Who has tried Vhitavuori powders in your 260? Nosler shows good loads for 120g and 140g using Vht N560. I'm curious how a 100g bullet would do with N550 or N150.

Do the 5xx series of powders seem to be temperature sensitive? Burn clean?

HogWild

I use VVN150 in my 6.5x55 and 6.5x57R with 100gr ballistic tips.

I am convinced N150 is the most accurate powder in this bullet weight in 6.5x55 but it isn't the greatest for velocity It seems great in 6.5x57R too. I get 3,000fps and accuracy in both out of a 24" barrel

It is super clean, doesn't give much muzzle flash and doesn't seem unduly temp sensitive. An accurate load worked up at 50f with a bit of leeway will not cause problems at 90f.

My loads are 42gr for the 6.5x55 and 44gr for the 6.5x57R.

1894,

I would guess those to be conservative loads. Vhitavuori claims the burn rate of N150 and N550 to be about the same as H414. The newest Nosler manual shows 3,365 fps using H414 shooting 100g Partitions or BTs (24" barrel). Makes me wonder if you could get similar velocity with the Vhitavuori powders and have the benefit of a cleaner burning powder.

HogWild

I have a load using N540 and the 108 Scenar for my wifes Krieger barreled 260 Rem. It averages 3180 at chrono and sub .5 MOA accuracy. Barrel finish lenght is 25". She shoots that load at long range ( 600 yd. and 1K ) with surprising results. It is still well above supersonic at 1K and only drifts about .75 MOA more than the 142 MK. N560 works very well with the 140 gr. class bullets. I have had the best luck with Federal 210M primers with Vithavouri powders.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight......RiverRat

RiverRat,

Have you tried the N550? Is the case full with your load of N540 and the 108 Scenar?

HogWild

Depends on when and where you are shooting. The 5xx powders seem (to me) to give a lot of muzzle-flash, so not too good at dawn or dusk. I find N160 to be very versatile - currently shooting 95gr Vmax over 50gr N160 in 6.5x55. 3050fps and good accuracy. That load is NOT a recommendation - please work up and find something that suits your gun.

Patrick

I use quite a bit of VihtaVouri 550 and 560 in my 6.5x55. The capacity is about the same as your .260Rem. These are high intensity powders, and I think they work better with the heavier bullets. I have used 550 with the Lapua 108gr. Scenar in my 6.5x55. and it prints .533" (5 at 100) coming out of the barrel at 2900fps. I'll use 550 for bullets up to 140grs. Above that I switch to 560. I think you'll be quite impressed with VihtaVouri and Lapua as well. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

HogWild:
I have not used N550 in the 260 Rem. with any weight bullet. I have no doubt it would work fine. If you refer to the 5th edition Sierra manual you will find loads for both powders. N540 will give a lot of muzzle flash with light bullets. I tried it in a 243 Win. with 70 gr. BlitzKings and the muzzle flash was very visible even on a sunny day. I have found N540 to be more versitale than N550. I do use N550 and 175 MK exclusively in my 300 WSM for F class competition.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight.....RiverRat

Today I tried some loads in my 6,5x57R with Speer's 120 grain bullet and Fed 210M primer. Barel length is 60 cm and temperature was 30� Centigrade.

all @ 100 meters

46.0 gr gave 2,902 fps. two three-shot groups measured 0.6" and 0.7"

47.0 gr gave 2,958 fps. two three-shot groups measured 0.5" and 0.7"

In the strong sunlight I could not notice any muzzle flash, neither the bystanders whom I asked to watch carefully.

montero

To the guys who have tried N550, where would you place the burn rate? Is it close to H414 as claimed by Vhitavuori? Is it close to N150?

HogWild

Hogwild:
According to the 5th edition Sierra manual N150 is one step slower than H414 and N550 is one step slower than N550. So yes what Vithavuori is saying is correct according to Sierra.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Striaght.......RiverRat

Finally got this 260 Rem data after contacting Kaltron Petibone:

108g Scenar 49.0g VV N550 3,350fps 26" barrel

Looks like it gets the same great speeds that H414 does with 100g class bullets. I will try this in my 260 AI if I can find some N550 locally.

HogWild

N550 is quite a bit slower than N150 ie 43grmax for N550 for 120gr bullets (6.5x55) vs 39grmax for N150.

My loads might be conservative but not tremendously so. If it's accuracy your after at reasonable velocity I wholeheartedly reccomend it. Both my 6.5s have now shot 3 shot quarter inch groups!