Re: Reloading For .260
I've loaded quite a bit of .260 in both a bolt gun (for hunting) and a GAP AR-10 for competition.
I couldn't get the berger 140 to shoot well in either of my guns. Too long for the mags too, the bullet was way down in the case. GAP advised me that it was doubtful that the 140 berger would work very well at all in my AR-10, and they were right. The guys I know that do shoot the Berger 140 successfully use a long action and seat the bullet way out there.
In my bolt gun I run IMR 4350 and a 140 amax. The terminal damage on an antelope/whitetail is unbelievable for a caliber of that size. The 140 amax seems to be very forgiving in terms of reloading - it seems to be an easy bullet to get a decent load developed around it. IMHO the bergers are much more finicky.
I shoot the 139 lapua and H4350 in my GAP semi-auto in competitions, out to 1000y. Shoots pretty well, but I haven't been able to hit the velocities that others have gotten without pressure problems. I'm running at about 2700fps and have to use a TUBBS carrier weight system to get there.
I use Varget for the 120 class bullets.
I tried R17 for the 140 class bullets too. Got great velocities but not great groups.
After seeing what the 140 amax did to one antelope at 405y, and two whitetails at 250-300, I think it would be more than fine on elk at closer ranges. However, with elk I tend to err on the side of caution. I have a load developed with the 140 accubond and IMR 4350 that I would switch over to for elk.....that is if I didn't have a 300 RUM that I designed for elk hunting. I use a 200 accubond in the RUM. Kills elk dead. Love those accubonds.
