260 Loads Only

I'm with RING!

Do I have a slow ass gun too?

I developed a load using rem brass, br-2 primers, berger 140 hunting vld, 43gr of H4350, seated at 2.88".

So during development it was pretty well at 2780 average on speed through my RCBS chrony. Then yesterday I got to shoot at 900 yds. According to that speed it should take about 24 moa and to get on target it took 28 moa and was a little low. So if you back that into the calculator it's like 2575-2600 fps. WTF.....

What do y'all think? Try a different powder? Way slow barrel? Or just shoot lighter bullets faster?

It's out of a 24" bartlein 1:8 twist barrel, 1700 ft.

2780fps is in line with 43 grains under a 140 in a 24" barrel. I get 2920+ from 140 amax over 43.2gr h4350 out of a 26" barrel.
For you, I would verify zero, verify tracking of your scope, and be absolutely sure you were firing at 900 yards exactly. It could be your range was off. There's no way that load was anywhere near that 2600 estimate you came up with. If it is, after verifying what I recommended you verify, then the only logical option is try a different lot of h4350, different primer(unlikely), or its time for a better barrel.

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Would that be really odd for a bartlein with under 100 rounds to be that slow?

Here's my group the day before I shot at 900 (unless my range is off).


Can a scope be off like that completely? Even at 3-700?
 
If the tracking Is off... I had my dope out to 1k on steel.. But couldn't get the drop to match a curve.
If I adjusted the velocity to match the drop for under 500 then my 600 plus was way off if I adjusted for a thousand and everything under was way off. That's how I know it was a tracking issue send the scope in had it repaired and everything matched up

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I cant get the 140 A maxes to shoot at all out of my gun, tried 42.0 up through 44.o H4350 in 0.2 grain increments in Lapua brass, tried book COL, as well as 10 and 20 off the lands. Not one good group. its a 8 twist 24 inch Rock barrel in MTU contour, remounted the scope, and it sits in a Mcrees stock. Checked everything that could be wrong, all good and tight. I am thinking I will have to try 140 SMK's now. Anyone ever heard of a gun not being able to shoot the A Maxes?
 
I cant get the 140 A maxes to shoot at all out of my gun, tried 42.0 up through 44.o H4350 in 0.2 grain increments in Lapua brass, tried book COL, as well as 10 and 20 off the lands. Not one good group. its a 8 twist 24 inch Rock barrel in MTU contour, remounted the scope, and it sits in a Mcrees stock. Checked everything that could be wrong, all good and tight. I am thinking I will have to try 140 SMK's now. Anyone ever heard of a gun not being able to shoot the A Maxes?

Does it shoot anything good? If not, it's not the bullet. They like to jump, but not too far. 15-25thou jump ideal, .040 max.

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Rifle......Surgeon Scalpel 26" krieger 1-8
Brass...... Lapua neck turned/ sized to .291
Bullet.... 142 smk jumped .020
Load..... 42.0 h4350

Result... 2805fps avg. Sd of 9. 5 into .150"

A big thank you goes out W Roscoe for showing the sweet spot for the 260.



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Going back to the original post, here is my load I use for shooting out to 1000. I am shooting 108g Lapua Scenar's, seem to be shooting lights out for me. 1st three shots were .30 group at 100 yards. These are great for yot's and long range target. The 260 Remy is the best round I have ever shot. I am shooting a Savage Predator Hunter Model 10 1/8 Twist 24" Barrel. I would love to shoot deer with these but the bullet is not designed for deer shooting. I hope Lapua can produce a similar round for deer someday!

108g Scenar
46.5g H4350
Brass Federal
Primer WLRM
COAL 2.842 (.007 off lands)
AVG FPS 3220
G1 BC .465 G7 .231
 
Yes its now shooting 140 SMK's into the same hole (touching) when I do my part 15 off the lands, using 43.1 H4350, same with the 123 smk using varget, I will have to look at my data sheet on he 123 and post load later, the 123 was 20 off the lands. still trying to get the favoered 43.5 load working but I just ran all the way up and down the COL in 5 thou increments off the lands, starting at 1 thou off, was okay but not great, I think I am going to stick with the 43.1 H4350 with the 140 SMK for now.

Does it shoot anything good? If not, it's not the bullet. They like to jump, but not too far. 15-25thou jump ideal, .040 max.

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I cant get the 140 A maxes to shoot at all out of my gun, tried 42.0 up through 44.o H4350 in 0.2 grain increments in Lapua brass, tried book COL, as well as 10 and 20 off the lands. Not one good group. its a 8 twist 24 inch Rock barrel in MTU contour, remounted the scope, and it sits in a Mcrees stock. Checked everything that could be wrong, all good and tight. I am thinking I will have to try 140 SMK's now. Anyone ever heard of a gun not being able to shoot the A Maxes?

My .260 hates them too. Much better luck with the Hornady 140gr BTSPs and the Berger 130gr VLDs.

John
 
Berger Hybrid ladder test with H4350
Lapua 260 brass on 3rd firing
WLR primers
Each load weighed on gem pro 250

Dta Srs A1 factory 26 inch barrel with 8.5 twist.
2.930 OAL
Seems my lands are almost out of reach on this barrel. Not sure what happened but they measure 2.050 to lands in this barrel. These are jumping .020.
These are 3 shot groups measured out side to out side.
Shot over a magneto v2

DA of -1600 today with snow on the ground.


42.1 grains. Average 2790
Sd 6
Es 15
Group 1.07

42.3. Average 2805
Sd 18
Es 35
Group .9

42.5 average 2811
Es 2
Sd 1
Group .61

42.7. Average. 2817
Es 17
Sd 9
Group .55

42.9. Average. 2829
Es 16
Sd 9
Group .69

43.1. Average 2840
Es 24
Sd 12
Group 1.22

43.3. Average 2855
Es 5
Sd 2
Group .628

43.5. Average 2869
Es 48
Sd 27
Group 1.04

43.7. Average 2878
Es 14
Sd 7
Group .672.


Looking thru here I'd like to load the 43.5 one more time to make sure something didn't happen. That was the load the vlds liked but if that don't work out ill stick with 42.7. It's the best group and the loads on either side are very good also.

What do yall think?



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The magazine on my dta measures 2.950 and if I load to there it will catch when it goes down and to the side. So .020 is about as close as I want to be to the the end to ensure proper feeding.


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Anyone have some .260 gap-10 loads to share? From the three loads I've tried, my rifle starts showing pressure signs far lower than most of the loads posted in this thread. I know it wont take as hot a load as a bolt rifle, so I'm curious what others are seeing.
 
Rifle: AIAE with a 24in Bartlein barrel
Brass: Lapua
Primers: Federal 210M
Powder: H4350
Bullet: 139gr Lapua Scenar
OAL (measured with Hornady Comparator): 2.267
Jump: .015
Chronograph: Magnetospeed
Reloading Equipment Used: Forster Co-Ax, Redding Body die, Redding Micrometer Seater, Lee Collet die, RCBS Rangemaster 750 scale.
Shoulder bumped back: .002
Trim brass to: 2.025


Accuracy Nodes:
40.7gr- 2700fps SD=10.
42.0gr - 2780fps - SD=5.

If I do my part, both of the above loads will shoot .25in groups all day long. I actually shot 1 group at 100 yards a few weeks ago that was 4 shots, 1 hole. Best group I've ever shot. And yes, these print well at distance. I haven't tested beyond 1k yards, but out to 1k these are excellent loads.
 
Just finished my load this morning. Gun is a savage 12 lrp with a 26 inch barrel. Lapua 260 brass, 140 amax, cci 200 primers. 46.6 grains h4831sc and bullet seated .040 off the lands. Averages .6's at 100 yards. Muzzle velocity average of 2873 fps, sd 5, es 17.

I just got the exact same rifle and was looking at using the same component make up. Any more specific info available? Like your chamber length or what you have as an OAL? If not it's ok this gives me something to work up to if I don't get pressure signs before that.
 
I have found that my DTA SRS A1 260 26" barrel loves both the Lapua Senar 136gr L and Lapua 139gr. with 43.3 gr. H4350. Getting 0.35-0.5 MOA AT 100 yards. MagnetoSpeed chrono 136L 2969 fps & 139 2710 fps. (SMK 140gr. 2663 fps). Lapua brass full length sized after 4-5 reloads and no pressure signs.
 
I'm really liking my 140amax over 43.2gr h4350. It's super consistent through my Krieger 8.5 twist. Shot two, three shot groups at 545 yards, back to back but on two different plates. One measures 2.75" and the other about 1.75". I'll take that!
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Has anyone tried RL17 in this case

Yes.

It takes about 1.0gr less RL17 to achieve a given velocity with a given charge weight of H4350.

IE: 3000fps with 44.5gr H4350 and a 130gr VLD, or 43.5gr RL17.

I had very good results with that particular 130/RL17 load, but it was temp sensitive...or more accurately, don't be a dumbass and leave ammo sitting in direct sunlight regardless of temperature like I did or you'll see an 80fps gain.
 
The 123 SMK load is 39.3 Varget 15 off the lands.

One thing I noticed with the 140"s the 8 twist like the SMK's the 8.5twist seems to like the Amaxes.

Yes its now shooting 140 SMK's into the same hole (touching) when I do my part 15 off the lands, using 43.1 H4350, same with the 123 smk using varget, I will have to look at my data sheet on he 123 and post load later, the 123 was 20 off the lands. still trying to get the favoered 43.5 load working but I just ran all the way up and down the COL in 5 thou increments off the lands, starting at 1 thou off, was okay but not great, I think I am going to stick with the 43.1 H4350 with the 140 SMK for now.
 
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SAC Alpha 11 action
26" Bartlein #13 contour.
Chamber 2.256", seated 2.254"BTO for a .002 jump
Berger 140gr Hybrid
43gr of H4350
Lapua brass
Federal 210M primer
MV - 2,880fps (measured at 10' using Ohler 35)

Rifle also has a SureFire Mini-762 can on the end.

With the longer chamber I was able to get up to 43.8gr without it being compressed (no pressure signs on primer either), but MV topped out at 43.2-4 after that with the extra un burnt powder it got slower. Best groups were with 43gr at 2,880 and 43.2 at 2,900.
 
On both my Kriegers H4350 won't shoot 123's 130vld,136,or 139's as good as H4831sc. It's close but not close enough.

700 fully trued
Krieger 8.5tw MTU @24" threaded with M41 Brake
AICS 1.5,
Timney @1.5lbs

Lapua Brass gives me a lil less room so I shoot the 140 hybrids with 47.7g H4831sc in RP brass = 2850 (2.900")
130 vld Varget 38g = 2890 (RE17 pushes me over 3k, but I'm an accuracy freak.
139 45.5g H4831sc= 2820 (2.800")
136 scenar 46g H4831sc (not clocked but a full inch high at 100-500) (2.815")
I use Lapua brass on everything except my 140 hybrids

I so wished H4350 would have worked and got 12lbs, but it smokes in my .243. so I'm good.
 
43 is on the higher side... 43.5 is max in many guns... Most of the accuracy what I've seen has been between 42 and 43 grains, for everybody's gun

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I found the same to be true also.

Here's a quick work up on a used GA Precision 260 Remington George put together himself on a Surgeon action I just acquired two weeks ago. It wears a 24" Bartlein R5 1:8.2 twist MTU barrel in an A1-3 McMillan stock.

First 10 rounds through the gun were:

139 Scenar
42.5 H4350 (two different lots, one was over a decade old, the other was from 2006).
CCI-BR2
Lapua 260 brass @2.2400" CBTO = 2.800" COAL .0175" off the lands.
Velocity 2725@ 20' using an Ohler P35
ES: 19 SD: 6

The next 10 were the exact same only using 42.7 grains and a F210M primer, which really tighten up the group a bit. I had only looked down the bore to sight this gun in so hence the reason why they are so far off to one side of the paper. Not sure how I messed up the round count written on the paper, but I did? Either way it is 5 shots into a decent group once the gun settled in.
 

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Went out on a quest for some H4350 Saturday morning, but ended up with 3 pounds of R17 instead. One place a half hour away had (and still has) gobs of 4350, but the guy who owns the place is a complete ass and tends to hire the same. My local guy had R17 and actually appreciates my business. Alright, rant over.

I decided to go ahead and load up some test rounds from 41-43.5gr of R17 in RP brass with 140 Hornady BTHP's, CCI200's, .020 off the lands. Everything else the same as my H4350 load except the powder. 41-41.5gr was on par with my current 4350 load as far as group size, but the groups were all over as far as POI. 41.75, 42 and 42.25 all shot .5" or better and would have stacked into a sub 3/4 minute 15 round group if all fired at the same target. Everything higher than that was .5-.9", but showed zero pressure. My H3450 load is 43gr and gets 2718fps from a 20" barrel, I'll run some more of the R17 loads across the chrono this week and see if they're keeping up. I had tried R17 with 123's and the gun didn't like that combo very much, so saying I was relieved it worked with the 140's is an understatement.
 
I played with the Berger 140 Hybrids over the last week or two with my new barrel. I just couldn't get them to stay consistent. My OCW workup wasn't stellar. The seating depth adjustment at distance wasn't anything special. I tried, they just wouldn't make tiny groups. At the urging of Riffraff, I loaded up some of the 139 scenar's with the ocw load for the bergers. At 600yds they shot a 4 shot group of just over 2 inches ( i used one of the 5 I loaded to confirm POI on steel vs on paper for grouping). At 100 yds, all 5 rounds touched. I think I will use the scenars verses the bergers.

Load data:
lapua brass
Wolf LR primers
H4350 43.3gr
139 scenars to .025" off the lands
 
My experience in the 260 with RL17 is at a given charge weight, RL17 will be 100-120fps faster than H4350, or equal velocity for one grain less RL17.

I should probably qualify that this was with 130gr Berger VLD and Norma Goldens...and that 43.5gr RL17 got me 3000fps+ with the Bergers from a 26" 1:8 with no pressure whatsoever.
 
Anyone try WC857 in .260 shooting 139 gr or higher? Down to 5 pounds of H4350 and I ordered 32 #'s of WC857 to mess around in my 338 Lapua as I am almost out of H1000.
 
Here are some h414 loads in a 24" gas gun.

44.7gr H414, 123 smk, lapua brass, 2.81" oal, 2980 fps
42.5gr H414, 140 amax, lapua brass, 2.81" oal, 2750 fps

Both shoot 1/2-3/4 moa.
 
Those of you shooting the 260 Lapua brass, how many firings (round about) are you getting out of a case before scrapping it?

On the early lot of 260 (701) I was getting 3 reloads before the pockets were loose.
I sent a new piece and once fired piece back to Kevin at lapua, Yep, he said they were
loose new! On my second barrel, new lot # of brass, same basic load. so far so good.
I have over 30 firings on my Lapua 6BR brass on the VERY warm side, never tossed
one piece of it.
 
Finally got my latest load development finished...

Virgin Lapua brass
43.3 gr Accurate 4350
CCI No. 200 large rifle primer
139 Scenar
0.020 jump

Fired 10 shots over the magnetospeed and averaged 2830 fps with and SD of 12.

Shot a 5-shot group this morning that measured about 3 inches (mainly horizontal) at 570 yards in 9-12 mph full value wind.

I'm calling it good :)
 
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Turns out there have been a couple lots of amaxes that were out of spec.... Lot ending in 191 and possibly 190. That is most likely the reason they didn't shoot in my gun. I have a couple hundred of a different lot I'll have to try now. There was thread in the other reloading section about a guy having trouble with them and they ended up replacing them.
 
Here is my results so far with new build. I have maybe 60 rounds through gun so far. Its coming along quite well. No pressure signs yet. All of these groups are fire forming loads too...

700 action
260 AI
26" Krieger 8.5" RVC
Built by Bugholes




This is shots 7,8,9 fired out of gun after the first 6 were zeroing. 130 gr VLD 39.5 RL17
oa11mo.jpg


Here is another group, 130 gr VLD with 40gr RL17. 2.875 OAL

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And one more moving up in powder. The right group was 5 shots with 130gr VLD 40.9 gr RL17, and left is 130 gr VLD with 41.2 gr RL17 2.875 OAL

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Here is FF brass
vxlnyg.jpg