.260 Rem. Input

[17Fireball]

Hello everyone. I have a new Savage Model 12 LRP in .260 Rem. Tomorrow I will begin the slow break in procedure. It is topped with an ACTAR. I'd like some advice on what folks have found to be good bullet/powder combinations for accuracy. I will use it as a 300 yard deer gun and 500 yard groundhog gun plus lots of target shooting. I'd like to shoot mostly 120 grain bullets. I bought the bullets below to start with:

Speer Hotcore 120
Sierra Pro Hunter SPT 120
Hornady 140 AMAX
Hornady 140 Grain BTHP

 

[brd922001]

I have two Savages in 260. A Weather Warrior and a Light Weight Hunter. Both shoot well and the WW shoots very well. The Warrior likes Lapua 139gr over Winchester 760 powder. The LWH likes the Barnes 127 gr Long Range Hunters and Nosler 130 Accubonds. I have not had the chance to try the Accunonds on the WW. IMR4350 seems to do well in all rounds tried but Winchecter 760 has done very well. I have not had to the time to test if the W760 has any issues with temp changes. I never really do much of a break in. I do clean after every 10-15 rounds until I get a 100 rounds down the tube. After that I clean when I can.

Good luck.

 

[Dano1]

I had a .260 Remington about 14 years ago and where mine was a single shot Encore pistol with a custom barrel set up I had to handle it's loading a bit differently than you will with your longer barrel. That being said, I shot mine from a bench and off bags and fired the same bullet weight range that you have indicated. Mine had a 1-9 twist so the 140's weren't as accurate, but still grouped around an inch at 100yds.

H4895 was the best choice for my pistol due to the quick burning required for the 14" bbl that it had.

You would be best served with WW760 or H414 (they are the same thing) or Hodgdon or IMR 4350. They are slower and you will have the more desired case capacity to fill ratio. There is no reason that either one wouldn't group out of that rifle. I'd stay away from any thing slower than 4350 or anything faster than 4895. There are several good powders in that spectrum with BL-C(2) being a good one. Anything a .243 Win or a .308 Win will eat, a .260 Rem can shoot too.

It's a great cartridge and easy to load. I have it on my list of cartridges to have and will get another one made in the future.

Dano

 

[ramrod79]

My Custom Rem 260 Liked 123GR SMK 44.5 GR IMR4350 Fed 210 primers shot bug holes with this 2.8 OAL also 120GR SMK with 44GR 4350 210M primers 2.79OAL was a one hole wonder as well , these were warm loads in my gun, start low work up. The best thing I found with my 260 is that it likes most any loads. I also shot the max load in the Barnes manual with 120 GR TTSX ,and could shoot 1/2 inch groups with this load too.

Good luck I hope you enjoy the 260 its a great caliber.

 

[RHC]

In my .260, my load uses H4350 for the 140 A-Max. Great powder for that bullet in my opinion. Consistent 1/2" 5 shot groups at 100, and once a 3/4" group at 300.

 

[17Fireball]

Thanks for the input. Anyone have any on game performance with the bullets you are using that you could share?

 

[kingzero]

I shoot 140 Amaxs over 41.5 gr of H4350 for targets and 120 TTSX's over 42 gr of H4350 for deer.

Forget the brake in process. Its a waste of time and components.

 

[RHC]

Thanks for the input. Anyone have any on game performance with the bullets you are using that you could share?

I shot a deer with a 140 A-Max. Did just fine.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

I shoot 140 Amaxs over 41.5 gr of H4350 for targets and 120 TTSX's over 42 gr of H4350 for deer.

Forget the brake in process. Its a waste of time and components.

That does seem to be the recipe that most of those verbal about such things are happy with.

It is close enough to what I use to be the same, slight adjustments for seating depth.

Others posters, here and elsewhere, that have deviated from H4350 and seem to go back.

All the best, be safe, have fun.

 

[ramrod79]

The boy shot a nice Mule deer buck with the 120TTSX at 300yards tipped him over and I put down a WT buck this past season with the 123Gr SMK at 285 he ran 20 yards then piled up also took a bull at 150 took 2 shots in the neck but job got done . I have since sold gun and went to a 280AI but I regret selling and I also regret not trying some 130 NAB I bet they would have worked well.