Powder for the 260Rem

[jpretle]

Lot of choices--never loaded for 260 before, so wondering where to start. Will be using 140g range of bullets, in a 26" bbl.
Any 'go to' charges for your 'go to' powders???
Any help here????
Thanks,

 

[the_accuser]

H4350 powder

I have a 20" Tikka CTR 260 Remington and have found that any 139 - 142gr bullet with 42.0gr H4350 using the SAAMI COAL of 2.800" will produce sub moa groups at 100. I get just under 2600 fps but I'd expect you to get over 2700 fps since you have a 26" barrel.

 

[chkunz]

I did what you are doing a few years ago with getting a pet load for the 260 Remington for 1000 yard target shooting and found that the answer in the back of the book was H4350. That powder goes back a long way in history with the 260 and their could be a better choice but H4350 is the powder to try to beat if you want to spend the time and effort.

 

[rebel]

Because H4350 is hard to find here, I developed loads with R19 in my 260A!. It works well, gives good velocity and is fairly temp stable. I don't leave the ammo in a hot truck or anything but it seems to shoot very well with 130 Bergers and 143 ELDXs.

 

[VaRandy]

Because H4350 is hard to find here, I developed loads with R19 in my 260A!. It works well, gives good velocity and is fairly temp stable. I don't leave the ammo in a hot truck or anything but it seems to shoot very well with 130 Bergers and 143 ELDXs.

Like everybody else. H4350 is a clear favorite for performance. Have your wife get a second job and pay a premium for it if necessary.

 

[Deton8tor]

H4350 is the go to powder for the .260 (have several) however, there are others that perform just as well. H100V, IMR 4350, H4831 SC, RL19 H414 and others. The .260 is a very good round. I have shot it with all of the listed powders with 10, 1123 and 140 class bullets to 1000 without issue. With the 140's and 139's I would look at the H4831SC, not overly fast, but produces accurate rounds.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

H4350 is the go to powder for the .260 (have several) however, there are others that perform just as well. H100V, IMR 4350, H4831 SC, RL19 H414 and others. The .260 is a very good round. I have shot it with all of the listed powders with 10, 1123 and 140 class bullets to 1000 without issue. With the 140's and 139's I would look at the H4831SC, not overly fast, but produces accurate rounds.

I would add N160 and N165 to this list. Regards JCS

 

[Laurie]

As EOD350 says. Also, Viht N550, N160 and IMR-4831 work. N160 is very popular here (the UK) with 140gn bullets such as the cheapish Nosler Custom Comp in mid-range Civilian Service Rifle in the 260. The newish IMR-4451 should work well too being marginally slower burning than H4350, but I've yet to try that one.

 

[rardoin]

In a 6.5 Creedmoor/140-142gr bullets I have had the best performance with H4350 BUT....I have been testing Rl-16 and I am getting a bit more velocity for the same volume of charge. It should translate well in the .260 case with a 140gr. I would consider buying a pound and giving it a go.

 

[Delfuego]

You could try 4831sc also. H4350 or 4831sc worked great in mine.

 

[Deton8tor]

The problem I always had with H4350, is finding it. When it is in stock you had better be quick on the buy button, hence the reason I went to different powders. JC and Laurie are correct too, I just have never used VV powders; not sure why just haven't.

 

[Laurie]

In the UK, the VV v Hodgdon issues are reversed compared to the US - Viht powders are considerably cheaper here than IMR / Hodgdon and some Viht N100 series grades are available too in 3.5Kg tubs making it cheaper still while we never see the 8lb jugs of US powders.

Moreover, while I know you guys have had (and still have even now) supply problems with some Hodgdon grades, VV is nearly always available here, but we have had some horrendous issues with most of the ADI manufactured Hodgdon extruded powders. As a result, many previously satisfied users have ditched H4895, VarGet, H4350, and H4831 completely even though supply is better now than it was a year or two back.

Our IMR/Hodgdon importer is trying to move retailers and handloaders towards the IMR grades, especially the new Enduron quartet, but it is a bit of an uphill struggle. Both Hodgdon and IMR face additional competition too from Swiss Nitrochemie's new powders sold under the 'Reload Swiss' brand name. Some of these are available to you in the USA as Alliant Reloder grades - eg Re17 = Reload Swiss RS60 - but only a few of the dozen or so we have. One we get but you don't is RS52, a very high performance high-energy grade with the patented EI infused deterrents technology which is a dead ringer for VarGet but generally gives another 25-50 fps within acceptable pressures in 6BR, 308 Win and suchlike. (Think Re17 but with VarGet / Re15 burn speeds and applications.)

 

[Lightload]

I've been using H4350 in my match chambered 260 with good results.Recently, I got some of the new Nosler RDF 140gr HPBT bullets to try. Looked at the Nosler loading data and they showed H4831SC as the most accurate powder and 44grs of that powder as the most accurate load. This load fills the case to 97% and gives good velocity so I thought, what the hey, I'll give it a try. Shoots lights out in my rifle AND H4831SC is available and cheaper than H4350.

 

[dstoenner]

I am running 42.5 H4350 with 140 Hybrid and 44.0 with 130 Hybrids. For 100 yard benchrest matches I use 107 SMK with 46 H4350. I have tried Varget, H4831SC without good results for accuracy. I have also used IMR 4350 but H4350 is the best for both of my 260 barrels. It just took a lot of experimenting to find H4350. I am getting right at 3000 with 130's and 2875 with 140's in a 30 inch McGowen med palma barrel.

 

[rebel]

Like everybody else. H4350 is a clear favorite for performance. Have your wife get a second job and pay a premium for it if necessary.

I hear you
Since I'm shooting in the .150 range when I'm not being a retard at 100 yards and around 3 at 500 I'm Happy as I know what the weak link is - it ain't the powder I can hopefully fix that.

 

[kevwil]

I've had fantastic luck with H4831SC, especially with a 26" or longer barrel.

 

[VaRandy]

I hear you
Since I'm shooting in the .150 range when I'm not being a retard at 100 yards and around 3 at 500 I'm Happy as I know what the weak link is - it ain't the powder I can hopefully fix that.

500 yds would be more like .750 and up with a .015 100 yd group but way less than 3 with the same conditions and good bench form.

 

[Sitsntree]

I use imr 4350 42.5 gr for 130 hybrid and 40.5 for 142 smk both extremely accurate in my rifle.H414 also shot very well for me

 

[rebel]

500 yds would be more like .750 and up with a .015 100 yd group but way less than 3 with the same conditions and good bench form.

I'm learning Randy, slowly. I shot in my very first groundhog match the 1st. I have learned that it is rare to have good conditions here and mirage still gives me fits.

 

[86alaskan]

I've been running H4831sc in my 260 with the 143gr ELD-X. I get about 2750 from a 22" barrel suppressed. I'm moving to the 130gr norma diamond to gain some speed because my ranges aren't terribly long here in Missouri. I picked up a couple lbs of RL26 to give it a try. I'd like to hit 3000fps with the 130's, also have RL17, RL22, H4350 to try as well.