260 Remington Help

[ldg397]

I have a .260 remington 700lss mountain rifle which I love. Just got into reloading this year. I have tried factory 140 grain core-lokt which produce a .75 to 1" group, but I guess I am a perfectionist and would like to get better or atleast equal with different loads and bullets.

With my first reloads I tried the nosler 120Ballistic Tip with RL-19 47 grains. which produced groups around 1.25".

My first thought was the gun seemed to like the heavier bullet? I tried the 125 Partition and it wouldn't shoot for nothing (greater than 2")

I would like to try the new 130 AccuBond would love to hear any suggestions on where to start with what type of powder, etc.

Also like I have seen in other posts I am out of federal 210 primers which I used for my first reloads so I bought some remington's and also some CCI match grade. Which would be better for this application.

I know these are pretty silly questions but just don't have a lot of experience reloading. The extent of my knowledge seems to be the pointy end of the bullet goes away from you!!! :lol: :lol:

 

[Luns4d]

I've had good luck with the 120 grain NBT's and RL-19, it should shoot better than you're getting. You may want to fiddle with charge weight and seating depth a lttle and see if you can't tighten up the groups. My 260 will shoot them under .5" at 100 yrds with a little less powder than your load.

I had a finikey 260 once that would only shoot the 100 grain Partitions. Nothing else would go under 1.5", but the 100 Partition would do .75", and it was very effective on WT deer.

 

[JD338]

ldg397,

Welcome to the forum.
There are several guys here shooting the 260 Rem so I am sure additional info will post shortly.

Luns4d is correct, working with different charge weights and adjusting your COL may tighten up your groups.

Try dropping down by 3 grains and load up in .5 gr incruments. In other words, with the 120 gr BT, load up 3 shells at 44.0, 44.5. 45.0. 45.5, 46.0, and 46.5 grs.
Once you find the most accurate of this batch, you will want to load +/- in .3 gr incruments and shoot them for the best group.
Then you will want to start adjusting your COL. What is your current COL?

Don't get hung up on velocity. Strive for the best accuracy you can get, even if it means lower velocity. A deer, or what ever you are hunting, will never know the difference of +/- 100 fps if your shot is placed perfectly.
If you want higher velocity, get a 264 Win Mag. :wink:

The 130 gr AB is a great bullet too. You can use the 125 gr PT load data. Just remenber to start low and work up. The new Nosler RG #6 will be out in 5-6 weeks and will load data for the 130 gr AB.

As for primers, I really like the Federal GM21xM primers but the 210's are almost impossible to find right now. I would suggest starting with the CCI's.

Keep us posted on your progress. If you have any more questions, let us know.

JD338

 

[Guest]

First, let me 'ditto' what you've heard so far. Second, handloading can be the most rewarding, yet frustrating hobby you ever have. While I don't shoot the 260, I can tell you that some of the rifles I've loaded for have produced lackluster performance with one powder, and then tightened up nicely with a different powder under the same bullet. Also, since you have a variety of primers, try loading up a few at start charges with each kind of primer and see if that gives you a clear winner in the primer situation. I've never needed to switch primers to create a shooter, but I know folks who have switched and gone from best groups of 1.5-2" down to .75" or so.

As far as what powders to try, consider that Nosler lists the max charges in IMR4064 and RL15 as 'most accurate' loads for this caliber. See that data here:

http://nosler.com/index.php?p=15&b=6.5mm&s=224

Lastly, your supposition that heavier bullets might be better could still be true. The 125gr Partition is likely not much longer (or perhaps even shorter) than the 120gr BT, so you might still investigate 130's or even 140's if you care to spend the money. Since the factory 140gr shot well, I'd likely start there. The deer aren't going to notice a bit of difference in the bullet weights. I notice from looking at the data online that Nosler lists max charge velocities in the 2800fps range for the 120, 130, and 140gr bullets, so you might actually gain something by going heavier, as long range trajectory will be improved due to a higher BC.

I bet either a powder switch, primer switch, or bullet switch will give you better accuracy than what you're getting. Keep working with it, and find a load that shoots well. Adjust your COL as JD instructed, and you may find that the darn thing just likes heavy bullets and wants to shoot them into small holes downrange. Good luck.

 

[Powerstroke]

ldg,
#1st Welcome !
2nd, I say this for JD... "My Wife" has a .260 Model 7 That I've chased bullets and powders all over the board. The 120gr B-Tip has given me decent results. I've done a poor job of it myself, but made sure the barrel is free and beded the action....That made all the difference in the world. RL-15 & Viht N-140 with 107gn bullets now half inch and under.
Hopeful to pick up a .260 that I'm having built today.

 

[JD338]

2nd, I say this for JD... "My Wife" has a .260 Model 7

:wink: You are a funny guy! :lol:

Hopeful to pick up a .260 that I'm having built today.

Post some pics of the new rifle. :grin:

JD338

 

[ldg397]

The first thing I did was load 3 each in the minimum, half way, and max load per manual. Of the three it liked the max best. I have been loading all to 2.800 the max COL. I then loaded 3 each of COL 2.790 and 2.785 and they did not perform as well as 2.800 @ max load. In this case I am thinking the next plan of action would be to start loading 3 each of lighter loads by a .5 grain for atleast two grains since I have already tested the middle load.

The only reason I mentioned the factory load shooting so well was I was wondering what information could be learned from that and applied to my other loads or is each load completely different. I know the factory has a remington primer, i could find and match the COL, I could also find the powder charge, I could try to estimate which powder? Just wondered if any of this exercise would be worth it to apply?

I really think I would prefer the 130 AccuBond to the 120 BT tip anyway. I think I might start over and based on a lot of what I have been reading with the constants of CCI match primers, 2.780 COL; then load 130 grain AccuBond with RL-19 and one other powder (varget? H4350? or RL-15).

I was planning on using the load data from 125 Partition or the 130 XLC; load min and max and one grain or half grain increments to determine load.

Since you now know what I am trying to do that is where I struggle is making the plan, what to hold constant and what to change and when. Any recommendations would be helpful.


The plan would begin

130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M RL19 ??.? grains
130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M RL19 ??.? grains
130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M RL19 ??.? grains
130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M RL19 ??.? grains
130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M RL19 ??.? grains
then
130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M ???? ??.? grains
130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M ???? ??.? grains
130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M ???? ??.? grains
130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M ???? ??.? grains
130 AccuBond 2.780 CCI-M ???? ??.? grains

One other consideration is I plan to also reload 30-06 after this round so any duplicate powders would be wonderful!!

 

[Powerstroke]

Your certianly on the right track. sorry I'm at work without a manual in front of me...is the 2.800 the book max COL? If so, you need to find the lands and back the bullet off fifteen thousands or so. The 130gr A.B. should be an awesome bullet for this round. My experience however is the A.B.'s I've shot do not shoot in the same place as the B-tips.
I do use CCI BR's in the .260, 7-08 & .280.

JD, still no go on the new .260, maybe next week...^##%F@&^^(

 

[Guest]

I usually set my max COL using the magazine length of the rifle, and so far, nothing has been so short of throat as to allow me to touch the lands with that measurement.

Don't overlook the fact that your rifle may well like the 140's, and that Nosler was able to get similar velocity with the 140 as with the 120 & 130gr. More weight at the same velocity equals better trajectory (usually) and more downrange energy (all the time). If this were my rifle, unless I had some aversion to 140gr bullets, that's where I'd start.

Another consideration is that perhaps your rifle doesn't like boat-tails. Both the BT and the AccuBond are boat-tail bullets, and the core-lokt isn't. I have a rifle that shoots flat-base bullets significantly better than boat-tails. Yours may be the same way. Again, good luck, and keep us posted. I will try to check manuals as far as powder in the morning and see if I can help out with charge weights.

 

[ldg397]

I usually set my max COL using the magazine length of the rifle, and so far, nothing has been so short of throat as to allow me to touch the lands with that measurement.

Don't overlook the fact that your rifle may well like the 140's, and that Nosler was able to get similar velocity with the 140 as with the 120 & 130gr. More weight at the same velocity equals better trajectory (usually) and more downrange energy (all the time). If this were my rifle, unless I had some aversion to 140gr bullets, that's where I'd start.

Another consideration is that perhaps your rifle doesn't like boat-tails. Both the BT and the AccuBond are boat-tail bullets, and the core-lokt isn't. I have a rifle that shoots flat-base bullets significantly better than boat-tails. Yours may be the same way. Again, good luck, and keep us posted. I will try to check manuals as far as powder in the morning and see if I can help out with charge weights.

I do have some 140 SST's I could try also, I just would prefer if I could get the AccuBond to work. If it doesn't it doesn't; I have also considered the premium core lokt they sell in a 140 grain. I haven't loaded anything other than plastic tip because I haven't bought a bullet comparator yet to measure the COL. Looks like I have put it off as long as I can. Thanks for the tip on the boat tails, hadn't thought about that.

 

[Powerstroke]

ldg,
You can get the COL for your rifle with a set of calipers. You'll need a spent case and some way to dent the neck to hold a bullet. Push the bullet into the neck slightly. Some people will take a lighter and burn / smoke the bullet.. personally I use a marker and color the bullet. Place the shell in the chamber and close the bolt.....extract it slowly... you'll be able to see where the lands pushed it back into the neck of the case. Back it down like I mentioned earlier and start from there. It's possible for each bullet weight from manufacture to manufacture to be slightly different.

 

[Guest]

I did a little checking, and it appears that Alliant has data for the 260Rem with a 129gr Hornady bullet, which should at least closely approximate the 130AB as far as a start load is concerned. They show a max charge of 46gr of RL19, which yields a start charge of about 41.5gr (roughly 10% below max). Using those two charges as parameters, you could then load at 41.5, 43, 44.5, and 46gr, if you'd like, and watch for pressure signs at the range. As for other powders, Nosler recommends RL15 for both the 120BT and the 125Partition, as well as the 130AB, so you might pick up a pound of that. Otherwise, you might try H4350, IMR4350, H4831, IMR4831, or H414, as Hodgdon lists those as good powders for your application.

Generally speaking, you can take a max charge, reduce it by 10%, and work up carefully (looking for pressure signs) in anything from .5-2gr increments. I usually like to have three to five charge weights, or more if I am using markedly different components (bullet or primer). This allows me to guage safe pressure pretty readily along the curve, and I have yet to run into trouble this way. Again, good luck with the loading, and keep us posted on your results.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Just a thought, since the 140 gr Cor Locts are known to shoot fairly well for you have you measured the COL to the ogive of these and tried matching it with the Nosler bullets? I`ve found the lenght from the lead one bullet shoots its best at is often very close the lenght the rifle prefers other bullets at also.
I`ve had very good luck in my two 260s with R19, H4831sc and H4350 useing bullets from 100gr to 140. My favorite for pure accuracy is the 100 gr Ballistic Tip with a stout load of H4350 and Remington 9 1/2 primers. For hunting whitetail with this cartridge I`ve settled on the 129 gr Hornady SP with R19. Accuracy is good with drop at the shot results on the few deer I`ve shot so far.. It does well in my 6.5x55 also for the same purposes.

 

[ldg397]

ldg,
You can get the COL for your rifle with a set of calipers. You'll need a spent case and some way to dent the neck to hold a bullet. Push the bullet into the neck slightly. Some people will take a lighter and burn / smoke the bullet.. personally I use a marker and color the bullet. Place the shell in the chamber and close the bolt.....extract it slowly... you'll be able to see where the lands pushed it back into the neck of the case. Back it down like I mentioned earlier and start from there. It's possible for each bullet weight from manufacture to manufacture to be slightly different.

I did just as you suggested took the 130 AB and put in spent case; rifle closed on it and it measures overall length of 2.824 I put in the magazine to check and it barely fits, the tip seems to brush the front of the magazine well ever so slightly but it does function. From the other information here am I to assume I should start with COL of 2.804??? The manuals all say COL max is 2.800??? One other question bullets seem to fit tight enough in the case to not need to dent the side to hold a bullet is that a problem?

 

[ldg397]

Just a thought, since the 140 gr Cor Locts are known to shoot fairly well for you have you measured the COL to the ogive of these and tried matching it with the Nosler bullets? I`ve found the lenght from the lead one bullet shoots its best at is often very close the lenght the rifle prefers other bullets at also.
I`ve had very good luck in my two 260s with R19, H4831sc and H4350 useing bullets from 100gr to 140. My favorite for pure accuracy is the 100 gr Ballistic Tip with a stout load of H4350 and Remington 9 1/2 primers. For hunting whitetail with this cartridge I`ve settled on the 129 gr Hornady SP with R19. Accuracy is good with drop at the shot results on the few deer I`ve shot so far.. It does well in my 6.5x55 also for the same purposes.

I ordered a bullet comparator for .264 today so in a few days I could tell the measurement of the factory bullet. I will try some of the other powders also.

 

[JD338]

ldg397

Load your shells at 2.804 and make sure you have clearence in the magazine.
Hang in there, you will find the sweet spot with COL and the right powder.
Its a learning curve, we have all been there. The efforts you put in now will be well worth it. :wink:

JD338

 

[Powerstroke]

ldg,
Yep, Set the length to 2.804 and start playing with powders. Like JD says... stick with it... it's frustrating, but well worth it in the end. I'm not sure it it's the case, but for what it's worth I have a 7-08 as well. Both these rounds seem like they like to be loaded on the upper end of the scale.

 

[ldg397]

Thanks for the help so far. I was preparing a bunch of cases last night and another question came up from some other reading I have done. Should you trim your cases to the max case length or is it some function of the overall case length for your rifle. And does it make a big difference when you square up the end of your cases???

 

[Guest]

I always trim my cases to minimum and then measure a few when I shoot. I've very seldom had to trim cases later on except in some notorious cartridges for case stretch (like .243Win). I just check things now and then, but then again, I'm shooting less than some (never enough, IMO) and I am not shooting matches.

 

[JD338]

Trim your cases to the min. Always good to square up your brass. This will aid in accuracy.

JD338