260 with H4350 unsuccessful

[8nbait]

I recently got a new 260 rem and stocked up with H4350 and 130 bergers in anticipation (this will be a hunting rifle). After plenty of rounds down range I have finally decided that it just won't shoot H4350 with the bergers. I will shoot decent with 140 amax but not the bergers. I tried different primers, bushings, seating depths etc with no improvement. One day it would be good but the next the poi would change and groups would scatter. So after wasting a bunch of bullets and powder because I knew H4350 was THE powder for the .260 I spoke with Dan Newberry and he recommended Varget. Luckily I had some here so I loaded up a few with 3 different seating depths and VIOLA, nice 1/2 moa groups at 300 yards. The best it has shot since I owned it. So I am thinking ok...this is a hunting rig what is the speed. So I break out the chrono and I am getting 2860 average so I can live with that. These loads have held together for several range outings and slight seating changes have only impacted the shape of the groups rather than the size. For my rifle I suppose Varget is the answer. Thought I would share the info.

I attached two photos, the first is H4350, two 5 round groups (same exact load) at 300 yards fired right after each other after cooling. Note how the POI changed. Next I shot the top left varget load at 300, then the right target then the left target again but dialed down 1 moa so they wouldn't overlap with the group above. Not much difference in POI with 3 seating depth changes. The last group was fired one after another with no cooling between shots. I have shot this load several times since and it has been just as good. So I guess it likes varget when shooting the 130 bergers.

 

[BoilerUP]

Varget shoots great in 260. 100-120fps slower velocities than H4350, but very good accuracy.

That said, did you test higher than 43.5gr H4350 with the 130s? My node with 130 VLDs was around 44.5gr.

 

[leadbullet]

loose the berger VLD, they suck if not at proper COAL and you will pull your hair off chasing the throat wear. stick with the berger hybrids, sierra's, hornady etc... they all shoot great except the VLD with H4350.

 

[dieselgeek]

I shot the 130 VLD w/ 44.2g of H4350. Seems to work well, I need to confirm.

 

[rcamuglia]

I'll buy your 4350 Please PM me

 

[barnesuser28]

I'll buy your 4350 Please PM me

Darn you beat me. LOL just to see how made i get, what is the lot # OP?

 

[long range newbie]

yeah h4350 won't shoot in my 260 either but I'm shooting the 140gr berger vld target.

 

[8nbait]

Yes, I got up to 45.7 with H4350 and the 130 bergers. 46 started to show very faint ejector marks. I thought I had loads at 43.5, 44.2, 45 but they would fan out at long range or change POI from day to day. I was pulling my hair out.

Sorry, H4350 not for sale, It works well with the 140 amax in my 6.5 Creedmoor. I do have about 9 lbs of Retumbo in unopened containers one 8lb and 1 1lb jugs that I would trade for Varget...

I shot the 39 varget load at 200 today the first pic shows those including the cold bore shot of the day, 2860 fps.

Second pic is 39.8 varget with the 130 berger at 300 yards, not sure what the left field shot was but I may give this load another go since it averaged 2900 fps and the verticle was so good, but 40 grains starts to get nutty.

Third pic is 39.6 varget with 123 amax. I am thinking I will play with the 123's a little since they are so forgiving to seating depth and they don't take up so much room in the brass.I will probably give it a go with the H4350 and see what I can get out of it. This load was 2918 fps

 

[ArmyJerry]

How does it shoot with factory ammo?

 

[8nbait]

How does it shoot with factory ammo?

I have no idea, haven't bought factory ammo in a long while.
These varget loads are shooting great.
Going to try some H4350 with 123 amax tomorrow, thinking 44, 44.3, 44.6 and 44.9 and run them through the chrono and see how it goes. If it isn't windy gonna shoot at 200.

 

[8nbait]

I shot the 130 VLD w/ 44.2g of H4350. Seems to work well, I need to confirm.

That was my best load also with that combo, but too many fliers at long range. Hope it works out for you, I have heard a few people who shoot that load very well in their rifles.

 

[8nbait]

shot these this morning at 200 yards. I am going to load a few at 44.5 with different seating depths and see what happens. These were 44, 44.3, 44.6 and 44.9 H4350 with 123 AMAX at .010 Jump, going to try .010, .015 and .020 at 300 and see if there is a difference. Chrono wouldn't work this morning so no speeds but thinking probably about 2950-2980 since the 130's were at 2935 with 44.2.

 

[krw]

H4350, H4831sc, Varget, VV N-160, None of it impressed me on any of the 3 barrells I have in 260. Try IMR4064. It was the only load I could hit 3000FPS with and it was Sub 1/2moa. By the way all I have ever shot was SMK or A-Max 123gr bullets. I am not as impressed with 260's now that I own 2 as I was when I didn't have any and wanted one.

 

[8nbait]

H4350, H4831sc, Varget, VV N-160, None of it impressed me on any of the 3 barrells I have in 260. Try IMR4064. It was the only load I could hit 3000FPS with and it was Sub 1/2moa. By the way all I have ever shot was SMK or A-Max 123gr bullets. I am not as impressed with 260's now that I own 2 as I was when I didn't have any and wanted one.

Yeah, I am kind of feeling the same way. I am actually preferring my 6.5 Creedmoor. Using lapua brass and long range bullets the case capacity suffers due to half the bullet being in the brass.
I shot these this morning 44.5 H4350 123 amax 2.195, 2.190, 2.185

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I think that a reason H-4350 is popular for the .260 is that most shooters who employ the chambering are using the heavies (139-142gr), and for them, it's about ideal.

I have found that developing loads with it for lighter projectiles can be tricky. Maybe that's because I may not be using a fast enough powder for those projectiles. If that's it, then Varget, IMR-4064, and maybe even IMR-4895 could be better voices. I was shooting 47gr of H4350 (the min charge) with 95's and never really felt comfortable using so much powder with so little bullet.

Greg

 

[BLDTYLRY]

8nbait - what is the spec on the barrel/rifle?

I can't find any H4350 so I got 8lbs of H4831 ordered. I'm running a Bartlein 28" 5R 1:8 Twist and will be shooting 140gr A-Max. I won't be able to send any down range until my DTA SRS Covert A1 arrives but always good to see some 260 load development.

Bo

 

[BoilerUP]

48.0gr H4381SC under a 123 A-Max was very good from my 26" 1:8 260...over 3000fps with zero pressure and just a lil' crunch when seating the bullet.

 

[8nbait]

Bartlein 25" 8.2 twist.

Gary

 

[8nbait]

H4350 just won't stay together past 200 yards for me with anything under the 140's...as mentioned above. I know people who shoot it with 130's but maybe they don't have as severe a case of OCD as I do.

I think I will just shoot the H4350 for fun since I have more of it and load my hunting rounds with varget. I will try to limit my shooting with varget so I don't burn through it before the season is over. Problem is...I really like to shoot.

 

[260shooter]

I shoot 123 Lapuas over RL-15 at just over 2900 fps, Barrel has over 3K on it and it is still very sub 1/2 MOA. RL-15 is in the Varget, IMR4064 range.

 

[bjay]

1:8 bartlein 24" chambered by randy at r&d. 42.8 h4350 on 139 scenar
.263 moa 5shot @ 500yd

 

[Wildboarem]

I would take a look at this article. It made me go back and look at my data and makes me rethink how I go about finding the right OAL.Long range load development at 100 yards.

 

[thespecialist]

H4350 just won't stay together past 200 yards for me with anything under the 140's...as mentioned above. I know people who shoot it with 130's but maybe they don't have as severe a case of OCD as I do.

I think I will just shoot the H4350 for fun since I have more of it and load my hunting rounds with varget. I will try to limit my shooting with varget so I don't burn through it before the season is over. Problem is...I really like to shoot.

It works great for me with 123 Amax's. Running 44.7gr in RP brass, .015" off the lands, and have zero complaints with it's performance. I'm getting right at 2900fps from a 20" barrel with that load.

 

[17874]

Working up a load with Sierra 142's and and H4350 and so far I haven't found anything decent yet.

 

[wakajawaka]

I'm having some good results with H4350.
Savage LRPV, stock.
140gr Hornady custom comp
Wolf NCLR
Hornady brass
2.742" OAL
110yds, best groups were.
.25" @ 38gr 2370fps
.26" @ 39.5gr 2660fps

Couldn't get to the next node.

.618” @ 40.5gr is about max for this combination.

Haven't tried lighter bullets.

 

[8nbait]

Thanks guys, glad H4350 is working for some of you. My rifle likes varget so that is what I am going to feed it. With the 140's H4350 is fine but I don't want to shoot 140's. I am going to play with the 123 amax and H4350 load a little longer but it looks like the same deal with the bergers...lack of consistency.

It did this with 45 gr at 100 yards, when I first started load development...I am not interested in 100 yard groups after I develop a load, these are all 3 shots.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

When I was shooting 1000yd F Class my loads used 140 A-Max and 142SMK in a pair of L-W 28", 1:8" barrels, and a factory Savage 24" 1:8" barrel. They all liked a load of around 43.8-43.9gr of H-4350 with Rem brass. OAL was adjusted to jump at least .010" to the lands. My scores ran high 180's to low-mid 190's, and the problem was the shooter's mediocre wind skills, not the gear.

 

[8nbait]

When I was shooting 1000yd F Class my loads used 140 A-Max and 142SMK in a pair of L-W 28", 1:8" barrels, and a factory Savage 24" 1:8" barrel. They all liked a load of around 43.8-43.9gr of H-4350 with Rem brass. OAL was adjusted to jump at least .010" to the lands. My scores ran high 180's to low-mid 190's, and the problem was the shooter's mediocre wind skills, not the gear.

Nice...that is my load for the 140 amax also, running about 2830 fps.

 

[dieselgeek]

 

[8nbait]

Varget at 100 yards with 123 amax.