I just picked up a new stainless fluted Sako Varmint rifle in 260 Rem, and was wondering what ammo everyone was having the best luck with. I know I need to hanload as the variety of factory fodder is not good, but is there any decent ammo avail?

120 Ballistic from Federal is the best factory fodder IMHO...
Great deer round...

Really handicapping yourself not handloading for the .260 as you well know..

I know, I went to local shop this week to buy a RCBS kit, and they were out, guess I will have to make a call to Cabelas.

I loaded 125 gr partitions over 45 gr of H4350.

100gr partitions are the only ones shooting poorly, 125 part, 129sst and 130 bergers are doing well. Im using H4350 for everything and have been real happy. I agree with G that the 120BT is the best factory load out, at .260 speeds I would not worry about it being fragile at all.

vinc,

Funny you mention the 100 NP's. I've roughly 50+ more loaded up with 45.0 H4350 (very mild load as I loaded these using the 100 Barnes X old data, probably could have gone up to 47.0 or so for some more velocity). I figure this leaves at around 3000 and recoils less than my .243 with 70's at 3450 if you can believe it....

About 1/2" at 100 to boot...

Extremely good combo and a heckuva deer bullet including a mulie at 272 yards last November cross canyon...

When the last batch of these 100's are done I've 150+ 125 NP's waiting to be killers....

If limited to factory ammo in the 260, I'd agree with the rest of the guys and suggest the 120 grain BT from Federal and/or the 120 grain AccuTip boat tail from Remington.

When you start reloading for your 260, I'd suggest trying the following bullets:

95 grain VMax for anything under 125+/- lbs.
120 grain BT, 125 grain Partition, and 129 grain Hornady for anything in the 125 to 250 lbs. range.
140 grain Partition for anything heavier than 250 lbs. or for game that needs several inches of bullet penetration.

Jeff

What purpose does the 260 Remington serve seeing as how the 7-08 and the 260 are ballistic twins? Inquiring minds what to know.

Just had to do it didn't you....grin...
You can ask that question about +/- 100 calibers....

I acquired a .260 before a 7-08 and I see no reason to go 7-08...
That said, if I would have acquired a 7-08 before a .260 I'd have no reason for a .260...

I got interested in the 260 because I could buy a Remington 7 stainless and I couldn't buy anything chambered for the 6.5x55 across the counter in stainless.

I've always been more of a 7x57 guy than a 7mm-08 guy. The only 7mm-08 rifles that I currently have are Savage 99Cs, but they are too valuable (on the current market) to shoot.

Plus, the 95 grain VMax makes the 260 a better combination varmint-medium game cartridge, if you reload.

Jeff

That's easy. With both shooting 140 Factory, the .260 has 15 more ft/lbs of energy at 500 yards.(according to Rem charts)

I bought a .260 because I had a 6mm and a 7mm. Now I have a 6.5 mm. Seemed like the perfect whitetail cartridge. And I still think so. I use 140's for deer and hogs with expected performance on some very large hogs. I haven't tried BT's in years after 2 bad experiences, but I may try some for fun.

stumpy

Gmoney,
I remember your post on the 100gr and thats why I picked them up to try. I thought it might be the twist but the 95vmax is doing just fine, even used the same load range 44-46gr of H4350.

The 100part gave me a 3-4inch pattern at 100, I did not even bother to measure it. Next groups of 129SSt and Bergers went right about an inch. I liked the idea of matching it with the 95 Vmax but I guess I will have to try a different powder

I have a few 260's and I'm building another one. I havn't had the best accuracy results with the 120 NBT, it's been good but not the best. The 120g Speer always gives me better accuracy. I haven't used either on deer yet. My VLS loves 140g MK's and H4831SC but I mainly use that load on long range rock chucks. For 120's I usually load H414 or H4350.

Bb

I have a .260 lowwall and love it. When I checked the Sako site I didn't find the .260 listed in that model.... was it a limited run? What is a real world price for that rifle?
Thanks and please keep us posted on how it shoots!

I'd vouch for the 120 AccuTip from Remington. They worked well on a couple deer. And yes, I did have the 120 Ballistic Tip blow up on a deer's shoulder about 4 years ago.

The 140 CoreLokt seems to be too tough for deer, though it does kill them, just not all that quickly. The 140 Sierra from Federal does pretty well if you like penetration with your expansion.

I get good results with many differentloads but the 120 Remington Accutips gave me my all time best group for any rifle, any load, ever. That includes handloads........................sadly. I reload the 140 Sierra Gamekings and they are available in Federal factory load. For my situation I find 140 Gamekings out of a 260 to be a perfect blend of all worlds. I have one of those no good A-bolts, did the trigger myself, B&C Medalist stock, Leupold M8 6x42 with a #4 from Premiere. From the decellerator pad to the tip of that long Sierra missile in flight at a perfectly matched speed for its intended use this rig thrills me.

The 260 Rem is in my opinion, what the 243 was touted as being, a true duel purpose varmint/big game rifle. It's faster than a 243 with 100 grain bullets, and bullet weight can easily go to 140 grains for larger critters. If I only could have one, between the 243 or the 260, the answer is very easy, 260 Rem.

Gawd it pains me to agree with "aggiedog"...as a UT Longhorn fan!
I shot a 243 for about 10 years in the '60's & '70's and had more Issues with tracking and losing critters than I have in the 30 years since then put together. I moved to a 270 back then and just recently started fresh with a modern 6.5 Swede in a Tikka T3. I'd have just as soon as bought a Ruger Lite in 260 or Swede but just can't/won't consider the Compact with its 16" barrel though. Try one of either 6.5 persuasion and you'll see why folks think these things are like eating potato chips...once you use one you'll get another 6.5 in another flavor to go with the first one!
Ron

+ 1...

Oh and Gig 'Em!!!!!!

I just got a .260 and so far it seems to like 125 and 140 gr partitions over 45 grs of H4350. In fact at 100yds they have the same point of impact. My friend is loadin for me and has some 130gr scricco's that were gonna try. But for deer and the occasional black bear I really like Partitions!!! Outa the 7-08 the 140 partitions are serious deer thumpers. I'll prolly go 125 NP. Just cuz I've seen what the 140's do. I'm really liking the .260!!! I'm glad I bought one!

My Sako was the last runs of 75 Varmints and they put stainless/fluted barrels on them. I shot it with 120 federal and 140 Remington and it shot around 1 inch. Could I reasonably expect it to shoot considerably less than that with handloads? I really like this rifle and caliber and want it to be as accurate as possible.

Given what my friend's Low Wall and Model 7 do with my handloads, I'd be quite frustrated if I couldn't get a heavy barreled Sako well under an inch at 100 yards. I expect another careful handloader could do very well too.

mathman

Well I always seem to be off the beaten path from everyone else.. however, a few guys have come to respect my 2 cents on a couple of subjects...
Even tho others have had accuracy with the 95 grain V Max.. It is about the only 6.5 bullet I haven't had any luck with...

you didn't state whether you were using your Sako for Varmints, big game or both...

I own three, 2 Rugers, and a Rem VLS...

in the two Rugers.. I load one with 140s with an MV of 2500 fps, with a 4 power scope on it.. for basically the same environment people usually use a 30/30 in..

the other Ruger is used as a short action 25/06 equivalent.. 25/06 owners really get their dandruff up when you state a short action 260 will equal their long action 25/06...

That rifle uses a lot of 100 grain bullets.... Ballistic Tips, 100 GR HP Sierras, and 100 grain SP Hornadys...before Nosler put it in their manual, I had worked up a load of 43.5 grains of IMR 4064. Large Rifle primer ( brand doesn't matter) and a 100 grain Bullet for an MV of 3350 fps out of a 22 inch barrel... the VLS Rem has a 26 inch barrel and that one clocks that same load at 3450 fps...I think Noslers recommendation was at 43 grains..

With a couple of bang/flops at 300 yds, with this combo... and with the scope set on 4 power, ( Leupolds), the recoil was low enough, that I didn't loose site picture, and watched the deer drop within the scope....

If you feel the need for 120s or 125s... I load 40 grains of RL 15, W 748, IMR 4064, IMR 4895, IMR 3031,Varget, Benchmark, BLC 2,...all have an MV about 2800 to 2900 fps...

H 414 is my choice if you desire a slower burn rate.. along with IMR 4350 getting honorable mention.. followed by H 4350...

The 260 is one of the most balanced cartridges out there in my book.. especially in a short action...

Yeah you can stretch a hair more out of a handloaded 6.5 x 55, or a little more out of a 6.5/06.. but it takes substantially more powder to have little gains..

Even tho guys talk always about the RL 19, RL 22, 4831, 7828 burn ranges in the 260.. I find the mid range powders do just as well, and better with the lighter bullets... with less powder and less recoil..

and for bullet weights under 100... Speers 90 grain TNT is my choice ANY day over the 95 grain V Max...and the 85 grain Sierra HP is also a good bullet... I don't dislike V Maxes.. in this caliber is the only one that the performance and accuracy hasn't been up to snuff compared to the V Maxes in other calibers...

For match bullets.. I have had great luck with the 107 Sierra in competition ( limited participation) out to 600 yds.. and out to a thousand, good luck with the Sierra 120s 140s and 142s...

Also same with the 140 AMAX...

I haven't had the opportunity to use the Lapua offerings and the Berger offerings... but they need no introduction to their quality and accuracy...

But if limited to one bullet choice for deer and one bullet choice for Elk, my choices would be the 100 grain Hornady SP and for Elk, the 125 partition.... if I was limited to one bullet for ALL hunting of non varmint game, the choice would be the 125 Nosler... it shoots well with any powder listed above...

and if my rifles turn in an accuracy of one inch groups at 100 yds... I am looking in the mirror and chewing me out for jerking the trigger... my 2 Rugers and my VLS are half inch shooters or better all day long.. and all three are factory barrels, except as soon as I got them they were taken to the smith and throated out to be able to accept 140 grainers and 160 grain Hornady RNs to magazine length...

I also worked the triggers.. but I did that myself..

I plan on using it for mostly paper punching with the occasional deer hunt thrown in, not for varmint as I have lighter smaller rifles fo that purpose. I just really want to get the most I can accuracy wise out of this rifle, although most do, but I just believe that its more capable than most.

Well, then the 100 grainers, or 107 and 108 Match bullets are great for the 300 yd mark...

For the 600 yrd mark, switch to the 120s and 123s...

For the 1000 yd mark, 139 thru 142s work great for those long distances...123s will work great in a pinch for 1000 yds, I am told.. no personal experience to verify, but enough experience not to doubt them...

Seafire,
Any tips on using the shorter slugs? The 95vmax is shooting well but when I tired to match it up with a 100gr partition things did not go well, patterns over 3" at 100 using H4350. Im thinking of trying varget but the 4350 shoots just fine with the 95.

The 125 part, 129SST and 130 berger have all performed well enough Im almost ready to just stick with them for everything.

For the lighter bullets, mid range powders work better for accuracy in all of my experiences.. Varget is one of them.. Benchmark is another.... I have found all of the ones listed above do quite well with the 100 grain and under bullets... My personal preference of all that I have tried has IMR 4064.. for the tightest groups..

the Nosler 100 grain partition is not the most accurate bullet to for tight groups... For accuracy and lack of meat damage, my recommendation and the 100 grainer I use is the Hornady 100 gr SP....

If you still want to use powder in the 4350 burn range.. the first couple I'd reach for is H 414/W 760.... or IMR 4350 with the lighter bullets...I have found them more accurate than H 4350..

But still in all my testings... the 95 grain v max still gives me larger sized groups than the other bullets...althought the 100 grain partition is equal to it..... I have some of the rare, 105 grain SMP partitions that are for the Euro Market that I managed to pick up at the Nosler Second's Store....from the stores Physical location... they are much more accurate than the regular 100 grain partition...

on the partitions tho, I have never been able to get very good accuracy, or what I call good accuracy out of the 6mm/ 85 grain Partition, or the 60 grain 22 cal partition either....

But hey, if the V Max is working for ya... smile and keep on truckin' with it...I tried like 600 of them when I first got my 260s.. and none of them did very well with it.....

cheers
seafire

Thank you, Seafire, for sharing what is obviously some hard-earned (and well thought out) information and advice. Almost makes me wanna add a 260 to my bulging gun cabinet...

TTPoZ

Well TTP.. If you ever do, I think you will really enjoy it....

It sure seems to be my 'GoTo' caliber for about anything...