260 rem & 2000mr ladder test - initial results inside

[lte82]

I loaded up a short ladder of 123 smk's and 2000mr for my 260 rem just as a "well if it works like magic in my 308 and 223, why not in the 260 rem" kind of experiment. I just wanted to get an impression of how it might perform if I were to do a real load work up with it, which is why I went with 3 shot groups.

The results speak for themselves, and needless to say I'll be doing some more work with this combination. These groups are at 200 yards, and average .42 moa. The highest charge I've tried so far was 40.0gr (bottom right group), since that's what's listed on alliants website, but I have room to go at least another 2gr higher. Velocity was 2720 fps with 40.0. 42.0 should get me into the 2900's, and I should be able to find a node around 2900-2950. All rounds shot with a 24" DPMS LR-260.



For a baseline, I retested some groups with what I've used in the past (H414) and managed to hold a 3/4 moa average over 4 groups, but still almost twice the group sizes of 2000mr. Blah. It looks like I have about 12 pounds of H414 I no longer need.

 

[jwrowland77]

I use this in my .308 loads for 1000yd load. I will tell you, this powder loves to be ran on the hot end. I'm using 175gr SMK getting 2750-2760fps avg. my load is only .2gr from max. Like I said, it loves to be ran on the hot end.

When I did my initial workup, I got the same kind of groups your getting but the hotter I got and closer to max I got, the smaller the groups got.

Good luck. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the workup.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JGorski]

My Classic stocked 308 shoots like that group in the upper right hand corner with 47.3grs and 178HPBTs. Yup, 200yds.

 

[jwrowland77]

260 rem & 2000mr ladder test - initial results inside

Sweet.

Yeah I'm sitting at 47.5 for my 175's. I'm thinking about doing some more testing in small increments since I haven't seen any kinds of high pressure or anything. I have a goal in mind that I'd like to reach.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lte82]

Sweet.

Yeah I'm sitting at 47.5 for my 175's. I'm thinking about doing some more testing in small increments since I haven't seen any kinds of high pressure or anything. I have a goal in mind that I'd like to reach.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

These are the results from my 308 load work up with 2000mr / 175 smks. 46.5-47.5 seemed to be a pretty wide sweet spot.

48.0: .9 moa
47.5: .3 moa
47.0: .6 moa
46.5: .4 moa
46.0: 1.2 moa
45.5: .7 moa
45.0: .9 moa
44.5: 1 moa
44.0: .9 moa

 

[jwrowland77]

260 rem & 2000mr ladder test - initial results inside

That looks pretty familiar to the results I got. Loading to 2.81 OAL. I'm thinking about working up higher but like I said in small increments just to be safe. I'd like to keep the accuracy I have now but more velocity for 1000yd matches. The reason why I think I can work up higher is because I haven't reached the max for my rifle as of yet. I'll probably work up in .2 increments instead of my normal .3 or .5.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lte82]

That looks pretty familiar to the results I got. Loading to 2.81 OAL. I'm thinking about working up higher but like I said in small increments just to be safe. I'd like to keep the accuracy I have now but more velocity for 1000yd matches.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have you tried the 185 bergers? You should be able to get them to 2700 fps, and if they are accurate you would have a monster of a 308 load.

 

[jwrowland77]

I haven't yet. I don't know if I'd be able to run them having a 1:12 twist.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jwrowland77]

I'll have to check the JBM calculator.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jwrowland77]

260 rem & 2000mr ladder test - initial results inside

I checked the jbm stability and it looks like I'd be able to run their 185gr bullet. One of them had a length of 1.435 and I was marginal at 1.1 something if I can get it too 2700fps. The others I was 1.3 something with a length of 1.353 if I can get to 2700fps.

Must just have to try and find some to try. Hmmmm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lte82]

I did some playing with the obt calc & quickload (using a slightly custom n550 as the powder to mimic 2000mr since its not on the list) and came up with three nodes for the 123 smk and one node for the 140 amax.

123 smk
40.0gr: 2720 fps (real world results confirm node and velocity)
42.0gr: 2850 fps (not yet tested)
45.0gr: 3050 fps (64k psi, which is over the 60k psi limit)

Then the 140 amax has its highest node at 2780 fps with 41.5gr and under max pressure.

Hopefully Ill have time this weekend to test them all out.

 

[diriel]

If you build a load up in 90*F on the Hottish' side, will it go over the edge at 110*F with 2000MR? How about 95 - 110? Any info shared on how well it does in broad spectrum temp sensitivity would be cool. I like powders that have a nice safe "glide" from damn cold to damn hot... sudden HOLY SHIT pressure moments are not my thing Thinking about picking up some 2000MR is why I am asking.

Thanks!

 

[jwrowland77]

If you build a load up in 90*F on the Hottish' side, will it go over the edge at 110*F with 2000MR? How about 95 - 110? Any info shared on how well it does in broad spectrum temp sensitivity would be cool. I like powders that have a nice safe "glide" from damn cold to damn hot... sudden HOLY SHIT pressure moments are not my thing Thinking about picking up some 2000MR is why I am asking.

Thanks!

When I did my workup and test fired it, it was in the mid 90's. Test fired some more shots this February with temps in the mid 30's. I only had a muzzle velocity average change of 10fps slower. YMMV.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Danco411]

I found the Alliant data to be woefully low at 40 for the 120g bullet. Since I am shooting the 140 Amax I decided to start at 41 and go to 44 in full grain steps just to get going. I was mainly looking for pressure signs and to see if it was worth doing more work with this powder. It is all I use in my .308s.

New Lapua brass and a CCI BR2 primer. My tube is a 24" Lothar Walther 1:8.

40 - 2610 FPS
41 - 2690 FPS
42 - 2720 FPS
43 - 2780 FPS
44 - 2815 FPS

Here is the 44g load. No pressure signs at all. I run 47.5 in my .308 with the 175g SMK or 178 Amax with no pressure signs. It's an amazing powder.

 

[diriel]

Cool, I plan to use it mostly in a 308 with the 185's. That said, I do have a 6.5x55 ...

 

[lte82]

Not the best day to do load testing as it was windy and raining most of the time. I shot my 140 amax and 123 smks when it was the worst conditions, and then got to the 139 scenars when the rain stopped. I need to go back and test the amax and smks when the conditions are better. Regardless, I'll still probably stick with the scenars as they shot exactly where my sight picture was when the gun went off. Without a 10-15 mph wind blowing me around I think I could have tightened up the groups quite a bit, though I still managed to make three groups under 1/2" and the last group about 1/3".

139 Scenars, 24" barrel, velocity ~2780 fps at 41.8gr 2000mr:

 

[Bach]

This is good news. Im going to start testing the 2000mr in my 260 with 139 lapua and 140 hybrids after I fireform the new brass with 140 nosler comps.Also going to try the same bullets with R17. My 1000yd go to load in 308 is 48.1grain 2000MR with Hornady 178bthp 2824fps out of a 26" Barrel. Im thinking to start both 2000mr and R17 at 39grains and go from there

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk

 

[lte82]

This is good news. Im going to start testing the 2000mr in my 260 with 139 lapua and 140 hybrids after I fireform the new brass with 140 nosler comps.Also going to try the same bullets with R17. My 1000yd go to load in 308 is 48.1grain 2000MR with Hornady 178bthp 2824fps out of a 26" Barrel. Im thinking to start both 2000mr and R17 at 39grains and go from there

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk

You should be able to start at 40-40.5 and work up. 39 is real low.

 

[Donr13]

thanks for the post. I was interested in trying this powder in my .308 and am happy to see I can also end up using it on my .260 as well. makes things easier using one powder.

 

[aviumvenator]

.260 123 Nos & 2000MR

I was able to shoot an OCW test with my new rifle today with 2000MR. The first 2 loads were used to break in and sight in. I think my next test will be 40.2-41.2 in .2 increments.

Remington 700 SPS-.260-24" factory barrel
XLR Element
2000MR
123 Nosler CC
Wolf LR
Nosler Brass
2.8 OAL
100 yards-3 rounds
85 degrees

 

[CharlieNC]

I'm running 2000MR in my 6.5x47 for both 123 Scenar and 140 VLD Hunting bullets. RL15 was the basis for my development. The results of ladder trials at 200 yards showed the effect of powder charge on vertical POI for 2000MR was 1/2 that of RL15! Higher velocities too.