Ramblings from the Range (.260 Rem.) - 05/02/16
Still on the lookout for a local powder source, hoping to stay with powders that I have long used and am familiar with. And I've got my own prejudices about what is suitable for various types of rifles. The majority of my loading efforts now are for my new Montana X2 .260.
Some of those prejudices are getting a little roughed up. I ordered several hundred 123 amaxes a few weeks back. In a fit of exuberance I necked up almost all of my old .243 brass and tried to load up every combo that I had bullets and powder for, and could find in a manual. Also loaded a few that I didn't find in a manual, but saw recommended here in various threads.
Component bullets so far are limited to the 120 BT and the 123 amax. I'm shooting the ballistic tip because I am a true believer. I shoot the amax because they are relatively cheap and available. And they shoot really good.
Never would have considered H4831 suitable for a mid weight bullet in a cartridge like the .260, but a few weeks back I tried h4831 with the ballistic tip, as I had a lot of it on hand. I had hopes, but the reality was in line with my prejudices. I gave up on it early on. The accuracy was OK, but not as good as h4350.
Went with h4831 again when the amaxes came and was immediately delighted with their accuracy. They shot well from the starting load right up to the case filled to the mouth with book max. In fact this is the easy money load with this rifle, so far. Go figure...
Also burned through some RL15 and RL22 with the amax. The Rl22 was OK, but not as consistently accurate as most of the other powders I tried.
The RL15 had me curious, as it did real well from the starting load up to ~1 gr below book max. At 37.5 gr, it almost rivaled the h4831 money load. 1 gr more powder and it fell on it's face with 2.5 to 3.5 inch groups at 100. Other than the book's suggestions, I got no idea what any of these loads are turning out for speed.
Also tried the amax with some h4350. accuracy was good, but this is one of my scarcer powders and I'm gonna save it for my 120 BT loads.
The 120 BT continues to excel with a book max load of h4350.
As noted above it was a disappointment with h4831.
Because I have a fair amount on hand I also tried IMR 4064. Accuracy was at it's best, just over an inch, at the starting load. With the powder I have on hand, it will hold my interest as a practice and plinking load.
The big take-away from these last couple of weeks is that it pays to try things that are outside your experience or prejudices.
I've ordered more of the ballistic tips and also ordered a bunch of the 129 interlocks.
Some of those prejudices are getting a little roughed up. I ordered several hundred 123 amaxes a few weeks back. In a fit of exuberance I necked up almost all of my old .243 brass and tried to load up every combo that I had bullets and powder for, and could find in a manual. Also loaded a few that I didn't find in a manual, but saw recommended here in various threads.
Component bullets so far are limited to the 120 BT and the 123 amax. I'm shooting the ballistic tip because I am a true believer. I shoot the amax because they are relatively cheap and available. And they shoot really good.
Never would have considered H4831 suitable for a mid weight bullet in a cartridge like the .260, but a few weeks back I tried h4831 with the ballistic tip, as I had a lot of it on hand. I had hopes, but the reality was in line with my prejudices. I gave up on it early on. The accuracy was OK, but not as good as h4350.
Went with h4831 again when the amaxes came and was immediately delighted with their accuracy. They shot well from the starting load right up to the case filled to the mouth with book max. In fact this is the easy money load with this rifle, so far. Go figure...
Also burned through some RL15 and RL22 with the amax. The Rl22 was OK, but not as consistently accurate as most of the other powders I tried.
The RL15 had me curious, as it did real well from the starting load up to ~1 gr below book max. At 37.5 gr, it almost rivaled the h4831 money load. 1 gr more powder and it fell on it's face with 2.5 to 3.5 inch groups at 100. Other than the book's suggestions, I got no idea what any of these loads are turning out for speed.
Also tried the amax with some h4350. accuracy was good, but this is one of my scarcer powders and I'm gonna save it for my 120 BT loads.
The 120 BT continues to excel with a book max load of h4350.
As noted above it was a disappointment with h4831.
Because I have a fair amount on hand I also tried IMR 4064. Accuracy was at it's best, just over an inch, at the starting load. With the powder I have on hand, it will hold my interest as a practice and plinking load.
The big take-away from these last couple of weeks is that it pays to try things that are outside your experience or prejudices.
I've ordered more of the ballistic tips and also ordered a bunch of the 129 interlocks.