Over the spring I put together a 10PC with a 260 Pac-Nor super match barrel and headed to the range. After their recommended break-in I started shooting some 5 shot groups. Using 123 SMK and 120 Nosler BT and R19 and H4350, I read these are some of the better powders for the 260. Nothing under 1.5 inches ???. Maybe it didn't like those loads I figured. Built other Savages that shot much better, hell, my 338-06 A&B barrel I hack sawed to length and crowned with a 1/2" drill shoots .75 all day long. So I checked the action screws, scope mounting, cartridge concentricity was .0015 to .0025, trigger pull, firing pin protrusion, the usual suspects. Shot some more loads trying other powders, fast and slow and in between. Same as before, the best group was 1.4". So I sent the barrel back to Pac-Nor for an inspection, looked good they said. So I tried more loads, Arrrgggg. Rechecked everything on the gun again and nothing. Finally went down to the local store where powder was on sale and bought a bottle of H4831SC. Seemed like too slow of a powder for the bullets I'm using. WOW, started at minimum load and shot 6 shots into .55" Moved up .5 grains and shot .48" So I'll be working to find the sweet spot with that powder. Just hard to believe it will only shoot well with one powder out of 8 I tried. Now that it does I'm finding I love the little 260, reach out and touch but easy on the shoulder. I am now done with my rant. Thanks
