Looking for tried & true 260 remington loads

[mtluckydan]

Starting with a new rifle and new to this caliber. I will be using Lapua brass. I am hoping to use 120 or 130 grain bullets, but am open to any and all good accuracy loads. As much detail as possible - trim length,seating depth, primer brand - the more detail the better. Thanks for any input.

 

[Sam Millard]

My 260s have spit thousands of 140 grain 6.5 pills down range with H4350/CCI BR2/Rem brass. Lapua brass is thicker, so reduce loads to start. I run .002-.003 neck tension. AMAX, SMK, and BERGER VLD or Hybrids have all shot sub-MOA near and far through all 3 rifles. 43.0-44.0 H4350, seat the bullet wherever your barrel likes it. I always start at .010" off the lands.

 

[ST52v]

How does Varget do in this round Sam? I know it's hard to find so I grabbed a can the other day When I saw it. I like the sounds of H4350 since I could also use it in my 7 mag with the lighter pills like 120 tts's.

 

[Sam Millard]

How does Varget do in this round Sam? I know it's hard to find so I grabbed a can the other day When I saw it. I like the sounds of H4350 since I could also use it in my 7 mag with the lighter pills like 120 tts's.

Varget and H4831sc work well, but shoot a bit slower than H4350. I had some really accurate 4831 loads before I gave it up for the extra velocity. H4350 didn't give up accuracy to get there, either! The beauty of those 3 powders are their temp insensitivity.

 

[BARichardson]

127 barnes LRX over RL 17 24" proof barrel and it shoots lights OUT... U are welcome!

 

[345 kv]

140 gr Amax or Accubond and H4831 has worked well for me.

 

[Huntr]

123 or 139gr Scenar over H4350. Those combos account for my last elk and Dall ram.

 

[mtluckydan]

Great info guys - thanks. Question - I'm seeing several users of H4350 which I have never used. I have always used IMR4350. I know they are slightly different. Have any tried the IMR4350 and the H4350 outperforms or is a matter of just using the H4350 and not trying the IMR4350?

 

[MRidge]

Starting with a new rifle and new to this caliber. I will be using Lapua brass. I am hoping to use 120 or 130 grain bullets, but am open to any and all good accuracy loads. As much detail as possible - trim length,seating depth, primer brand - the more detail the better. Thanks for any input.

Is this an over the counter purchase or custom build? Unless you're doing some extreme long range work, it's hard to beat the 130's out of the .260.
I have two, but will stick with details on the Rem 700 Varminter w/ 25" Lilja 1:9 tube.
NOTE: My results - verify book max and work up on some looking for pressure signs & COAL.

I initially started with Varget, however didn't have much luck with it short of 95gr V-max bullets for coyotes.

RL-19 / CCI-BR's / 107gr SMK's - COAL = 2.825" ( 3shots .449" c/c )
RL-19 / CCI-BR's / 120gr BT's - COAL = 2.790" ( 3shots .486" c/c )
H414 / CCI BR's / 100gr BT's - COAL = ?.??? ( 3shots .500 c/c )
H414 / CCI BR's / 100gr BT's - COAL = 2.804 ( 2shots .315 c/c )

My hunting loads depend on which bullet I want to shoot, which I generally lean towards the 130gr Accubond and 130gr VLD.
Nosler Brass / CCI-BR's and RL-19, H414, and Viht N-560 all produce half inch results. I really like the Viht powders, but very difficult to find.

 

[Sam Millard]

Great info guys - thanks. Question - I'm seeing several users of H4350 which I have never used. I have always used IMR4350. I know they are slightly different. Have any tried the IMR4350 and the H4350 outperforms or is a matter of just using the H4350 and not trying the IMR4350?

H4350 is temperature insensitive, meaning a load you work up now, will shoot close to the same velocity when the sun is bearing down on you in July. IMR4350 is not.

 

[BARichardson]

I have played with IMR4350 a long time trying to get it to shoot the 140s (when H4350 was unobtainum) and was never happy. I found that H4350 is better for the heavy stuff (139+) but I have had 3 6-8month dry spells where it is NOWHERE to be found. Thats when I started playing with new powders that were not so popular and found a bunch of choices for the 120, 130, and 140 class bullets best being 130s or 127s with the RL17. Im talking 14-18 different powders and bullets from Serria, Berger, Barnes, Lapua, Hornady, Nosler testing was done one 6.5cm, .260 remmington, .260AI, and a 6.5 lepard...

 

[jaxdialation]

H4350 is the best powder. And the 260 seems to easy to find a load for.
1- do a pressure test with your bullet
2 - drop down 1.5 to 2 grains.
3 - follow what ever technique you like, and increase the powder charge until you find your load.

As Sam said H4350 is temperature insensitive

 

[mtluckydan]

A couple of more questions - I finally found some H4350 so will start with this powder as it sounds like a good choice. I have not purchased dies or brass yet. I was going to go with the Lapua because of its consistency, but is it the best choice? Also, doing a quick check, seems like Remington may be hard to get. I have a Forster coax press and have been switching to Forster dies - I like the seating dies with the micrometer dial on top for setting seating depth. I also use the Hornady New Dimension dies for several calibers. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Rifle is a custom build - 21-22 inch benchmark barrel on a Remington Model 7 action in a Pendleton Lightweight stock. Leupold 4.5x14 with dial system in Talley rings. I have checked accuracy with some Federal factory loads - 120 Nosler Ballistic tips prior to getting rifle cerakoted. Printing 3/4 inch groups with new barrel. Looks promising. Thanks for all the info guys.

 

[16Bore]

Lapua brass is a good as it gets, bullets too. Varget and 108's has done well, as has 120 TTSX and RL-15



RL-19 and 123 Amax is a good combo too.

 

[stonecitysniper]

I'm also doing some load development for my .260 that was once a .308. Loading up 120 Nosler spitzers in lapua brass. With a ladder test at 500 and magneto speed found a decent node around 46.1 grns @ 2945-50fps with IMR4350. Seating depth testing next! I've read they like to live close to the lands.

 

[16Bore]

If you have the twist I'd be thing 143 ELDX and .620 BC