I'm switching from 6.5x47 to .260 what powders provide the best accuracy with 120-140 grain bullets with this cartridge?
.260 favorite powder
- Thread starter Jerkface11
- Start date
Re: .260 favorite powder
RL17 shoots well in mine with 139 gr scenars but is too temperature sensitive, so probably H4350 is the best choice all around.
RL17 shoots well in mine with 139 gr scenars but is too temperature sensitive, so probably H4350 is the best choice all around.
Re: .260 favorite powder
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Forwardeyes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">h4831sc </div></div>
What to you use for a charge with the H4831 Short Cut powder with 139 and 123's?
I tried H4350 @ 45.5 gr and had insane pressure signs at 3070 fps (bad lot maybe?) I actually had better luck with 4064 with the 123's 39 gr gave me 2890 FPS with NO pressure signs at all looked like I could go higher easily.
I am primarily looking for a powder that gives me close to 3K with the 123s
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Forwardeyes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">h4831sc </div></div>
What to you use for a charge with the H4831 Short Cut powder with 139 and 123's?
I tried H4350 @ 45.5 gr and had insane pressure signs at 3070 fps (bad lot maybe?) I actually had better luck with 4064 with the 123's 39 gr gave me 2890 FPS with NO pressure signs at all looked like I could go higher easily.
I am primarily looking for a powder that gives me close to 3K with the 123s
Re: .260 favorite powder
RL22 with 140-144 grain bullets. Fast, accurate and seems stable in contrast to the other Rl series powders I've used.
RL22 with 140-144 grain bullets. Fast, accurate and seems stable in contrast to the other Rl series powders I've used.
Re: .260 favorite powder
Gas Gun:
H4350 for 120-140's
Bolt Gun:
H4350 for 120-130's
H4831sc for 140's
The LR-260 seems to beat the brass less and just overall "run smoother" (completely a subjective opinion, not a detailed study) with H4350 over RL-22 and H4831sc.
I've shot those 3 plus I4350, BLC-2 (light bullets), H100v, and something that I'm forgetting at the moment.
H4350 has treated me very well.
Gas Gun:
H4350 for 120-140's
Bolt Gun:
H4350 for 120-130's
H4831sc for 140's
The LR-260 seems to beat the brass less and just overall "run smoother" (completely a subjective opinion, not a detailed study) with H4350 over RL-22 and H4831sc.
I've shot those 3 plus I4350, BLC-2 (light bullets), H100v, and something that I'm forgetting at the moment.
H4350 has treated me very well.
Re: .260 favorite powder
4831SC shot Very well closer in, H4350 gave better Numbers and shoots better at distance because of it... Tried SMK's, Scenars and A-Max ... Stuck with the A-Max.
4831SC shot Very well closer in, H4350 gave better Numbers and shoots better at distance because of it... Tried SMK's, Scenars and A-Max ... Stuck with the A-Max.
Re: .260 favorite powder
I haven't found one powder that works for that range, so I use two. I have a 1:8 barrel twist.
For 120's I like 38.0 grains of RL-15. I typically get sub 0.5 MOA groups with that one.
For 140's I use 46.0 grains of H4831SC. With either A-Max or Sierra BTHP Matchking's I consistenly get sub 0.2 MOA. This is consistent with a previous post here that suggests H4831SC with 140 grain bullets.
Jason
I haven't found one powder that works for that range, so I use two. I have a 1:8 barrel twist.
For 120's I like 38.0 grains of RL-15. I typically get sub 0.5 MOA groups with that one.
For 140's I use 46.0 grains of H4831SC. With either A-Max or Sierra BTHP Matchking's I consistenly get sub 0.2 MOA. This is consistent with a previous post here that suggests H4831SC with 140 grain bullets.
Jason
Re: .260 favorite powder
I have also had excellent luck with Varget. Some people will tell you its to fast but it works great in my new 260 and worked well in one of my older ones. In fact its the only thing my new one really likes.
I used 38 to 38.5grs with the 140AMAX and 41grs with the Lapua 123s in my new rifle. These loads were safe in my gun so work up to it in yours.
I have also had excellent luck with Varget. Some people will tell you its to fast but it works great in my new 260 and worked well in one of my older ones. In fact its the only thing my new one really likes.
I used 38 to 38.5grs with the 140AMAX and 41grs with the Lapua 123s in my new rifle. These loads were safe in my gun so work up to it in yours.
Re: .260 favorite powder
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: David777</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RL17 shoots well in mine with 139 gr scenars but is too temperature sensitive, so probably H4350 is the best choice all around. </div></div>
+1...spot on.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: David777</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RL17 shoots well in mine with 139 gr scenars but is too temperature sensitive, so probably H4350 is the best choice all around. </div></div>
+1...spot on.
Re: .260 favorite powder
I've got 43 lbs of 4831SC so I went that route. It has worked fine in a 28" bolt gun under the 142 SMK. My friend is doing good with 4350 in twin gun. No difference in drop. 1 or 2clicks at a 1000
I've got 43 lbs of 4831SC so I went that route. It has worked fine in a 28" bolt gun under the 142 SMK. My friend is doing good with 4350 in twin gun. No difference in drop. 1 or 2clicks at a 1000
Re: .260 favorite powder
I happened to have 24lbs of 4831sc when I started so I went with it. Loading necked down Winchester 7-08 brass I am running 47.5gr. behind the berger 140 VLD's to get 2830fps and have been shooting this in 1000yd F-class matches. It is very consistent from what i have seen. Though I have heard a lot about better consistency with the 4350 but for right now I see no need to change because I think my skill is not good enough to see the difference.
I happened to have 24lbs of 4831sc when I started so I went with it. Loading necked down Winchester 7-08 brass I am running 47.5gr. behind the berger 140 VLD's to get 2830fps and have been shooting this in 1000yd F-class matches. It is very consistent from what i have seen. Though I have heard a lot about better consistency with the 4350 but for right now I see no need to change because I think my skill is not good enough to see the difference.
Re: .260 favorite powder
I have used VV-N550, Varget, H-4350, H-4831SC, Ramshot Big Game, and Ramshot Hunter.
I experinced significant pressure isses with N550, 139's and around 40gr; scared me, I was just getting started with the .260 and the experience drove me toward a more conservative approach. I stopped using it and would suggest that VV-N560 might be better for folks who use VV propellants.
Varget runs faster and pressures out at a low load density percentage, around the mid-upper 30's. That does not make it a bad choice.
H-4350 appears nearly ideal, but 140-ish bullets don't seem to like loads above the mid-44's. My load runs 43.8-43.9 for 140A-Max and 142SMK. I run a min published charge of 46.0 with 95gr V-Max for SR/200yd target work.
H-4831 appears to provide good hedge against overpressure in this case. My suspicions suggest that commercial loadings with 140-ish weight bullets simply fill the case completely with H-4831SC or something a lot like it, and seat the bullet to a major degree of compression. These loads don't shoot as well in my rifle, but I managed to get upward of 48gr of H-4831SC into a case with 142SMK's and they all shot pretty accurate. Not sure about velocity, suspect they may not reach velocities equivalent with ideal loads of H-4350.
Ramshot Big game runs nicely with 140-ish bullets in the 42gr range. I decided it loaded well and shot well, but longed for a slower Ramshot offering. Then Ramshot Hunter came along, and gave me a big smile.
I determined that Ramshot Hunter was the ideal powder, it performed like H-4350, but loaded like a ball powder.
So why did I stay with H-4350? Well; H-4350 doesn't load so badly, being described by Hodgdon as an Extreme powder with an SC/Short Cut tubular grain profile. Ramshot powders, OTOH, are special order items at my local dealer, while H-4350 is kept in stock.
Hence, H-4350...
Greg
I have used VV-N550, Varget, H-4350, H-4831SC, Ramshot Big Game, and Ramshot Hunter.
I experinced significant pressure isses with N550, 139's and around 40gr; scared me, I was just getting started with the .260 and the experience drove me toward a more conservative approach. I stopped using it and would suggest that VV-N560 might be better for folks who use VV propellants.
Varget runs faster and pressures out at a low load density percentage, around the mid-upper 30's. That does not make it a bad choice.
H-4350 appears nearly ideal, but 140-ish bullets don't seem to like loads above the mid-44's. My load runs 43.8-43.9 for 140A-Max and 142SMK. I run a min published charge of 46.0 with 95gr V-Max for SR/200yd target work.
H-4831 appears to provide good hedge against overpressure in this case. My suspicions suggest that commercial loadings with 140-ish weight bullets simply fill the case completely with H-4831SC or something a lot like it, and seat the bullet to a major degree of compression. These loads don't shoot as well in my rifle, but I managed to get upward of 48gr of H-4831SC into a case with 142SMK's and they all shot pretty accurate. Not sure about velocity, suspect they may not reach velocities equivalent with ideal loads of H-4350.
Ramshot Big game runs nicely with 140-ish bullets in the 42gr range. I decided it loaded well and shot well, but longed for a slower Ramshot offering. Then Ramshot Hunter came along, and gave me a big smile.
I determined that Ramshot Hunter was the ideal powder, it performed like H-4350, but loaded like a ball powder.
So why did I stay with H-4350? Well; H-4350 doesn't load so badly, being described by Hodgdon as an Extreme powder with an SC/Short Cut tubular grain profile. Ramshot powders, OTOH, are special order items at my local dealer, while H-4350 is kept in stock.
Hence, H-4350...
Greg
