.260 rem 160 gr

[mtrigg88]

Hey guys. Just got my custom .260 back from the gunsmith. Really thinking about taking it on my elk hunt this October. Does anyone have any experience with the 160 grain woodleigh ppsn in .260? If so what kind of velocity are you getting with what powder? Gun has a 1 in 8 5r bartlein barrel finished at 24". Thanks guys

 

[scottishkat]

I looked at this at length when I first started reloading the 260 rem about 10 or 12 years ago. I know that Karamoja bell shot elephants and cape buffalo with the 6.5x55 and 160's.

After review of energy and velocity I think the 140 grain partition is probably the bullet I would use in the 260. Velocity is key and though I have not tried the 160 Woodleigh I have shot the 156 lapua. There may be some advantage to the 160 if you can load long and exceed book maximums. On paper the 140 NPT does better.

What is your new firearm built on. If you can't load longer than 2.85 I would stick with the 140 NPT for an animal 300 pounds and up. I did not like the 140 NAB that bullet is built tough and IMO better for 264 win mag velocity.

Start with H4831SC and H1000 and see what your velocities are.

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob

 

[mtrigg88]

Thanks for the reply. It's built off a model 7 action but with the reamer he used I can load out to 2.945. But my max magazine length is 2.83. If I can't get 2600 fps out of the 160's I'll go a different route. I have some NAB long range in 142 grain that I assume would be slightly softer up front since they say they will expand down to 1300fps. Might be my better option. Thanks again

 

[wackinandstackin243]

+1 on the H4831 if you use bullets in the 140 class. You might consider the Hornady ELD 143. I don't know how available they are.

 

[HARPERC]

Thanks for the reply. It's built off a model 7 action but with the reamer he used I can load out to 2.945. But my max magazine length is 2.83. If I can't get 2600 fps out of the 160's I'll go a different route. I have some NAB long range in 142 grain that I assume would be slightly softer up front since they say they will expand down to 1300fps. Might be my better option. Thanks again

Went through loaddata.com. 50 grains of H-1000 gave the old Hornady 160 2595, 45 grains of IMR 7828=2580, 41.5 grains IMR 4831 =2520, 40.5 grains IMR 4350 =2520

Might be others, but these came up in a couple of searches. These were specified as 2.8" length.

If you can find them the Norma "Oryx" 156 is is a bonded bullet. Out of stock no backorder at Midway. They do have the 156 "Vulcan".

Good Luck!

 

[Sully2]

Hey guys. Just got my custom .260 back from the gunsmith. Really thinking about taking it on my elk hunt this October. Does anyone have any experience with the 160 grain woodleigh ppsn in .260? If so what kind of velocity are you getting with what powder? Gun has a 1 in 8 5r bartlein barrel finished at 24". Thanks guys

I love the .260 all to death but I still wouldnt try it for an elk rifle. A bit light in bullet weight and velocity IMHO. Mule deer and whitetail...sure thing. Instead of 160's in that 260 try some 140 pointed boattails and speed them up to close to 2800 fps. Watch them sit back and perk up their ears to that sort of thing

 

[Wachsmann]

Not that I have absolute proof but was talking with a fellow at the range yesterday and he swears by his 260 with the 140vld. He showed me a few pics. He told me he has 13 elk to the rifle and the longest was 1103 yards. He had a custom built 260 with a really long barrel much longer than 26 inches. If I recall he was right at 3000fps is what I remember him stating.

 

[scottishkat]

The 142 LRAB looks good on paper 1300 fps at 1000 when started at 2800 which is pretty close to all you can get from a 24" bbl. Energy really starts to get low past 700.

Check out applied ballistics chart. I would try the Berger 140 hybrid or the 140 amax if you can find them.

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob

Range CardRange
(m)TOF
(s)Mach
(s)Velocity
(fps)Energy
(ft-lbs)Elevation
(moa)Windage
(moa)Lead
(moa)

0
0.000
2.46
2750
2385
0.00
0.00
0.00
50
0.061
2.39
2663
2237
-0.03
0.13
0.00
100
0.123
2.31
2578
2097
-0.14
0.33
0.00
150
0.187
2.24
2495
1963
-1.04
0.51
0.00
200
0.254
2.16
2413
1836
-2.22
0.69
0.00
250
0.323
2.09
2333
1716
-3.55
0.88
0.00
300
0.394
2.02
2254
1602
-4.99
1.08
0.00
350
0.468
1.95
2177
1494
-6.53
1.28
0.00
400
0.545
1.88
2101
1392
-8.17
1.49
0.00
450
0.624
1.82
2027
1295
-9.90
1.71
0.00
500
0.706
1.75
1954
1204
-11.72
1.94
0.00
550
0.792
1.69
1882
1118
-13.64
2.17
0.00
600
0.880
1.62
1812
1036
-15.68
2.42
0.00
650
0.972
1.56
1743
958
-17.82
2.67
0.00
700
1.068
1.50
1676
885
-20.08
2.94
0.00
750
1.168
1.44
1609
816
-22.48
3.22
0.00
800
1.271
1.38
1544
751
-25.01
3.51
0.00
850
1.380
1.33
1479
690
-27.69
3.81
0.00
900
1.493
1.27
1417
633
-30.53
4.13
0.00
950
1.611
1.21
1355
579
-33.55
4.46
0.00
1000
1.734
1.16
1295
529
-36.77
4.81
0.00​

 

[scottishkat]

1100 on an elk is some piece of work with the 260. 3000 with a 140 sounds more like a 260 Ackley improved than a straight 260. It's doable with perfect conditions. IMO the 260 is a solid 400 yard performer for deer.

If I were to shoot a 140 I would try the 140 AMAX it hits them like lightning. You would not be losing much on BC and its a serious performer on deer. On an elk put one in the boiler room and their not going far.

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob

 

[farmboykjb5.9]

I haven't hunted with a max bullets yet but wouldn't they expand rather quickly and separate at closer ranges?

 

[scottishkat]

I haven't hunted with a max bullets yet but wouldn't they expand rather quickly and separate at closer ranges?

Yes they expand well at 260 velocities drop deer like rain quite something for these southern whitetails. First read about them on the attached web site. Lots of info there.

.260 Remington

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob

 

[Edd]

If I was going elk hunting with a 260, and if I was ok with using a plastic tipped bullet, I would use a Swift 130 gr Scirocco bullet. If I knew I was going to have a close shot, I would use a 140 gr A-Frame.

 

[Stonegoat]

Have you considered the Barnes 127gr LRX? That would be my elk bullet of choice for a 260 Rem.

 

[bigngreen]

The 140 Amax will work beautiful, forget using ridiculously hard bullets, my brother shoots elk with them from a 6.5 Sherman at much higher speeds than a 260 and last years bullet took one tight behind the shoulder blowing a hole through his goodies then breaking the off shoulder, he wobble a whole ten steps before dropping, shot was 300 yards steep down hill so it would be like a point blank hit from a 260. If you want small wound channels and like watching elk run then the hard bullets work awesome!!