Favorite 260 loads?

Jevyod · May 21, 2012, 06:35 PM

I was wondering if any of you all have a pet load for the 260 rem. I plan on starting with Hornady 129 SST. Will I need a faster powder for that weight? Was thinking of starting with the H 4350. Thanks

Doyle · May 21, 2012, 06:52 PM

A lot will depend on your barrel length. Mine is only 18.5" so I use RL-17 which tends to do well in a short barrel.

farmerboy · May 21, 2012, 07:53 PM

Your targets should tell you if that powder is right for your gun or not. Accuracy is what you should be looking for nothing else in my opinion. How does it group?

Jevyod · May 21, 2012, 08:12 PM

I actually haven't started yet...am just working on cleaning the brass. Mine has a short barrel as well. Its a Ruger M77 Mark II.

farmerboy · May 21, 2012, 09:11 PM

I'd start by googling "Lilja twist chart" from there you can find the choice of the grain bullet for you rifle. Then go to your manual and pick a powder in the middle or google most accurate powder for your caliber. And you got off to a great start. And I hear a short barrel or powder for a long barrel. I've had better results from the proper grain bullet for a chosen twist barrel, not really the length.

hodaka · May 21, 2012, 09:43 PM

I think that you are starting with a decent powder. My Remington with a 24 inch barrel (it may be 26??) likes a heavy load of IMR 4350 and 120 and 123 gr. bullets. I have not found any 140 gr that it likes.

603Country · May 22, 2012, 02:00 PM

My short barrel (16.5 inch) Ruger Mk II shoots very well with the Nosler 120 grain Ballistic Tip over a near max load of Reloader 17. With the 100 grain Nosler, it prefers IMR 4064 (near max). Prior to using those powders with those bullets, I used a moderate load of 4064 behind that 120 grain bullet and it was a real fine load that I used on deer, pigs, and coyotes from 60 yards to 400 yards. I switched to the R17 for a little more velocity and it was very accurate with the 120 grainer, but not so hot with the 100 grainer. With no Chronometer, I can't actually tell you that I have more velocity, but I sure do have more muzzle blast.

mnhntr · May 22, 2012, 02:47 PM

What is your barrel length and twist? I have a 26in 1/8 twist that I use H4350 and 140gr Bergers or 142gr SMKs

Jevyod · May 22, 2012, 08:02 PM

It has a 1:10 twist and I think its a 22 inch barrel (not sure where to measure to). So how does twist rate effect the stability of a bullet? And would say a 1:8 twist stabilize a heavier bullet better? Am looking to learn!

Doyle · May 22, 2012, 08:34 PM

Jevyod,for a given bullet diameter the only way it can get heavier is to get longer. The longer a bullet is in relation to its diameter the faster it needs to spin to stabalize.

mnhntr · May 23, 2012, 02:26 PM

Yours will most likely give you good results in the 120gr bullets. The faster the twist the heavier the bullet they will stabilize. However at some point they start to be too fast for lightweight bullets.

Jevyod · May 23, 2012, 05:46 PM

Ok so I have a correction. I had tried to measure the rate of twist myself, and came up with 1:10 both times. But I had also emailed Ruger and they said its a 1:8

I did use a 25 caliber brush...maybe it slipped a bit. So if that is the case, should I be looking hard at a heavier bullet?

mrawesome22 · May 23, 2012, 06:05 PM

Depends on what you're after.

Heavier bullets generally do better at extreme ranges due to higher b.c. and wind has less effect on them.

For hunting ranges, a lighter bullet will shoot flatter, which means a bigger buffer zone for range estimation errors.

Past 400 yards or so, super light bullets can really start to lose steam, and k.e. can drop off quickly.

Sent from MIUI using Tapatalk 2.

hodaka · May 23, 2012, 08:13 PM

Only way to find out is to try them. I would try the 129's to see how they worked. A box of 140's might work better but then they may not. Same with some 100's or some 120's. My 8 twist AR in .223 loves the 52 Bergers better than anything. Go figure.

May 21, 2012, 06:35 PM	#1
Jevyod Senior Member Join Date: May 5, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 172	Favorite 260 loads? I was wondering if any of you all have a pet load for the 260 rem. I plan on starting with Hornady 129 SST. Will I need a faster powder for that weight? Was thinking of starting with the H 4350. Thanks

May 21, 2012, 06:52 PM	#2
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	A lot will depend on your barrel length. Mine is only 18.5" so I use RL-17 which tends to do well in a short barrel.

May 21, 2012, 07:53 PM	#3
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Your targets should tell you if that powder is right for your gun or not. Accuracy is what you should be looking for nothing else in my opinion. How does it group?

May 21, 2012, 08:12 PM	#4
Jevyod Senior Member Join Date: May 5, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 172	I actually haven't started yet...am just working on cleaning the brass. Mine has a short barrel as well. Its a Ruger M77 Mark II.

May 21, 2012, 09:11 PM	#5
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	I'd start by googling "Lilja twist chart" from there you can find the choice of the grain bullet for you rifle. Then go to your manual and pick a powder in the middle or google most accurate powder for your caliber. And you got off to a great start. And I hear a short barrel or powder for a long barrel. I've had better results from the proper grain bullet for a chosen twist barrel, not really the length.

May 21, 2012, 09:43 PM	#6
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	I think that you are starting with a decent powder. My Remington with a 24 inch barrel (it may be 26??) likes a heavy load of IMR 4350 and 120 and 123 gr. bullets. I have not found any 140 gr that it likes.

May 22, 2012, 02:00 PM	#7
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	My short barrel (16.5 inch) Ruger Mk II shoots very well with the Nosler 120 grain Ballistic Tip over a near max load of Reloader 17. With the 100 grain Nosler, it prefers IMR 4064 (near max). Prior to using those powders with those bullets, I used a moderate load of 4064 behind that 120 grain bullet and it was a real fine load that I used on deer, pigs, and coyotes from 60 yards to 400 yards. I switched to the R17 for a little more velocity and it was very accurate with the 120 grainer, but not so hot with the 100 grainer. With no Chronometer, I can't actually tell you that I have more velocity, but I sure do have more muzzle blast.

May 22, 2012, 02:47 PM	#8
mnhntr Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2008 Posts: 972	What is your barrel length and twist? I have a 26in 1/8 twist that I use H4350 and 140gr Bergers or 142gr SMKs

May 22, 2012, 08:02 PM	#9
Jevyod Senior Member Join Date: May 5, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 172	It has a 1:10 twist and I think its a 22 inch barrel (not sure where to measure to). So how does twist rate effect the stability of a bullet? And would say a 1:8 twist stabilize a heavier bullet better? Am looking to learn!

May 22, 2012, 08:34 PM	#10
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Jevyod,for a given bullet diameter the only way it can get heavier is to get longer. The longer a bullet is in relation to its diameter the faster it needs to spin to stabalize.

May 23, 2012, 02:26 PM	#11
mnhntr Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2008 Posts: 972	Yours will most likely give you good results in the 120gr bullets. The faster the twist the heavier the bullet they will stabilize. However at some point they start to be too fast for lightweight bullets.

May 23, 2012, 05:46 PM	#12
Jevyod Senior Member Join Date: May 5, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 172	Ok so I have a correction. I had tried to measure the rate of twist myself, and came up with 1:10 both times. But I had also emailed Ruger and they said its a 1:8 I did use a 25 caliber brush...maybe it slipped a bit. So if that is the case, should I be looking hard at a heavier bullet?

May 23, 2012, 06:05 PM	#13
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Depends on what you're after. Heavier bullets generally do better at extreme ranges due to higher b.c. and wind has less effect on them. For hunting ranges, a lighter bullet will shoot flatter, which means a bigger buffer zone for range estimation errors. Past 400 yards or so, super light bullets can really start to lose steam, and k.e. can drop off quickly. Sent from MIUI using Tapatalk 2.

May 23, 2012, 08:13 PM	#14
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	Only way to find out is to try them. I would try the 129's to see how they worked. A box of 140's might work better but then they may not. Same with some 100's or some 120's. My 8 twist AR in .223 loves the 52 Bergers better than anything. Go figure.