I just fireformed some brass and started with some loads for my new 260 Ai. Remington 700, 26" Bartlein 8 twist. I was only looking for 5-600 yard gun. Have some 120 nosler BT. I would like to use whitetail here in Pa. I do have some Berger 140 vld hunting. Any data would be appreciated or even bullet selection for what im doing.
260 AI loaded Data Needed
- Thread starter mike33
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codyadams
Well-Known Member
I have lots of data....mainly for the 140+ though, and my barrel is a 30" 8 twist. H4831sc was fantastic with the 140 VLD's, a tad slow but stupid accurate. Reloder 26 did everything well, as long as it doesn't get terribly hot. Around here we max out around 80-85, usually hunt when it is teens up to 60-70 or so.
Here is some data for you. Of course, same ol warning, work up, start lower than data I list, don't be dumb and start with a max load, yata yata yata.....
4831sc load -
Lapua Brass
CCI BR-2
47.8 H4831 SC
140 VLD seated .005" off
2930 fps
Shot in the .3's consistently. Max was around 49.0 or so if I recall, going just a shade over 3000 fps.
Reloder 26 load work up. This was working at the top end of pressure, max was around 50.5 grains. Also used a 6" drop tube, and shot this at 65 degrees -
Lapua Brass
CCI-BR-2
Reloder 26
140 VLD
Seated .005" off
3 shots each -
49.0 - 3044 avg 7 fps e.s.
49.5 - 3053 avg 13 fps e.s.
50.0 - 3107 avg 12 e.s.
50.5 - 3134 avg 9 fps e.s.
51.0 - 3137 avg 19 fps e.s.
After doing a ladder test at range, I settled on 49 grains. It was easy on my brass, and my 500 yard group had under 1" of vertical spread and was only 1.75" for 3 shots. Plus, 3045 fps with a 140 is nothing to sneeze at.
After that I moved on to the 147 eld-m for a season, and was unsatisfied by terminal performance. Now I have my final load that will remain unchanged until I burn the barrel out, and that is 49.0 grains of Reloder 26 under an HBN coated 156 EOL going 2940 fps. Max was right about 50.2 grains going 2980 fps. Using Peterson SRP brass and CCI 450 (small rifle magnum) primers. They are seated .065" off to fit in my AICS ARC mag, and they don't seem to care about seating depth.
Not that it matters, but out of curiosity I tried H1000 just because. Using a 6" drop tube and settling as much as would fit in the case with heavy compression and without pushing the bullet back out, I still didn't get any pressure signs, but probably close. Maxed out on capacity at 2950is fps with the 147. Reloder 26 got it up to 3040 fps.
Hope that helped a little. Take care!!!
Here is some data for you. Of course, same ol warning, work up, start lower than data I list, don't be dumb and start with a max load, yata yata yata.....
4831sc load -
Lapua Brass
CCI BR-2
47.8 H4831 SC
140 VLD seated .005" off
2930 fps
Shot in the .3's consistently. Max was around 49.0 or so if I recall, going just a shade over 3000 fps.
Reloder 26 load work up. This was working at the top end of pressure, max was around 50.5 grains. Also used a 6" drop tube, and shot this at 65 degrees -
Lapua Brass
CCI-BR-2
Reloder 26
140 VLD
Seated .005" off
3 shots each -
49.0 - 3044 avg 7 fps e.s.
49.5 - 3053 avg 13 fps e.s.
50.0 - 3107 avg 12 e.s.
50.5 - 3134 avg 9 fps e.s.
51.0 - 3137 avg 19 fps e.s.
After doing a ladder test at range, I settled on 49 grains. It was easy on my brass, and my 500 yard group had under 1" of vertical spread and was only 1.75" for 3 shots. Plus, 3045 fps with a 140 is nothing to sneeze at.
After that I moved on to the 147 eld-m for a season, and was unsatisfied by terminal performance. Now I have my final load that will remain unchanged until I burn the barrel out, and that is 49.0 grains of Reloder 26 under an HBN coated 156 EOL going 2940 fps. Max was right about 50.2 grains going 2980 fps. Using Peterson SRP brass and CCI 450 (small rifle magnum) primers. They are seated .065" off to fit in my AICS ARC mag, and they don't seem to care about seating depth.
Not that it matters, but out of curiosity I tried H1000 just because. Using a 6" drop tube and settling as much as would fit in the case with heavy compression and without pushing the bullet back out, I still didn't get any pressure signs, but probably close. Maxed out on capacity at 2950is fps with the 147. Reloder 26 got it up to 3040 fps.
Hope that helped a little. Take care!!!
Methow Packer
Well-Known Member
I think I remember you're a 243 AI fan too. I'm starting load development for the 243 AI using 105 VLD hybrid and ELD-x 103. Do you have any powder and load development advice. I hope I remember right that you shoot this cartridge.
codyadams
Well-Known Member
Nope, not me. Just the .260 ai, and a couple .270 Sherman's
Thank you very much for your help. On the Berger 140 how well did it do as a hunting bullet as far as damage on deer?
codyadams
Well-Known Member
They put down deer and pronghorn great, as far as meat damage, almost all my shots were behind the shoulder, and if that was shot placement then meat loss was very very little. If you hit the spine or heavy shoulder joint, there was significant damage, but I never recovered a 140 vld from a pronghorn or a mule deer. A coworker recently used my rifle to shoot a massive bodied mule deer, the biggest I have ever seen, at 940 yards with the 156 EOL. After going through the scapula, lungs, and off side rib and was under the hide, so actually recovered it. Around 50% or a little better retained weight. I would assume the 140's would be similar in performance in a similar scenario. Overall I love the VLD's.
Again thanks for your help. I don't care about meat loss just want something to drop them quick. Actually I give most of my deer meat away. I never used a Berger for hunting and heard some tails they will punch holes and deer runs away. I have been used to smaller bullets with high vel. giving good fragmentation dropping most in there tracks.
codyadams
Well-Known Member
Just make sure the ones you use for hunting have the hollow points open. I use a cheap ($5) wire drill kit and clear out all the tips of my Bergers. Performance with over 50 animals killed with the Bergers have been like this -
Thank you for sharing Very impressive. Could you go in to a little more detail of clearing out the tip as you mentioned. Some times I have to be taken by the hand. LOL
Also I just got back from range with a few more loads didn't have time to full with chronograph since I wanted to bow hunt tonight. I pretty well have my load with the 100 nosler bt 48 grains H-4350. Nice group under 1/2" 3 shot. Previous loads starting off with 45 grains up have worked this good but it keeps on taking more powder so im happy. I loaded up 2 strings with the Berger 140 starting at 47 grains then to 48 grains H-4831 SC. 47 grains was not good around 3/4 but 48 grains was 2 in one out giving me a .481 group. Very happy with that and a neat thing is the 140 and 120 shot at the same impact where I could use both in a hunting situation. I picked up some R-26 this morning but haven't had a chance to load yet, but I will give it a try. Im shooting a 26" 8 twist Bartlein.
codyadams
Well-Known Member
Get a wire drill bit kit like this one for $8 from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072M35LDZ/?tag=lrhmag19-20
And put the correct sized bit, I think it's .015" or so, in your drill and drill out the hollow points to ensure they are open and clear. I find one that is opened well and put the bit in it to set the proper depth so I don't go too deep with the other ones. I find it easier to do it after they are loaded, but you can do it before as well.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072M35LDZ/?tag=lrhmag19-20
And put the correct sized bit, I think it's .015" or so, in your drill and drill out the hollow points to ensure they are open and clear. I find one that is opened well and put the bit in it to set the proper depth so I don't go too deep with the other ones. I find it easier to do it after they are loaded, but you can do it before as well.
Out of curiosity only, what made you try a match bullet for hunting?
codyadams
Well-Known Member
They aren't a match bullet, they are specifically designated hunting.
codyadams
Well-Known Member
Unless your referring to the 147 eld-m, in which case I had heard good things but wanted to test them myself.
