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260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Mike

Mike

Full Member Inflation
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Minuteman
Aug 8, 2001
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Beneath Mount Etna
www.kmprecisionrifletraining.com
I'm looking to get your load information for the .260 shooting only the lighter bullets, i.e. the 120 A-Max. 123 Scenar, 120 or 123 Sierra's.

Powder, charges, and velocities would be appreciated.

I've got tons of info for the heavies so please do not include the heavier bullets.

Thanks
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

120 gr Nosler Ballistic tips
Remington prepped brass
Fed match primers
39 grs. IMR 4064

2850 fps measured 10 feet from the muzzle

YMMV
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

40 grains H4350
lapua brass
123 sierra
winchester primers
bout 2800 with 24 inch barrel

 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

120 B-Tip
40.1 N-140
Win 7-08 Brass
BR 2 primer
2.805 OAL

Load runs 3010 fps in my 26" Krieger. A little hard on brass (2-3 reloads) but is very accurate in my rifle.

123 Scenar
39.8 RL-15
Win 7-08 brass
BR 2 primer
2.820 OAL

The 123 runs 2920 fps and is sub 1/2 MOA in my rifle. 27 MOA to 1K.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Mike, the 6.5 Creedmoor 120 AMAX load is 44.5grns of H4350. With the .260 being so close with internal capacity that might be a load you might want to try.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My 142gr load is 43.8-43.9 of H4350 and is near the Hodgdon published max.

My 95gr load is 47.0gr of H4350 and is the Hodgdon published min.

Greg</div></div>

Thanks Greg for giving me information I specifically asked you not to.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

40.4 gr of Varget with 123 Lapua @ 2.810", GM210M, and RP brass. 3050ish fps but chronograph data is at home, will update you when I get home 5 January.

RL15 or N-140 (in case you have those on hand but not Varget) would be very similar but I've no actual data with those powders.

Varget with the lighter bullets was hard to beat.

 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Since we're talking 120grainers I'd like to ask if anyone has used 120gr TSX bullets and if so, how was the accuracy? I'm looking for something for groundhogs. Depending upon comments, I may go with whatever else is recommended here for my 260.

Thanks.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Mike,

I've been playing around with 123gr Lapua scenars and have had very good results with 45gr of IMR 4350, no pressure signs at all with 2.80 oal. Very nice out to 500yds. I'm going to see how they do out to 1k at the first Hardrock match in a few weeks.
If they do well, I'll shoot them in the PMCII in Feb.

Hope to see you at Hardrock soon.

Dave
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Mike; please take note of my revised PM.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Mike,
I use 43.5grs of H4350 with the Lapua brass and the 123gr Lapua bullet. This load is very accurate in every 260 I have shot it in. Like I said on another post, my soninlaw and son and I were all shooting 260s over Thanksgiving and we shot three shot groups at a paper plate at 950yds and my son put all 3 in the plate an my group was a touch low an went right at 4.5" my soninlaws went high at 3.25" (My rifle shot in the low .4s @ 100yds with Winchester brass during load testing a week or two ago with this load).

That was in 3 different rifles an in three different twists. Mine is 1-8, sons is factory Remington 1-9, soninlaws is a Shilen 1-8.5 Its a good load and easy on brass an I am on at 1000yd with around 26.5MOA from 100yd zero.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only



123 Scenar
39.8 RL-15
Win 7-08 brass
BR 2 primer
2.820 OAL

The 123 runs 2920 fps and is sub 1/2 MOA in my rifle. 27 MOA to 1K. [/quote]

260 Shooter is spot on with this one.

In my home-cobbled rifle with a factory Remington barrel, it puts them all touching at 100yds.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Can only quote data from the Hodgdon manual for 120gr SPR SP's and 125gr Nos Partitions in a 24" 1:9" barrel.

The best velocities appear to be gotten with H4350 and H414(aka W760). The max/mins are:

120gr SPR SP

H4350 43.5gr/2814fps/51,400psi 46.5gr/2960fps/58,200psi
H414 42.5gr/2802fps/51,000psi 45.5gr/2968fps/58,600psi

125gr Nos Prtn

H4350 41.0gr/2714fps/50,900psi 44.3gr/2867fps/57,900psi
H414 40.0gr/2691fps/50,500psi 43.0gr/2852fps/58,100psi
H4831 45.0gr/2725fps/51,600psi 48.0(C*)gr/2862fps/58,000psi

My experience with H4350 is that it's well behaved and seldom has any nasty surprises for the .260 handloader. My experience with Scenars is that they tend to show/generate more pressure than Sierras of similar weights. I might also suggest 120 Nosler Ballistic tips. Most of my earlier data with them has been lost, but they were extremely accurate and totally devastating on 'Chucks. They did not perform well for me in a 1:8" barrel at high velocities and long distances, and my suggestion would be to try them with a 1:9" or 1:10" twist for best LR results.

Hope this helps.

Greg
 
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Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Thanks for all the responses.

It seems like H4350 has the nod for the powder to use although I did not have results with it I would have wished in a different caliber and also in a heavier 260 bullet. I was hoping RL-15 may be an option but it looks like I will go with the H4350.

Thanks for all the help.

Mike
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

I ran the 123gr Scenar @ ~3000fps (24" bbl) with VV N550 for a couple years.

I always considered it a "hot" load, but never actually had any problems with it.

Also had good luck with both VV N540 & VV N550 & 120gr SMK in my AR-10.

Both rifles with 1:8" twist, 3-groove Lilja barrels.

Mike
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Mr. Ruff,

I hope you are doing well.

It would be a 24" barrel.

For velocity, I would like to find the node above 3000fps. I am looking at the 120 Amax, 123 Scenar and the 123 SMK in no particular order.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

I am quite well, thank you. How're things in LA?

123 Scenar with 42.6 gr Reloder 17 nets about 3080 to 3100 fps on an accuracy node. 24" Remington VLS with a 9" twist. Rem case and 210M primer. BTW, pressure is really mild.

Haven't used the SMKs or A-maxes.

 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

What kind of barrel life do you expect pushing 123's at 3100fps with a .260?
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

With 55ksi pressure, it should last a bit longer than 142s @ 2800 where pressure is maxed. Velocity is not your enemy. Heat and pressure kill a barrel.


Besides, it's a factory barrel so...
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

I'm really liking the RL-17. I use it in .223 (heavy bullets), .260 (light bullets), 7mm-08 (heavy bullets) and .308 (heavies).
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

I bought 5 lbs at a gun show. Haven't seen any on store shelves yet, but I've heard it'll be out soon. Kinda hit and miss right now.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

G.Ruff
What kind of accuracy are you getting with the RL17?? Hoping to try it later this year.Thanks!!
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

G.Ruff-what velocities are you getting with the 7-08 RL17 combo?
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

Accuracy has been typical of my rifles when shooting N550 loads. I do not shoot less than 600 yards except to confirm zeros and log dope.

I've only shot the 175 SMKs in the 7-08 and I'm getting ~2700 fps and about 1/2 to 3/4 moa at 600. Not too bad for a factory barrel.
 
Re: 260 load for the 120's or 123's only

123 A-Max
WLR primer
2.815" COAL (0.010" off lands)
RP and/or Nosler brass
26" 8 twist Criterion barrel

48.0gr H4831SC: 3000fps (ES 20/SD 8)
39.3gr Varget: 2936fps (ES & SD both *zero* over 4 shots...proof small miracles exist)
44.0gr RL17: 3096fps (ES 29/SD 12)

All three of the above loads have produced half-inch @ 100yd groups during testing.
 
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123 gr Hornady ELD Match
Federal 210M Primer
Lapua Brass
39.3 grs Varget
22" Bartlein 5r barreled & suppressed AIAT
2894fps 2.4 SD
5 shots one hole .264
 
I shoot Brux 1-8.5tw, 24”, Lapua brass. 40.5gr IMr4064. 0.003” nexk tension, 0.012” jump. 2981fps. Ext sprd 16 avg dev 7. Gonna slow it down little, kinda rough on the brass
 
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