Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Looking for 260 Rem load info and suggestions

Guys, I am looking for suggestions for my 260 Rem I recently purchased. It has a 22 inch barrel. I would consider using it on blacktail deer, antelope, wild pigs, and mule deer. I like velocity, and am interested in considering a TSX or X bullet in it. Also the partition, etc. Thinking between 100 gr to 125 gr bullet wt.

Suggestions and experiences? Western hunt use.

I've done some loading for a friend's Low Wall in 260, mainly using 120 and 125 grain bullets. I had good luck with RL-19 and H4350. One of the other guys on the board really likes H4831 under Hornady 129's, and I intend to try this combo when I get back to loading the 260.

mathman

I shoot a Ruger 77MK II 22 inch all weather in 260.

I had good luck with H4350 under the Nosler 120 bal tip or the 120 Rem core lokt loaded to 2950 fps. Then I switched to H414 because it meters better through my powder measure.

414 seems to shoot just as well at the same velocity. This is my iron sighted weapon so I can not tell you a lot about group sizes. I am able to keep em inside six inches at 100 yds with the irons, but that is just me.

I shoot the 129 Hornady over either R19 or H4831 as a hunting load in mine. The rifle seems to prefer R19 in my case. The 125 Nosler would be a fine choice but I feel standard constructed bullets are all that`s needed in the 260. The 120 BT and Sierra are slightly more accurate although I`ve never used them on game. Nosler also makes a 100 gr partition "designed" for deer sized game. The box I tried in mine shot very well and would likely be a good bullet but I`m of the SD club more then a velocity nut.

If I had a .260 it would be 125gr Partitions and RL-15 all the way!!

If elk were in the picture I'd move up to a 140gr Partition.

When I develop a hunting load for my 96' Swede Mauser this is the route I'll go...of course its got a mile long throat and about a 29" barrel...<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mike

After trying a whole bunch of different stuff in my 260 the best load for me was the 120 TSX over 46 gr R19.

I even sprung for the Ramshot powders because J Barsness was so high on them. Now I got to figure out how to use them up. Couldn't beat Reloader powders.

BCR

No data on the .260 but lots of experience with bullets in the 6.5x55. I love the heavies, give the 160 Hornady or lapua a try and you may never look back. The 160 Sierra was especially awesome, but hard to find. Back on point...

For 120gr. Bullets the 120 Nosler BT is the best of the lot for the "standard" bullets, and I have tried everything I know of but the Swift (way to much $). The 125gr. Nosler pt are great, but didn't appear to do anything that they 129gr. Hornady couldn't do just as well or better, and also for less money. The Hornady 129SST shot like a house a fire and would appear to be a great deer bullet...

Now to Barnes, I could never get the original 120 or 130gr. X to shoot worth a crap. I swore off Barnes bullets for years, but just picked up a box of 120 TSX BT for the new 6.5-284 that I haven't tried yet. If you can get them to shoot they seem to be in a class by themselves.

Boogy, I might have been part of the problem with Ramshot also. I have had great luck with them in my 257 wby mag. Thanks

I've had good luck with 45 grains of 760 and 120 BT's for 3,000 fps. Super accurate.

Another powder I just experimented with is RL25 and 140 gr. bullets. In once fired cases (Nosler), I'm throwing 51 grains
of it for 2,800 fps. It's a little compressed but has very good accuracy.

SU35, how's your performance on game with the 120 grain ballistic tips? I had real good luck with 130 grainers out of my 270 win.

I took a deer with it last year with a lower lung hit.
It put a fist size hole all the way through it.

I shot two deer with 120 BTs in the .260. One spine shot, dropped. The other, a frontal shoulder shot, the bullet did not make it through the shoulder because it came apart, and luckily I hit the deer again about 200 yards of running later because it never fell the way I expected. I realize that is only one bad experience with the 120 BT, but it was one too many for me when I've never had a similar experience with other bullets.

Dakota how old were the BT? They have made vast improvements in them in the last two years. I have blown them up before but it was with the older issue.


Last year with new stock bullets I deliberately shot two deer through the shoulders just to see. That isn't my prefered shot but I had to know.

Both deer dropped to the shot. One was dead broadside at 130 yards. Bullet went through near side shoulder blade and exited through the shoulder/ leg joint.

The other was slightly quartering away and clipped the rear (meat only) on the near side and smashed the joint on the far side.

Both pass through shots and neither did a whole lot of meat damage.

Admitedly they were Texas whitetails @ 120 pounds. Load was 44 gr of H380.

BCR

I'm hoping DakotaDeer says this happened 4 or 5 years ago! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've been wanting to try H-414 with 100g and 120g bullets....even have a pound of it to experiment with....but just haven't had the time to play around. How clean does this powder burn? 760 burn about the same? H-4350 works good in my 260AI so really don't need to try another powder in this quickness.

SU35, Good to hear about your nice results with RL-25 and the 140g bullet! I was wondering if you could get to 2,800 fps before you ran out of powder space. Sounds like you just made it.

I want to hear more about loads with the 129g Hornady and 4831. Can you get 2,900 fps with good accuracy? Is RL-22 better?

That could be me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> 47.8gr H4831 behind 129 gr Hornadies has averaged 2860fps and less than 3/4" groups for the last seven groups from my Low Wall. Five of those groups have been less than 3/4", with one less than 1/4". Good stuff, at least in my rifle....

John

I'll second this load, though I've been using the 120 gr Sierra Prohunter instead of the TSX. Also tried the 120 gr Nosler BT, with about the same accuracy. I decided to use the Sierra instead in the hopes of better bullet integrity. About three years ago, I did shoot a small doe with the BT through the lungs, and it absolutely shredded them, along with most of the meat in the offside shoulder.

The Kaiser

47GNS RL19 behind 125GN Sierra Pro-Hunters goes well

Uh, this thread is almost 5 years old. I figure the OP has his load by now.





.

I haven't tried it yet but R17 would probably shine with 120-130 grain bullets. Might have to give it a few shots.

Yep, and with the exception of the RL17, there really hasn't been any significant gains or advances outside of the usual suspects.

RL17 is probably the only real advance for the 260rem apart from the introduction of new bullet types from the various manufacturers.

I guess it is pretty hard to improve on perfection

LowBC