Anyone using Varget for reloading .260? If so what bullet weight is good with that powder? Advice and resource pointers appreciated.
Thanks
Sako!
Thanks
Sako!
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.260 and Varget
- Thread starter Sako man
- Start date
Wonder about heavier bullets like the 139 Scenar or 142 SMK? I think for optimal performance they need to be moving at least 2700+ out of the barrel.
Digging through my old data...
140gr A-Max, Lapua brass, WLR
26" 1:8 barrel, .118 freebore
Varget
37.0gr: 2670
37.5gr: 2711
38.0gr: 2773
In a later range trip with 38.0gr Varget in Nosler brass with 140 A-Max (quite possibly a different lot of Varget) average velocity was 2726fps.
40.8gr of varget.
107smk
260 rem
1:8 twist
28in bbl
they shot ok but I think they could do better
107smk
260 rem
1:8 twist
28in bbl
they shot ok but I think they could do better
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That is very light bullet. I assume you mean 40.8 grains of Varget? How far out are you able to shoot those before they go supersonic?
123gr A-Max, Lapua/Nosler brass, WLR
26" 1:8 barrel, .118 freebore
39.3gr Varget = 2936fps
120gr Nosler BT, RP brass, WLR
22" 1:9 Remington 700 factory barrel
39.3gr Varget = 2800fps
26" 1:8 barrel, .118 freebore
39.3gr Varget = 2936fps
120gr Nosler BT, RP brass, WLR
22" 1:9 Remington 700 factory barrel
39.3gr Varget = 2800fps
ok its ~1400-1500 yrds, but I need to chrono them since I think my gun will shoot them faster than 3100fps if I shoot like 120s faster than that ( I used bergers ballistic calculator)
i had been under the impression that varget was not a powder of choice for the 260, given i have no experience with this caliber. it seems varget performance in 260 loads is most optimal with lighter/medium weight bullets?
Varget is good but H4350 and H4831sc will give you another 100fps+ and keep low ES, if your running a short barrel that difference may not be as great, but you'd have a bigger bang lol.
Well according to this Varget was powder of choice for pushing 142 SMKs. So might work well for 139 scenars? Cool!
When we got to SOA I in 2002, the experienced .260 shooters there were recommending 34-36gr of Varget with SRA 140's all the way out to 1Kyd, the 142 was just coming into vogue back around then. We were shooting 139's with 40-41gr of VV N-550, and it was probably too hot a load with too fast a powder. Blew a number of primers when the temps got into the 80's. We ended up keeping our ammo in a cooler. I switched from 139's to 142's after that; they were on the shelf instead of order-only, and my suspicion was/is that the 139's tend(ed) to show pressures sooner, with lighter loads
My first time shooting beyond 300yd, it was a slice of heaven. All I could think was how much easier it was to shoot 1Kyd that I had imagined. It was never that easy again. Shooting across the flat at 6-8000ft ASL in the Southwest is a lot different from shooting across the rolling cropland at 800ft ASL here in the Northeast.
Greg
My first time shooting beyond 300yd, it was a slice of heaven. All I could think was how much easier it was to shoot 1Kyd that I had imagined. It was never that easy again. Shooting across the flat at 6-8000ft ASL in the Southwest is a lot different from shooting across the rolling cropland at 800ft ASL here in the Northeast.
Greg
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seeing that i have 8 pounds of varget, i tried to get it to work with 123amax... NOTHING i loaded would get better then a inch.... 
Hey Ring, looks H4350 is working well for you. H4350 did great at short range like 8nbait, switched to IMR4064 and things are working well.
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-reloading/199869-260-130-vld-troubles.html
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-reloading/199869-260-130-vld-troubles.html
i wish i could get varget to shoot in my gun, i have tons of it... i went .3gr up from top to bottom with loads.. all blew in my gun.. rem700 260, 24" CBI Match
After having no luck whatsoever with H4350 and 142smks....I know....doesn't make sense.... I just loaded my OCW test with Varget and I am off to the range this morning. Hope to have some good results.
The Capn'
The Capn'
Seeing the picture of Sherri shouldering her Tubb 2000 in the offhand, it becomes apparent to me that her shoulder stock is significantly foreshortened, presenting an appearance very close to that of a bullpup rifle design.
It's long been a consideration of mine that LOP, as we conventionally consider it, is really more about sight/scope relief, and less about the general body/stock ergonomic relationship. I believe that a shorter LOP, coupled with a more forward sight/scope mounting (ideally combining a barrel block bedding approach, along the sight/scope base mounted directly onto the barrel), allows for a better balance with longer barrels; which I consider to be essential to getting the best performance and bore life out of the .260, and other exceptionally appropriate LR chamberings.
Years back, I gave some thought to action design, rather merging some of the better features of the AR/Stoner design with a more conventional turnbolt operated action. When the Tubb 2000 action appeared, I recognized that the design had already been rendered, far better than anything I could have ever come up with.
Greg
It's long been a consideration of mine that LOP, as we conventionally consider it, is really more about sight/scope relief, and less about the general body/stock ergonomic relationship. I believe that a shorter LOP, coupled with a more forward sight/scope mounting (ideally combining a barrel block bedding approach, along the sight/scope base mounted directly onto the barrel), allows for a better balance with longer barrels; which I consider to be essential to getting the best performance and bore life out of the .260, and other exceptionally appropriate LR chamberings.
Years back, I gave some thought to action design, rather merging some of the better features of the AR/Stoner design with a more conventional turnbolt operated action. When the Tubb 2000 action appeared, I recognized that the design had already been rendered, far better than anything I could have ever come up with.
Greg
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Op,
After having no luck at all with H4350 and H4832sc with the 142 SMK's, I decided to try Varget for the hell of it. Right off the bat it grouped tighter than either of the other 2 powders. I settled on 39.5gr of Varget and that gives me an easy 2750fps with .5moa or less accuracy. More than enough for what I was testing for. With the other powders accuracy in the 1-3moa range.
On a side note I only had this accuracy problem with the 142SMK, every other bullet and powder combo shot good for me.
Specs:
Savage action
26in CBI match barrel, Varmint taper
Choate stock.
Rifle Basix trigger.
SY
After having no luck at all with H4350 and H4832sc with the 142 SMK's, I decided to try Varget for the hell of it. Right off the bat it grouped tighter than either of the other 2 powders. I settled on 39.5gr of Varget and that gives me an easy 2750fps with .5moa or less accuracy. More than enough for what I was testing for. With the other powders accuracy in the 1-3moa range.
On a side note I only had this accuracy problem with the 142SMK, every other bullet and powder combo shot good for me.
Specs:
Savage action
26in CBI match barrel, Varmint taper
Choate stock.
Rifle Basix trigger.
SY
It shot ok but this is what I ran into.
I had 7 charge groups to shoot plus the 3 spotter/foulers.
The first two shots in 4 of 7 of the groups were touching. When I went back thru for the 3rd in each group all kinds of chaos occurred. Shot went here, shot went there. All except for the 1% higher than "max" which was 38gr. The holes were pretty ragged and you could tell that there was some instability in the bullet up around 2780fps. Down near the bottom 35.3gr and 35.7 the holes looked like they were put there with a hole punch...totally asleep but it spit one out of each group. Here is the target. Let me know if you need any other info from it.
The Capn'
After struggling with H4350 to shoot with the lighter bullets, I contacted Dan Newberry. I did the 39.3 (Varget,Lapua Brass,123 Scenars naked, Fed Match Primers) loaded them to mag length (2.810) and shot this 5 shot group at 550 yards out of my PGWDI Coyote. I will note that with the heavier bullets, the H4350 works great, but I was having some weird stuff going on with the lighter bullets when using this powder.
Thanks Dan
Thanks Dan
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So my pet load of 39.3gr Varget with a 120/123 is a 'standard' OCW, eh?
Proof even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again...
Proof even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again...
So my pet load of 39.3gr Varget with a 120/123 is a 'standard' OCW, eh?
Proof even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again...
BoilerUP pm me your other 260 loads. Really love varget with the 123 scenars, but I have 500 136s I need to try and will go back to 4350 for those.
Very interesting, I'm betting with more experimenting you could find a sweet spot with the Varget? 4350 and Varget are close in burn rate are they not? Have you tried moving to a different bullet, perhaps something heavier? Looks like the 4350 is a winner in that round.
But man that is a shit group with the Varget, bummer!
i tryed from max down 3 or 4 gr,.3 at a time.. varget would not shoot...
this is my 140 varget test...
FYI.. 39.2 is HOT!.... dont load it...
38.6 looks promising, perhaps not enough to get you out very far? Do you know what your MV was at that point?
need 2 crono/dope it, but book would put it 2800+ maybe... need to load a few more to confirm, then 250 to get them done, and go to some LR tests...
You might be good to go then. 2750 fps MV will get a 139-142 close to it's G7 max potential. Did you measure that group with the 38.6 Varget, it looks 1/2. At least all three holes are touching.
If your using an optical chrono like a Chroney I would recommend getting at Magneto, very accurate and much easier to set up. One excellent investment. This way you can trust your data.
