Trophy hunter .260 with siarra 107 gr not grouping

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. :)

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.

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

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/...g?t=1382735143