.260 Rem+125NPT+H4831??

HeathSexton · Jan 15, 2011

Just got a box of 125's for my .260. A friend gave me a load to try, I know I should have worked up, 47.5grs H4831, it will put 2 together and throw one, that's not what worries me. I was getting little creases in my shoulders after 3 firings, I figure it's hot. Primers are round on the edges, easy extraction, no other pressure signs other than the funny looking shoulders. Turns out he was using Hornady 129gr data that maxes at 50grs, Nosler 125's max at 48grs.

You guys have experience with H4831 with the 125's?

I am working up tomorrow from a lower charge, I was just curious if you guys had used this combo, performance, velocity?

257 Ackley · Jan 16, 2011

Heath -
I tried H4831SC with my .260 using 130 AB's and did not get the accuracy that I got with R19. H414 is my second best accuracy powder for this caliber. Both of these powders have a slightly faster burn rate than H4831 and may contribute to the performance I got.

What was the velocity that you were going for with the load you are testing? Both of the powders I use with the 130 AB are right at 2900 MV measured over my chronograph on days that had temperatures in the 80's. I look for powders that usually fill 90 - 95% case capacity when getting near maximum charge. The crunching noises when seating bullets make me nervous

.

HeathSexton · Jan 16, 2011

Thanks for the info. I would be happy with anything over 2800fps, my 120NBT's are running 2880fps, very accurate and no complaints from critters hit.

2900fps would be awesome but I have never ran anything that hard in my .260.

What is your barrel length? Mine is a 22" Mountain Rifle contour.

I thought the shoulder creases were odd with no other signs, anyone see that before?

257 Ackley · Jan 16, 2011

Barrel length is 24" on a Remington CDL LE. This rifle was a real pain in the a$$ to get to shoot, with similar stories to tell as Scotty (beretz) went through. It now shoots consistant inch groups at 200 yards with the 130 AB using the R19 load I developed.

HeathSexton · Jan 16, 2011

Mine is very picky about what it likes. It does not like H4831 with the 125 NPT. 46.5grs showed the best accuracy today and I started playing with the seating depth and never got anything consistently under 2". I revisited H414, but was so aggravted I fired 3 and quit for another day.

HeathSexton · Jan 16, 2011

Well, I looked down and saw that I had 3 primers left in the tray, might as well shoot 3 more. 44.8grs H414 + 125 PT = suck. I thought, you know what, it has to be me, I must be flinching. I marched back to the house and got 4 rounds that I know it loves, 44.8grs H414 + 120 NBT. First round, low left, AH HA!!! I am flinching, no, I am not, the neck split. 3 rounds left, I fired all 3 rounds with zero cool down between rounds, you guys know how thin these Mountain rifle barrels are and the heat they throw. All 3 rounds went into .955"@135yds, guess I'll just shoot 120 NBT's.

Powerstroke · Jan 16, 2011

Pre- 6.5 Accubonds, I've seen a couple elk fall to the 120gr BT.

The other powder I've had good luck with out of the .260 is Viht N-560 with the 130's

onesonek · Jan 17, 2011

You might give H-1000 a try,,,or.
I had my best load come from R-22.
Don't know why exactly, but but found the .260 I had like the slower powders with most bullet weights, moreso tha any other cartridge I have loaded for. Well come to think about it,,,my 6.5x257Rob ai is the same way. That I'm running R-22 and R-25 in.
dave