New to 260rem

[VaRandy]

If for hunting and MV is your goal, simply ream it out to an AI and get up to 200 more fps. If shooting the Berger Hybrid, spend the time to find the off the lands distance which can run from 10 to 70 off. Try the entire range with 3 shot groups.

 

[DHuffman]

Thanks. Your post was irrelevant too.

True enough and I would agree with you on the ammo availability. If I were picking a 6.5 based on availability & cost of factory ammo the 6.5 Creedmoor is the only choice left IMHO.

 

[86alaskan]

If you're running a longer barrel and the heavier 6.5 bullets, look into RL26 for speed and lower pressure. I've been putting together loads for my 260 with 130gr norma diamond line bullets with the hopes of getting up to 3000fps in a 22" barrel suppressed. Everything I've been researching on the RL26 is that it is darn near a miracle. Come Friday I'll see if I can prove that...

 

[msinc]

If you're running a longer barrel and the heavier 6.5 bullets, look into RL26 for speed and lower pressure. I've been putting together loads for my 260 with 130gr norma diamond line bullets with the hopes of getting up to 3000fps in a 22" barrel suppressed. Everything I've been researching on the RL26 is that it is darn near a miracle. Come Friday I'll see if I can prove that...

I played around with Reloder 26 and found that it most definitely can be a miracle powder....but there seems to be a catch. It likes a heavy bullet and plenty of room for more powder. I have not tried it in my 260 yet, but just as an example; it performed fantastic in my 280AI shooting 168 and 175 grain bullets, but it showed no advantage at all in my 30-06AI shooting 180 grain bullets. It started to wake back up with 200 grain bullets. Seems to make velocity with heavier bullets yet no signs of pressure. The bullets have to be heavy enough for it to work. I doubt you will see this with 140 grain bullets. I have heard somebody makes 160's but they are probably hard to get and expensive.
All that said, I wouldn't go crazy over it....the 260 is a killer anyway.

 

[Joe R]

I have a 260 rem 1:8 twist 26" shilen barrel on its way for my savage rifle. I want to shoot 140's and it looks like everyone is using H4350 around the 42gr mark and getting 2800fps. I have looked all over in my books and with 42 grs it shows only about 2690fps, does 2 inches of barrel really make up that much velocity? Also i havent seen H4350 around here for 3 years so its out of the question. should i use h4831sc ,imr4350, imr 4451 or reloder 17? I can get any of those. The imr 4451 looks promising but has much lower mv compaired to H4350. I want to shoot to 800 on steel and hunt with this rifle so a fairly high mv would be nice. I have to drive 2hrs to get powder and bullets so it makes it a bit harder

I have a 260AI with a 30", 8 twist barrel. I shoot it in F-Open and with 48.8 grains of H-4831sc I get around 2,980 fps with excellent accuracy at 600 yards, and I consider myself a so-so shooter. Here's the proof you need.

I also use the Berger 140 hybrids.

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[vonb]

I'm using a 28" 1/8 twist Criterion in a Savage. My load is 42.6 gr. H4350, Hornady 140 ELD and a CCI 200. This is giving me 2825 fps with low ES.

 

[xswanted]

I run 43.2 of IMR 4350 behind 142 sierras.

22" barrel is 2750 avg

 

[Mtstalker]

Just fired the first factory round after putting it together. Everything looks good do i will start load devolpment after my dies get here.

 

[86alaskan]

Ran my 260 this weekend with the 130gr Norma Diamond and RL26. only managed a quick ladder test but was able to run up to 50grs and absolutely no pressure signs. it was about 85F, 60% humidity and 600ft elevation. 5 round ladder at 200 had all rounds within 2.5in and gained back over 3moa in elevation on my 143eld-x loads.

 

[Mtstalker]

Got my dies and brass and bullets to start loading. Picked up some imr 4451 and berger 140 hunting vlds. My overall lenth to lands is 2.840". There is alot of bullet in the case. Any good starting point for charge and jump? I dont want to jam these since it is a hunting rifle. Im surprised by how little load data is out there for imr 4451. did shoot it with factory rem core locts to break it in and im still trying to get it to not copper foul. It did shoot sub .5 moa with factory ammo.

 

[Idaho-45]

Stopp429, Sounds like you are on your way, .5 MOA with factory Core Locts is a good start. I pulled my 260 barrel off of my Savage action to try something different. But, when I was shooting my 260, I had good luck with H-4831sc, & 142SMK's. I'm curious about the IMR-4451, just because its fairly new. Good luck with your quest!!!!!!!!! Idaho-45

 

[sbhooper]

Got my dies and brass and bullets to start loading. Picked up some imr 4451 and berger 140 hunting vlds. My overall lenth to lands is 2.840". There is alot of bullet in the case. Any good starting point for charge and jump? I dont want to jam these since it is a hunting rifle. Im surprised by how little load data is out there for imr 4451. did shoot it with factory rem core locts to break it in and im still trying to get it to not copper foul. It did shoot sub .5 moa with factory ammo.

I would just start with the Hodgdon max load for a 140 and back off about a half grain or so. I like 4451. It did well in my .260 with 129 Hornadys, but I got better velocity with Re 17. It REALLY works well in my '06.

 

[Mtstalker]

So those of you using 4451 where are you starting with 130's and 140's?

 

[sbhooper]

So those of you using 4451 where are you starting with 130's and 140's?

I used 42.2 grains with my 129s @ 2800 fps. Re 17 gave me as good of accuracy and 200 fps more velocity.

 

[Mtstalker]

Shot the 140 vlds with h4831 today. Best load so far was 45.5grs with the 140 .010" off the lands. Shot .340" 3 shot group. My chrono took a crap so no idea what velocity is. Going to load 45 to 46grs in .2gr increments and use my other chronograph. 43.5 grs averaged 2675 so im assuming its probaly around 2750.