260 AI loads ?

r204

r204

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Hi everyone, Looking for some ideas for loading 260AI . What I have is a savage action with a 26 Shilen Match select barrel 1in8 twist. I fire formed my Lapua brass using the cream of wheat method and am now ready to brake in the barrel and develope some loads. I will be using 120 and 130 gr bullets.So my question is what would you recommend for powder and the charge weight.
Thanks
 
Thanks CanuckWR . Is there any powders that seem to work better than others? I have H4831sc , H1000 and H 4895 on hand. I was thinking maybe starting with 46 gr of H4632sc and 130gr Burgers
 
I started at Hodgdon's max for my AI (257) and ended up going around 5% higher than the max for my working load if I remember right.
 
I just finished reloading 100 rounds tonight, 42.8 gr RL 17 with 140 gr Berger, rediculously accurate in mine(and not hot either). If you have H4831 on hand try that, i've used it with 139 gr Scenars(around 47 gr if I recall), it will work out fine as well.
 
Beware - when there aren't any published loads for an "Improved" round, and the shooter doesn't have pressure testing equipment, we see some amazing increases over the standard round.

With the 260 AI, you aren't gaining more than about 6% usable case capacity, so if you "get" more than about 75 fps more than the 260, you're likely doing so solely because you've elevated the pressure. Don't be duped by "no pressure signs". With the right brass and chamber, 70K psi can be done without "pressure signs".

With improved rounds, that's the way I've always gone - with realistic expectations. Generally a 260 load that is shown as compressed, should be able to be replaced by a compressed load in the 260 AI (e.g. slower powders like H4831 and H1000). All loads should be over a chrony, and I'd follow the 75 fps "rule". In your case, you shouldn't be exceeding 3000 fps with 120 gr and 130 gr bullets in a 26" barrel. If you are, you're over 60K psi.

A good read: http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek046.html
 
I have not been able to get h4831 to work for me, had some promising results with re19 and 140 bergers. Havnt shot them over the chrony yet though
 
Mine's a 700 action, Kreiger 26" Brown Precision stock.

48 gr. 4831sc. 120 Ballistic Tip, Norma 308 brass, neck turned, >3100 fps and very accurate in a 6 lb. gun.

Start lower of course, and use this as a guide only. It appears to be near max in my rifle.
 
Start with 260 rem loads and work up. For 120-130s H4350 shines for me in a 25" barrel. Look for significant drop offs from every increment (for example 20-30fps for each load then they start to drop off below 20. Be sure to use a chrony when loading up because it will tell you where diminising returns happen. 0.3gr increments will be your friend. You will likely find 2-3 nodes during the exersize. The higher node may be tempting but I have found time and again the mid range node to be very good indeed and it may offer a few more rounds in barrel life. If you may want to push 140s at a later date my vote goes for H4831sc in a longer barrel, but H4350 works well there too. Stick with some BR primers for consistency.
 
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I have a 260AI on a 40X action with a Krieger 26" 1-8 twist barrel.
I use it for 1000 yard competition.
My best results so far have been with Vihtavuori N560
I only shoot the Berger 140 VLD, so not sure about the lighter pills.
My favorite load graphs 2900 and pennies.
Eagleye.
 
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