Had my barrel shortened to 22" (from 24") and sent her to Fit-4-Duty to have the Cerakote/Microslick treatment (nothing inside the bore):



Worked up a load last weekend using the 120g Sierra Pro Hunter, 45.5g of H-4350, 210M primer, and necked down Win 7mm-08 brass. Velocity averaged 2,955 fps and exteme spread was 13 fps on the last 5 shot group. It's barely accurate enough for deer:



That Pro Hunter will probably bounce off these big, southern whitetails I hunt that weigh 125 - 150 lb. With any luck, Barnes will come out with a 160g TSX that will make an exit wound on one of these bruisers?

Nice looking group. Looks like right at .5, no?
Was this a 260 orginally, or did you start with a blank. Reason I ask, wondering what your gain was after the improving. I think your bullet choice will be fine, as long as your guide has the requisite 375 H&H for backup in case of a charge.

Bwana,

If I subtracted correctly, that group is about 0.42".

This rifle was a 7mm-08 before rebarreling with a Pac-Nor, Super Match grade, #2, 3 groove barrel in 26 cal. It has never been a standard 260 Rem. I would guess you get about the same velocity in a 22" 260 AI that you would in a 24" 260 Rem.

Oh, and I'll see if I can find a backup with a real gun before placing myself in jeopardy from the brusers!

Nice rifle, good shooting as well. Give RL19 a try under your 120gr Sierra. I am finding this to be a very good powder in my .260AI for 120-123gr bullets. Accuracy is exc. w/ a little bit mor vel. Start @ 46gr & work up.

fredj338,

May take your RL-19 suggestion after hunting season. Not sure I want to add any velocity to the Sierra Pro Hunter but there are other bullets that can take the higher velocity .......the 120g TSX from Barnes(out next year) comes to mind as well as the 125g Partition. Maybe Nosler will have a 120g Accubond out next year.

Hope to test these Pro Hunters on live media next wekend!