.260 Load - Lapua Brass

[10generation]

Newbie reloader. Have a fair amount of twice fired Lapua brass I'd like to use. Seems like most of the loads I see on the hide are for Remington Brass.

Looks like a good powder to start with is H4350.

Have heard start at 41 grains and work up toward 43. Agree?

What primers are best for Lapua and H4350?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[mattj]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

H4350 is a great powder, very temperature insensitive. Your starting/max load will depend on the bullet you are using. The Hodgon data here should get you started:
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

In general, Lapua brass has less capacity than most other brass because it is thicker, so pressure will be a bit higher (ie, less powder will get the same pressure). That said, the manual data above is pretty conservative, so you're probably safe starting at the 'starting' load listed in the manual for your bullet weight without accounting for the Lapua brass thickness.

In the current climate, use whatever large rifle primers you can your mitts on. If you can find them, I like CCI BR2's.

Also, in case you're not familiar with it, I'd highly recommend the OCW method for load development -- gives you a strategy to follow for finding a load that has worked very well for lots of folks (including myself), and can save a lot of time/effort/components/barrel life:
http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

 

[10generation]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

Thanks - very helpful. Forgot to say I'm planning to use SMK 142, maybe Berger VLD 140.

 

[sharpshooterbr]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

For the 140 gr Berger, there manual calls for 37.0-41.1 of H4350. A lot of people are finding the best loads just above listed max, but as always, work up slowly.

 

[ezee]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

I shoot 142 SMKs over 42.5 gr H-4350, nosler brass. 1:8 tw 25" Pac Nor. Did not see pressure until 44 gr. Not sure how case cap compares in Nosler vs Lapua. I agree published data seems conservative.

 

[jfseaman]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ezee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot 142 SMKs over 42.5 gr H-4350, nosler brass. 1:8 tw 25" Pac Nor. Did not see pressure until 44 gr. Not sure how case cap compares in Nosler vs Lapua. I agree published data seems conservative. </div></div>28" Pac-Nor 3L. It takes .5 grains more in Nosler for same fps as Lapua. I've gone to 44.1 yielding 2887fps with Lapua, results were fine for high wind days but my normal 41.5 gets me a reliable accurate 2743fps. With Nosler, 42gns shoots the same.

 

[DeSilva]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

i wouldnt try thr VLD as imho they are just too temprimental on seating depth. a bullet i would def recommend is the Berger 140 hybrid. very stable in flight even through transonic region as i regulary ring small steel at 1300 yrds with these using 42.6 grn H4350 out of my 8.5 twist DTA SRS. try em all as only ur rifle will tell u wot it likes. Start low and work up slowly.

 

[260shtr]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

+1 on BR2's

 

[wfjames22]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

I'm running 140 amax in Lapua brass with 43.6gr of H4350 and I'm using CCI BR2 primers. Normally yields 2850fps @ 300asl in a 26" Brux barrel with a TBAC 30P-1.

 

[10generation]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

Sounds like Lapua Brass, CCI BR2's (if I can find them), H4350 powder and I'm on the right track.

SMK 142 is what I will start with, is seating depth a key accuracy lever for that bullet?

Rifle has a 24" barrel, 700 action.

 

[260shtr]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

Fron my limited exprience with 142's (1st 300 rds through my barrel) they arn't to jump sensitive. The first combo I tried netted 2740fps and .250 MOA and that's where I quit with that bullet.

 

[Brandon05_88]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

I'm running 142 SMK over 43.4 gr H4350 in a Lapua case lit by a CCI BR-2. The 142 is about 0.050" off the lands. I also developed a 140 Amax over 43.2 gr H4350 same brass and primers, but 0.020" off the lands. Both loads give me 2,825 fps with a 26" Bartlein 1:8.2" twist.

I tested the 142 SMK from 0.020" to 0.060" off the lands at 300 yards and couldn't really tell a difference between them. I've got about 500 rounds on my barrel now. She still shoots the same seating depth like she always has.

The 142 is also stable through the transonic barrier. I've held about 2 MOA at 1,760 yards with them in some gusty winds even though they went transonic around 1,400 yards.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

140 A-Max w/ 43.1gr H4350 and CCI-200 gives me 2810fps from a 26" 1:8 Criterion...works well.

Much above 43.3 and I start to get a good ejector swipe.

 

[turbo54]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

Lapua 260 brass
43.0gr H4350
140 Horny bthp
CCI BR2
25.5" Bartlein 1-8

2850fps dope works to at least 1300 yards

In RP brass, it takes 43.6gr H4350 to do the same thing.

 

[cchurchi]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

.260 Lapua Brass
Fed Match primer
44.0 gr H4350
140gr A-Max
2.830" - 0.010" off lands
2860 FPS
26" GAP Crusader
Went up to 44.5 gr = 0 pressure signs

 

[10generation]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

This is great, feel like I've got a good start with the SMK 142 and the 140 AMAX.

Does the number of times a brass is reloaded change the pressure/velocity? E.g. would my sixth reloading of Lapua brass have a different fps if all other things are held constant?

Thanks

 

[turbo54]

Re: .260 Load - Lapua Brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 10Generation</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is great, feel like I've got a good start with the SMK 142 and the 140 AMAX.

Does the number of times a brass is reloaded change the pressure/velocity? E.g. would my sixth reloading of Lapua brass have a different fps if all other things are held constant?

Thanks </div></div>

The answer is "not really", but of course it depends on a lot of things.

It is pretty common to lose a little speed going from virgin brass to fired brass because the brass blows out a bit to fit the chamber, and will generally never be as small as it was when it was virgin. Of course, SB FLS sizing might get it close.

If your sizing practices are consistent and methodical, you'll see that velocity will remain consistent between 1x,2x....10x brass. If you vary your practices, by neck sizing only sometimes, FLSing other times, or SB FLSing....it may vary a bit - but not much.