It is time to get in the humble mode as I set out on a new reloading adventure. In the past I have loaded some fairly good rounds in certian calibers, but I have really wasted a bunch of money. Mostly from trying the wrong bullets and powder. So I am asking for some good reloading advice on the .260 Remington. I have a new Ruger MK-77 Mark 2 SS in .260 and I would like to get this rifle to shoot 1" or better groups at 100 yards. I would like to use the 120 grain bullet or even a 100 grain. I will be shooting at 100 to 300 yards at medium size white tails. Just need to get started off right on this rifle so I don't have to waste alot of money working up a load for it. I have good reloading equipment and always take it serious and slow checking every stage. I will be using Remington cases. Im not trying to win a 1000 yard contest but would like to stay inside the 1" or .500, circle at 100 yards.

The barnes manual shoes H 4350 and IMR 4064 as being most accurate in the 260 with 120s while nosler says IMR 4064 is tops with 100s And RL-19 tops the list of accurate loads with the 120s. Your rifle may not like any of those powders. If you have not done so, I sugjest a Timney trigger for your rugar. I put one in my .257 roberts and It go better quick Free floating the barrel would not hurt either...tj3006

I would strongly look at the Nosler Ballistic Tip 120, the Hornady Interlock SST 129, and the Nosler Partition 120.

Powders and primers: H4350 and Federal 210 Gold Medal.

IMR4350, or 4064
H4350 or Varget

Rifle BASIX trigger preset from factory

free float barrel

Nosler partition

100's:
Barnes on top of Benchmark From 38.0 grains to 42.5 grains and Remington 9-1/2 Primer

120's:
Sierra HPBT on top of W-760 From 39.0 grains to 45.0 grains and Remington 9-1/2 Primer

For 120g-125gr H4350, RL19 & IMR4831 have been great in my .260ai. For 100gr, RL15, 4064 & VV150. This is a great little round, I think much better than the .243 for deer size game, JMO.

There! See how easy it is? 6 or 7 different powders 3 or 4 different bullets and plenty of range time evaluating each load.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass but, part of the enjoyment I gain from reloading is, experimenting with various powder/bullet combos to produce the best groups from my rifle.

I have reloaded enough to know about using different powders and bullets and that each rifle is diferent in what it wants. But wanted some personal experience from some of the 260 shooters. The same powders and bullets come up alot in getting this good info. As far as the smart ass part, don't really know as no good info was offered!

If you don't mind using a drop tube, the new 7828ssc is turning in some very uniform loads w/ 101% density under 120gr & 140gr bullets w/ very good accuracy & good vel. under the 120gr & top vel. under the 140gr.

I have tried a lot of stuff in my 260 Remingtons ( both Ruger 77 Mk 2 stainless, with Boyd laminated stocks put on them)....

When I got out in the field, I take both 260's with me.... ONe is set up with a 3 x 9 Leupold scope on it with a dot reticle. and the other sports a 4 power Weaver scope on it....

The 3 x 9 Leupold scoped on, gets the load that worked for both accuracy and velocity and results.....43.5 grains of IMR 4064 for an MV of 3350 fps...ANY 100 grain bullet it has ever had down the barrel has been a one hole shooter If I do my part.... the load and the rifle is certainly up to it...

The second rifle is for backup, and the 4 power scope is for the 140 grain load at about 2000 fps for when I am swamp hunting or heavy heavy brush....Using my blue dot loads...

I swap the scopes on these rifles back and forth since Rugers are so easy to do so... and both shoot these loads just as accurately.....

I shoot the 100 grain load the most for deer hunting as it is flat shooting and also recoil is low enough in a 4 power setting I have watched the deer drop instantly in the scope using several different kinds of 100 grain bullets...

I also own a 260 Rem VLS heavy barrel varmint target rifle....

A lot of loads work on this rifle....It has a 1 in 9 twist versus the 1 in 8 on the Rugers....

I just stopped on what worked well in some cases...

120 grain Sierra HPs, and 120 grain Ballistic Tips... 40 grains of W 748....

125 grain Nosler partitions... IMR 4064, or Rl 15 both work well for accuracy and velocity.....

129 grainer Hornady's.... same as the 125 Nosler....

H4350 and IMR 4350 might give a little more velocity, but filled the case up to compressed load status and the mid range powders don't so I go with them....

H 414 / W 760 also get very honorable mention as a good powder for the 260 Remington.....

My personal pick for one rifle, one load hunting..... 100 grainer ( Nosler, Sierra or Hornady) and 43.5 grains of IMR 4064.....zeroed 3.5 inches high at 100 yds, at 300 yds it will flat drop any deer under 200 lbs.. recoil is low enough you will not loose site picture in your scope at 4 power....I have taken two deer at 300 yds with this load on 4 power.... both dropped instantly...What more can ya ask???

Good luck!


cheers
seafire

I just found a way to consistently keep my 22-250 under .5 MOA:

It cost $150.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/caldwell_lead_sled_syn.htm

I broke down and bought it. Not only is it steady as a rock, but it also eliminates the recoil, flinching, cheek weld, and trigger pull variables. I am thoroughly impressed!

Ralph, have you noticed a change in impact when using the sled vs. your shoulder?

I don't own a .260. But I do own and load for a 6.5x55, which is EXTREMELY similar.

I'm not an old hand by any stretch, but I can tell you that H414 is a very good powder, and H4350 is even one step better. (temp resistant).

I would be looking at the rifle to see if their are any changes needed in the bedding of the stock. You will find that Ruger routinely leaves a high spot in the fore-end of the stock to put a bit of upward pressure on the barrel.
I personally would take the time to properly bed the action and free-float the barrel. I would do this before I spent a lot of money on all the permutations of bullet/powder/primer combinations in a quest for accuracy. The other major factor is the trigger. If you have a COMPETENT gunsmith in the area at least have him smooth up the trigger and possibly lighten the pull if it suits you.

If you have a Ruger synthetic stock on your rifle, throw that POS away and get a decent laminate or even a factory walnut stock. At least get a higher quality synthetic stock that is not so flexible. The flexible stock makes the rifle very sensitve to how you hold/anchor it when shooting for groups. It could be most of your problem!

I have a model 7 in .260. I am fond of Hornady's 129 SST and get nice performance with it using 47 gr of RL 19, 48.3 gr IMR7828,and 47.3gr of H4831. All shoot great, but in my gun it seems the INR7828 load stays the most consistent. I free floated the barrel and slicked the trigger and she'll do MOA now. Got an Accuraglass gel kit coming and am gonna bedd her soon.

It also likes 130 gr Barnes TSX's over the above powders, using X bullet load data heated just a bit. I tried the 120 gr TSX's and for some reason my gun doesn't like them all thta well.

It's beautiful shooting caliber and is perfect for whitetails. I wish I had started using mine sooner...

Blob1 tried the 4064 load seafire gave you in my rem bdl today and this is what I got,didn't get to check the speed but want too soon as I get the time.The group at the bottom right is with my r-19 load.When using the 120 gr bullet they shoot this good too.
Sorry the 4064 didn't work out that good for you but I would try the R-19 load I gave you .Good luck to you.

Hey Owensby
I shot one .0625 group with 39 grains IMR-4064 using the 100 grain bullet. Going to work around that until my 120 and 129 grain bullets get here. My rifle rest had a bad wobble in it so I fixed where it is real steady now. Will look into R-19 befor I am through! Thanks!

Thats less than 1 moa.Hang in there and keep us posted with your results we may want to try some of your loads before you are through.
Wish you the best