I have looked around and can't find much on the ELD X for the .260 rem. I did got to the Hodgdon site to see about h4831 and h4350 safe load ranges. The drop down allows for a 140gn amax style bullet or a 142gn sierra style. I get differen safe load ranges depending what one I pick. Anyone out there know the safe load range on these?
safe load range for 143 grain Hornady eld x for the .260 rem
- Thread starter spenom
- Start date
Killbillc68
Regular
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- Dawson Creek BC
Not familiar with the 260. Why don't you just start out low and work your way up one at a time in one gr increments until you find pressure? Then back off a bit and shoot for accuracy on your way down. That's what I do anyhow.
In my experience there's not a whole lot of difference between the 142g and 143g loads. Work it up and see. A chrony helps if you can get ahold of one. I love the ELD-X with H4831sc in the 6.5x55. With the 143g I found accuracy at .4 grain less powder than the 140g Sierra. Amazing accuracy at 2710 fps, and I've had it up over 2900.
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Here is the load data according to Hodgdon for a 142 sierra. Is there any reason to that this would not translate to a 143 ELD-X?
142 GR. SIE HPBT
H4831 45 grains minimum to 48 grains maximum
H4350 41.5 grains minimum to 44.5 grains maximum
142 GR. SIE HPBT
H4831 45 grains minimum to 48 grains maximum
H4350 41.5 grains minimum to 44.5 grains maximum
I don't think so. Generally they say if the bullet weight is the same (or nearly), different brands should load similar. Except for the full copper ones like Barnes TSX etc, which have a longer bearing surface and more friction in barrel.
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Screenshot from digital copy of Hornady's 10th Edition
Thank you! This is exactly what I am looking for!!!!!
My pleasure. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
My son "commandeered" my 6.5-284 LRH, so I just replaced it last week with a Tikka T3X Varmint 260rem. I am curious how the 260 will like the 143 ELD-Xs, as the LRH really loved them. Let me know how you make out.
For sure I will post how well the accuracy test goes. I have the following loaded up for the LRP in .260 . I am going to ladder test / OCW group test them by powder starting low and going until done or reaching a pressure sign. My research indicates these are all within safe ranges so we will see. Please speak up if something here looks like it is out of step. I used Hodgdon reloading website, Lee reloading manual, Lymans 49th reloading manual and the above Hornady page to get the charge weights.
143 ELD-X in Lapua once fired brass. CCI BR-2 primers
-H1000------ 47, 47.5, 48, 48.5, 49, 49.5, 50
-H4350-------41.5, 42, 42.5, 43, 43.5, 44, 44.5
-H4831-------45, 45.5, 46, 46.5, 47, 47.5, 48
I loaded 3 of each half grain step for a total of 63 test loads. Also loaded them 0.02 off the lands of my rifle. Figure it should cover everything in one go.
Most solid copper bullets I've seen have very large cannelures formed into their bearing surfaces to alleviate the pressure problems created by their length, not all of them though. Still it doesn't hurt to err on the side of caution
OP, this is just my opinion but I have found in both the 260 Rem and 6.5x55, which I load to appx the same pressures as the near max 260, that the lighter 123 grn monolithic bullets perform much better over all. I use a Remington 700 with a 23 in bbl for the 260 and a Tikka T3 for the 6.5x55. Both can easily handle the higher pressures.
The thing about monlithic bullets is that they were designed to be pushed fast and even up close, 30 meters, they perform very well according to the wound channels. Out at 300-400 meters it's a whole different ball game but even out there they perform quite well as long as their velocities are fast enough. It's been my experience that the 120 grn range monolithic offerings in the 6.5 diameter bullets perform very well out to 400 m. which is about my extreme limit to shoot Deer. The 140s just don't seem to expand as well past 300 m.
Your choice of powders are excellent. I use H414 and H4831 because I have lots of it on hand. Some of the newer powders, like Hunter look very good in the tables.
The 260 Remington is a great cartridge platform and it will perform much better than a lot of people think on game as big as Moose and Elk as long as the shooter does their part.
Not sure if I mentioned but my rifle is an 18 pound bull barrel monster. So no Elk or moose hunts for me. That said I am running the expanding 143 ELD-X VS a match style bullet as this big rig will eventually see some long range shots on predators such as wolf and coyote during the frozen months of winter. Another reason my load test was done at the freezing point. 400m is not an option for this rifle short of testing. It is used at 500m-900m mostly on paper and boulders.
Update.... I tested these loads right around freezing and now in the hottest days of summer I have to back off a grain or so as pressure signs appeared at a lower charge. I also seat them a bit further off the lands to help with the pressure. Not sure how much it helps but I also cleaned the bore really good in an attempt to lower friction and see the effects it might have on pressure.
