H4350 and Berger130 g AR hybrid

[rmkey]

I have seen many people shooting 43-44 grains of H4350 with berger 130 to 140g in a 260 rem. The berger manual lists 41.8 grains as maximum. The Sierra list 44.5 grains of H4350 as max load for 142 SMKs. Why is berger max so low and Sierra so high for bullets in the same weight range?
Can anyone share their experience with H4350 and berger bullets?

 

[JimSC]

can't help on the Berger's but I did shoot the 142 SMK's last summer. In my 30 inch Shilen anything above 43.0 gns would not group worth a damn. However 40.0 gns gave me excellent groups and velocity stats. My tactical .260 with a 24 inch Criterion liked the SMKs with 44.4 with no pressure signs at all.

 

[Bc'z]

Currently feeding wifes 260 a diet of
130 AR hybrids.
Stock Remington VTR 20" barrel
Nosler brass
Cci200
42.3 gr h4350
2705 avg. mv
2.80 coal
I tried these loaded out to mag length
2.83 coal with un sorted bullets.
After seating on overall length test I found 2.80 to be a sweet spot.
Bullets are now sorted

 

[dstoenner]

If you look at the Berger manual it shows loaded length at mag length. So a lot of bullet is in powder space and hence lower max powder listing. 44 h4350 with 130’s loaded out around 2.900 was my mid range load. It just hammered

David

 

[MikeMcCasland]

From my data when I was playing with H4350 and 130 AR Hybrids:

Bullet Powder Charge Case Primer OAL FPS
130 Berger H4350 42.5 Lapua CCI 2.255 2909
130 Berger H4350 42.8 Lapua CCI 2.255 2924
130 Berger H4350 43.1 Lapua CCI 2.255 2950
130 Berger H4350 43.4 Lapua CCI 2.255 2976
130 Berger H4350 43.7 Lapua CCI 2.255 3000

That was out of a 26" 8T Bart.

I got awesome speeds out of H4350, but couldn't get the accuracy; it was really inconsistent in that regard. I switched over to H4831SC and took the speed hit in favor of accuracy.

 

[Kurz]

When H4350 went MIA for those few years, many of us tried every other powder we could find with similar burn rates in order to keep shooting. I found Hybrid 100V (-100 fps), URP, VVN-550, and Ramshot Hunter. Then the 140 gr. Bergers were in short supply so I switched to the 130 class bullets and never went back. I still shoot the Berger 130 AR, and the Norma 130 Golden Target currently but I'm testing the 130 Gamechanger right now for a hunting rifle. These happened to weigh out with extreme consistency at 130.0 -130.1 for 200 weighed bullets. Did I mention that I also switched from the .260 Rem. to the 6.5 Creedmoor and never looked back? No need to exceed the 2.800" OAL with the 130 class bullets.

Enjoy!

 

[barefooter56]

I have seen many people shooting 43-44 grains of H4350 with berger 130 to 140g in a 260 rem. The berger manual lists 41.8 grains as maximum. The Sierra list 44.5 grains of H4350 as max load for 142 SMKs. Why is berger max so low and Sierra so high for bullets in the same weight range?
Can anyone share their experience with H4350 and berger bullets?

rmkey,
The load data in the manual is based on the 6.5 130gr VLD bullet which is longer than the 6.5 130 AR/OTM bullet. Plus the fact that our load data is conservative is why this is. Also it maybe that the loads you are seeing are based on a cartridge where the bullet has been set out longer than the standard published COAL of 2.800 for the 6.5 CM round. The 6.5 AR/OTM bullet is a hybrid bullet designed to be used at magazine length:http://www.bergerbullets.com/new-65-130gr-ar-hybrid-otm-tactical/. This will explain the effects of bullet seating depth: http://www.bergerbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/COAL.pdf . Short answer is that accuracy tops velocity every time. Find what YOUR RIFLE LIKES to be at its most accurate and practice.

 

[Bulletbob]

I have seen many people shooting 43-44 grains of H4350 with berger 130 to 140g in a 260 rem. The berger manual lists 41.8 grains as maximum. The Sierra list 44.5 grains of H4350 as max load for 142 SMKs. Why is berger max so low and Sierra so high for bullets in the same weight range?
Can anyone share their experience with H4350 and berger bullets?

I shoot a 6.5x47, not a 260 but I am shooting a Brux 4r 1-8 twist 26" barrel. Shooting the 130 grn Bergers with RL17 - 41.5 grns got me 2948 fps, 42 grns got me 2982, both of these loads was around 1-1.5 MOA accuracy, not good. Now 39.5 Grns of RL17 on a 140 berger Elite hunter got me 2735 fps and .5 MOA accuracy , 40grns of RL 17 on the same bullet got me 2754 fps and about .75-1.0 MOA of accuracy. This is a new barrel just broke in and just starting load tests, I am sure the accuracy will improve when I find the right load and seating depth. But I also know that my old Pac Nor barrel was much faster, but It was also 100 degrees in sunny Alabama, and my recent tests were about 45 degrees. BIG DIFFERANCE.