Finally made my first 260 rounds! Pics inside!

LVdubbin

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 27, 2010
206
7
39
Henderson, NV
I just got done loading up some rounds for my LMT MWS 260. I'm new to reloading and this has definitely been a learning experience. I found out early on that the Chargemaster 1500 and the Trim Mate were must have items. I know the 140's aren't optimal in a 1-9 twist barrel, but it's all I could find locally. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Anyways, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the help and knowledge this site has provided. Here's a few pics of my work.

ETA: Just got back from the range and the 140's did fine. I got to shoot out to 952 yards and I'm still learning the art of long range, but I did manage to get about 15 hits at that distance. I think the barrel will perform better as it gets broken in.



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Pic of my Midnight Bronze LMT MWS 260
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It's a long ways to the berm...
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And a pic of a great guy named Dave that we met out there. Gave us some much need instruction and let us all shoot his competition 6mm tack driver rifles. Thanks Dave and if you see this post hit me up. I'd like to pick your brain more on long range shooting.
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Shooters Pro Shop: Custom Competition

They had Nosler 123gr Custom Competitions just last week. They will probably have more in the next couple of weeks. Keep an eye out, very decently priced round for trigger time.

I take mine to the range for the first time tomorrow morning. Also doing 140 Amax and 142 SMK. Which primers are you using?
 
Im doing load development now. That's what the blue tape is. I loaded in half grain increments from 41.5 to 43.5 grains, 10 rounds of each load. I'm going tomorrow morning and will have the opportunity to shoot 1,400 yds if conditions allow. Is 10 rounds too many for load development?
 
I just got done loading up some rounds for my LMT MWS 260. I'm new to reloading and this has definitely been a learning experience. I found out early on that the Chargemaster 1500 and the Trim Mate were must have items. I know the 140's aren't optimal in a 1-9 twist barrel, but it's all I could find locally. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Anyways, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the help and knowledge this site has provided. Here's a few pics of my work.



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The Hornady 140s will stabilize fine in your 9 twist. 139 scenars are marginal. Bergers might not work so well. They are finicky about bullet twist and are already below the 1.4 minimum stability factor in a 9 twist. Good news is that stability increases with distance so if you can get them to group at 100 yards you're gtg.
 
Nice looking gun! I've considered .260 for my next build (if I ever get around to a second build). I'm assuming its standard .260, not AI or some other pseudo wild cat? Call me a fanatic, but I'm a big fan of the AI rounds if for no other reason than I never have to trim.

Gotta say the a-max are a great bullet for the price. Though Berger is a much friendlier company, at least in my experience. I once had A-max failures when I was getting into long range (6mm shotgun type... in the middle of a f-class match...no fun). I emailed hornady about it and they never got back to me. No surprise, no offense taken, its a big company. Emailed Berger and their VP emailed me personally back inside of a week! Plus he supplied me with a bunch of data where they intentionally tested bergers to failure in order to improve their line. All that advertisement for them and what do I shoot at the range now? ... DTACs....
 
I just got done loading up some rounds for my LMT MWS 260. I'm new to reloading and this has definitely been a learning experience. I found out early on that the Chargemaster 1500 and the Trim Mate were must have items. I know the 140's aren't optimal in a 1-9 twist barrel, but it's all I could find locally. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Anyways, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the help and knowledge this site has provided. Here's a few pics of my work.

ETA: Just got back from the range and the 140's did fine. I got to shoot out to 952 yards and I'm still learning the art of long range, but I did manage to get about 15 hits at that distance. I think the barrel will perform better as it gets broken in.



null-4.jpg


null-2.jpg


null-3.jpg


Pic of my Midnight Bronze LMT MWS 260
null-6.jpg


It's a long ways to the berm...
null-7.jpg


And a pic of a great guy named Dave that we met out there. Gave us some much need instruction and let us all shoot his competition 6mm tack driver rifles. Thanks Dave and if you see this post hit me up. I'd like to pick your brain more on long range shooting.
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What scope is that? I'm on a tiny monitor and cant make it out. Looks compact. Or is that an illusion?