Superformance .260 Data

[Mt_Medic31]

Hey all,
Lots of Discussion and speculation about this Superformance, as it keeps coming up, so I finally tried it out. I only found one tid-bit of data on the web after a LONG search, and it didn't include bullet weight, but I SWAGed and extrapolated and played with it, and I'm pretty impressed really. It's a Disc powder, so meters really well and easily. I have a load for 108gr Lapua Scenar, and am working on data for 140gr Berger VLD.

Rifle: R700, Lilja #5 24" barrel. Brass: Lapua, Primer: Federal large rifle match, Bullet: 108gr Lapua Scenar
Hornady Superformance powder: 47.5gr Produced a 0.2" group at 100 yards. Three 3-shot groups averaged 0.38" overall, the largest group just under .5", and that was proly me not the gun (I did use a rest). The average speed was 3,002 fps. 0 pressure signs in the brass.
For those who want it, it was 85 degrees out, at 3300 feet elevation. Barometric at 29, humidity 35%.

I will post the data for the 140gr when I finish playin with it.

Hope this helps anyone who was wondering like I was.

[Innocent]

Mt M...nice group, one question.
At that velocity what is the bullet going to do on impact against a steel ram?

Mary

[Jerry G]

Mary, I would hope he doesn't use the light bullets on rams. My question is, what kind of crater is it going to put in a chicken and pig. Velocity is what does target damage to the close animals.

[Mt_Medic31]

Well,
I did some more testing with 140gr Berger VLD hunting bullets, same setup as initial post, but with 42gr of Superformance producing the best groups. However, not that impressive, haven't used the calipers yet, but the best ones ran about 1" via eyeballing. Velocity running around 2600 fps. I think I know where the problem is though. I will have to play with seating depth I think, as the VLD has such a different profile. Using a chamber gauge with a Sierra or Lapua, the Chamber length was 2.78. Using the same gauge with a VLD bullet, the Chamber measure came out to 2.92, and I was seating the VLDs the same as the Sierras (I measured for VLD after the fact, oops, still learning). Ciao for now.

[silhouette13]

interesting, superfprmance is a rename old the old light magnum line, on average gives about 200 fps over standard loads with out excess pressure. i wonder if 299 more fps in a 243 would help on rams?

[Jerry G]

If you hit the rams too fast the bullet just turns to powder and the ram flips YOU off.

[Innocent]

Jerry...my point exactly on the speed of the bullets listed.
Mary

[Trent]

How fast is too fast?

Which 6.5/.264 bullets resist shattering the best? This is in regards to Rams.

[Mt_Medic31]

Trent,
only one I know much about is the Hornady A-max is specifically a target round, and pretty soft, so shouldn't shatter, more splat. But lightest it comes is 120gr, though does come in a 140 for rams. I went with Bergers hunting VLDs as I don't want to have to make up a new load for hunting season since I use the .260 for all my big game as well.

[Trent]

I am going to be using 139 Lapuas on Rams. I am going to be doing some ladder testing with them once I get my rifle finished. I am hoping that I can find a sweet spot between 2750 and 2850 with those. I haven't decided on a C-P-T load yet. It'll come down to whatever I can find cheap!

So would bullets like the Hornady GMX or the Barnes Banded Solid (both lead free copper bullets) just disintegrate on impact? Before I was thinking that a solid bullet would prevent disintegration but the more I think about it the more I think they would shatter upon impact. They are too expensive for our sport anyway.

[Silo65]

I've been using 139s with H4350 at 2650fps for years in both the 260 and 6.5x47. I've hit well over 150 rams and have lost only one. IMO running bullets fast runs the risk of the bullet exploding on impact w/o energy transfer and 2650 seems to be a good velocity for the 139s.

[Trent]

Thanks Silo! I'll start my testing around 2650 to 2750 looking for a node.

[silhouette13]

How fast is too fast?

Which 6.5/.264 bullets resist shattering the best? This is in regards to Rams.

how fast is too fast? there is talk of vaporizing bullets, if my h4895 100 g 243 lads were 200 fps faster like superformance it would be about 2800-and change. a bit more energy with a stouter bullet like a hotcore may work well on rams. may not


all theorehetical, i dont get to shoot the long game. but i love the little 243. that and the 375 h&h make the perfect 2 gun battery for any field or wood lot in the world.
course, dead is different than knocking over steel.
dave

[RBriscoe]

I've been using 139s with H4350 at 2650fps for years in both the 260 and 6.5x47. I've hit well over 150 rams and have lost only one. IMO running bullets fast runs the risk of the bullet exploding on impact w/o energy transfer and 2650 seems to be a good velocity for the 139s.

In my experience and that of a few other people, the Sierra 142 gr MK does not like muzzle velocities over about 2,750 fps when it comes to rams. I have never had good luck with ram loads less than 2,700 fps although there are a few people who, like you, have enjoyed remarkable success at your velocity.

The 139 gr Scenar appears to tolerate velocities in excess of those at which the MK will perform well.

A number of years ago I shot 130 gr Norma VLDs at 3,000 fps with loads that were much too hot to discuss and were probably unique to that one barrel. They hit rams like Thor's hammer. I would not recommend going that direction, however.

There are some ranges which are just plain difficult when it comes to rams. Chasing a "magic" ram load can be a frustrating experience. I would simply suggest finding something reasonable and being prepared to accept the loss of some rams as being a part of the game.

If you have the ability to place your shot precisely, hitting away from the center of gravity and/or above center improves your odds.

[Jerry G]

silhouette13 on Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:13 am

Trent wrote:
How fast is too fast?

Which 6.5/.264 bullets resist shattering the best? This is in regards to Rams.

how fast is too fast? there is talk of vaporizing bullets, if my h4895 100 g 243 lads were 200 fps faster like superformance it would be about 2800-and change. a bit more energy with a stouter bullet like a hotcore may work well on rams. may not

the 100 gr at 2800 fps doesn't work well unless you hit the rams in the back end and spin them off. The 107s at about 2900 are better and the 115 Bergers are even a little better. You need at least a 9 twist for the 107s and a 7 twist for the 115s. I think you need about 1200 ft lbs on the target for consistant knock-down and then a heart shot is questinable.

I shoot the Sierra 142s in my 6.5x47 and they work great at about 2650 fps.