My son had major reconstructive shoulder surgery this spring, however he still intends to hunt this fall. Normally he shoots a 9.3x62, which is definitely too much recoil at this point in his recovery.

I have a nice Ruger M77, Mk.II in .260 Remington and we are going to try some reduced loads in it. I have a bunch of 120-grain Ballistic Tips, which I normally shoot, lights out, at 2900 fps. Looking at my Lyman manual, I can load 36.5 grains of Varget behind this bullet and get a little over 2600 fps. The full-power load recoils very little, so I imagine the reduced load would be a walk in the park.

My question is, do you think long long Ballistic Tip will stabilize at that reduced velocity? What about performance on game? (As explosive as they are at "normal" velocity, I can't help but think that reduced velocity can do anything but help it.)

What other bullets should I try?

I'd have the Dr weigh in on this but what are you intending to kill?

Sorry, being a redneck from Georgia, I guess I just assumed that everyone knew we would be pursuing the ubiquitous Odocoileus Virginianus, or as we call them down here "venison critters."

I`d run the 100gr Nosler Partition with a reduced load of H4895 from Hodgdons "youth loads" on their web site. The 100 gr partition was designed expressly as a deer bullet for the 260 and recoil at normal velocity is even less the the 120s

Your 120 BTips will work just fine, they do very well in the 6.5 JDJ handgun at velocities lower than what you will obtain. If the twist is at least 1:10" they will stabilize fine.



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30 grains of RL 7, IMR 4198 or H 322, with 100 or 120 grain Ballistic tips...

right around the 2500 to 2600 fps range with the 120s...

zero 2.5 inches high at 100 yds, and you'll have a load that will easily take any whitetail to ever walk the swamps and red clay of Georgia..

don't use any filler...accuracy will be on par with the best of factory loads...

check out hodgdon's 60% rule

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H48...%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf

would assume since this can be used for a 243 and a 308, that 260 rem could be loaded in this manner

Anyone who has worked much with Hodgdon's 60% rule a lot can tell you that for accuracy, it gives no consistency... ie it sucks..

it was strictly work given to them by ADI who makes the powder and it was made up for the use of the Australian Military in field situations...

eg military accuracy vs hunting and varmint shooting accuracy...

case in point, even tho they sell IMR and ADI powders....

use a 60% rule with H 4895 and then try 30 grains of H 4198... AND find out which one is the one that is the most accurate...it will be the H 4198 load...

Hodgdon doesn't promote it for that application, because ADI hasn't given them the data for it...

ADI tested H 4895 as it is a standard powder burn rate for cases like the 308, 303, and a host of other cartridge...

if one has to use 4895, and wants to do the 60% rule, substitute IMR 4895 instead... you'll certainly find it is both substantially more accurate... and also has a lot less retort ( boom!@) when it goes off...

want reduced loads? consult cast bullet data...

its been tested a lot by cast bullet shooters... however NOT the factories anymore..

Check IMRs data for the .260 using WHAT ?
Try SR4759!!
It is bulky and takes up space in the case. There is also data on it right up to std pressure.

Was doing some reduced test loading recently with 140 gr. bullets, attempting to duplicate 6.5 Carcano performance. With 31 grains of IMR 4895 got close to 2200 fps. and good accuracy.With the same load or a little more 2300 fps. can be obtained with the 120grain bullet. I have killed a number of mule deer with the Carcano and this load ( energy level ) duplicates that performance. The recoil in a 7 1/2# rifle was mild. roger

Without checking I am pretty sure the NBT is designed to expand down to 1800 FPS. Having bad shoulders myself I can appreciate your sons situation. Personally I would suggest wearing a PAST or other brand of pad also. Someday I am actually going to be forced to reduce loads in my rifles to save my shoulders. Till then I use the pad.

The ballistic tips will work well, but if you don't mind buying another box of bullets, I would have to second the 100 grain partition. My daughter has been shooting those out of a 700 titanium since she was 85 pounds and at 3200fps in a very light gun they are quite accurate, and very deadly. It is comfortable for her to put 20 or 30 rounds out in a tee-shirt when we start warming up for season in late summer. H414 is hard to beat.

My daughter shoots this load in her 16" barreled Ruger:

.260 Remington - 120 grain Sierra SP bullet, 23.5 grains SR 4759 powder, Rem. 9 1/2 primer, Remington case. COL 2.780". MV 2280 fps in 24" test barrel. MAP 57,600 PSI. (Based on the IMR Smokeless Powder Reloader's Guide, April 2004.)

2137 fps in my daughter’s gun with a Remington 120 grain bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by Donald Nelson:
Without checking I am pretty sure the NBT is designed to expand down to 1800 FPS. Having bad shoulders myself I can appreciate your sons situation. Personally I would suggest wearing a PAST or other brand of pad also. Someday I am actually going to be forced to reduce loads in my rifles to save my shoulders. Till then I use the pad.

Don,

I use reduced loads for my deer hunting.. because the area we hunt around the corner from the house... 150 yds is a long shot...

so no need for a 500 yd load, to take a deer at 150 yds or less...

for 200 yds and under, and with NON premium bullets, I think an average MV of 2400 fps or so is about perfect to match up bullet integrity and construction, with game's body resistance..

that is why the little 30/30 keeps selling so well... it works..

Seafire,
I agree, no need for excessive velocity and recoil if not needed. Just match the bullet and speed for the intended use. Almost all my hunting shots start at 200 yards. Even then I don't need a wizbang magnum. I do have two, a .300 Win and a .250WSM but I use the .308 with just as good results.

GAHunter,
You may find this interesting to play with.
http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

I shoot a Savage Striker chambered in 260 Remington and I get 2600 fps. using 120 grain Sierra's and they work great on deer size critters.