My new toy, ok, girlfriends rifle

[Wis65x55]

I went to the local gun shop to special order the Weatherby Vanguard that my girlfriend had decided on. I was informed that it would be 60 days minimum before we could get it at the earliest. My girlfriend had a tear in the corner of her eye and thought that maybe the Remington model 7 CDL could be acceptable and would be able to start breaking it in instead?

This next week I will be picking up a barely used Remington model 7 CDL chambered in 260 Remington. The rifle is a safe queen, and has never been hunted with. The seller tells me that maybe ten rounds have been fired from the rifle.

I would appreciate any favorite recipes for a 260 Remington. I would likely use 120 gr. Ballistic tip, 125 gr. Pt or 140 gr. Pt.
Keith

 

[gerry]

I can't find some of my records at the moment but here are some more recent ones.

R-P brass CCI 200

43 gr IMR 4350 140 gr Speer Spitzer (Custom Sako, 2700 fps +)

Custom Browning BLR 20" barrel

42 gr IMR 4350 140 gr Speer Hot Cor - 2550 fps.
45.5 gr H 4831 sc 140 gr Nosler Partition
46 gr H 4831 sc 140 gr Rem CL
48 gr H 4831 sc 120 gr Rem CL - 2750 fps

Lapua brass CCI 200 (Savage 10 24" barrel)

43 gr H 4831 sc 140 gr Speer Deep Curl - 2515 fps (mild load but accurate)
41 gr H 4350 140 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip - 2670-2690 fps depending on the day.
43 gr H 4350 130 gr Nosler AccuBond - 2831 fps

I found that my lot of Lapua brass can't handle the same powder charges that I used in R-P brass since it is heavier built so make sure you start low and move up carefully. The Remington barrel has a 1 in 9 twist so may not shoot the longer sleeker 140's as well as shorter ones, you should be good to go with the 130 gr and lighter bullets. The 140 gr Deep Curl, Speer Hot Cor and Partition would be good to try if you ever want to use 140's. I think you are on the right track to try 120-130 gr bullets, the 129 gr Hornady flatbase is a very accurate bullet and Nosler's bullets in that range are also excellent.

 

[tjen]

A 120-130gr AB or PT would be great. I forget Noslers offerings in 6.5mm but one of these with a BC over .240 would work great and help keep the felt recoil down.

Added: go for the 125gr pt it sounds perfect.

 

[SJB358]

Congrats on the rifle. That should be one awesome rifle for her. Let me know what bullets you end up starting with and I will run any QL data you need.

 

[1Shot]

Get you some H-4350. For 120 BT start at 44 grs and work up toward the max of 46.5 grs. With 125 Partition start at 42 grs and work up toward the max of 44.3 grs. With 140s start at 40 grs and work up toward the max or 44 grs and you will find what you are looking for.

The 120 BT is awesome on deer size game but if I wanted to shoot everything from a deer up through an elk I would use the 130 AccuBond.

With the little light barrel on that M-7 take your time and let it cool between shots. It is a hunting rifle not a target rifle so don't expect it to shoot bug hole groups but it will shoot well within the requirements of a deer rifle. The 260 Rem is a wise choice. Good luck and good shooting.

 

[DrMike]

I have that precise model. I can't say it is a tack driver, but it is acceptable. I bought it for my grandchildren. It handles a variety of bullets acceptably. I believe she will be pleased with it.

 

[338 Ultra]

Here are a few of loads for you that I use and have proven accurate and consistent for a number of years in 260 Rem. I am suspecting that this is going to be for deer/antelope for the most part.

I currently use Nosler brass but these loads worked in Rem brass and Win 7-08 brass necked down so you have some options for brass but as you know always start lower and work up.



100 grain Ballistic tip or 100 grain Partition
CCI-200 primer
48 grains H-414
in a 20" barrel you should be able to get close to 3200 fps depending on accuracy
If your deer are not too large the above work really well with the nod to the Partition just in case a shoulder is hit.

120 grain Ballistic tip or 125 Partition
CCI-200 primer
48 grains of H-4831
You should be looking at 2700-2750 fps in a 20" barrel depending on accuracy

Both work well on big deer, I have been using the 125 Partition as I have some insurance for my overlapping seasons when I have tags for moose and elk when I am deer hunting. I have taken a couple of big black bears, a large cow moose and a cow elk with the 125 load. I do purposely carry a larger caliber when chasing bigger animals but the 260 will work if you put it where it needs to go and you are in moderate ranges. I can't tell you how many large bucks have fallen to the 125 Partition load both mule and whitetail and the bucks here are big 300 pounders are common and don't raise too many eyebrows. I have shot a dozen or so doe's with the 120 ballistic tip and they work well too and they are easy to get an accurate load for.

I will caution you though once you find out how easy the 260 is to load for and how nice it is to shoot and how it puts game down with a minimum of fuss and meat loss you are going to have to break out your wallet and get your gal another rifle cause you ain't gonna want to give that 260 up

 

[FOTIS]

260 REM	129 HORNADY SP	44/AA4350	2850	*	REM	WLR	BROWNING A-BOLT						
260 REM	129 HORNADY SP	44/H4350	2835	*	REM	WLR	BROWNING A-BOLT						
260 REM	129 HORNADY SP	44/W760	2795	*	REM	WLR	BROWNING A-BOLT						
260 REM	129 HORNADY SP	49.5/RL22	2995	*	REM	WLR	BROWNING A-BOLT						
260 REM	85 SIERRA BT	46/W760	3075	*	REM	WLR	BROWNING A-BOLT

 

[Jimbeaux82]

Here is my load, fired out of a Browning Micro Hunter, 20" barrel

44.5 grs. H4350. 120 gr NBT. 2.750" oal. Cci200. 2750 fps. 1" groups

Also, another tip for you if you cant find 260 brass. I simply run 243 win brass thru the 260 die and works like a charm. I save all of my nickel cases for this to denote something different, along with the brown tip on the 6.5 mm NBT

 

[Wis65x55]

Does any one know where I might be able to find new or used 260 Remington or 243 Winchester brass?
Keith

 

[338 Ultra]

Does any one know where I might be able to find new or used 260 Remington or 243 Winchester brass?
Keith

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/sea ... /LU4PH6050

Might still have some in stock a little expensive but lapua is top notch stuff it is heavy and rugged max loads will be less than with domestic brass though

good luck

 

[HeathSexton]

My 22" Mountain rifle likes

120NBT - 43.5grs H414 - 2911fps
129 Hornady PSP - 47.8grs H4831 - 2800fps

Both are very accurate.


Mine never struck on the 125 PT but after reading some I should have tried a faster power like 4895, I was trying 4831