My .260 build needs some food :D

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veeshooter

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Hi Guys/ Gals,

I have a .260 Remington build on the go and would like some input on loading for it as it'll be my first 260 and all my knowledge is based on the reading I've done. It'll be built on a Savage 10 FCP action with McMillan A5 stock ( already bedded with Devcon), 26" Shilen varmint contour barrel and topped off with a Sightron 8-32x MOA2 reticle. I have some Lapua brass and Redding dies on the way and at some point I think I'd like to try sizing down some Win Supreme 308 as I have tons of it.

From the research I've done, it appears H4350 is the way to go for powder but I'm open to any and all suggestions. I have some Berger 140gr VLD bullets and would love to get my hands on some of the same weight hybrids if anyone has a line on them. I've had good success with Federal 210M primers for the 308. Am I good with those or does anyone suggest otherwise?

From what I've seen on the board, there is a wealth of knowledge! Some of you I've talked to already on other loading issues and I look forward to your responses on this one. Please help? :)
 
H4350 was great in my straight 260 Savage Shilen rifle. Fed 210 primers were okay but I like the CCI BR primers a little better.

Bullets are easy or complex depending on how you go. I have been having a lot of tuning to do with my Berger VLD 140. So far they will not shoot with a jam or up to 0.015" off the lands. As per Berger's bulletin, I am no going to go with 0.020, 0.040, 0.080 and 0.120" jumps to see what it likes.

Make sure you order the correct Redding bushing for your brass if you are going with a neck sizer.

140 Nosler CC, 140SMK and 140AMAX are all much easy to tune a solid load for.
 
Many thanks! I went with Berger because of the high BC but I've heard good things about the AMAX as well. Basically I'm looking for solid performance out to about 1200 m.

As for the primers, is that more of a personal preference thing or are you seeing tighter groups with your particular combination?
 
veeshooter said:
Many thanks! I went with Berger because of the high BC but I've heard good things about the AMAX as well. Basically I'm looking for solid performance out to about 1200 m.

As for the primers, is that more of a personal preference thing or are you seeing tighter groups with your particular combination?
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Yes I am chasing that same high BC dream right now in my 260AI. that being said, all the bullets I listed previously have made the trip out to 1200m.

As far as primers go, I have no scientific bassi that the CCI BR primers are any more consistent based on chrony results etc, it is just the added peace of mind that I did all I could do. With many chronographs widely available to the average guy being accurate to 20fps or so, I doubt you would see the difference. More likely to see it on paper.
 
N160 is the best powder I found for the 260rem, single base and great energy density.

I'm switching to GM215M's this year instead of BR2's, waiting for good weather to go chrono but I'm sure it'll help.
 
dont over look the 123gr Lapua! I am launching them at 3120FPS avg great bullet
 
I talked to Dan Newberry and a few guys on the Hide about my 260. You are going to find a node with H4350 shooting 140's in the 42-43 grain range. Both my Coyote and my 260 build from Sean at North Shore love 39.3 grains of Varget with 123 Scenars. I got that recipe from Dan. There is a big 260 loads only post on the hide with lots of recipes. Ive shot the berger Hybrids and they werent very picky about seating and shot very well(never been a big fan of the VLD's). Ive been shooting the 123 and the 136 scenars now with good results.
 
I have 2 custom 260's, 1 as a target rig and the other as a hunter. I found the berger vld to shoot very well with H 4350, lapua brass, fed 210 m primers. I jam the bullets 0.010'' in the target rifle and seat just off the lands with the hunting rig. Both shoot 1/2 moa or less. Both loads are also in the 42-43 grain range as suggested above. Of course work up to that charge but seems to be the sweet spot for that bullet / powder combo.

I've just started playing with the hybrids and Matrix 142 gr bullets, hoping to find a load more tolerant to jump. Marshal from matrix bullets says his vld's seem to like a bit of jump and have a higher bc than the bergers. Maybe the matrix bullets are another option to look into.
 
Jamie said:
dont over look the 123gr Lapua! I am launching them at 3120FPS avg great bullet
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What is your load Jamie, if you don't mind sharing?

SND, I'd be interested in your results once you do the testing.

Thanks to everyone else for your replies as well. It appears I'm headed in the right direction. I'll give those other bullet suggestions a try as well. I'm not stuck on Berger. I just happened to have some readily available to me. I also have Varget as that's what I use for my 308 loads. Ultimately my goal is being able to reach out and minimize the azz kicking from the wind in a tactical match environment where time is a factor as well as accuracy.
 
H 4350 Fed 210M Rem brass( I know I know) loaded hot .020 jump start low and work up
 
I have had success with a couple of loads. Also some pretty hefty challenges getting there, but it's all good now. The details, it's all in the details.

Thank you Chou Bros! http://www.choubrothersprecision.com/

129gr Matrix Ballistics VLD over 39.2 gr Varget and Fed 210 GM Match primers. Fly's at 2931 fps

139 Lapua Scenar over 36.4 gr Varget and Fed 210 GM Match. These are going 2731 fps

I have also tried H4831SC and H4350. Varget seems to work best for me, I also finds it shoots a little softer than H4831SC to achieve similar velocities.
 
My Savage 12 LPRV will put 5 in the same ragged hole (if I do my part) fed on 43.5 gr H4350 CCI LM primers and 142gr SMK's It an absolute joy to shoot.
 
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stralia said:
My Savage 12 LPRV will put 5 in the same ragged hole (if I do my part) fed on 46.5 gr H4350 CCI LM primers and 142gr SMK's It an absolute joy to shoot.
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Is that with the factory barrel and if so, I'm assuming it's 26"? What kind of velocity are you getting out of it? Sounds like a juicy load :)
 
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