260 with 130 bergers

[bretterath]

I had a 260 built for my wife. Semi custom, bought a tikka and had gun smith pull barrel and had him install 6.5 benchmark installed tikka contour and had bolt fluted and different bolt knob installed. Running a mark 4 on top. I loaded some 130 Bergers with different loads with 10 thousand off lands and never shot good. So took best group and did different seating depths and with 130 Bergers seated 40 thousands off the lands I shot a 1/4" group. My load was H4350 43.5 grains shooting 2740. This has a 24" benchmark barrel and thought that I should be getting more velocity than that with a 130. Are the 130 going to be sufficient for deer out to 600 yards? I was gonna use 140 vlds but wanted more velocity. I was also thinking of the 143 eld-x bullets but was looking for fps around 2850. What are your thoughts?

 

[jpd676]

I think you will be fine out to 600 yards but you'd have to run the numbers on a ballistic calculator (there is one on the home page) to be sure. I shoot a 140 Amax at 2800 fps in my .260, so your velocity is within the ballpark. I'm not sure how accurate my chronograph is, so that is just a thought for you. If you are getting 1/4 moa, I wouldn't change a thing because "you can't miss fast enough." I load for accuracy and live with the numbers it gives me.

 

[Jud96]

I would expect more speed with a 130gr, but you will have plenty of energy to reliably take down a deer at 600 yards. I am at 1200 feet altitude and that load delivers just over 1000 ft-lbs at 600 and that is plenty for a whitetail. Especially with a Berger, it will dump all of its energy rapidly and destroy the internals.

 

[bretterath]

Thanks guys. I'm gonna try a different chronograph and see if that's the problem. I should gain some more fps I would think after I get 100 rounds down the new barrel

 

[BEEMAN]

How long is your barrel? My 6.5X47 runs a 130 Berger at 2980 out of a 26" Broughton. Full custom built by RBROS. I only have 150 rounds through it and expect to be right at 3000 fps after the barrel is fully broke in. 42.2 gr of H4350.

 

[bama1]

I use 44.5 in a 26" savage lrp and 45 grains h4350 in a 24" savage model 10. I can verify 600+ yards on whitetail deer is no problem. Repeatedly.

 

[bretterath]

im running a 24" benchmark barrel. im gonna load up a few more at 44,44.5 and 45 with different seating depths and see if I can match my accuracy with 43.5 grain load.

 

[trailrider121]

H4350 with 44.5 to 45 should be your next node. Another powder to try would be varget or imr 4064 @ 39 grs works very well. My 24 " barrel get 2850- 2875 fps with varget or 4064.

 

[bretterath]

H4350 with 44.5 to 45 should be your next node. Another powder to try would be varget or imr 4064 @ 39 grs works very well. My 24 " barrel get 2850- 2875 fps with varget or 4064.

What action u running? Have you loaded any at 45 and have any pressure signs.

 

[trailrider121]

Marlin XL7action with criterion barrel 1/8 twist. My chamber is throated at .160". I use lapua brass and had no pressure problems at 45 grs. However, I was not happy with accuracy, so I went with varget or imr 4064. My current load is 140 hybrids with h4831sc at 46.5 grs. 2800 fps and works excellent