260 rem 120 BT

[rmarshall]

Ok guys here's my first attempt with 120 bt, h414 and the new ruger 260 rem, what do you guys think I should do, move the slug in or out, more juice, less juice, I only had 1 3shot group to try, i was loaded at 44.8 just under nosler max, I should of had some other charges fired but it got dark on me! Does it have potential , I plan trying it again.
Sorry guys the pic needs to be rotated clockwise, don't now how to do that! It's the triangle 3 shot group.

 

[gerry]

At around 1 1/4" or so the potential is definitely there. Experimenting with seating depth and charge weight would be good, I bet it won't take long to come up with something really good.

 

[DrMike]

Gerry is correct that it is showing potential. It should give you good service.

 

[JD338]

Try going up .5 and 1.0 grains.
Then adjust your COL.

JD338

 

[1Shot]

One group does not tell you much. Had you previously fouled the barrel before shooting this group? If not you really don't have a true group because that first shot from a clean barrel will not be where the others are. After around 45 years of doing this I have found a pretty good way to find accuracy. Start with the bullet loaded 10 thousands off the lands. I do a ladder loading starting one grain above the suggested starting load and load 3 rounds each going up a half grain with each each batch until I reach the max suggested. Foul the barrel with at least 5 rounds shots before shooting for groups letting the barrel cool completely between each group. Once I find my best group out of this ladder test then I will load that powder weight and do a seating depth ladder starting 30 thousands off the lands and work up to 10 thousands off moving 5 thousands closer to the lands at a time. I have learned the hard way to NEVER load a round that is to be used for hunting closer than 10 thousands off the lands. I once stuck a bullet in the bore when I went to unload my rifle to get up into my tree stand. I had around a half mile walk into my stand and I had in the past killed a number of deer while walking to my stand. I had been loading my bullets to just kiss the lands but I guess that one got loaded just a little longer or the bullet it self had an O-give a little different. Bullet stuck in the bore and the powder dumped all down in the action and I did not have the tools or cleaning rod needed to fix the screw up with me. Lost half a days hunt going home to fix things. By the way those 120 Ballistic tips have been very accurate and really kill deer in everything I have used them in. They also jump really well and have shot great even a mile off the lands in my sported Swede 96 Mauser that has a throat a mile long for shooting those 160 gr golf pencil length bullets.

 

[rmarshall]

thanks guys for the help, I do realize 1 group dosen't tell me everything, but hoping this is a good start point, last year it was shooting my 125 PT loads really well, but then I went and did some trigger work, and I'm thinking the screws aren't torqued like they were prieviouly and they have opened up to 1.5 groups. So I guess it's time to start over. I just had these 3 loaded up from a previous outing. The 125 group is the exact same group shape, just slightly bigger. I keep playing and hopefully come up with a winner, if not maybe gun will go down the road.

 

[HeathSexton]

My 260 Rem is repeatably 1/2" or less with 43.5grs H414 and the 120 NBT @ 2.765"

 

[rmarshall]

So I think I'm making some progress, I tried some more H414 and 120 BTs, different c.o.l a and charges, I was getting way frustrated, then I tried some R17 with 120 BTs and 130 abs. This looked a lot more promising! 2 in 1 out, on both, going to try again, same charges, should I push the slug in a little more, the 120s were seated at 2.789 and the 130s 2.797. I'm thinking I need to tween it a hair and hopefully that will help. Pictures are sideways again, top is the 130, bottom is the 120. The 130 is at.75" and the 120 at .85" if I can bring that one in I think I've hot a real keeper!

 

[DrMike]

Yes, I'd say you are making progress. You certainly can continue to play with OAL, but if you choose to shoot what you have, you're in pretty good shape.