Went out to get some work in with my .260 Rem in preparation for antelope season. Was planning on shooting long today but there was other folks at the range (our range is set up poorly so that if anyone is shooting past 200 no one else can use any other part of the range). So I shot a few groups and then they left so I backed up to 900 yards. Mirage was really heavy and the wind was swirling back and forth constantly which made the shooting tough. Put these rounds on steel and missed a wind switch on the 3rd and it went wide. Also came up 1 click between the first and second shot. Not my best shooting but given the conditions it was good practice! Need to get out earlier in the morning when the mirage isn't so bad and see where my groups are at. This load is with the 140 Amax, RP case, Fed 210 primer over 44.2 grains of H4350. MV is 2758 fps. Rifle is a custom built 260 with a stiller 30 A/W action, Mullerworks barrel @26" Rem Varmint contour, in a Manners T5A stock with Manners mini chassis and detachable mag system. And topped with a Leupold 6.5-20x50 Mark IV ER/T M5 with TMR reticle.
Playing at the range
- Thread starter shoots_5
- Start date
OU812
Handloader
- Apr 18, 2006
- 2,099
- 2
Looks like good shooting to me. What a fun way to spent the day.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,864
- 6,442
Good account of your practice session. I am impressed!
One of the benefits of being a real long-range marskman, as opposed to an internet wonder-shooter, is that a fellow gets to know his limitations. All too often I read posts something like "My super-duper shooter is good to 1000 yards, half MOA, all day long." Right... Sure it is.
900 yards is a mighty doggone long shot, particularly in less than optimal conditions. Making hits at that distance is GREAT. Making a few misses is also educational. You did great! I doubt I'd have done so well, at that distance, in those conditions.
Your rifle is great. Your load should be terrific for the purpose intended. It doesn't take a cannon!
Do you find the RP brass needs a lot of work? Or is it pretty good?
Regards, Guy
One of the benefits of being a real long-range marskman, as opposed to an internet wonder-shooter, is that a fellow gets to know his limitations. All too often I read posts something like "My super-duper shooter is good to 1000 yards, half MOA, all day long." Right... Sure it is.
900 yards is a mighty doggone long shot, particularly in less than optimal conditions. Making hits at that distance is GREAT. Making a few misses is also educational. You did great! I doubt I'd have done so well, at that distance, in those conditions.
Your rifle is great. Your load should be terrific for the purpose intended. It doesn't take a cannon!
Do you find the RP brass needs a lot of work? Or is it pretty good?
Regards, Guy
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,543
- 6,623
Pretty good, I'd say. Great account of your range session.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks guys. Guy I know what you mean....it would have to be very optimal conditions for me to take that shot on a game animal.....but what I've found is that if I practice at very long ranges and in tough conditions that 5-600 yard shot becomes a whole lot easier! It always makes me laugh when I hear guys say it's too windy to go shoot....that's when you get the best education and learn the most! Anybody can verify their DOPE and dial the elevation knob....that's not what makes you miss. Reading wind is an art that I hope to one day become very proficient at. The RP brass isn't great....I did a lot of case prep when they were new but they've done pretty good for me so far accuracy wise. Someday when I have the funds again I'll pick up some Lapua brass for it.
This rifle definitely out shoots me. I just try and do it justice! But it sure is a fun rifle to get behind!
This rifle definitely out shoots me. I just try and do it justice! But it sure is a fun rifle to get behind!
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,864
- 6,442
Indeed. It's always the wind that kicks me at longish range. Mostly I have trouble picking up on the let-offs.
And then the doggone bullet goes somewhere it's not supposed to land!
Guy
And then the doggone bullet goes somewhere it's not supposed to land!
Guy
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,864
- 6,442
Me too Vince. I'm pretty much maxed out anymore at 600 yards - mostly because that's what our local range supports. Beyond that, practice is far more difficult for me.
Regards, Guy
Regards, Guy
Darkhorse
Handloader
- Mar 14, 2014
- 833
- 212
There's not much opportunity for long range practice near me either. There's a couple of ranges out to at least 700 yds. but they are several hours away. Before I go on another hunt with possible long range shots I'll get to one of them a couple of times.
I do get some long shooting at the inlaws cattle ranch but the terrain makes it difficult to get both a long shot and a safe backstop at the same time. The cattle must be in certain pastures also which makes it a pain sometimes.
Before going west I would get some targets with reduced images of elk and deer, put them at 100 yards and shoot them from position.
But this doesn't account for the wind. Before I go west again I'll get a wind meter, range finder and make up some windage and trajectory cards.
That's really good shooting at 900 yards. Looks like the .260 is a caliber to take note of.
I do get some long shooting at the inlaws cattle ranch but the terrain makes it difficult to get both a long shot and a safe backstop at the same time. The cattle must be in certain pastures also which makes it a pain sometimes.
Before going west I would get some targets with reduced images of elk and deer, put them at 100 yards and shoot them from position.
But this doesn't account for the wind. Before I go west again I'll get a wind meter, range finder and make up some windage and trajectory cards.
That's really good shooting at 900 yards. Looks like the .260 is a caliber to take note of.
- Thread starter
- #10
I've fallen in love with the 260. Great ballistics, economical to reload, very little recoil and very accurate....what's not to love! I've shot it out to 1100 so far. Looking at the projected ballistics it should start to go transonic around 1400 or so. I'm hoping to get back out Monday or Tuesday again and stretch it out again and also shoot some groups at 300-600 yards and see where I'm at with it. Plus I've got some loads using the Berger 140 VLD loaded up that I need to test. They have a slight BC advantage over the Amax but at long range everything helps!
Wincheringen
Handloader
- Jan 10, 2012
- 931
- 1
600 is all the further I've tried my 6.5 Creedmoor out to. Mostly because I'm too lazy to walk all the way to the 1000 yard stand. Modern scopes make 600 yards pretty easy though.
This is great shooting. Unstable wind conditions are always a bummer. Where I live I have lots of wind for my long distance stuff, but normally don't shoot in it. From my lawn I can shoot 310, 455 and 650. Been to busy to go out long but will make the time soon.
HOGWILD338-378
Handloader
- Aug 22, 2012
- 1,219
- 0
Mighty fine shooting for sure and I have read some on mirage and reading thru it but it lost me pretty fast kinda like the wind! Full value ! Half value ! I guess with proper technique you get better with practice but you will not have much of a problem with speed goats as those are some fine groups! I have same scope but different reticle on my 300 win Mag! get ya a Wyoming Decoy and try slipping up on them as much as possible! I know that stuff only works on TV 
saw some guys doing it with un saddled horses walking next to the horses and I know it was on TV but it finally worked? With that caliber being a flat shooter you should have no problems getting within range and hope ya get a nice 1 !
saw some guys doing it with un saddled horses walking next to the horses and I know it was on TV but it finally worked? With that caliber being a flat shooter you should have no problems getting within range and hope ya get a nice 1 !
