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Odd 260 load data

Buckoman

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 3, 2008
184
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Hatfield, Pa
So I have a comprised list of data from different manufacturers for 260 Rem. I'm going through the list and find most max out at 46ish for a 140gr bullet using Hodgdon's 4831. Then I get to Hodgdon's manual. they list it at 140gr Nosler partitian gold H4831 45.7max. 142 Sierra HPBT H4831 48.0 compressed max. This seems way too high compared to everyone else's manuals combined averages a 140gr bullet to max of 45.84gr. Can anyone explain why the huge difference in max? Typo? Does anyone use 48gr of H4831 in a 260?
 
Re: Odd 260 load data

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Master_Blaster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So I have a comprised list of data from different manufacturers for 260 Rem. I'm going through the list and find most max out at 46ish for a 140gr bullet using Hodgdon's 4831. Then I get to Hodgdon's manual. they list it at 140gr Nosler partitian gold H4831 45.7max. 142 Sierra HPBT H4831 48.0 compressed max. This seems way too high compared to everyone else's manuals combined averages a 140gr bullet to max of 45.84gr. Can anyone explain why the huge difference in max? Typo? Does anyone use 48gr of H4831 in a 260? </div></div>

Sierra's V manual lists 15 powders for their 140/142 SMKs and Hodgdon 4831 ain't one of them, FWIW.

Maybe the Partition has a longer bearing surface which creates more friction and hence, more pressure?

Pretty much the GO-TO powder for the 260 when using the heavy target bullets (139 Scenar, 140 AMAX and 142 SMK) is Hodgdon 4350.

This being said, I ran through 3# of AA-4350, which seems to be quite close, while loading for a buddy's AICS/Surgeon/Rock/Jewell combo and used the 140s and 142s before I stopped loading for him.

I'm sure that you can use other powders, but don't muck around and try and find either H-4350 or AA-4350 and go from there. I don't know if H-4831, which is my GO-TO powder for my 338LM, is fast enough for the smallish case.

Chris
 
Re: Odd 260 load data

Manuals & reloading data is just a guide, nothing more or less. The data is not etched in stone. Since a prudent reloader would not start @48 grains of H-4831 in any event. Take the top max load and reduce it by 10%. Start @ 43-44 grains, and work up in .5 grain increments.

If you already have H4381, I would try it for velocity and accuracy, BEFORE I spent money on H4350 (if you don't have any).

Hodgdon thinks the top load of H4381 and the top load of H4350 develop similar velocities. They make the stuff, so give it a try if you have some.

Bob
 
Re: Odd 260 load data

Well then there are the other variables, primer, casing (with differing capacity) and of course the bullet with different bearing surfaces and hardness like was already mentioned.....not to mention different rifles tested.


That said, hodgdon always used to give hotter loads than sierra. I think they're starting to tone thier maxes down though.
 
Re: Odd 260 load data

Master Blaster....

Here are the people off the top of my head that run 47ish grains of H4831SC which is exactly the same as the 4831. Much past 47.2 grains of H4831 or 4831SC and accuracy starts to open up. Im getting 2820ish with the 140 and a 24" barrel. The node you want to hit on if you want the most speed out of your 260 is anywhere in the 46.4-47.4 range. Hope this helps some

Me,Vu and all the NorCal 260 shooters, Terry Cross ran/runs it. Its a nice shooting load, but is/can be compressed with the 140 gr bullets. I shoot the 140 AMAX and its not compressed much due to my seating depth. I have never run into any pressure issues with this load from 40 degrees to 95-100 degrees.

H4831 wont give you the speed that 4350 or RE17 will, but speed isnt my main concern. Just for shits and giggles this target is a 5 shot group @ 725...we were seeing how much of a difference in wind drift between my 260 and a 308, we were both holding center of the 4 boxes. But what im getting at is the vertical spread is very little with the 4831 and 4831SC. The picture shows maybe 3.5 to 4 inches of vertical spread

7255shot.jpg
 
Re: Odd 260 load data

deadly that is some excellent info. Thanks. Right now I'm running 44gr of 4831 with 1/3MOA. I was trying to bump my velocity up more. The guy that owned the rifle before me used the 4350 but when ya got 10lbs of 4831 well....can't let that go to waste.

cheers,