260 Rem load development ?????

[Remnar]

Hello,

I am in the process of working up the best load for my 260. I am just starting out in reloading and have a couple questions.

Some info:
260 Rem
H4530
142 gr SMK

I loaded batches at .5 grain increments from min to max charge and did the range time. The gun seems to like the min load and shot the best groups in both tests.

I am now ready to start testing bullet seating depth. I used my hornady guage to measure my chamber and came up with 2.876 for the bullet firmly contacting the rifling.

My concern is that I think I may have done my testing arse backwards as I didn't start out the load test with the bullet jammed.

With the fact that my powder volume test showed the gun liked 41.5 and that it is the min charge. Would I be OK to jam the bullet .010 in at 2.886 and then test at intervals .010 shorter?

And finally, any suggestions on how much jump I should test to?

Thanks in advance,

Remnar

 

[FCS]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

I would not jam the 142 SMK, jump that bullet 0.030 +/- 0.010" as there is no advantage and plenty of disadvantage IMHO. I've seen the 142 SMK take close to 0.100" of jump just fine.

OAL is 2.876" (tip to case head) correct?
Factory Savage chamber?

What was max powder charge you tried?

What distance did you test for accruacy?

 

[krw]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

What are you shooting? By that if your shooting a repeater, your probly limited by length to mag or mag bx. I ordered a reamer from PTG Monday. Loaded 3 123 SMK's at 2.815" and specified a 0.025" freebore to get lands closer.

 

[Remnar]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

I am shooting a factory savage mdl 12 LRP

Powder test was from 41.5 to 44.5. Min and max from the Hodgdon 260 page

I was limited to 100 yards for that round of testing.

Chamber length measured from bullet tip to base of the brass. I did not use my comparator on my calipers for this measurement.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

I just did the same test, at 100 yds the best load was 42 gr of h4350 and the worst was 43.5 but at 1000yds the 42 gr load was awefull and the 43.5 shot sub MOA with the 142 SMK
Go figure

 

[hnts4fun]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

Take a quick look at this link

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/savage-model-12-lrp-260-a-87650/

Good luck

 

[ToKeepAndBear]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

I load the 142 SMK in Lapua brass, BR2 primers, and 43.0 gr H4350, seated 60 thousandths off the lands. This load averages about 0.4moa at 100 yards. It groups around 2-3 inches at 670, and has grouped as well as 4 inches at just under 1000 yards. The velocity is 2750 out of my 26" TRG barrel.

 

[Remnar]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

Thanks for the link and all the advice.

I have been extremely happy with mine and even though I am a rookie I am seeing sub half MOA when the jerk behind the trigger does it right.

Remnar

 

[RugerSlinger]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ToKeepAndBear</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I load the 142 SMK in Lapua brass, BR2 primers, and 43.0 gr H4350, seated 60 thousandths off the lands. This load averages about 0.4moa at 100 yards. It groups around 2-3 inches at 670, and has grouped as well as 4 inches at just under 1000 yards. The velocity is 2750 out of my 26" TRG barrel. </div></div>

This has been my load also, it has shot 3.5" group at 1000. I can get under .25 MOA with them at 100.

 

[ColoWyo]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ToKeepAndBear</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I load the 142 SMK in Lapua brass, BR2 primers, and 43.0 gr H4350, seated 60 thousandths off the lands. This load averages about 0.4moa at 100 yards. It groups around 2-3 inches at 670, and has grouped as well as 4 inches at just under 1000 yards. The velocity is 2750 out of my 26" TRG barrel. </div></div>

Man, that seems slow. I have 42.7 H4350 getting 2840FPS with Lapua brass and BR2's.

 

[ezee]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

43 gr H-4350/142 SMK/Nosler brass/BR-2 gets 2750 and shoots 1/2 moa out of 25 in Pac Nor with 0.040 jump

 

[mrbig]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

I shot the Sako 75 Varmint in 260 today,,123 Scenar 49grs H1000,20 shots averages 2910 ,rifle has the 8-32 x56 Nightforce scope and the targets look huge,

shot 4 5 shot groups at 300 yards that averaged 1.5 inch

 

[Remnar]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would not jam the 142 SMK, jump that bullet 0.030 +/- 0.010" as there is no advantage and plenty of disadvantage IMHO.</div></div>

Spot on info. Thank You.

I ran multiple groups at .01 steps back from .02 jump to .06. The savage really liked .030 jump.

Load will be 41.5 grains H4350 at 2.846 OAL.


Now it's time to reload a bunch and start working on my shooting mechanics.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Ring]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtBsvElLB2ajdEhYRzZpWlRkNEUtbTltblhvbGZXbmc#gid=0


h4350 best loads
bullet----load
140 42.3
140 42.5
140 43.1
140 41.6
140 42.9
142 43
142 43
142 42
142 43
142 42.7

 

[worldhunter]

Re: 260 Rem load development ?????

How did your seating depth test go?