260 Rem loads

[acourvil]

not a typo , and not dangerous

My bad, sorry. I was thinking RL-16, not 26. But you must be really stuffing the case to get that in.

 

[xsn10s]

I'm just getting started in long range shooting but I have been reloading for quite a few years. I'm shooting a savage 12 lrp in 260 Rem that the barrel has been cut down to 22". Im loading 140gr eldm and 143gr eldx with H4350 and Lapua Brass. With the 143 I am getting light pressure signs at 42gr and probably 3/4 MOA at 41gr with around 2650fps. The best accuracy I have found so far is with the 140gr and 40.5 gr of h4350. I'm not to concerned with velocity but I was wondering how slow is to slow with the 260. Most people seem to be pushing 2700-2800 with the 260 but should I be fine if I'm only pushing around 2550-2600. My chronograph seems like it's starting to give out so I'm not putting much trust in what it's telling me.

I'm not a Savage owner but as far as I know you can seat bullets quite long with your LRP (detach mag). That can reduce pressures and increase capacity. You could just have a slow barrel. I'd check to see where contact to the lands is and then seat out with a .020" jump, or more depending on the mag's allowable COAL. Then adjust your charges and check again for pressure.
As far as you being happy with the velocity that's entirely up to you and the job you set for the rig. My 260 AI fire form load out of a 26" barrel is a 145 Match Burner going 2750 fps. My target for velocities with that bullet or a 147 gr ELDM is around 2900 fps. But to be honest I'm having a blast with this fire forming load out to 800 yards so far. When I get a chance I'll push it to 1100 yards and then 1650 yards out on blm land.

 

[98dyna]

.260 AI Criterion 26" 1 in 8 twist match chamber barrel. 48.1 grains H4831sc, Dogtown .243 brass, WLR primers, Barnes Burner 140 grain bullets. 2925 fps with no pressure signs at all and will hit clay pigeons at 1000 yards. I got to spend a year in Morgantown, WV. at the Harry Jones Memorial Range outside of Fairmont learning from the big dogs. These guys have forgotten more about shooting than I have ever learned. If it isn't broken, don't try to fix it.

 

[xsn10s]

I guess long story short if your load is accurate and fits your needs then don't worry about the velocities. Load up and have fun.

 

[WV338]

This is my favorite load getting 2740 fps but with a 26" barrel. This is a 10 shot group.

 

[deadidarren]

Ejector marks and slightly sticky bolt lift

Well you certainly don't want to get any more than that must be tight chamber short throat I'm scratching my head

 

[Ronald W Schaefer]

I ran your info through quickload using a 22" bbl . I just used default settings , since I don't know all your particulars . your info is all making sense . it is following along quickload pretty close , even without fine tuning .

the 260 is rated at 60191 PSI
using a 143 ELDx bullet
42.0 grains of H4350 gives 2699 FPS at 62624 PSI ( over MAX )
41.0 grains of H4350 gives 2637 FPS at 58099 PSI
40.5 grains of H4350 gives 2607 FPS at 55965 PSI



I used all the same default settings as above , but switched to RL26 powder .

using the 143 ELDx bullet
47.5 grains of RL26 gives 2845 FPS at 60047PSI (MAX)
43.5 grains of RL26 gives 2571 FPS at 43308PSI (MIN)


if your looking for more velocity , you need to change powder . RL26 gives the highest velocity in the 260 using the 140 weight bullets .

I switched to 43 grs. RL-19 w 142 gr Nosler Accubond, CCI- BR-2 primers and Lapua brass. Got 2820 with SAKO 85 and 23+" barrel (some metric measure that I forgot--not 24")

 

[Poe]

Well you certainly don't want to get any more than that must be tight chamber short throat I'm scratching my head

Yeah I originally was getting pressure signs at 40gr. It was a used rifle so I picked up a bore scope and cleaned the barrel and the throat down to bare metal and that did help. I'm thinking I will just stick with the loads I have now and call that good

 

[Poe]

Well you certainly don't want to get any more than that must be tight chamber short throat I'm scratching my head

I know it's a low charge but I'm thinking I might stick with the 40.5gr on h4350 and the 140 eldm. The accuracy with that load so far has been really good and I'm sure it will be more than good enough for me to start playing with some long range shooting

 

[FUDD2.0]

Here is my Savage 12 LRP 260 rem shooting Hornady 147gr ELD, Virgin Lspua brass, Fed 210M, H4350.

 

[FUDD2.0]

Forgot to attach the picture.

 

[R. Cram]

I know it's a low charge but I'm thinking I might stick with the 40.5gr on h4350 and the 140 eldm. The accuracy with that load so far has been really good and I'm sure it will be more than good enough for me to start playing with some long range shooting

I've used a 260 for Highpower for 25 years and had 14 different barrels in that time due to wearing them out, I get around 2500 to 3000 rnds before getting a new one. usually I set them back an inch or so and gety another 1500 rnds My go to load for 140 gr bullets to be shot on the 600 yd line is 42 gr 4350 most of the time that is the most accurate some barrels have been 41 and some barrels 40 so shoot whatever is most accurate lower pressures save brass life considerably and probably barrel wear. at 300 yds I shoot 40 gr 4350 with 120's and they are accurate and easy on brass. at 200yds I shoot 90 gr tnt bullets with 35 or 36 gr of any medium speed powder, 4895 4064,3031 they all shoot well with around this charge as it is very light and I get 100 reloads out of brass or more and good accuracy. refraining from shortening barrels is the best way to get velocity. I shot my latest barrel at the last match which is about 27 inches long, as long as I could keep it and still remove about an inch off the muzzle when fitting it on the rifle and at 600 yds with 42 gr 4350 and 140 gr bullets the velocity according to the electronic scoring device was 1925 fps. I also shot my 6.5x284 with a 24 inch barrel and 52 gr h4831 and 140's and it got 1950 fps, very dissapointing out of the 6.5x284.By the way I put an xcaliber barrel on the 260 and it is the most accurate barrel I have ever had

 

[Poe]

I've used a 260 for Highpower for 25 years and had 14 different barrels in that time due to wearing them out, I get around 2500 to 3000 rnds before getting a new one. usually I set them back an inch or so and gety another 1500 rnds My go to load for 140 gr bullets to be shot on the 600 yd line is 42 gr 4350 most of the time that is the most accurate some barrels have been 41 and some barrels 40 so shoot whatever is most accurate lower pressures save brass life considerably and probably barrel wear. at 300 yds I shoot 40 gr 4350 with 120's and they are accurate and easy on brass. at 200yds I shoot 90 gr tnt bullets with 35 or 36 gr of any medium speed powder, 4895 4064,3031 they all shoot well with around this charge as it is very light and I get 100 reloads out of brass or more and good accuracy. refraining from shortening barrels is the best way to get velocity. I shot my latest barrel at the last match which is about 27 inches long, as long as I could keep it and still remove about an inch off the muzzle when fitting it on the rifle and at 600 yds with 42 gr 4350 and 140 gr bullets the velocity according to the electronic scoring device was 1925 fps. I also shot my 6.5x284 with a 24 inch barrel and 52 gr h4831 and 140's and it got 1950 fps, very dissapointing out of the 6.5x284.By the way I put an xcaliber barrel on the 260 and it is the most accurate barrel I have ever had

Thanks for the info. I wish the barrel was the factory 26" but the previous owner cut it down. I got a good enough deal it it that I couldn't say no. When this barrel is shot out I will go back to a longer barrel. I have been shooting for years but mainly 400 yards and down so I figured this would be a good setup to help me learn the longer range game.

 

[ARlife4me]

I've used a 260 for Highpower for 25 years and had 14 different barrels in that time due to wearing them out, I get around 2500 to 3000 rnds before getting a new one. usually I set them back an inch or so and gety another 1500 rnds My go to load for 140 gr bullets to be shot on the 600 yd line is 42 gr 4350 most of the time that is the most accurate some barrels have been 41 and some barrels 40 so shoot whatever is most accurate lower pressures save brass life considerably and probably barrel wear. at 300 yds I shoot 40 gr 4350 with 120's and they are accurate and easy on brass. at 200yds I shoot 90 gr tnt bullets with 35 or 36 gr of any medium speed powder, 4895 4064,3031 they all shoot well with around this charge as it is very light and I get 100 reloads out of brass or more and good accuracy. refraining from shortening barrels is the best way to get velocity. I shot my latest barrel at the last match which is about 27 inches long, as long as I could keep it and still remove about an inch off the muzzle when fitting it on the rifle and at 600 yds with 42 gr 4350 and 140 gr bullets the velocity according to the electronic scoring device was 1925 fps. I also shot my 6.5x284 with a 24 inch barrel and 52 gr h4831 and 140's and it got 1950 fps, very dissapointing out of the 6.5x284.By the way I put an xcaliber barrel on the 260 and it is the most accurate barrel I have ever had

I've been thinking about an x-barrel, but haven't decided on a cartridge yet.
With the lack of brass available in most cartridges it's difficult to get something that you don't already have. I've been wanting to do a lightweight build complete around 6-6.5#s in a short mag of 270wsm, 300wsm/saum and no 7mils. Before I decide on a cartridge I'll buy the brass 1st along with the dies. I just don't really want to do another long action. as I'll be 7-7.5#s. Brass hunting sucks!