Hard Time finding a 260 Load

[HPW]

I've been having a hard time finding a load for my Savage LRP 260, mainly because it has been shooting everything so well. Most times I can find a definite winner to go with, but this thing just keeps shooting better than I do. I started with ladder test at 400 yards to narrow the charge range to test with H4350. Ended up with 3 shots in an inch and a quarter. From there I loaded up 4 different loads to test. Shot those at 100 yards because of gusty wind conditions that day.

From that test it made it hard to determine what was shooting better, so I loaded up 3 more loads to try and narrow it down. Not near as much wind today so I went to 200 yards to test them. Screwed up the first group by jerking a round.
42.6 grains

42.8 grains

The last load was starting to open up, but the wind also started to pick up.
43 grains

At this point I think I am going to settle on 42.6 grains and start tweaking seating depth as otherwise I could be chasing powder charge for a while. I don't know what I can expect to gain in accuracy at this point. What do you guys think I can do to better test these loads. I'm thinking I'll wait for better conditions and go out to 500 yards.

 

[mattj]

Re: Hard Time finding a 260 Load

It looks like you might have an OCW node there in the 42.6-42.9 range.... I'd go with 42.7 or 42.8, find a seating depth that works well with that charge, and call it a load.

If you are asking wtf is OCW, here you go:
http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Hard Time finding a 260 Load

I have the same problem with my 260, at 100 yds everything shoots around 1/2 MOA or better, took a bunch of dif loads to a 900 yds spot and tested, only one came out the winner and it was the hottest, running 142 SMk at 2855 with an 11 SD, this was the worst load at 100 yds with average of 2/3 MOA by the way.
good luck with your quest.

 

[Wolfish365]

Re: Hard Time finding a 260 Load

Hmm. This is just straight .260 and not the AI version right?

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Hard Time finding a 260 Load

Obermeyer barrel and match chamber but 47g or H4831sc and any 139-142 class bullets is where it's at in my 24" barrel, 2800 fps +/- 10 for different bullets...

 

[bricktop]

Re: Hard Time finding a 260 Load

Yea, I would go out to longer range, then you can you look at the vertical dispersion of the loads and really find what shoots the most consistently. A chrono helps but vertical tells the whole story (under decent conditions).