Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .260 Rem. Ruger M77 MkII - got it to the range!

Well, I finally got that .260 Rem. I purchased from elkjaeger to the range today. I didn't change anything with bedding before shooting it, because that would be not smart. My first group with 43 gr. of H380 and 130 gr. Nosler Accubond went into about 1 1/2" at 100 yds. It was the first time I've ever bore-sighted a rifle and had it dead-on at 100 yds. The next group, 43.5 gr. H380 and 130 AB went into 1", and 44 gr. put 4 shots into .678" at 100 yds. 44 gr. of IMR 4350 produced .75" at 100 yds. All of the Accubond loads shot 1 1/2" or better. The 140 gr. Partitions were a different story, I've always had good accuracy with them in .243 Win. and .30-06, but the best group I saw went into about 2" at 100 yds. I also had a first experience of a completely blown primer with 44.5 gr. of IMR 4350 and a 140 gr. Nosler Partition. I fired and an exceptional "boom" rang out. I ejected the case with no primer and extractor marks. Needless to say, the 4 rounds loaded with 45 gr. of IMR 4350 and the 140 gr. PT went home with me and will be dis-assembled. All in all, a good day at the range, especially since I found a bunch of .223, .357 mag, and .30-06 range brass in the garbage cans. It's amazing what non-reloaders throw away!
Selmer

I had similar issues with a Ruger 77 MkII 6.5x55. It did not like partitions, either 140 or 125, and I also had some punctured primers and pressure issues. It was scary accurate, though, with 129g Hornady Interlocks.

You might want to try working up to 45 grains of RL19 with the 140 Partition. Every 260 barrel I've had, LOVES that load. But then I usually run 1:8 twisters. I believe the Ruger is 1:9, no?

Also, in all my expiramenting with the 140 Partition in the 260, it likes to be about .006" off the leade.

Here's what one looks like after it goes through 2 1/2' of Mule Deer (it left the muzzle at 2743 AVG FPS)



Still weighs 95 grains, and they do NASTY things to big critters

If you want to see a comparison of different .264 bullet, allow me to toot my own horn and post a link to the .264 bullet test I did a while back. http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2135043/page/0/fpart/1

That one was before my time... Too bad the pics don't work anymore. Still good info though

But then I don't need to be convinced that the 260 is the best 243 on the planet

Ruger 260 = 8 twist

Rem uses 9

The pictures are still there, I reposted them all on the second page.

I found them, they're on the 3rd page. Nice work-up. I thought it was interesting the difference between your 140 Partitions and the one I recovered. Mine hit and broke 3 ribs on the way in and stopped at the jawbone on the other side. It was 180 yards away from the muzzle when it started going to work on a critter. So I assume it was going a little slower than your test bulets were.

It'd be interesting to add a 130 Accubomb to the collection, as well as a Woodleigh Weldcore 140 grainer. The one thing you can't help but notice is how long the shanks are on all the recovered hunting bullets. You don't see that again until you get into the really heavy 7's and 30's. I'd say after viewing your work its safe to say that a 6.5 140 going 2700 and change makes a mushroom that is a baby version of a 30 cal 200 grain going 2900 and change... I knew that 6.5s penetrated very well and kill stuff better than they should, know we have photographic evidence

What powder did you use with the 129s? Thanks.

Mostly H4350. R22 gives higher velocity, but I was concerned it was causing the pressure problems in the heat.

Thanks, all I've got is IMR but I'll give it a try.

I'll have to use some of the H414, I have yet to use that in any of my rifles with good results, including .30-06 and .308, but I'll give it a run. I think it's time to update the loading manuals as well, I'm putting the Nosler #6 and Barnes #4 on the Christmas list, unless they're coming out with newer manuals soon.
Selmer

When looking for a load in my Rem .260 Mtn rifle for the 120 TSX, the only powder that gave me the velocity I was looking for, 2900+fps, was H414. H4350, H4831 and RL19 didn't even come close. I settled for 44gr of H414 at 2940fps.

I wish I could get my .260 Mt. Rifle M700 to shoot good. I might have to go the bedding route with it. It likes 120 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips and nothing else except my cast boolit loads. I haven't tried any Barnes bullets through it yet.
Selmer