I’ve filled the 6.5mm hole in my life, need 260 load advice

[Thebear_78]

I picked up a 260 Rem yesterday. Going to be mostly used for punching paper and steel but might take it out hunting a few times as its a lot lighter than my other “tacticool” rifles. While it woud’nt be much fun to lug around very far I think it is doable.

I have a couple boxes of 123 Amax that came with the rifle along with a box of 140 Nosler Bt. I’m open to pretty much any advice on loading and shooting the 260 rem. I have quite a bit of powder on hand. H414, IMR4895, Varget, 4350, 4831, Re 17, Re19, Re22, IMR 7828.

I have 50 Nosler brass. I will probably pick up 100 lapua when I can find some. Some of the bullets of interest are the Sierra Matchkings, lapua scenars, and Nosler and hornady match bullets. I think for any hunting I might do with it I will probalby stick with the 140gr ballistic tip or 129gr LR AccuBond.

 

[wildgene]

...keep an eye on SPS for the 140gr. Nosler Custom Competitions...

 

[gerry]

The 4350's are the go to powders for a 260 Rem when it comes to excellent accuracy and good speed with pretty much every bullet weight. I have found that IMR 7828 is very good with bullets from around 130 gr and up. H 4831 sc gave excellent accuracy but were slow, I don't have much experience with the others since H 4350 and IMR 7828 ssc are my go to powders. There are numerous excellent target bullets out there, for hunting the 129 gr ABLR is a great long range load of course and the 140 gr Ballistic Tip performs well at 260 Rem speeds.

A couple of bullet tests you may have seen here.

viewtopic.php?f=47&t=28286

viewtopic.php?f=47&t=25842

Lapua brass is very heavy and has less case capacity than other brands so be careful when you start using them to reduce your charge a bit.

 

[shoots_5]

H4350 has been my go to powder. The guy who built my rifle has a pet load for his 260's that is extremely accurate using 46.5-47 grains of H4831SC or 7828ssc behind the 139 scenar. I would also give the 140 amax a try. It's been very accurate out of mine and was my go to bullet for quite awhile unitl I got a wild hair and gave the Berger's a try. I'm currently shooting the 140 Berger VLD hunting out of mine. It's been a tack driver out of my rifle. I'm getting 2867fps with it using 44.2 grains of H4350. It's a pretty hot load though so start lower than that for sure.

Nice rifle by the way. Looking forward to hearing your range reports with it. I love the 260....not sure why it's not a hugely popular cartridge that is chambered by every major rifle manufacturer. It'll pretty much do anything I need a rifle to do from punching paper, banging steel at long range or taking game up to elk.

 

[Thebear_78]

Shoots very well!!

100 yards 3 shot group

5 shots at 175 yards

123 gr amax @ 2800fps


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DrMike]

Yes, I'd say it is producing quite well in your hands. Fine riflery.

 

[Guy Miner]

Interestingly, a gal won our national high-power competition a few years ago, using plain vanilla Remington .260 brass. She had the winning score, no problem.

Originally that cartridge was intended for target competition, and it still does very well in that role.

Of course it's also a dandy deer cartridge!

Guy

 

[SJB358]

Great shooting. Seems like it is a performer. Those sorta rifles/cartridge make range work alot of fun too.