Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Savage FCNS .260 range report

I put one of these on layaway about six weeks ago. I recently got it paid for and put on a Redfield 3-9x40 scope. Last weekend I got it basically dialed in with some 100 grain Hornady interlocks, using necked-down 7mm-08 brass in Winchester form.

Yesterday I tried a couple of 120 grain loads in hope of using the .260 for black bear, spring season here in Wyoming. I tried the 120 BT and 120 TSX, using H4350 I loaded up 42.0 and 44.0 grains for each bullet.

Using previously fired, FL sized brass, the 42.0 and 44.0 loads of 120 BT grouped poorly at about 2.5" at 100 yards for 2.5 MOA. My 120 TSX with 42 grains H4350 then grouped at 3 MOA, so I was pretty disappointed.

Finally, I had 3 rounds of 120 TSX, 44.0 H4350, that I made with unfired brass, just necked down from 7-08. The group went into 1.330". All of the brass was trimmed, chamfered, deburred. I used WLR lighters and loaded the BT's to 2.775" and the TSX to 2.760".

This 1.330" group was good enough for now so I loaded up 6 more rounds of the 120 TSX. How do I get this kind of accuracy with previously fired brass?

ETA: I think the unfired brass vs. fired/FL sized made the difference here. The loads were otherwise treated the same way, basic case prep, same COAL for all TSX and the slightly longer COAL for the BT.

I have to add the .260 is pleasant to shoot, it has some recoil but certainly no .30-06. From what I've seen the accuracy is promising with the right loads. I hope to get everything to shoot 1.5 MOA or better in this gun.

try using a neck sizer if you think the sized cases are causing the issue. i'm more prone to think that your rifle prefers a different bullet weight. ive got a couple savages and they have actually proven to be finicky as to the bullet/powder combos they like. I would suggest trying some 140's in yours.

also make sure that the accustock is torqued down correctly. i had to take the stocks off of mine in order to adjust the trigger pull lower. if you do that, there's a suggested order for re-tightening the bedding screws

and i agree with you, the 260 is a very nice cartridge.

Thanks, I think it could be both. The 100's go basically where I want at 100 yards but the groups are again pretty lackluster. My rifle does have a 1-8" barrel on it so I suspect the 140's would do really well.

I will have to look at the stock also, never owned a Savage before.