Bullet weight for 1:8 260 remington

What y'all using?
I've got a stainless action with criterion heavy barrel, braked. B&C stock.
I recently installed a CDI aics bottom metal.
Wanted to see how it did with some federal fusion 120 gr.
Catastrophic results. 3.5 to 5 moa. Never thought different bullet weight would make that kind of different. Went back to federal factory with 142 SMKs and it shot it's typical. 5 to .75 moa.

What bullet weight does everyone here use for their 260s with 1:8 twist? Wondering about the 147 eldm if anyone has any experience. Obviously this gun with be used for match/target shooting.

130, 140 and 147s all should stabilize. A 260 and a 6.5 creed are basically ballistic twins, and lots of people are shooting those weights in 8 twist creedmoors.

My buddy primarily shoots the 130s in his 8 twist 260. His is a 20" Tikka CTR, so he has found it needs the extra velocity to get best results. YMMV

Might just not like that 120 bullet but an 8 twist will do fine with 120s and up. Some shoot lighter bullets too but for target shooting I wouldn't. The 147s will stabilize just fine in an 8 twist barrel.

Maybe should have mentioned. It's a 26" barrel FWIW.

That's even better as you can get some good velocities out of the .260 with the longer barrel.

140/142/143 gr all shoot excellent in the 2 CBI 260 barrels I load for. Both 26”

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Originally Posted by hafejd30

140/142/143 gr all shoot excellent in the 2 CBI 260 barrels I load for. Both 26”

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Very good. Thank you. Any bullets you like over another? Going to order some and worm up some loads.

I run 142 smk primarily. Have shot out past a mile with them. Very accurate for long range. Same rifle I ran 140 smk for a while as well. The 140 shot better at 100. Those would hold 1/4” group. Where the 142 average about 1/2”. 300 yards the 140 still outshot the 142 by a slight margin. But at 600 the 142 took over. So I guess it depends what distance you intend to shoot in the future.

Also run 143 ELD-X in other barrel. For hunting. They shoot wel. The 142 smk shoot just as well in that rifle as the other rifle does.

Both run

lapua brass
Cci 200 or br2 primer
h4350

sierras seated .10 off the lands in the first barrel. .015 off in the 2nd
hornady run .020 off the lands

hope this helps

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Originally Posted by hafejd30

I run 142 smk primarily. Have shot out past a mile with them. Very accurate for long range. Same rifle I ran 140 smk for a while as well. The 140 shot better at 100. Those would hold 1/4” group. Where the 142 average about 1/2”. 300 yards the 140 still outshot the 142 by a slight margin. But at 600 the 142 took over. So I guess it depends what distance you intend to shoot in the future.

Also run 143 ELD-X in other barrel. For hunting. They shoot wel. The 142 smk shoot just as well in that rifle as the other rifle does.

Both run

lapua brass
Cci 200 or br2 primer
h4350

sierras seated .10 off the lands in the first barrel. .015 off in the 2nd
hornady run .020 off the lands

hope this helps

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Exactly what I was looking for. I'm really tempted to get some 142 SMKs, I haven't read a bad thing about them. I have some 140 ELDM and 147 ELDM to play around with. After I get some data, I'll share it here.

+1 on the 142 SMK Sweet spot in rifles vary but don't be surprized if it gets tight around 42.3/4350
140 Bergers and 139 scenars can be the very accurate in some rifles

Same 120's-up to 147's, but freebore is the deciding factor. My preference is for 140's as I feel it's the best balance between BC, velocity, and barrel life. My last chamber however, was cut with a reamer designed for 130's and 140's sat way back in the case.

So take measurements and pick the weight class that best fits your chamber then tune it up.

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Originally Posted by zloe

Exactly what I was looking for. I'm really tempted to get some 142 SMKs, I haven't read a bad thing about them. I have some 140 ELDM and 147 ELDM to play around with. After I get some data, I'll share it here.

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If you have the 140 and 147s then shoot them and try them out as both have a higher BC than the 142 and both are very accurate bullets. Both do not mind jumps and are easy to load for as well. Figure out your OAL to lands and set them at .020-.030" off to start but they don't even mind more of a jump.

A bunch of good powders mentioned. H4350 is a good choice.

Just for informational purposes... I shoot the 143 ELD-X out of my 8 twist, 25", CBI .260 Rem Match barrel.... I've got them seated .004 off the lands pushing it with H4350.

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Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Same 120's-up to 147's, but freebore is the deciding factor. My preference is for 140's as I feel it's the best balance between BC, velocity, and barrel life. My last chamber however, was cut with a reamer designed for 130's and 140's sat way back in the case.

So take measurements and pick the weight class that best fits your chamber then tune it up.

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Thanks.
Perhaps my gun is an anomaly, but I may have had better accuracy throwing rocks than I did with the 120s. I'm just glad it was a box of factory ammo and now I know.

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Originally Posted by zloe

Thanks.
Perhaps my gun is an anomaly, but I may have had better accuracy throwing rocks than I did with the 120s. I'm just glad it was a box of factory ammo and now I know.

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That was only one type of 120 bullet. The rifle didn't like that load with that 120 grn hunting bullet. Doesn't mean it won't shoot any 120grn bullet.

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Originally Posted by Rob01

That was only one type of 120 bullet. The rifle didn't like that load with that 120 grn hunting bullet. Doesn't mean it won't shoot any 120grn bullet.

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Great point.
However, I'll stick to the 257 Bob if I want to lob 120/117 gr bullets.

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Originally Posted by zloe

Great point.
However, I'll stick to the 257 Bob if I want to lob 120/117 gr bullets.

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That's your choice but just wanted you to know that the 120 weight will work fine with an 8 twist. Just not that Fusion bullet.

136 Lapua with BR2

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Originally Posted by culpeper

136 Lapua with BR2

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk

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Any of the 4350

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I run the 130TMK in my 260 PRS rig. It has the 1:8 twist 26" Shilen select match barrel. Rig shoots great.

I just started to play with the Hornady 143 gr ELD-X and have good expectations.

Currently I am using the plain vanilla Sierra 140 gr Game King (#1730) and will probably what I hunt with this fall. I have no complaints at all, but my whitetail hunting is 10 yards to 200 yards.

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Originally Posted by Stumpkiller

I just started to play with the Hornady 143 gr ELD-X and have good expectations.

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Been playing with those since the beginning with my 260... It's as accurate a bullet as I've ever used... Accurate enough to ring steel @ 1000 yards... I'm sure you'll like them just fine, maybe even better because of the price difference.... my sweet spot for that bullet is .004 off the lands, good luck to you.

140 hybrid

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Originally Posted by Alleycat72

140 hybrid

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No 140 Hybrids suck ;) (quit telling people to buy up all the hybrids.... They're hard enough to find already :(:p

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Originally Posted by Rob01

That's your choice but just wanted you to know that the 120 weight will work fine with an 8 twist. Just not that Fusion bullet.

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And I appreciate the info.
I've got some 129gr that I'll work a load up for. I'll Let you know how it turns out.

Mine prefers the nosler custom competition 140's with 40 grs of 4350

Another great option.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1270666752

120 Barnes Match Burner