Here are my very first reloads! Pretty excited to hit the range and see how it goes!

Caliber: .260 Rem
Powder: Varget
Primer: Fed 210M
Bullet: Nosler Partition
Press: Bonanza Co-Ax
Die: Forster Seater w/Micrometer
Scale: RCBS 10:10 (Ohaus)

So far so good.

What weight bullet and how much Varget? You'll find those long skinny 6.5 bullets will do a number on deer.

looking good!

Reloading - a hobby in it self. Been doing it since 1966, and still enjoy it.

Good for you! Now just don't succumb to the "Let's see how fast these will go" syndrome.

fun isn't it. there are those of us who get as much enjoyment out of reloading as shooting

See? Not so Difficult after all, huh? Now, as long as they chamber properly and the powder charge is within book limits, you're all set to go. Enjoy.
Bear in Fairbanks

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
fun isn't it. there are those of us who get as much enjoyment out of reloading as shooting

That sure sums it up for me! Love to load.

Thanks everyone! I haven't been to the range yet it's been raining cats and dogs here the last few days. Those are 125gr Nosler Partitions. I have several other bullets on standby but wanna work up a load preferably with these bullets thru my Tikka .260 (1:9 twist).

Wish you all the best. The Nosler Partition 125 gr bullet is fantastic on large red deer. You will get 2,900 fps in the 260 Rem if you used H4350 or even IMR 4831. I would sugeest that varget is a bit on the fast side for this cartridge.

I loaded a lot for the 6.5X55 and case capacity is quite similar.

Blue-D,

Fantastic Buddy, welcome to a whole new World!

Just a coupla thoughts from the photos (nice!).

You only have to touch the outside of the case mouth with the chamfering tool; just enough to break the square bead on the case mouth, appears you've got a solid bevel there - may just be the light on the photo? Same on the inside.

Make sure to check the O.A.L.; those 125 gr. Noslers appear to be seated flush with the bottom of the case neck. Not that this isn't a good place to be but ensure magazine fit for cartridge length and also that those perfectly long, sleek 6.5 bullet-oes aren't encroaching into the lands; it'll drive pressure straight up; epecially with a quicker burning powder like VarGet. If you leave the bullets there (your call) also ensure you check (at the range or a safe place) functioning; by cycling a magazine full through the rifle, you don't want one of those bullets to get caught in the lands.

I use the same bullet (like Naki-h) in the 6.5x55 and they penetrate like there is no tomorrow and are a real hammer on deer sized game.

Good Luck with your loads!

I'l never forget shooting my first reloads at the range and hoping I didn't blow myself up. I learned from reading so I wasn't sure if I missed something. Things went well and now I reload every rifle round I shoot.

Congrats on a great hobby!

I used a Hornady OAL guage and bullet comparator to set up my seating depth my Forster bullet seating die is set to 2.290 which just fits the magazine, unfortunately the Tikka magazine doesn't allow you much room to adjust the seating depth. Once I have a chance to make it to the range I will test for functionality.

The brass is factory Nosler brass. I have 100 rounds of Lapua brass on standby, hehehe!

good job,..hope these turn out good for you. i also load the .260 rem.
Been reloading for 32 years. and still enjoy it. i learned the basic fron my brotherinlaw, then started reading books just dont start high. start low and work up. i have not shot a factory load in a long time

Those look great. Good luck shooting them. I would give the same advise as some of the others. Start low and work up. I load for accuracy, even if it is a hunting rifle. That is almost never at the top end of the velocity numbers. If you need more speed, buy a bigger rifle. Maybe that's why I have a 6.5x55, 260, 6.5-284, 6.5-06AI and 264 Win Mag.

The 125 partition, as stated above is DEADLY! on deer of any size. Enjoy the process. You will probably find that as you load more, you will acquire more "thingys", but what you have is more than adequate.

You did it now.

I started reloading to save money. I ended up shooting more.

I started with a simple Lee press and dies which were just fine for deer. Yet every year, I get more and more refined, to get that last little bit out of my deer rifle.

This isn't just a hobby, it can be an obsession. Enjoy!