.260 Remington 24" MGM Barrel on my Encore

[Rol]

This is my first post on THR and I am looking forward to your insights as to what may be my problem. I am trying to develop a good deer load for my TC Encore rifle with a 24" MGM Barrel, topped with a Leupold 2.5x8.

120 Sierra Prohunters over 44.2gr of Reloder 19, Rem 9 1/2 primer in new Rem cases full length sized before loading will consitently group right at or over 1" @ 100yds. off a bench. Sierra manual publishes 2,800 fps for this load in 24" barrel. Good for Whitetail Deer in western NY.

Going to Nosler 130 Accubond opens up the group and is inconsistent where it hits. I have been shooting "round robin" on the targets attempting to discount barrel warming, fatigue, barrel fouling etc.

If the Sierra 120's did not group I would suspect a problem with scope mount, rings, load spec's, my shooting or the moon phase..

Same days, same range with my Rem. 700 in .270 win. I am consistently getting 1" or a little better or worse @ 100yds. with both hand loads and factory 130gr. bullets.

Any suggestions on how to improve the Nosler groups? The Encore has had a trigger job so it is good and I have placed aluminum washers, made from flashing between the forend and barrel to free float the barrel.

Apoligies for being long winded, Thank you in advance. Rol

 

[hoghunting]

Any suggestions on how to improve the Nosler groups?

You might need to try different powders to get better groups, your barrel just might not like the Noslers, or your barrel's twist might not be fast enough to stabilize the 130 grs.

 

[Rol]

260 Rem. - Twist Rate & Powder

Neglected to include iin my post that my barrel has a 1:8 twist to stabilize the longer bullets and I am using Reloder 19 powder, the Nosler Manual's most accurate powder with 45.0 grains, their most accurate load. Have a Great Day. Rol

 

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR, Rol.

I am using Reloder 19 powder, the Nosler Manual's most accurate powder with 45.0 grains, their most accurate load.

That was in Nosler's particular test firearm, and may not be hold true in your rifle. The only options that you have is to use other powders, and play with COAL, if you continue to try and make the Accubonds work.

Check out www.hodgdon.com, or www.alliantpowder.com for the most current load data available. There are several good powders that may give you what you want.


NCsmitty