Tikka CTR 260rem question

[CKshooter]

Hey, ladies and gents,
So, I love this rifle but have done some research and some are saying that the 260 shines best with 130gr pills and lighter. Pretty sure its because its easier to hit that sweet spot of 2950-3000fps.
Right now I'm throwing 130VLD's and it likes them, but would like to play with the 123's Am I wasting my money or will these prove legit at 600yds? What would you go with SMK's ELD's? The Tikka also has 1in8 twist. Is that gong to be to fast for the 123's?

Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[HTSmith]

My 260 loves 140 Gr Bergers and doesn't do as well with lighter bullets, so my (admittedly limited) experience doesn't support that those work best.

 

[loud_noise]

Hi CK
I have shot a .260CTR with 140gn at 600m and thing absolutely loved the 140s. Now this was set in a KRG W-3 stock so it had a little more weight under it but it shot exceedingly well. It was in F-class and I scored 55.2 without a particular amount effort. That said it can also come down to powder selection as well.

 

[the_accuser]

I haven't found a bullet my Tikka 260 CTR wouldn't shoot well. I'm pulling my hair out trying to just pick a freakin' bullet to stick with. Up to 600 yards and every bullet worked well in my rifle including the 123gr Lapua Scenar. From 600 - 1000, the 140 Hybrid really was the winner. I'll be interested to hear what other 260 CTR say.

 

[CKshooter]

I haven't found a bullet my Tikka 260 CTR wouldn't shoot well. I'm pulling my hair out trying to just pick a freakin' bullet to stick with. Up to 600 yards and every bullet worked well in my rifle including the 123gr Lapua Scenar. From 600 - 1000, the 140 Hybrid really was the winner. I'll be interested to hear what other 260 CTR say.

Well, you make it sound like there's nothing to it!. The main reason I'm looking for info on the lighter/shorter pills is because my Lapua brass was necked up from 243 and I have a small donut at the neck shoulder junction. Rather than remove it I'd like to test shorter pills so I can seat in front of it. 140 Amax will seat too deep, 130 VLD's are able to stay ahead of it. My thinking is either cut the outside at the junction so the donut has some place to go or just leave it. Thanks for the info.

 

[the_accuser]

I'll have to look up the velocity I was getting with the Berger 130 hybrid and VLD but here is my current load for them.

Brass: Lapua 260 Remington
Primer: Federal 210M
Powder: 44gr H4350
COAL: 2.900" (I think the 130 VLD i was loading at 2.910")

I'm using the same load for the Lapua 123 Scenar but a COAL of 2.865"

 

[CKshooter]

I'll have to look up the velocity I was getting with the Berger 130 hybrid and VLD but here is my current load for them.

Brass: Lapua 260 Remington
Primer: Federal 210M
Powder: 44gr H4350
COAL: 2.900" (I think the 130 VLD i was loading at 2.910")

I'm using the same load for the Lapua 123 Scenar but a COAL of 2.865"

My berger and Hodgdon book say 42.7 is max load for H4350. I know you can go over that but have to watch for pressure signs. Have you noticed any? H4350 is my rifles favorite so far.

 

[CKshooter]

My berger and Hodgdon book say 42.7 is max load for H4350. I know you can go over that but have to watch for pressure signs. Have you noticed any? H4350 is my rifles favorite so far.

If you don't mind me asking whats your COAL on the Hybrid 140's from ogive?

 

[CKshooter]

My 260 loves 140 Gr Bergers and doesn't do as well with lighter bullets, so my (admittedly limited) experience doesn't support that those work best.

thanks for the info, i'll be paying close attention to changes in accuracy.

 

[CKshooter]

Hi CK
I have shot a .260CTR with 140gn at 600m and thing absolutely loved the 140s. Now this was set in a KRG W-3 stock so it had a little more weight under it but it shot exceedingly well. It was in F-class and I scored 55.2 without a particular amount effort. That said it can also come down to powder selection as well.

Yeah, 140's seem to be king for the 6.5/264 caliber. Thanks for the info!

 

[the_accuser]

My berger and Hodgdon book say 42.7 is max load for H4350. I know you can go over that but have to watch for pressure signs. Have you noticed any? H4350 is my rifles favorite so far.

No pressures signs up to or with the 44gr H4350 with the 123 Lapua or 130 Hybrid and VLD. You'll notice my COAL is longer than what the books lists which allows for more powder keeping the pressure safe. This load would push the 123 just over 2800 fps and the 130s around 2770 fps.

With the Lapua 139 and Berger 140 hybrid I was able to get up to 43.5gr H4350 before I started to see signs of pressure. I was loading the 139 at 2.835" and the 140 hybrid at 2.900". I was able to get around 2700 fps with these loads.

I just used my Hornady bullet comparator and got 2.229" with my 140 hybrid load.

Recently i started playing with the Hornady 140 ELD and Nosler 140 RDF. I've found that 42.5 - 42.8gr H4350 seemed to be a sweet spot for all the 140 type bullets including the 142 SMK.

Again, I think I've spent too much time playing around with reloading when I should have just picked a bullet and worked on my shooting skills.

 

[CKshooter]

My berger and Hodgdon book say 42.7 is max load for H4350. I know you can go over that but have to watch for pressure signs. Have you noticed any? H4350 is my rifles favorite so far.

43.7 of h4350 with 130 vld is what mine prefers. I'm setting them .002 off lands. Love the rifle, just wish it had a 26in tube

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Try the 139 lapua scenars. They will shoot good!

 

[dc.fireman]

Hey, ladies and gents,
So, I love this rifle but have done some research and some are saying that the 260 shines best with 130gr pills and lighter. Pretty sure its because its easier to hit that sweet spot of 2950-3000fps.
Right now I'm throwing 130VLD's and it likes them, but would like to play with the 123's Am I wasting my money or will these prove legit at 600yds? What would you go with SMK's ELD's? The Tikka also has 1in8 twist. Is that gong to be to fast for the 123's?

Thanks in advance for the info.

I use this as my 'match load' for 300M International:

Lapua 123 Scenar seated at 2.905" COAL
H4831-SC @ 43.7 gr.
Federal 210M primer
Starline case, annealed, trimmed, chamfered/deburred every time.

I'm using a 26" Shilen Select Match 1/8 twist barrel that I bought from Northland Shooting Supply.

My practice loads (which don't shoot nearly as well) for the same rifle are:

Hornady 123 ELD-M, seated at 2.805" COAL
H4831-SC at 42.4 gr.
WLR primer
Hornady case, annealed, trimmed, chamfered/deburred every time.

the 123 class of bullets really does shine in the .260, and the 6.5x55 SE. Both have great accuracy, and low recoil even when driven around the 2950 fps mark.

Good luck - the match load is over the load book max, so work up to it.

-tc

 

[ebb]

Try nosler 123 custom competition. I got really good groups with a DPMS gas gun, havent shot them in 260 bolt actions yet.