How do I efficiently identify the 'best' bullet for long range precision rifle?

[capreppy]

Sub'd.

I am midstream on a 260 Rem Build (Savage 10 action). The barrel will be CBI. Hoping to have everything done by the end of next month.

I went down a similar path with my AR and was quickly overwhelmed. Since the 260 Rem will be new to me, I wanted trigger time behind the rifle. I got 1k Nosler 140gr CC for $160. This is what I will be using for trigger time. Excellent bullet and was cheap relative to all the other choices out there. The overwhelming choice for powder from a few sites has been H4350. RL17 is prone to temperature sensitivity and I live in TX so not a good combo for me. I have 4k CCI BR sitting on the shelves (bought 5k for $125) so this is going to be my primer of choice. Working on getting my brass together and am going with RP. I will match prep (not neck turned as my skills won't see the difference), neck size after inital FL size and anneal every 3 rounds.

I'll do load development and get the most accurate charge / OAL and get trigger time behind the rifle.

If I were competing, again going with the overwhelming choice (based on MY research, but your research may turn up something different), the Lapua 139 Scenars are great.

At $350/k, it'll cost me more to get the trigger time I want. I'll get 1k rounds behind the trigger at half the cost and hopefully significantly my skills (breathing, reading the wind, trigger control, yada, yada).

You didn't state (and I didn't see it in the subsequent posts) your accuracy goals. Shooting bug holes or hitting steel at 1k. If hitting steel at 1k, all of the bullets above are likely to satisfy that level of accuracy. I personally would pick one (of your choices above, like I said, I'd go with the Lapua 139 Scenars) and just see where that leads you.

 

[kelbro]

With all of those bullets, you should probably plan on a new barrel too. Once you find the best load among all of those variables, you will have shot that barrel out.

Pick a couple of bullets and return the rest.

 

[Onewolf]

Sub'd.

I am midstream on a 260 Rem Build (Savage 10 action). The barrel will be CBI. Hoping to have everything done by the end of next month.

I went down a similar path with my AR and was quickly overwhelmed. Since the 260 Rem will be new to me, I wanted trigger time behind the rifle. I got 1k Nosler 140gr CC for $160. This is what I will be using for trigger time. Excellent bullet and was cheap relative to all the other choices out there. The overwhelming choice for powder from a few sites has been H4350. RL17 is prone to temperature sensitivity and I live in TX so not a good combo for me. I have 4k CCI BR sitting on the shelves (bought 5k for $125) so this is going to be my primer of choice. Working on getting my brass together and am going with RP. I will match prep (not neck turned as my skills won't see the difference), neck size after inital FL size and anneal every 3 rounds.

I'll do load development and get the most accurate charge / OAL and get trigger time behind the rifle.

If I were competing, again going with the overwhelming choice (based on MY research, but your research may turn up something different), the Lapua 139 Scenars are great.

At $350/k, it'll cost me more to get the trigger time I want. I'll get 1k rounds behind the trigger at half the cost and hopefully significantly my skills (breathing, reading the wind, trigger control, yada, yada).

You didn't state (and I didn't see it in the subsequent posts) your accuracy goals. Shooting bug holes or hitting steel at 1k. If hitting steel at 1k, all of the bullets above are likely to satisfy that level of accuracy. I personally would pick one (of your choices above, like I said, I'd go with the Lapua 139 Scenars) and just see where that leads you.

My long term accuracy goal is to be competitive in field/match shooting at the local club. This means being able to hit steel between 100-1200 yds from 'unknown' distance and not necessarily the prone position. At this point I don't know if _I_ have the talent/skill to be able to qualify at that long range much less be competitive.

My plan is to start by picking one or two bullets and to run powder load ladder tests on them and then move on from there.

Again a "BIG THANKS" to all who have contributed such thoughtful replies.

And no, I'm not sending any bullets back. I'll find a use for them in something. I foresee building a custom scary .260 black AR type gun for fun shooting.

 

[hueyville]

You can never have too big of a bullet selection especially as your collection grows. I would not even waste the time to try and count how many .30 caliber varients I own. If you can afford it, buy it and when you find what you like, buy 500 more is what I say.