260 Remington Brass Failure

[CaptainH]

I have a question on brass. I have been shooting some long range steel this summer with two rifles set up for 260 Remington. I started with Remington brass and after only three and in some cases two firings the primer pockets are large enough that I can push a primer in with finger pressure in some cases. There have been no other signs of pressure problems. I am shooting 142 SMK with 46 grains of 4831SC in a 26" barrel at 2,797 fps and 142 SMK with 47 grains of 4831 SC in a 30" barrel at 2,873 fps in the other gun.

I was really expecting to get more loadings from the Remington brass. Do you think that I am shooting too hot a load?

I saw that there is a tool available from R. W. Hart that is called a case saver. You essentially put the brass on a rod and whack the primer pocket with a hammer on a tool inserted into the primer pocket. Would this be a viable way to salvage 1,000 pieces of prepped brass.

I have heard that Wolf primers are a bit larger, if so, would this get me a few more loadings or should I just move on to new brass.

I was considering Norma brass.

Comments on all of the above would be welcome.

 

[Advokaten]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

Enlarged primer pockets are extreme pressure signs,

no I would not advice the use of Wolf primers as a way to keep reloading that brass,

scrap it.

Norma 260 brass is very short, or at least the brass that I have seen, I would get Lapua and be done with it, however

questions still remain as to why you are blowing your cases in two/three reloads.

I would try and find the cause for that prior to shooting again.

/CHris

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

Why not switch to 4350 and you'll be closer to 43 grains behind a 142 to get 2800.

 

[redbullitt]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

I was getting pretty hot at 43.0g of h4350. No popped primers, or murdered pockets, but sticky bolt, flattening primers, were there etc.

I wound up right at 42g. Good case life so far on the rem brass. I think you are simply running too hot for the brass.

Like he said, I'd carefully consider scrapping it if the pockets are indeed that bad.

I could not get more than 2700 fps without pressure (26 incher, 1200ish elevation).

 

[427Cobra]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

I use Win 7-08 brass in my 260, simply put the 7-08 brass in your FL die, size it and you have 260 brass, some of my brass has 20 firings, of course I anneal.

 

[Paulyr450]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

I also run the 142s at 42 grains in my 260. I tried going up to 43 but also had pressure signs in lapau brass. I wsa getting 2745 with 42 grains of h4350.

 

[Paulyr450]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

I also run the 142s at 42 grains in my 260. I tried going up to 43 but also had pressure signs in lapau brass. I wsa getting 2745 with 42 grains of h4350.

 

[0311@LAR]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

Another one here running 142 SMK's with 42 grains H4350. Chrono shows aprox. 2725fps with that load. Very accurate in my rifle and seems to be pretty easy on brass.

 

[knight_dive]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use Win 7-08 brass in my 260, simply put the 7-08 brass in your FL die, size it and you have 260 brass, some of my brass has 20 firings, of course I anneal. </div></div>

Same except that I neck up Winchester .243 brass because it was readily available at my local shop. Before I bought my .260 I read several stories about Remington brass failing very quickly because of primer pockets so I decided to avoid it.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

I also neck up Win 243 but neck turn to prevent donuts

 

[jrob300]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

I too use Win 7-08 brass. It's lasting forever. I did a side-by-side eval with Lapua brass in a rifle that shoots an honest .25 moa with me driving it. I found no discernible difference. Lapua brass runs about .8-1.0 gr. light on powder for the same velocity.... 2850 fps with Hornady 140's from a 26" tube.

How far are you jumping? Jammed or short jumps can cause sharp pressure spikes. I have heard (but not verified) that Rem. brass is notorious for short pocket life at higher pressures. I was happy to run the Lapua at or over pressure. It made it so I could seat the damn things. The pockets in that brass are TIGHT.

John

 

[Topstrap]

Re: 260 Remington Brass Failure

WW 7-08 brass here too. For two seasons we use Remington, this season switched over and a huge difference. Much tighter primer pockets, wish I'd have switched over sooner. Am going to try the WW 243 necked up soon since I've been hearing good things about it too.

We're using 42.5gr H4350 in all four of our 260s with the Hornady 140 BTHP and it shoots great. 2820fps in the 28" guns and 2525fps in the 15" guns. Each gun has it own 100 brass that we use for practice and matches and have at least 15 reloadings on them.