I have a 260 AI and am about to work up a load using the 95g VMax. Curious how much different it will behave from the 100g Nosler Partition.......will an equal charge create roughly the same pressure? Velocity about the same?



I currently use 50.0g of H-4350 with the 100g Nosler Partition and it still has a little room left. Wondering if I should use a slightly faster powder like Big Game, RL-15, or Varget. I prefer temp stable powders.



I noticed Hogdon's Annual Manual shows just under 3,400 fps for the 95g VMax using a fairly light charge of BenchMark (43.5g). Using a light load sort of appeals to me for varmint/plinking loads as I'm cheap and I'm guessing it would heat the barrel less than a heavy charge of a slower powder. Anyone tried BenchMark?



HogWild

The 95 gr VMax and 100 gr Hornady SP shot to about the same place at similar velocites with about the same charge of RL15 in my 260.

If you like H4350 then start working up with that from a few grains less than your Partition maximum now.

Haven't tried the 100g Hornady but have used the 100g Sierra with some success. Have you tried that one? How do the velocity and charge weight compare with the other bullets you've mentioned?

Hogwild, I load 43.0 grains of VARGET behind the 100 grain Nosler Balistic Tip for the daughters 260 Remington and it is giving 3204fps and under 1/2" groups(5 shots) at 100 yards and .8" at 200. Have smacked a couple groundhogs with it and they are DRT....dead right there! She's killed 2 good bucks (17"plus inside) the last two years at 271 yards and 197 yards and she still has yet to see a deer take a step after the hammer falls! Try the Varget! I'm willing to bet it will suit! 48.5 grains of H-414 will scoot the 85 grain Sierra HP out at 3302 and the same charge pushed the 100 grain Sierra HP at 3249. These velocities are from a 24" barrel also. Good luck! GHD

Have had 3 260's 1 ruger,2 rem,their not AI but the best powder for accuracy in all 3 have been R-19.With a 120 gr spitzer it will shoot 3 in groups @400 yds,haven't tried nothing smaller than a 100 gr BT,It shoots great at 100 yds.
You may want to give the R-19 a shot.

What length barrel are you using and what kind of velocity are you getting with 100g and 120g?

Looking at the Nosler manual, it looks like 4350/414 burn rate is about ideal for 100g bullets. RL19 should be about right for 120g.

Anyone tried BenchMark on the lightweight bullets?

I have tried Benchmark with this bullet combo, 43.5 grains is listed as max. I have never tried it in my 3 different 260s, @ rugers and one Rem VLS. EACH time i have used it, they have blown the primers, or that was the only firing that case would ever see. It is TOO HOT, in ANYTHING I have tried it in. The Rugers have been long throated by a gunsmith also, and still blew the primers.

Although shooting a lot of 100 grain Ballistic Tips and Partitions in my 260s, My powder of choice is hands down IMR 4064. All three of my rifles like this powder the best with this bullet weight, in fact all bullet weight under 100 grains.

IN MY 260s ( WORK UP ETC), 43.5 grains with a 100 grain Ballistic tip will give a MV of 3350 out of a 22 inch barreled Ruger ( both of the ones I own). OUT of the 26 inch barrel in the Rem VLS, I tops 3400 fps.

Accuracy is one hole, and two seasons ago, at 300 yds, it dropped a Black Tail with the Leupold Scope on 4 powder, and I watched the deer go straight down in the scope before the recoil took away the sight picture.

ONE final note, the least accuate bullet I have used in my 3 different 260s has been the Hornady VMax in 95 grains. I will recommend the Ballistic tip or the 90 grain TNT, 85 and 100 grain Sierras any day over the Hornady in this round.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

Iused the Rem BDL with 24 in barrel,factory gun with only triggr adjustment.I don't know the fps because I broke my chrony,I am guess the 120 close to 3000 and maybe close to 3100 fps.
Don't varmit hunt but have taken deer with the 100 BT,120 sierra match,speer spitzer,BT,and coreloc 140 factory and 125 rem factory,and nosler partion 140 gr.in the 3 different rifles from 40 to 300 yds,all were complete pass throughs.