.260 REM Load Using H 4831sc

[highcotton]

Anyone have a good "pet load" for the .260 REM using H 4831sc? I am planning to try some IMR 4350 as well, but have a good bit of 4831sc on hand for the .270 WIN. Planning to push 120 gr NBT's. Thanks in advance.

 

[257 Ackley]

HC - In my testing 4831sc will have too slow of a burn rate for the .260 and a 120 grain bullet. Your 4350 will put you into a powder burn rate that should come close to filling the case without having a compressed load and still see good velocity (and hopefully accuracy). The powders that gave me the best results with the 130 AB were H414 and R19.

 

[Powerstroke]

+1 with 257

I haven't played with many 120 grainers, but as 257 Ackley mentioned I've had good luck with H414 and the 130's
N-560 gave me some incredible speed and accuracy as well. I just recently started to revisit the RL-19.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[gerry]

My records show I used 48 gr of H 4831 sc with a 120 gr Remington corelokt bullet for 2750 fps out of my rebored browning BLR with a 20 inch barrel. I believe it was a slightly compressed load with good accuracy. You should be able to work up to a similar load with the Ballistic Tip. Killed some blacktails nicely I usually use 130 gr or heavier now but had no problems with the 120, good luck.

 

[highcotton]

Thanks for the input. I am loading the .260 REM for my 7 year old son to start hunting with this year, so I think I'm going to stay with the lighter 120 gr bullets. I plan to move to heavier AB's when he gets a little bigger. I'll start with IMR 4350, and see if we can find a load.

 

[HeathSexton]

Mine hated H4831 and 120-125's. H414 was best in my Mountain Rifle with 120's, 44.8grs.

 

[Guest]

If you haven't considered H4895, you should. Hodgdon publishes youth load data with H4895 and a formula for reducing loads to get recoil down for youth shooters. Perhaps your son is ready for full recoil, but if you want to work him up to it, H4895 may be the best choice.

 

[super-7]

I agree with dubyam on the youth loads, it's good to see hodgdon stepping up and getting this info out.

 

[257 Ackley]

If you are looking for a lighter load for your son, the 120 BT should be great with a faster burning powder like 4895, H380, Vit. 140 or R15. These will give you good velocity without having to have a full charged load to start with. If you don't have a manual, send me a PM and I can give you some of the data for the powders not shown on the website. You can't have enough different powders, so this will give you a chance to stock up on something new :mrgreen: .

 

[HeathSexton]

Doesn't list the .260, but here is their youth load info:

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

 

[Guest]

I was replying from my phone earlier, and couldn't link it. Thanks, Heath, for putting that on.

And you're right - the 260Rem is not specifically listed. But the information contained in the pdf you linked discusses the concept of downloading any H4895 load for jacketed or cast lead bullets for any cartridge that has H4895 listed. There are ample loads for H4895 in the Hodgdon data for the 260Rem, so downloading it should be just a matter of testing within the established parameters Hodgdon lists.

Just for the record, the start load of H4895 under a 120gr bullet, in a rifle package weighing 8lbs or so, is going to generate something like 9-10lbs of recoil. That might actually be tolerable to a 7yr old. The option is there to reduce the load a bit more and get recoil in line with what light bullets in a 243 or 22-250 might be. For comparison, the start charge with H4831 will give about 12lbs of recoil in the same rifle. That's a 50% increase in recoil, and might be a difference maker. I don't imagine you could load low enough to get it down lower than about 6-7lbs of recoil, but that's pretty low, and pretty tolerable, I suspect. Good luck with it, and let us know how it turns out!

 

[highcotton]

I have the Hodgdon youth load data printed and at the reloading bench. He shot my brother-in-law's .308 the other weekend at the range, and only quit because we ran out of ammo :mrgreen: I really appreciate the input, and I'll keep taking suggestions.