Evaluate this ladder please

[cast1]

Going out this morning to shoot the following ladder:

260 remington-savage 110 action 26" shilen 1:8"
Lapua brass
CCI BR2
RL 17
SMK 142 -.005" off lands

37.6
38.2
38.8
39.4
40
40.6
41.2
41.8~
42.4+
43++
43.6+++

Sound reasonable to everybody? Don't wanna blow my face off just yet.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[1SMALLJOHNSON]

Re: Evaluate this ladder please

Brian- We on the board will not tell you what is safe or not safe. You have to rely upon established norms of reading pressure. Nobody knows exactly your chamber and throat conditions, bore dimensions, primer output, bullet diameter, powder lot, seating depth off the lands, internal capacity of your brass, nor weather conditions.

Do yourself a favor and bring a micrometer or caliper and some factory rounds loaded with the same brass. Shoot some of those. Measure the before and after expansion, just forward of the extractor groove. You might use that change as a reference.

Now, as you go up your ladder, watch and read each case. Look for the well established signs of pressure. Decide for yourself where you want to stop.

Don't tickle the dragon's belly. Keep it safe. Darwin is watching.

 

[Jaxdialation]

Re: Evaluate this ladder please

I would do a pressure test BEFORE the ladder. With 260 in particular, knowing the max load really helps narrow the range of loads to test. Find the max then back down 1.5-2.0 grains and work up.

by the way.....use H4350 not RL17

 

[cast1]

Re: Evaluate this ladder please

Would love to use h4350, but since you have to service somebody to find components right now, I was going to go with what I could find.

 

[Bob 964]

Re: Evaluate this ladder please

FYI --- The Alliant Reloader's Guide doesn't have any info on 142 grain bullets for the 260 Remington, but it does recommend a maximum charge weight of 41.0 grains for the 140 grain bullet using RL 17.

 

[cast1]

Re: Evaluate this ladder please

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bob 964</div><div class="ubbcode-body">FYI --- The Alliant Reloader's Guide doesn't have any info on 142 grain bullets for the 260 Remington, but it does recommend a maximum charge weight of 41.0 grains for the 140 grain bullet using RL 17.

</div></div>

Right, that's what I had based it on. It's basically 15% below to 5% above their recommended load for a 140 gr bullet. Sierra does not differentiate between 140 and 142 in their manual.

Did not get a chance to shoot the ladder yet.

 

[steve123]

Re: Evaluate this ladder please

Work your way up and when the bolt starts to get sticky "stop". Don't shoot the rest and pull them when you get home. Also watch your primers as a indicator.