took the new stainless laminate 260 compact out to the range today, the book says that 45 grains of W760 should give around 3000 fps, at around 58,000 psi. with a 120 grain nosler bt

here are my results

W760 45.5 grains=2825
W760 46.5 grains=2875

i am very impressed with the results in the 16.5 inch barrel.

groups were around an inch, i think could go sub-moa if i tweak my seating depth.

Sounds pretty much like a Roberts to me.

Gotta be nice and handy to port around, and very user friendly.

Mark D

the 140's, i am hoping to get 2650 fps, those are with the north fork's for black bear, that will be a penetration machine.

Good usfull load there.
One of those little compacts with the scout scope set up, those loads should be good from point blank to 300 or so, what more can you ask for from a 16.5 inch rifle.
...tj3006

having owned a 21" M96 swede that did the same or worse in velocity with 120's, I could be satisfied with that performance, as long as I were wearing hearing protection for the short barrel's blast.

This thread is the reason I re-registered on the site. I have the exact same rifle. I've been trying to figure out loads that will maximize the velocity out of the shorter tube as well.

I don't have my data with me here at work, but I've been going the route of the fastest burning powder I can find data for the 260. I've settled on the 129grain Hornady SST and worked up some loads with 3031. I think that IMR list the top load as 34-35 graisn, but I've gotten as hot as 38grains. I've found that at 37grains, I'm getting 1"groups and approx. 2630fps. The 38grains gets to 2700fps, but you start to see a bit of diminishing return witht he extra grain of powder over the jump from 35 to 36 and 36 to 37.

I believe that I may try some Benchmark. Hogdon list that at 40grains max and with the similar burn rate to 3031, I hope to top out the SST at 2750fps.

My father in law has a 260 with a 24" tube. I LOVE with littel 16" barrel next to that thing. If I can find a load that allows me to stay within 200fps of his velocities...I consider it a success.

If one were barreling a short carbine in 6.5, I have to believe the 6.5 Grendel, BR, or a 6.5x47 would get real close to speeds of a 260, in a barrel this short, AND the blast would be much less.

There was a poster on a forum awhile back, not here I don't believe, that did a 260 "SHORT" on a mexican mauser. The blast surely must be a good bit more on that 16 vs your f-n-law's 24 right? I know if you are not shooting a lot of volume it may not be too bad.

I have to admit a fondness on the handling of those compacts having handled them a few times. I don't miss the extra inches of forearm, but would love to see the same gun/stock configured with a 19-20" barrel myself. It would still handle well. The shorter forearm and butt length is handy for many shooters, and does save some weight.

With protection on, I really didn't notice the blast being that much worse. I know there may be other cartridges that better utilize the 16" barrel, but I got her for high $400's I'm not complaining. Like I said my goal is to wring every ounce of velocity I can out of my handloads. I've always heard that you tend to get better accuracy from slower powder...btu like i said 1" 3 shot groups with the 3031...so I think it is very do-able.

I've been handloading at the F-I-L's place (he has several pounds of 3031)...but I really am on fire to try the benchmark...since the recipe I saw seems to indicate you can run up to 40 grains.

I am not knocking it by any means, very compact as you prefer, and efficient beyond what I would have thought.

My 21" cut down mauser may have had a 'tight bore' as it did not fare much better, but the old cut rifled bores may have varied in land/groove diameter, but they did shoot well regardless of how fast!

And hey, anytime I can buy a factory ready made rifle and save a barrel job i.e. $$$$$, you often come out ahead, all else equal.

If my local shop that has had a compact sitting on the rack, ever dropped the price down right, I may be very tempted.

One thing is certain and it applies to most rifles in my experience and that of others reports, when seeing the accuracy of short, or cut down barrels, they often shoot very accurately, if not more so, despite velocity loss as given same diameter, they are stiffer.

What is NOT to like about having a rifle shooting sub moa? Better than most of us can do in the field. Now when it won't shoot moa, I get frustrated.

In response to furman paladin, I would try the W760, or i would go with the 7828 with those sst's, the powder companies show good velocity with 7828, but they only load to around 57,000 psi, and you should easily be able to load to 65,000 psi with 2 grains over max. which would put the smoke on those faster burning powders with velocity.

I am getting 2,530 with the 140 gr Nosler Partition out of a 13 inch barreled handgun with 50.0 Grs of VV N560 out of an improved 220 Swift case. With short barrels, you will get the least velocity loss by using heavy for caliber bullets and slow powders. Assuming that your twist rate is fast enough to stabilize the 140s. The VV N560 powder was made for the 6.5 x 55 by the Finns. It also works well in the 270 I understand...Rusty

I don't have the caliber, but try to find a Varget load. I have found it to be very good in short-barrel loads with my .308 and .243.