Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Report: Barnes 127 LRX @ 511 yards from ULA .260 Rem

Recently shot a buck at a laser-measured 511 yards. I wanted to recover a 127 LRX from my .260 so I waited until he offered a very hard quartering-to shot that also gave me the benefit of hitting bone upon impact. Buck was approx 185lbs live weight.

Rifle & load used was an ULA .260 Remington shooting a 127gr Barnes LRX at 2850fps MV over 45.3gr H4350, Lapua brass (0x) and a 210M. This load has proven to be a solid sub-moa performer from this rifle with the first cold-bore shot center punching the aiming dot each time. To say that I'm a believer in the value of an ULA rifle is an understatement, btw.

I'm a fan of the Rapid-Z 600 on a hunting rifle and used one for this shot. I prefer to always use the reticle when the scope is on a hard-stop at 9x (it's the 3-9x model conquest which is a second-focal plane scope). Worked the ballistics on this load in typical early-rifle-season conditions (500' Above sea level & approx 39 degrees f) and determined that with a 100y zero I'd have perfect aiming points at 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards by using the reticle stadia that were intended for 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600. In other words, I held the 600 yard stadia on my 500 yard target to make this shot. When I hunt out west I can use the reticle stadia at the intended ranges due the higher altitude and resulting decrease in air density. I'll adjust my zero (depending on altitude) to do this. My explanation makes this sound much more complicated than it is. This is a very simple way to get excellent results in the field. I've confirmed this effectiveness on a number of rifles/cartridges with very easy and consistent first-round hits to 650 yards. I shoot my tactical and competition rifles much farther than this, but generally limit on-game shots to 700 yards. Inside that range, shots are generally not that challenging. Beyond that range, the variables begin to add up and consistency goes down. It's just a personal limit based on my standards, nothing else. If I was toting my .338 Lapua, I'd stretch this out further, but that's like cheating & that bastard is heavy.

Impact velocity for this shot was right around 1950fps. I like to keep impact velocities at 2,000+, but Barnes apparently suggests a minimum-impact velocity of 1600fps for the LRX. I like a little insurance on game so I'd probably not stretch much below this level. Once again, at higher altitudes out west I could add approximately 100 or so yards to my shot distances and still keep that velocity due to environmentals. With all of that said, it would have been hard for this critter to die much faster.


Green circle was intended point of impact (POI). Red circle was actual POI. Actual was an inch higher and 1.5" right (down wind) from intended. Diagram shows angle and distance of travel through deer.



Recovered just under hide. There was actually partial penetration of the outer hide, but the bullet did not leave the hide. Recovered weight is 122.7gr or 96.6%.












Upon impact the deer ran 15 yards total before going down and never moving again. I was very impressed with the quickness of expiration. Estimated penetration distance was 22" and included on-side shoulder and off-side ribs. The expanded bullet showed some loss of the ends of two petals, likely due to the bone impacted.



Summary:

Based on this sample of one plus the results of two 127 LRX from the .260 Rem used by family members this deer this season, I'll continue to use the LRX as my bullet of choice for big game. I also intend to try it on elk after seeing the penetration and performance achieved at the edge of its application/velocity window, so to speak. I see no reason to doubt that this combo will be an effective ultralight elk killer inside of 600 yards.

The .260 is my favorite centerfire rifle cartridge by far.