Per Several requests...

Also posted on the Varmint Forum and Reloading Forum...

260 Remington and Blue Dot Range Report…

Rifle Used: Ruger 77 Mk 2

Barrel Length: 22 inches

Primers Used: Federal 210


I. 85 grain HP Sierra OAL: 68.25mm

10 grs: 1628 fps
11 grs: 1712 fps
12 grs: 1825 fps
13 grs: 1922 fps
14 grs: 2065 fps

15grs: 2167 fps
16 grs: 2254 fps
17 grs: 2381 fps
18 grs: 2467 fps
19 grs: 2558 fps

20 grs: 2646 fps
21 grs: 2718 fps
22 grs: 2767 fps


II. 95 grain Hornady V Max OAL: 70.50 mm

10 grs: 1602 fps
11 grs: 1682 fps
12 grs: 1779 fps
13 grs: 1924 fps
14 grs: 2031 fps

15 grs: 2119 fps
16 grs: 2162 fps
17 grs: 2242 fps
18 grs: 2365 fps
19 grs: 2470 fps

20 grs; 2574 fps
21 grs: 2609 fps
22 grs: 2692 fps

II. Nosler 100 grain Ballistic Tip: OAL: 72.85 mm

10 grs: 1524 fps
11 grs: 1677 fps
12 grs: 1862 fps
14 grs: 1936 fps

15 grs: 2043 fps
16 grs: 2126 fps
17 grs: 2213 fps
18 grs: 2310 fps
19 grs: 2397 fps

20 grs: 2453 fps
21 grs: 2548 fps
22 grs: 2619 fps…

Notes;

No need for Magnum Primers… even large pistol primers are both satisfactory and there was no real noticeable difference in MV.

Work up from the 20 grain mark to the 22 grain mark, as some throats produce tight chambers in some rifles… not so in the Ruger Test Rifle

The Ballistic Tip was chosen for the 100 grain bullet, based on the fact that it will open up nicely down to 1500 fps, and the 2600 fps max is just below my recommended MV of 2700 fps that is max for the ballistic tip without suffereing meat loss…

The Nosler Partition will work well down to about 2000 fps impact velocity..

The 100 grain Hornady SP seemed to work well down to about 1750 fps MV

The Sierra 100 grain HP seemed to work well down to about the same for adequate lethality on a deer in the 150 lb range and under…

Remember to always work up.. and your loading techniques are YOUR responsibilities.

I highly recommend loading a round and then seating a bullet before going onto the next one.. this will prevent an accidental double charge from happening.

Do not exceed the above recommendations.. I have and have determined there is nothing gained in velocity above that listed, but there is an increase in pressure and remember being a fast powder, it shows up much quicker than with slower powders…

All the loads proved to be very very accurate in my Ruger and my Rem VLS…

cheers
seafire
October 2007

As allways thanks for the info.

Thanks for another blue dot workup! I'm looking at getting a mdl 7 .260 for my sons first hunting rifle, and will no doubt be putting together some blue dot loads to get him comfortable with it.

Thanks for the Kudos guys.. as can be seen on one of the threads above.. evidently the combo can be quite effective...





seafire

Excellent information thanks a bunch! What would you suggest for the 120 bt in the .260?

I just got a 5 pounder of BD and I am looking forward to trying it in a few different calibers.

Hipster, I haven't worked up the 260 beyond the 100 grainers...

It worked out that way, as I also shoot 6.5 x 55s.. so I did the 260 with weights from 85 to 100 grains since they fit the short action better.. and did 120s to 140s in the 6.5 x 55...

I can tell ya this if this helps...

in the Swede, the 120s were doing 2400 fps ( Nosler Ballistic tips).. in the 260 they would be doing between 2250 to 2300 fps...

22 grains appears to be max in the 308 sized cases... work up to there...

20 grains should give you an MV in the 2200 fps range.. 21 should be giving you in the 2300 fps range.. and 22 should be right at 2400...

don't go beyond 22 grains.... and work up there.. if you can live with 21 grains at 2300.. your brass life should be pretty darn long...

on the short end, without a lot of work.. start at 18 or 18.5 and work up in 1/2 grain increments....

the 120 ballistic tip will be excellent in that velocity range!

I'll have to get around to working that up myself and posting the data...

cheers
seafire

Seafire Thanks for the 120 info.

With deer here being big I am a bit leery with the 100 grain bt and would prefer the 120. Hopefully the recoil will be low enough for a 12 year old. I am going to start him with 100's and work up to the 120's for deer season next year. He is doing pretty good with full loads in the Swift so recoil in the same range should be no problem with practice.

I will let you know how the 120's work out

Thanks again