100-125gr in 1:8 .260Rem

I reload Nosler 100 grn BTs in my sons M7 1:8 twist. Zero issues.

Took a couple tries to get a decent load, but I got it below MOA and just shy of 3100 FPS out of the 20" barrel using IMR4320 and necked up .243 WIN brass. Average groups were 1.25-1.5 MOA with it's Leupold 2.5-8X scope. The pencil thin barrel heats up pretty quick, not benchrest, but well within minute of whitetail.

Chuck

We've shot that load out to 300yds on steel without a problem.

Chuck

I've shot everything from 85-142 gr. in my .260's with 1:8 barrels. None of them shot anything 90 gr. and under all that well, just over one MOA.

123 gr. SMKs and Lapua always shoot really well. The only powder that I've ever used in them is IMR 4350.

I shot the 123gr amax in a Creedmoor with a 1in8" twist with phenomenal results over 42gr varget

Im shooting the 123Amax over Superform, good results.

mbruce said:

Some say you "can't" over-stabalize a bullet...

Click to expand...

When talking about small arms, "some" are correct. You can potentially cause very light varmint bullets in calibers like 22-250 to come apart due to rotational forces, but that's the only concern. Otherwise, there's no real downside to a fast twist.

When light bullets shoot poorly in a fast twist rifle that otherwise exhibits good accuracy, the problem is almost always the jump to the lands - the shorter lighter bullets are seated too far back. This is an issue of cartridge and chamber dimensions, not twist rate.

Buy a 1:8" and don't worry about it.

I shoot 139s in 7mm-08 in a 1:8 Shilen. They shoot just fine. 1:8 is ideal for 175 gr 7mm bullets.

The 139s shoot with at least the same precision as they did in the 1:9 barrel.

Anicdotal I know, but it does illustrate over twisted bullet accuracy from a quality barrel.

I use 139gr Lapua Scenars and 142gr SMKs in my 1:8 bbl. Excellent results and I like heavier bullets for longer ranges.

Cheers,

Harry

It really is bullet dependent.
Speer doesn't recommend their 90gr TNT in the 6.5Remington nor .264WinMag. Specifically, in the narrative on the .264winmag, they state that the upper end of velocities possible with the magnums that they are at the upper limit for the TNT bullet.
I suspect that others in the 85-100gr might likewise be near the limit.

However, with the 6.5Creedmor or .260Rem, I don't think you'll have problems.

Besides, Remington "claimed" my Rem. M7 in .260Rem has a 1/9", but actually measured it's a 1/10". It shoots good with flat-base bullets up to the Sierra 160gr RN, but the 123gr Amax is the heaviest tipped boat tail it shoots well. 129gr SST shoots 4-8" "patterns" and the 140gr SST may not hit the berm! Seldom hitting target and sideways when they do.

I've never shot any thing lighter than 120gr. I've got plenty of .22cf's and .25's to handle those tasks.

I don't think you can over stabilize a bullet,but certain light bullets in fast twist rifles can evidently shred in flight from really high velocities,That's why the 22-250 seldom is faster than 1 in 12,but with 100-125 grain you need not worry bout that. I have always heard that one reason Remingtons 6mm never caught on like the 243 was they put too little twist in them because they were afraid they would shred light bullets,and Winchester put a faster twist in the 243 for heavier bullets.

Mr. Mbruce, first of all congrats on getting a .260 Rem. It is an outstanding caliber that will be around long after most of the current crop of wizzbang cartridges are forgotten. I currently have .260's with 7-1/2 , 8, 8-1/2 and 9" twists and have used 107gr to 142gr bullets in each of them with good success. All things considered, I prefer a 9" across the board with all bullets, but with a 8" twist barrel you're good to go with the lighter bullets. Be happy.