I'll try to make this simple. I want a cartridge that is good for 200 yards. Really. That's all I need. In looking at reloading for the typical cartridges like 308, 7'08, etc., I see that the typical accurate loads are still a bit more than I need. I'm looking for something that gives me 2500 - 2600 fps and easy on the recoil.

I'm wondering if using a 260 remington or a 7'08 with heavy for caliber bullets would give me what I need. For example, take a 260 remington with a 140 gr. bullet. Get that bullet down into the cartridge a bit to reduce capacity.

Most people want to get that bullet out as far as possible to squeeze the most out of the cartridge. I understand that. I want to do just the opposite, but maintain the consistancy and accuracy of using a smaller cartridge that is filled to 95% - 100% capacity of powder.

Is there any downside to this?

Google "Hodgdon Youth Loads"

300 savage would meet you demands perfectly

260 Rem

Speer 140 DeepCurl

http://www.speer-bullets.com/b...s/detail.aspx?id=255

Speer 140 Hot-Core

http://www.speer-bullets.com/b...s/detail.aspx?id=280

Both shorter bullets. Seat'em deep and plow down what ever it is you want.

Alan

Don't know that seating the bullet deeper would serve any purpose but I do know that 140gr bullets are sudden death on deer when fired from both the .260 and the 7-08. I've never thought of them as "heavy for calibre" bullets in the .260 or 7-08.

The 140 gr. bullet in a 260 rem. has a sectional density of .289. The 160 gr. bullet in the 7mm cartridges has a sectional density of .286, the same as a 190 gr. bullet in a .308 cartridge. These are heavy for caliber bullets.

In this line of thought, pushing a 140 gr. bullet down into a 260 rem. case might emulate a smaller cartridge. All (or nearly all) the empty space left can be filled with powder, which generally is a good thing.

I'm just looking for information. Will it behave just like a smaller case? Are there any downsides to having the bullet down in the powder, out of the neck?

With the .260,easy on recoil but adequate for deer to 200 yds; 120 gr. bullet at 2550 fps.with 40 gr. ACC 4350. SEATING THE BULLET EXTRA DEEP IS A NON ISSUE!
The 7-08 with a 120 grain bullet, light recoil,use 37.5 gr. of ac 2520 or 34.5 gr.ac2015 , velocity 2550 fps. The heavier bullets will only yield more recoil. No premium bullets needed. roger

That's true. Recoil is a product of the ejecta being sent down the barrel. More powder, more weight of bullet, more recoil. There are other factors but those are the two constants.

just use a reduced load of 4895.
when my kids were little i used from 30 to 36 grs of 4895 for reduced loads.
i still use reduced 30 cal loads that mimic 30-30 velocity's with 30-30 bullets.
when i got littlegirls 7.65 argie built for her to hunt with, i worked up a reduced load of h-322 and a filler.
with a half jaxketed lead boolit i designed for the argie pushing along at 2200 fps.
she has taken all of her deer except one with that combo [and i got my but chewed for not bringing the argie when i picked her up from school to go out]
she quickly forgot about the argie after taking a nice 3x4 [plus eye guards] with the 7x57 later that afternoon.