260 Rem powder selection

[Remnar]

I currently use Varget for my 260 because I have it on hand and use it in my 223. I see alot of recipies for H4350 for the 260. Would it be a better option to stock the H4350 and use it exclusively for the 260? Looking for some input on which direction to go.

I am shooting 142 SMK's through my Savage Mdl 12 LRP.


Thanks,

Remnar

 

[mavrick10_2000]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

Varget for .260 isn't really great, works in a pinch.

H4350 and for some rifles H4831SC are the primary two Hodgdon choices.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

IMHO the Varget's faster burn rate limits its charge weights to where charge weight density percentages drop below 90%. While it still does't do badly, I prefer a higher percentage.

H-4350, Ramshot Hunter, and maybe H414/W760 are probably better choices. The latter ones are ball powders, the H-4350 is both an Exreme powder and an SC powder.

When I first competed using the .260, more experienced shooters were recommending the 120SMK or 140SMK (the 142 didn't yet exist), and 36-38gr of Varget. They were doing very well. This was nearly a decade ago.

Since then, R/S Hunter and the 142SMK have come along, and .260 shooters have discovered and fallen in love with H-4350 for the .260. R/S Hunter behaves a lot like H-4350 in a ball powder form.

Greg

 

[jcallan]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

+1 for H4350. I have tried 4831SC, RL15, Varget and the 4350 just seemed to work the best. I have seen some of my best accuracy with RL15 and Varget but I could never get a decent velocity without hitting pressure.

 

[patriotoutlaw]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

H4350

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

I too shoot Varget in my 260 due to having it for a 223.

I've found Varget is great with a 123gr bullet...39.3gr gets me 2930-2950fps; with 140s I see 2750fps before hitting pressure. With both loads accuracy is excellent with low ES/SDs and will shoot inside a 308's 175SMK at any distance, but a bit on the slow side of the 260's potential.

In my limited experience with it, H4350 is good for roughly 75fps more velocity.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mavrick10_2000</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Varget for .260 isn't really great, works in a pinch.

H4350 and for some rifles H4831SC are the primary two Hodgdon choices. </div></div>

I'll agree that H-4350 is the go to powder for the heavies--139gr-142gr class.

If he can find it, AA-4350 worked quite well with the 140gr AMAX and 142gr SMKs when I loaded up ~650 rounds for my buddy's Rock/Surgeon/AICS Schnieder build he bought a few years back.

It's very close to H-4350, but it's a long stick powder and doesn't meter all that well, but it can be found cheaper at many places than the Hodgdon fare.

Chris

 

[dwt]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

H-4350

 

[ncboiler]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

Another H4350 user here. I don't want to use the Reloader powders as they are too temp sensitive for my taste even though they can provide a little more speed. I will be trying to get the 130 JLK's and H4350 to shoot after I get my barrels back from melonite, it shows promise in the 30 rounds I shot during break in.

 

[Topstrap]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

H4350 in all 3 of our 260s. Hasn't been temp sensitive and works good in our 15" and 28" barrels with all the bullets we tried.

Topstrap

 

[SVG308]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

I use H4831SC in my 260ai. Very consistent and accurate. Held vertical under 2" this last weekend at 1010 yards.

 

[Tangodown911]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

H4350 has been very good to me and is my go to powder. I did try h4831sc with equal accuracy but found too much pressure and not nearly enough speed.

 

[Jmilera]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

H4350 with sierra or lapua

 

[Rugrat]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

I have been getting excellent results with H4350 when used with 120 grain bullets. However, it seems to be too fast burning for the 140 grain bullets, where H4831sc does an excellent job.

Varget is too fast to get usable 1000 yard round in this caliber in my experience.

So, No Varget, H4350 for 120 grain bullets, H4831sc for 140 grain bullets, and Vitavourhi N160 to play with when the time permits.

 

[billf]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

I found H4831SC with 139gr scenars worked for me too

 

[300ATT]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

I obtained the best results with H4350. R-17, R-19, H4831sc also worked well but 43.5gr of H4350 was the best.

Good shooting ...

 

[Smith44699]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

I wanted to use varget for the very same reasons. I am using the 142 as well. I had great accuracy. Although it would take about the same dope at a 1000 as my 308 with 175's. I was not impressed with the 260 at this point in time. Fellows on here recommended h4350 to me. Let me just say. I love the round now. I got better accuracy and a lot better drops. I haven't got a chance to take the load out to a 1000 yet. I have took It out to 600. I shaved 4 min of drop with the H4350 load. I could have worked my varget load up to a higher node. Although I don't think I would have achieved near the velocity without getting some pressure issues using the 142's. In my opinion if you were to use a bullet in the 120's or lighter varget would be a very viable powder. This is just from my recent experience with loading the 260.

 

[bkster]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

h4350 or 4831sc works so well its almost a waste to try others

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: 260 Rem powder selection

RL-17 works very, very well also.