I am about to start hand loading a tikka 260 for deer hunting. My max range on a bean field is 550 yrds. I have a z600 retical Zeiss scope for it. What bullet would you load for it and why? Barrel is an 8" twist.

I'm coming around to the idea more and more that today, it's harder to really select a bad bullet than a good one if one's even remotely close to being in the ballpark for their rifle.

I'd probably go with whatever shot best group wise and realize that on deer at that range - it's going to do the job if I do mine.

Pretty much. I would look for decent BC and good accuracy. First places I would look would likely be the 130gr Accubond or 127gr LRX.

123 or 139 Scenar. Whichever your rifle shoots the best.

123 Scenars shoot unreal in my 8 twist Tikka 6.5x55. I expect they would do well in yours too.

Will they do well on a whitetail? I thought they were target bullets?

I have taken Dall sheep with the 123gr. Scenar, and elk with the 139gr. Scenar. Still haven't recovered one...

140 Amax. This bull was killed yesterday morning at 510 yards with a 140 from a 260. Complete pass through, dropped on the spot.

Right on! 140gr AMax has been a great choice on lots of antelope, whitetail and mule deer. Haven't tried it on elk yet.

Bob

Double lung with a golf ball size exit. Can't ask for better then that.

Well even tho a 140 A Max dropped that nice elk, I'd admit it wouldn't be my choice to use...

for deer, I'd go with a 100 or 120 grain Ballistic Tip...

for an Elk, I'd either go with a 140 grain Partition or if ya gotta use plastic tips, I'd go with a 140 grain Ballistic Tip...

I'm using 140 Corelokts on caribou with good results. Range is usually 300-400 yards. Terminal performance is good, haven't recovered one yet. And there is the wind factor here...

140's are the only thing I've found so far that shoot really well in my rifle. Haven't tried any 130's, but it definitely doesn't like 120's, and 160s aren't good either. 120 Barnes Vor-tex TSX shot worse than the Corelokts in 120.

All above were factory loads - haven't played with reloads yet, tho I've a hankering to find a lighter load that shoots as well as the 140's.

Let the gun decide which loads it likes - if several are equal, then you get to choose!

Do you know at what velocity you are launching that 140 Amax? I only have a 22" barrel. I must say, seeing that elk down answers my question about terminal performance at that range!

2810 at 4500'asl also a 22" barrel. 43.5gr H4350 and a CCi250.

I can't comment on the 140's, but I have used the 100 and 120 gr Nosler BT's on coyotes, pigs, and deer for a few years. Since I use the Tikka 260 year round for varmint hunting, I usually shoot the 100 grainers, but have also used the 120's on a number of medium sized deer. My observations suggest that the 100's are Ok for deer, but that the 120's are a bit more effective. I'd say that the 120's at 2800 fps MV are as effective, or nearly so, as the 130 gr BT's in my 270 at 3000 fps MV. I don't see any need to use any bullets other than those, though I'd switch to the partition for use on a bigger tougher critter.

I've used 120NBTs, 130SGKs... but my rifle shoots 125 Partitions into one ragged hole and kills chit real dead.

If its a lung shot.

I'd vote barnes 130.

my wifes model 600 in 260 loves the 130 accubond,
2850 at 2100 ft elevation,
took a buck antelope yesterday 369 yards, complete pass thru lots of damage, buck never moved except straight down,,,,

You did not have the same results when you shot your Elk with a 140 Amax?

Take your pick...

The 123 A-max makes my sticker peck up

Why??

Hell, while we're at it, lets throw in 243,7-08, and 308.....Enjoy!

I'll throw in for the 130 VLD.

Great post. Thank you.

Those drift numbers seem low. Is that for a 10MPH cross wind?

130 NAB has been my go to.
Does the 127 and 129 have higher MV above for any reason?
120 NBT should rate well too, and likely the vanilla 129 SP

Yes.



Some of those are best case scenario "guesses" from load data and expecting to push things pretty hard. My actual 123 Amax load is only 2,813. The 2,965 108's and 2,900 120 TTSX are my actual numbers from a 22" Faux. I probably don't push as hard as most. There's about 70 loads on that spread sheet and I've been monkeying with it for about 4 years. Started just looking at a coupla things, then couldn't stop. Its basically how I talked myself out of a 243 and 7-08 and into a 260. Cuts through a lot of BS, at least for me.

In my unfortunate boredom, I also ran a graph that shows a 150 gr bullet at 3,000 FPS at .100 BC to 1.00 BC. By my best unscientific results BC isn't linear, and pissing and moaning between a .500 and .600 doesn't amount to much. Between a .300 and .400 does appear worth the effort though. Need to run it to 1,000 yards as 500 aint diddly.

But my name isn't Brian Litz either.

At 500 yards I would think BT with high ballistic coefficient from Berger would be needed. The rig would have to be zeroed at 300yards as well.

Why would it need to be zeroed at 300?

I've had good luck with the 130 Berger.

We've had excellent performance from 139 Scenars in 6.5x47L's and a 260AI, similar performing chamberings to your 260. I'm trying out Berger 140 Hybrids this fall. So far so good, but they certainly don't penetrate very deep. I'll use them a bit more and decide if I want to go back to the Scenars or not.

16 - I realize some bullets have +/- more bearing surface, and surely cup/core vs mono affect pressure and friction, as well as speed. SO I was unclear how that may play in the equation, as twist can/does, as well as each specific barrel/chamber. Many variables. Thanks for the info. Useful table.

More variables that I care to mess with or try to wrap my head around for sure. That's why I stop at 500 yards. Keeps money in the bank.

Didn't say that, I said it wouldn't be my choice...

if it worked for him, then it worked for him...

it just wouldn't be the bullet I'd reach for first...

why is that interpreted as a condemnation on his choice?

It will do it, but I'm not sure I can. Rested, perfect conditions etc perhaps. Just about all deer I have shot have been within 200 yards. Most within 75 yards. Doubt I would ever take a 500 yard shot. For myself, the caliber or cartridge would not matter. I have played with my 300H&H at long range, 1000 yards and I am impressed with what it can do, but that is not under a hunting situation. A couple of times I have had long range shots over fields with feeding deer, but too many variables for me. Prefer the tight woods, a comfort zone I guess.

Am I the only .260 shooter who is going to recommend the Hornady 129 gr. Interlock? I've had great performance from 50 - 480 yds with it on deer. It also happens to shoot the best from my rifle - otherwise I'd recommend 120 or 140 BT or 130 AB.

Another vote for 130 AB.

I have shot a lot of bullets in my 260(s). Right now, all I use are 140 Sierra Game Kings. If you are limited to 500 yards, you don't need the VLDs but they don't hurt either. The Sierras have proven to be excellent killers, excellent accuracy, easy to get to shoot and CHEAP.

Worse bullet so far is 140 TBBC. Probably kill great on big stuff but horribly inaccurate.

I know Bobby Tomek on here has a good bit of 6.5 experience, and used the 140 SGK w/good results, as many other bullets on Tx deer/hogs. Hard to find a bad bullet in the 120-140 range if built for game.

130 berger/ 140 a-max used both at the range you speak with good results.