Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 260 Rem load data solicited-whitetail loads

My rifle has shown an attraction to IMR-4350 and RL-17 (and would probably shoot H4350 just as well). My rifle is a Remington Model 7 synthetic/stainless with an 18" barrel.

My current hunting load is 44.5 grains of IMR-4350 in a Remington case with a CCI-200 primer. I am shooting 130 grain Accubonds seated to magazine length in my 18" stainless/synthetic Remington Model 7. These are seated a good ways from touching the lands. I Chronographed them about 2 weeks ago in 46* weather and was getting 2776 for my average with a spread of about 15 fps over 4 shots. I just shot a doe with this load at a ranged 259 yards this past weekend. It dropped on the spot. I get groups averaging .700-.800" with this load.

Coincidentally, my rifle also loves the 125grain partition fueled by 44.5 grains of IMR-4350. I am seating them to magazine length also and using the same remington cases and CCI-200 primers. I chronoed this load this past fall in 65* weather and was getting an honest 2853 fps average with a 7.5 fps spread! I get 3/4 MOA accuracy out of this load as well. I shot a deer through the top part of the heart and lungs with this load last year. The deer ran about 60 yards and piled up. it was on the edge of a field and it would have been difficult to blood trail this deer. I actually did not spot a single drop of blood (or hair for that matter). It was odd. I also did not find an exit hole but I did look Neither did I recover the bullet however it was dark when I was gutting it. I have no doubt that bullet likely penetrated fully but I just didn't recover it. It did plenty of damage to the lungs and heart area. Range was about 80 yards.

It interests me that the exact same load with a bullet 5 grains heavier (and noticably longer) gives up about 75 fps to the heavier bullet.


I will say my model 7 has been a little finicky. It will shoot anything under 2 MOA but it has been difficult to get it below an inch. These two loads have proved to be sub MOA on multiple occasions.

I do have one question though. I am fully confident that my accubond expanded just fine on the deer I shot last weekend however I am not 100% sure the partition expanded much. In you all's experience, is ~2700 fps fast enough to reliably expand these 6.5mm partitions?

I am also going to be field testing the 120 TTSX and 120 grain Ballistic tip. I then plan on stocking up on whichever of the 4 bullets prove to give the best performance however i have about 250 of the accubonds already laying around. I'll keep ya'll posted.

I'm not sure of the velocity but a 125 Partition launched by a max charge of RL19 from a friend's Model 7 sure wrecked a big doe's chest cavity. The bullet blew all the way through so it wasn't recovered, but given the internal damage and blood trail there isn't much chance the bullet didn't expand.

Thanks mathman for your experience. Like I mentioned, i have only taken one deer with this load so I was looking for a few other experiences. I'm guessing that load probably is within 100 fps of the 2850fps mine launches them at. My rifle just isn't a fan of RL-19 for some reason...

I'm not surprised your 260 likes 4350, a lot of them do. The same friend of mine also has a Browning Low Wall in 260 that likes both IMR and H 4350 with 120 grain bullets.

Good evening Gents. New to the forum here.

I am looking for some pet recipes for a 260 Remington in a 700 Mountain Rifle, 22" barrel if I remember correctly using Berger 130 grain VLD Hunting rounds.

Most manuals lean towards IMR4350, but I am having a hard time finding it so looking for some feedback from someone that may have tried them.

Take a hard look at RL19.

It whoops azz with 120's and up.

125 grain Nosler Partition, Ramshot Hunter at 46.3 grains (max, work up to this), Fed 210 Large Rifle primer, Remington brass.
Ave velocity is 2925 FPS. This load is all over a 270 win in 130 grains.

This is out of a Model 700 with a 24 inch barrel.

Guys, don't overlook Ramshot Hunter, it is very similar to RL-19, and alot easier to work with as it is a sperical powder, and it is not effected by temperatures. I have 3 loads worked up in my 260 Rem using Hunter and all velocities are great. I also have a 24 inch barrel, and am sure that helps with any load.