Thread: Rl16 in a 260rem data

Originally Posted by Wingman

I picked up some new Peterson SRP match brass for the .260rem today.
The test platform is a desert tech SRS A1 with a light profiled 20" trueflite 1-8" twist barrel and dpt suppressor.
I have a factory 26" Lothar Walther 1-8.5" twist heavy fluted barrel with a match chamber for it too but I wanted to run the little 20" to directly compare it to my 20" Creedmore using the RL16 and 136gr Lapua Scenar L match bullets.


I had a quick look at the Aliant website data for a load with a lapua projectiles but there was no info. I decided they were closest to the 130gr Berger VLD they had listed with a max load of 42.9gr of RL16.

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The 136gr lapua bullet is 6gr heavier but has a very simalar length bearing surface and hybrid ogive so I took a educated guess at a hearty charge weight of 42.5gr and dropped it in the new un prepped Peterson small rifle primer match brass.
The primers were CCI BR-4 and COAL 2.900" which puts me approx 10 thou off my lands.

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I shot 3 rounds over the chrono with an average speed of 2700fps, after quick visual bore sight I shot 2 more to sight in at 100 yards and 5 on paper punched a 0.350" group.. light wind right to left, shot off bipod in a crappy position in long grass and hot sun.. sweat dripping off my nose and bugs crawling in my ears.. The two shots that went left a touch were all me..

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Accuracy is good enough but in comparison to my 20" barreled Creedmore the .260 was about 210fps slower.
I shot this same bullet with 43gr of RL16 and got the same mild pressure signs that are showing on this .260 brass. Only the lightest ejector marks and small firing pin craters but still rounded edge primers.

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Now this brass is fire formed it may respond better to another .5 gr but I think thats about as hot as Id go with it in this barrel.

I found the Hodgdon superproformance powder worked better in my .260 than RL16 it gave less pressure and more speed with SD. of 7 with 143ELDX doing 2860fps in my 20" Tikka seated 20 thou off.

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