• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Would you be happy with this? Leave it alone? .260 140g hunting VLD

KPK

KPK

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 2, 2009
1,106
193
39
Oklahoma
Have had my rifle for about 6 months and finally doing something with it!

.260 Rem
Stiller Tac30 A/W
Bartlein 1:8
McMillan HTG
Timney trigger
Leupold Mark 4 3.5-10x40 TMR

Load
140 hunting vld
43g of H4350
BR-2 primers
2.88" .02 jump
2775 fps

This was the best load I came up with yesterday at 100 yds:

This is today with the same load at 200 yds, the left hole was my fault...I knew it when I pulled the trigger:

Here's the rifle:


What do y'all think? Roll with it or keep playing?
 
If you are shooting 1/2 MOA @200 yards, than I say stretch it out, and see what you got.
Don't spend forever at 1-200 yards doing load work.
 
Bluejazz said:
If you are shooting 1/2 MOA @200 yards, than I say stretch it out, and see what you got.
Don't spend forever at 1-200 yards doing load work.
Click to expand...

You make it seem boring and mundane. I personally enjoy it since it gives me something to do at home in between visits to the range.
 
Not boring or mundane. I enjoy doing load work, but don't get bogged down in it. At some point it seems like tinkeritis, and I would rather see what my skill and the rifle are capable of at farther distances. The difference in 1/2-3/8 MOA is not as important to me as maybe others.
Don't get me wrong, I love accuracy, but at some point you reach diminishing returns for the amount of effort, and I enjoy shooting more than sqeezing out the last little bit of accuracy.
 
Thanks all. I'm going to run it out the first chance I get.

This shooting was in my front yard down the road lol. I think I may be able to get to 300 if I keep backing out on the side of my yard and down the driveway lol.

This was also off of a bipod, folding card table, and jacket under the butt.

Would you almost call that 1/4 moa?
 
KPK
Usually what I do is find a good load that is 1/2 MOA or better at 300 yards in calm wind conditions, and then run with it.
Good luck.
 
Thanks Bluejazz. I'll shoot it at 300 an report back.

Ring, trying for both lol.
 
KPK said:
Thanks Bluejazz. I'll shoot it at 300 an report back.

Ring, trying for both lol.
Click to expand...
YES! If you can get your rifle to shoot under 1/2moa [MENTION=89035]300[/MENTION]yds. you're doing pretty well. Personally for my 6 Creedmoor I like to get anything under an inch at that range, but I'm a fussy one.:)
 
You can burn up a barrel looking for the perfect load, you got a pretty damn good nor there already, loads a bunch and enjoy the fruit of your labor with some good ammo and practice that will build your confidence in your gear and that's worth a 1/4 MOA right there.
Cheers
 
Went out and did some shooting. It's running about 2710fps. How much is max 4350 with 140 vlds? I shot 44g without pressure signs, but wasn't that accurate. Thinking about trying again and messing with seating depth.

Anyone went up to 45g?
 
Are you shooting of a front and rear bag? I feel the horizontal is usually user input. My surgeons shoot 1/4 moa for me when front and rear bags are used but I open up to around 1/2 moa when a bipod is used with a rear bag.....and the spread is always horizontal. Also, if you are having no pressure signs, try to hit the 2800 FPS area. That is the magic spot for many.
 
Actually in your groups the horizonal is all you on the trigger. I say leave it alone stretch it out to 500 and see how it performs, get some more rounds down the pipe and get your fundamentals down. By the way the sweet spot is what YOUR rifle likes so don't sweat it,consistent 3/4 min will win all day long
 
Once I get consistent half minute, I load up a bunch and go shoot. If it verifies, rock it until it doesn't.

I'm lazy with limited time, so "good enough" works for me as I don't see much point in investing multiple trips to shave a tenth of an inch.
 
Gents,

Personally, I'd say he's there. Load and start shooting. Have a ball. If accuracy drops off you can start again or re-barrel...

Wes
 
Thanks for all the info guys! My problem is speed. 2710 seems super slow, but can't imagine it hurting that much. I'd like to be at 2800.

Am I over analyzing? Took 30.25 Moa to get to 1k the other day. Wind was blowing 30 so not sure on accuracy. Shooting next to a friend that was shootin a 7mm saum with 180s and getting 6" group lol.
 
Shooting the 140's I hope you have the barrel chambered in 260 tactical... thats what I have. It is perfect for those heavy bullets... my groups are all on top of each other bug hole....

If you dont have the 260 tac chamber you need to shoot 130s or 120s
 
And to answer the question my 260 tac runs the 140 bergers with 41-42.5 grs of 4350.... I didnt have pressure signs either but I javent looked to a node that high either...
 
What kind of speed Ducks? It is the tactical. That's exactly what my smith said.

Hit the lands at about 2.92
 
I've loaded 44g w/pressure but group wasn't as good.

Since the original post have put on a 5.5-22 NXS and Jewell trigger as well.
 
That a 26" barrel?

If H4350 isn't giving you what you want, try H4831SC or RL17...
 
It's a 24". Figured 4831 would be slower. I have some 4831 I could try. Would u consider 2700 fast enough?
 
I also love load development so I don't consider it wasted time.

I run Berger Match 140s in my Savage 260 "TR" with a normal chamber (with a bit too much throat) using 4831SC. It shoots 1/2 MOA at its worst, weather permitting. It's in the high 2500s, which is slower than lots of loads but the ES is about 30 and the targets don't lie. It will hit stuff pretty far out there. I like it.

This is the 4-shot target that sealed the deal on the load:
y7ubu5yd.jpg
 
Would you be happy with this? Leave it alone? .260 140g hunting VLD

I have a 20" 260 with a long freebore (.116"), and I get 2700fps with 43.0gr H4350 and a 140gr Hornady HPBT...loaded shortish at 2.81".

As such, I would expect more than 2700fps from a 24" barrel with the same load.

But 2700fps still puts a whoopin a 308, so if its accurate, I'd run with it.
 
Last edited:
I tend to not spend too much time once I find a group in your range. Looks good to me. I would shoot this load for a while and then maybe come back to it in the next season.
 
Take it out to 500 or 600 yds on a calm day and see what it does.

I recently burned a box of 140 grain vld's in my 6.5 Creed chasing my tail at 100 and 200 yds. Was beginning to wonder if switching from the 130's was a good idea after all. Finally said f@ck it and tested it at 550. After 3 or 4 shots fine tuning my poi, I fired an 1 9/16" five shot group. Should kill a coyote.
 
I posted this one over I the 260 load post in the reloading forum. My sweet spot was 142s with 42.0 of h4350 @ 2805fps. Had it locked into some bags. I have a .060 freebore and a 8 twist 26" kreiger.



sbnhb6.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
300 PRC
Replies
145
Views
28K
rustyinbend
rustyinbend
G
  • Sticky
.260 Remington
Replies
379
Views
60K
zeroz
Z
G
  • Sticky
6.5 Super LR and 260 Improved Variants
Replies
49
Views
13K
lancetkenyon
L
G
Hornady 6.5 130gr ELD Match
Replies
1
Views
10K
Guest
G
O
Spartan 260 Precision & 7RSAUM Hunter
Replies
6
Views
1K
264Charlie
2
Top Bottom
Back