New shooter effort

[edgehit]

OK guys, I've just taken up hi power after having a blast shooting it at my first match with a 243.

I've since rebarreled that rifle to 260 and planned to shoot 107 MK's on C P and T and shoot 140's at rams. I easily found a load for 140's with Winchester 760 powder. A load with 107's eluded me. But going thru all the girations to develop 2 loads that shoot sub-minute is a pain for a guy with no spare time.

Is it really worth the extra time? 'Cause I gotta say, I don't feel much recoil difference between the 107 loads vs the 140's. Neither one are a butt whuppin.

Seems to me that if Remington bulk 140's would shoot MOA then go with those across the board.

What say ye experienced gentlemen?

[jneihouse]

Shooting 140's across the course will work fine, but to me at least, recoil is a cumulative thing...What doesn't seem like such a big deal after 50 rounds become a whole 'nuther story a couple hundred rounds....

We have good luck with Varget in the 260 with the 107's. In Kolby's rifle 39 grains is the magic load. Remember, YMMV

Kitty

[shakes]

Yep!! That's the magic load for me too, 39 grns of Varget with the 107's. Varget seems to be a real good powder for up here in Warsheenton, it doesnt seem to be affected by the different temps we get up here from feburary untill september, maybe a half minute difference between the extrem's. I agree with Kitty, if you plan on shooting at nationals or a state match where 300 or so rounds is the norm it add's up and shooting a lighter grain bullet that gets the job done is what you want. Remember the bulk of you shooting is at the closer distances where the 107 works just fine. In a 40 shot match you only shoot the 140's ten times why would you want to shoot them 30 more?

[Jim Beckley]

I don't know what part of the country you are in, but if you shoot in any kind of wind, you might want to take a look at the 123's vs. the 107's. I do not know why but everyone that I talk to seems to think that the 140's leave more rams standing than the 142's (Lee O'Neil switched from 140's to 142's), a sharper pencil might be able to explain it, and Lapua makes a 139 and a 144! Varget seems to be the go to powder in a .260, but I was using VV-N150. Also any load listed here might not be safe in your gun, so it might be prudent to start at a lower charge than listed. Just my 2 cents.

[edgehit]

Hmmm, Varget. The F-class shooters prefer H4350 with Tubb making it his choice.

I wasn't aware of Lapua making a 144. It's a FMJ. Won't those damage targets?

I've got some A-Max 140's and when they're shot up, I may try the big Lapua or some Remington Cor-Lokt 140 bulk for $20/100. They appeal to my cheap side.

[ajj]

That thin jacket over the nose of the Lapiua 144 won't damage targets. Velocity damages targets.

[Bob Mc Alice]

Bulk Remington hunting bullets????? Yes, they are cheap..... and far inferior to a true match bullet. Those Remingtons are $22.50 at Midway per 100. A 500 ct. bulk box of Sierra 140 MK's works out to $ 26.80 per 100. These are far superior bullets for a mere $4.30 per 100 difference.

Mr. Tubb might prefer H4350 in his .260 target loads, but I am sure his recipe does not include a Remington bulk hunting bullet.

[Bob259]

Bulk Remington hunting bullets????? Yes, they are cheap..... and far inferior to a true match bullet. Those Remingtons are $22.50 at Midway per 100. A 500 ct. bulk box of Sierra 140 MK's works out to $ 26.80 per 100. These are far superior bullets for a mere $4.30 per 100 difference.

I couldn't agree more.... Go for the Sierra or Lapua's and you'll be much happier.

[edgehit]

10-4 I'll stick with the premium bullets which cost nothing compared to the gas budget for driving to the range to shoot the match.

[Gator]

I shoot a 6.5x55 but it is essentially the same game. Using Varget and Sierra 107

[yankee]

Here goes after playing with the 6.5 243 for almost 18 years the first thing I would advise is to drop the 760 powder and switch to varget of imr 4064. They will group more consistant for you in temperature changes. Tubb and some of the boys are shooting very short throated or no throat in the barrel thus putting the bullet further in the case. You have to go to the slower powder to get the pressure down and velocity up. Which bullet kind of depends also on what chamber you have or how much throat and if you are using it in a hunting rifle magazine or not. The 142 sierra and the 139 lapua are almost identical and usually shoot within a click or two for most of my 260's. The 140 mk will shoot about 1 minute lower at 500m than the 142 mk. The 107 mk will do a pretty good job and they do not need to be going 2900fps 2600fps is fine. Start out around 35 ,36 grains of varget and see what happens. The box remington bullets may shoot ok at 100 or 200 M but the match bullets really start to shine past that. About the only way is to test them at the specific distances. Have fun and keep us posted. I have shot a bunch of the 120 mk and they do a fine job. The 123 mk will have almost the same ogive as the 107 and 142. The 120 and 140 have about the same ogive.

[edgehit]

Thanks a bunch for all the replies. I'll go buy a pound of Varget and give that a go.

I really liked the way H4320 filled up the cases, but I recorded 107 SMK's speeding over 3200fps.

I keep looking for ways to cut costs on hi-power but all have proven false economy.

[lone ringer]

Thanks a bunch for all the replies. I'll go buy a pound of Varget and give that a go.

I really liked the way H4320 filled up the cases, but I recorded 107 SMK's speeding over 3200fps.

I keep looking for ways to cut costs on hi-power but all have proven false economy.

Joe, there is nothing wrong with using H4320 because it has about the same burning rate as Varget or IMR 4064. Use 35 to 37 gr with the 107's and you should end up with a mild load, no need to fill the case and burn out the barrel shooting them over 3000 fps.

You can also use heavier bullets with that load but for though rams you may want to go to IMR 4350 or VV N150 and use about 41gr with a 139 or 142 gr bullet. I would not use Rem bulk bullets in competition but if you already have them and want to use them, use them only for chickens and pigs.

In my opinion the 120 MK are not very good when shooting them at turkeys in windy conditions, the 107, 123 and 142 will do a much better job.

If you do not have time to develop loads just ask the shooters that are winning the matches what they use. 33 gr of VV 133 or Benchmark with any weight bullet (I like the 123 Lapua) for the first three distances and 41 gr of VV 150 or 4350 with a 139-142-144 gr bullet for the rams and if your rifle does not like those loads I would say there is something wrong with it. Agustin Sanchez set or tied several National records this year using similar loads.

[edgehit]

Bingo! 108gr Scenars over 36grs of Varget is a winner. Thanks for all the help!



BTW, I incorrectly said that I was using H4320. I was loading 107 SMK over H4350. I did shoot pretty well, but it was smoking along over 3200fps.