle to be used as a varminter and in the area I hunt one can always stumble upon hogs / goats /deer and wild dogs, which the 129 SST's will handle.
I think I pass on the 85's and see if I can't get the 95 VMAX's going a bit better.

Cheers
Mike.

 

[fm1947]

I had a 260 Savage model 12 LR that shot .7 of inch at 200 yards with 1/8 twist and 123 gr Lapua Scanar

 

[bigblock dave]

YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO TRY THOSE NOSLER 140 GR CUSTOM COMPS.I HAVE A NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM IN 260,W/A 1-8 TW 24" BARREL.ONLY SHOT IT OUT TO 600 SO FAR.SHOOTS UNDER1/2 MOA ALL DAY!
BB-DAVE

 

[desilva]

Or even the Berger Match Hybrids 140gr. Fly better than VLD's but without any of the drama of seating depth as they dont mind being seated anywhere. My DTA SRS loves em.

 

[palo]

The sierra 85 grain bullets shot great for me in my 1/8 twist 6.5x55.
I also tried the 95 grain vmax but found the sierras more accurate so I think they would be worth trying.
I was getting .25 in groups at 100 yards and 1.25 in groups at 300 yards from a standard sako hunting rifle.

 

[GSPV]

I had my don's 260 throated for the 130 Berger VLD. It shoots tiny little groups with 44.7 gr 4831sc with the Berger jammed.

 

[bricktop]

Mine seems to like the 123 AMax so far. I am eager to try the Lapua 136gr Scenar-L though, when I can get my hands on some.

 

[Coolhand]

A quick update to my original post and as some will have noted in a subsequent post , the 85 grain Sierras are real screamers , the load is 40 grains of Varget in Lap cases with RWS 5341 primers best group so far was a tad over 0.450".
No luck with 130 Berger VLD hunting , also the 95 VMAX does not like my barrel or vice versa , I have tried 4 different powders with the VMAX not one of them produced a 5 shot group that came even close to the 85 grain Sierras , 120 grain Sierra Prohunters are going really well to .
I think I have my two hunting loads nailed . A mate of mine gave me a box of Barnes 140 grain 'Match Burners' which I am going to try today , but oddly , I haven't seen any posts anywhere , where they rate a mention , any comments ?

regards
Mike.

 

[BOBC]

My 260 Rem has an 8" twist and shoots great groups with my 83 & 94 gr FB's along with a 115 /128/ 130 gr BT's. Going to try some 141 gr VLD's. But it seems to eat just about any bullet I feed it at 100yds.