Gudevnin Gents. I've just sascrificed a Mod.96 Swede so that I could have a fast twist bbl installed on a Sav.99C that would be chambered in .260Rem. That's done. Most of you will recognize only one reason to have such a bbl. for a 260R. Namely, 160 Gr. bullets. Hornady being my first choice. I had already concluded that they would need to be seated deeper than the cannelure so that they would feed. O.K. I've got dummies that will feed, reliably. The only loads in my current library are found in the new Hodgden magazine loading book. It shows the exact same data as what comes w/my Lee dies. I have ONE of the powders in stock. I'd like more options than that. Also I must address the issue of reduced combustion chamber. The reduction in OAL is 0.035". Has anyone got some sugestions? TIA. Pepe Ray

Start with the starting load for your data and work up as you would with any other handloading project. You could probably figure a way to judge your loss in case capacity as a result of the deeper seating depth, but I think a simple 3-5 rounds at each powder level, start load with an increase of .5 or 1 gr at a time would probably tell you more about what your rifle wants than anything else.

If you want more options, if I'm reading you right, go buy yourself a pound of the powder with good velocity performance that is indicated in your data.

I will say that if the bullet doesn't shoot with your original powder, or a second choice, that you probably want to switch bullets. If you have a chronograph I would strongly suggest you use to see that you are getting a load with good ballistic uniformity. If you have a uniform load and it doesn't shoot well at the different velocity levels from start to max for your rifle loads, you probably need a different bullet.

Pepe,

I applaud your choice of rifles and cartridge. I have often thought that the 99 would be the ideal platform for the 260, and vice versa. I would expect that it has the manners of a 250 Sav, with allot more thunk on the killing end.

I am also a fan of the 160 grain Hornady RN, and load it in my 6.5 X 55 swede. I think this bullet at around 2300 fps is just about perfect, and I know why you are attracted to it.

The Swede uses relatively slow powders, and I load most of mine with Re19, although I have loaded on both sides, quickness wise. Does the 260 prefer the same burning rate? I'm thinking they have close performance windows, the Swede data might be anther good place to start.

Let us know what you come up with.

Steve

Whitehunter. Yep, I've got the feeding bugs ironed out. Tried to buy a lb. of Re19 at my favorite gun shop. Fresh out.I'll wait till he gets restocked. Guess I'll start w/IMR 4831. The 'Smith tried (too hard) to give me a minimum chamber and stopped too soon. I had to grind off the top of a spare shell holder so I could make up some cases to fit. Just a few thousandths. Got a storm comin tommorrow nite so it'll be a while before I can post any results. All the way Steve, Pepe Ray

Ken Waters, who "invented" the .260 back in the 1950s, wrote a Pet Loads article in Handloader magazine in 1998. Using the Sierra 160s, he found best performance to be with IMR4350, IMR4831, and RL-19. All were very accurate in two of his rifles. Top velocities in 24" barrels were in the mid-2500 fps range.

He loaded the Sierras to 2.65" LOA. One rifle had a 9" twist rate, and he found the accuracy just as good as the one with an 8" twist. Waters specifically recommended NOT using this bullet on deer however.

My own .260s liked the lighter bullets, but then that's what I wanted to shoot in them. The 120 and 100 Ballistic Tips worked wonderfully on caribou and on Kodiak Island deer respectively. That 160 should penetrate very deeply, although I wonder if it would be much better than a 140 Partition or X-bullet. No matter, I too am intrigued with the idea of recreating the old 6.5 Mannlicher loading.

321-Ignition, Hi there; Among my toys are a M96 Swede, a family war trophy Jap38Carb. early production rechambered in 6.5x55, and aM98 Mauser lit wt. carb. w/Lyman Rcvr Site in 6.5x54. Two years ago I made meat w/ the M.S. ctg loaded sedately w/Hornady 160. I enjoy shooting all year round. I bought my final home in a place where I figured to be able to shoot from my back porch till I die or start chasing skirts again. In all my years I've purchased only two boxes of Sierras. I had resigned myself to using their 160 if I couldn't make the Hornady function. Lucked out. I really like the Nosler Part'n and I have some in other cals. They are expensive at my income level. I like 175 gr. 7mm's and 220 gr.30's also. Maybe all that grey stuff on my head is my brains leaking out. But I'm havin fun anyhow!

I don't load the 160, but i do load for two .260's, a 700 synthetic adl, and a 700 mountain rifle. I've used these rifles for about three years now, on whitetail and i load 44.9 gr of Re22 with a nosler 140 gr partition. While i haven't chronographed this load, i can and do hold dead-on to 300 yds when sighted 2" hi at 100 yds. It will pass completely thru a 200# whitetail and they don't go far, if at all.