Trophy hunter .260 with siarra 107 gr not grouping

[foxx]

Hi, all.

I am having trouble finding a load for my .260 Trophy Hunter with Sierra 107 gr BTHP.

I pillar-bedded the factory stock, then started working-up some loads. The only bullets I can find in .260 are the Sierra 107's, so that is what I am using. Lapua brass and Federal Match primers.

So far I have tried Varget, H4831 and Benchmark. Best I can do is .952 inch 4 shot group with Benchmark, seated just off the lands. The rest are nowhere near that. I have also tried playing with seating depth, but no real luck.

I will try H4350 next, then IMR BLC (2), but I am running out of powder options (what I have on hand), bullets and money.

I am using the Nikon 3x9 scope that it came with, maybe that's my problem. I don't know.

My question is this: Has anyone out there had luck with 107's or is that maybe the problem?

Also, so you know a little about my experience and ability: I get 3/4 inch groups from my Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun, 1/2 inch groups from my Browning A-bolt in 30-06 (sporter barrel), 1/2 inch from Tikka .270 WSM (sporter barrel), 1/3 inch from Savage 25-06 (sporter barrel) and 1/3 inch from Savage .223 (varment barrel). I want 1/2 inch or better outta this .260.

Any advice or shared experiences with the .260 is appreciated.

[nso123]

I am going to go with the idea that it will shoot better with a heavier bullet. 120-140gr seems to work better in most .260s. Midway has some bullets in stock, although not a ton. I like the 140 Amax in my rifle.

[earl39]

I shoot 123's in mine due to lots of 123 Amax's on hand (cause i have 2 grendels also). I would have to agree to go with a heavier bullet.

[darkker]

y knee jerk is rotational issues from a light bullet also...
If you "can't find any other bullets" you aren't trying.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
Has just short of a Shyte-load in-stock, makes me wonder about how hard you are trying on your loads? Stop changing a bunch of stuff, one thing at a time. NEVER found a rifle or bullet, that didn't shoot well with a 32nd of jump. Seating depth gets over played, because of Litz's crappy bullets.

Remember also you have a mass produced factory rifle, don't count on a precision rifle proceed at $400.

[foxx]

thanks, darkker.

I did find 140 Hornady Match at Midway. (Had to order 500!) Unfortunately, I did not try Midsouth soon enough so I will be stuck with these for a while.

I should not have said I could only find Sierra 107's. Obviously, there are others out there. What I should have said was I could not find what I was looking for, an affordable target-grade 140. Also, lacking experience with .260, when I got 107's, I did not know whether they would shoot well or not. I still do not know. The point of my post is to solicit other opinions about the bullet. Maybe its me. Maybe the rifle. Maybe the scope. Maybe the bullet.

I am trying quite hard on my loads, thank you. As stated, I tried several powders by shooting 4 shot groups, testing in .5 gr increments. The only decent group was 1 inch with Benchmark. Out of desperation I tried different seating depths with my one decent load. Changing seating depths only made matters worse. I don't think that is trying to do too many things at once. Actually, I believe that is SOP. Change one variable at a time, compare results.

Until now I have enjoyed what I consider success with all of my mass produced factory rifles, as explained in my original post. Better than most, from what I can gather. Maybe I have just been lucky.

Oh, well. I will try the longer/heavier bullets and see what happens.

Thanks, again.

[Wildboarem]

Barrel twist may be to fast for the light bullets, easy test is to drop the velocity by 200fps or so and see I your grouping improves.

[foxx]

Thanks, Wild. That might be it, too.

I am now in the process of pillar bedding it to a Tacticool stock. When that's done I am going to try 140g Hornady Match bullets. (Just got 500 of them in the mail.) I'll see how those shoot. Those should keep me busy for a while, and I have almost run out of 107's anyhow. :)

[BoilerUP]

Try 120gr Nosler Ballistic tips with 39.3gr Varget, +/- 0.3gr, loaded to 2.79" COAL.

If it doesn't shoot, something is wrong with the optic, mounts, or barrel.

This load has literally bugholed in three different 260s of mine - 26" 1:8 Criterion, 20" 1:8 McGowen, and 22" 1:9 R700 factory tube.

[nastynatesfish]

Go to widmers.com. I just got 750 140 custom comps from them Thursday I've got a couple boxes of 140 game kings I'll pass along if you needed some

[foxx]

Okay, I think I found my load.
140g Hornady Match, 44.3g H4831

100 yds 4 shots .199 inch

5th shot was a "flyer", it opened up the group to.387! LOL

I don't know if my earlier problems were caused by the stock or the 107's, but it does not matter now.

I pillar bedded it into a Boyds Tacticool stock and loaded some 140's. Same Nikon 3-9 "throw away" scope that came with it. Same sporter barrel.

See, I said I was wanting 1/2 inch groups. I guess I got 'em! :)

Thanks for the help, guys.

Here's a pic of the group:

http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r781/2foxx2/20131025_153237_zpsbb52c807.jpg?t=1382735143