This blows... really big...

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Afy

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I can not find 260 remington ammo in France, without at least a 6 to 12 week wait. The rifle comes in on thrusday...
I have reington brass, lapua and sierra bullets, cci primers (LR/BR)and vv powders (N-160/530/540/165)

and no way to baseline against factory loads, or get onto load development.
And no clue what to use as a baseline proven load that is safe. :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
If I had a custom firearm, I wouldn't waste the time or money on factory ammo. Pick a mid-range or recommended load out of a reliable loading book and get started.

Good brass, primers, and bullets should work way better than any factory stuff.

I have a Bushmaster Varminter in .223. One of my friends shoots High Power and recommended 26.0 of Varget. First load I tried. Groups about .3" at 100 meters. I quit looking right there.
 
Afy,
Depending upon what weight bullet you are using I'm guessing VV N-160 will be the best powder to use.

I would suggest going to the Remington site and checking on the reported velocities for the Remington 260 and work from there. Remington is reporting a muzzle velocity of 2750 fps (838 m/s) with their Factory 140gr (9,0g) round. Try to match those numbers, find and accurate load and don't worry too much about Factory ammo.
 
I was hoping that someone had a recipie for what has proven to be extremely accurate in their rifle with VV powders.

But yes, trying to match factory velocities.
I am not too hung up on factory ammo... have found the federal dealer who can get me some. Downside 3.4 euros a cartridge...:what:
 
And ... the ammo will only be available in August...:mad::banghead::banghead::banghead:

What is generally easier:

Neck up .243 Win or Neck down .308 or will it still involve neck reaming and trimming?

Why do I end up with weapons with difficult to find ammo and loads: .222 Remington Magnum was the first, followed by the 8x60S which I havent even shot yet, and now this....I need to have my head examined.
 
I was hoping that someone had a recipie for what has proven to be extremely accurate in their rifle with VV powders.
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A load proven to be good in one rifle is certainly no proof that it will be good, or even safe, in your rifle.

Use the starting loads and work up. Once you get the velocity and accuracy you want, you have the load that works in your rifle.

In my experience, custom rifles have chambers and bores on the small side the normal range. This will often lead to the expected velocity at lower than published powder charges.
 
yeah, afy. i wouldn't sweat this at all. my favorite and best-shooting rifle is chambered in something no factory makes.

the only time i would ever attempt to match factory loads is for military calibers for which there are well-known terminal ballistics at a given velocity, and lots of scopes with reticles that have BDCs built in, like ACOGs.
 
Why do I end up with weapons with difficult to find ammo and loads
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First: you're a "collector." You like odd calibers. I like cheap guns. It's personal tastes.
Second: If you want easy, start buying mil-surps. Can't hardly walk around here in the states without tripping over a guy, his Mosin, and a spam-can of ammo.
Just be gentle and try not to bruise me. :D
 
But yes, trying to match factory velocities.
I am not too hung up on factory ammo... have found the federal dealer who can get me some. Downside 3.4 Euros a cartridge...
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Afy,
The point to my above post was not to spend all that money on Factory ammo just to test it over a Chrono to find out the velocity. The Factory supplies the data on their WEB site so I feel the money would be better spent on components than outrageously overpriced Factory ammo. It's probably a good thing for you the ammo won't be available for several months. By then you will have a load you are happy with and won't bother to buy the ammo anyway!! LOL

Good luck on the load development...
 
Factory 260 velocities are very similar to the 6.5x55 in Euro loads. The two are twins as far as performance with like pressures. The Swede is down loaded here in the states, so the 260 shows ~150 fps more velocity in factory ammo. The Norma loading of the Swede is very similar to the 260 as it is loaded to higher pressures. Both cases are with in 3-5 gr of water capacity to the mouth depending on brand of brass.

I`d do as suggested and just load it as directed in your manual. The variation between the factory stuff and what you get with your reloads is going to be moot in the field. No animal or paper target will ever know the difference.
I get 2700 +/- fps with factory 140gr ammo in my 260 and the same with 140 gr reloads. My 6.5x55 also gives 2700 +/-fps with 140 rg reloads, 24" BBLs on both. The factory spec for the 260 is 2700 fps......but that is with their powder and other components. You don`t have these and may or may not be able to equal them. This is true with any cartridge.
 
The numbers below confirm what "Ol` Joe" just posted. I think if you use these numbers as a baseline you will do fine.

Remington is reporting muzzle velocities of 2750 fps from their two rounds using 140gr Core-Lokt® bullets and 2840 fps using a 120gr AccuTip™ Boat Tail bullet.

Federal is reporting muzzle velocities of 2700 fps using a 140gr Sierra GameKing BTSP bullet and 2950 fps using a 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet.

Winchester and Hornady don't have the 260 Remington in their catalog at the moment.

Also, to answer your above question about the brass, this is from the VV site:
Test barrel: 475 mm (18¾"), 1 in 9" twist
Primers: Large Rifle
Cases: Necked-up Lapua .243 Winchester, trim-to length 51.50 mm (2.028")

I'm looking at the load data on the VV site and it seems the powders they have either don't generate velocities near the Factory velocities or the load data is anemic. The data on the Hodgdon Load Data Site is a little closer to the Factory specs. They list several powders and loads which exceed 2700 fps when loading a 140gr/142gr bullet. Is it possible you might find some IMR 7828, IMR 4350/H4350 or IMR 4831/H4831 or even H414??
 
Anything other than VV or Vectan is going to be like finding the holy grail..
 
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