One thing that came up via PM/offline about the COAL....
The 260, 7mm-08 the same way as the 243 and 270-08 Cat. ARE NOT too long for use in repeaters whether they are gas or bolt guns.
Of course this is determined by your free-bore or magazine system limitation, whichever comes first, but it runs fine even with pretty long bullets and in many popular magazines.
Bolt Short Action
THIS IS MAX FOR A SAAMI chamber. Sorry I don't have pics from the 260R but same idea anyway.
If one doesn't have the latest AX/AW and has concerns about jump I can tell you for example the older 7mm amax 162gr produced 1/2 moa at 2.910 COAL in the barrel tested.
This addressed another part of the discussion that has been accuracy and powder choices. While Varget is not the best performer is a very good
powder for many calibers including the 7 and worked great with the amaxes. I have not reloaded ELDs with varget but I expect will be very similar in speed and of course
more consistent due to the new tip fix from hornady.
These will shoot below moa even with the oldest AICS magazines at that magazine max coal.
In gas guns, even the longest VLDs can be used and hybrids do not seem to be so affected by
a longer or shorter jump. you have to find your spot.
Even if you do no have knights or HK magazines and have the shortest magazines like AR magpul
or standard DPMS still can load VLDs to spec for the AR w/o running over the ogive.
magpul
dpms
C procuts (now ASC) are inexpensive, good quality and will give you 2.875" avg (out if five) w.o. much conditioning and no need to gate them.
162gr eld or elx loaded at 2.850" from inexpensive ASC magazines produced submoa from the AR and bring a modest 21"
AR to 1500 yards transsnoic range.
I don't have pics of the match bullets but I have some White Tail AR loads tested from a AR I chambered for a friend.
This AR was chambered for long range with 8 twist and headspaced for the actual sized brass.
Next time I go out I will make pictures of long range loads shot from both the bolt gun and the AR. The R700 is a 1/2 moa
gun and the AR a 3/4 moa and 1 moa with budget bullets that is pretty good.
One will find the same kind of trend no matter what caliber and casing choice when using consistent components and some careful
reloading. The only consideration when dealing with copper solid bullets is the twist that is determined by the length of
those bullets.