260 Load Development

[slas]

Went and shot up most of my Berger 130 VLD Hunting rounds. Set my OAL to 2.980 on all, kissing the lands. It seems from my internet research that around 2700 is where many find their best groups so I guess I'm in the ball park.

(1) IMR 4451 42.5 gr
Avg Velocity: 2692
(2) IMR 4451 43.0 gr
Avg Velocity: 2702
(3) IMR 4451 43.5 gr
Avg Velocity: 2733
(4) Varget 36.5 gr
Avg Velocity: 2652
(5) Varget 37.0 gr
Avg Velocity: 2652
(6) IMR 4350 43.0 gr.
Avg Velocity: 2690

I did a sort of ladder test shooting a round from each group each magazine load then marked all the 1's, 2's, etc. The best groupings I had were 1 and 4, then 2 and 5 with 3 being the worst.

I finally scored a few pounds of H4350, thanks to swampratt, and I picked up some Nosler Accubonds 130's and 140's so that's my next load work up. Those high dollar Bergers may be a little too rich for my taste.....will be picking up some Sierra's Hunters when I can find them available.

 

[Jcann]

I'm sure you can find an accuracy node much closer to 2900 fps with 130 gr bullets. If I were you I would skip the ladder testing and just run with an optimum charge weight (OCW) to find my best load. If you can find any Hornady 143gr ELD-X you may want to give them a try. They're about $35 at Gene Sears when they have them. I know the feeling about the bergers, they are expensive.

 

[slas]

I have better load data on the Accubonds than I had on the Bergers so I have a better starting point. Should be about to get close to 2900 with the 130's. Nosler shows best accuracy with RL19. Anyone using it?

 

[Jcann]

RL19 may pressure spike depending on your load once the summer heat arrives. Just something to watch out for.

 

[slas]

RL19 may pressure spike depending on your load once the summer heat arrives. Just something to watch out for.

Yep, was reading about some of those. Seems best to develop loads in the 30-70 degree range and avoid the 80 and above.

 

[slas]

Tried to go shoot today in the gusting Oklahoma wind and it was a challenge. Just finished bedding my rifle and putting a new nightforce nxs 2.5-10x42 on it so was biting at the bit to go test it out. I set up my chrony and after it blew over three times I gave up so I don't have any speeds on my loads. Was really wanting to see the speeds since I was working with my first loads using H4350. I loaded up some 130 bergers and then had some 140 grain Accubonds loaded up, my first 140 grain loads. I had them about .10 off the lands and even though it was gusting like crazy and pushing me around I still managed to get my best group out of the 140 Accubonds. I had read that many with the 1:8 twist get their best results from 140 grain, right now it looks like my Tikka likes them also. I ended up saving my other loads for another day when I could record speeds and not get pushed around while shooting.

 

[swampratt]

Very nice slas.
Dang wind.

 

[Jcann]

Not bad at all. How many rounds did you fire before you shot this group?

If it were me I would seat the bullets out further and see if the group tightens up more. But first I would run them across a chronograph.

 

[slas]

Not bad at all. How many rounds did you fire before you shot this group?

If it were me I would seat the bullets out further and see if the group tightens up more. But first I would run them across a chronograph.

Not bad at all. How many rounds did you fire before you shot this group?

If it were me I would seat the bullets out further and see if the group tightens up more. But first I would run them across a chronograph.

This was actually my second 5 shot round before I quit. I agree with playing with depth and will be doing so to see where the Accubonds perform best. The bergers liked it close so thought I'd try that with the AB's first. Next trip will have the chrony.