260 remington load

Have a tikka T3 in 260 and started to play around with it. Using IMR 4350 (40-42 grains of powder) with a TTSX 129 bullet, getting roughly 1" groups @2500...bullet seat dept does not seems to make much difference. Any other recommendations to get more speed and tighten the group?

Yes, add more powder!!! As you increase your powder charges, see what the groups look like. You should be able to push a 129 grain in a 260 about 2850-2900 fps on the max end.

Like chad said I would think your on the bottom end of the spectrum for the round as far as powder charge goes.

Also the barnes bullets and mono metal bullets in general for me have performed best the faster you can shoot them. If you are happy with or plan to stick with the 2500 fps range I would suggest moving to a softer cup and core style bullet for hunting.

I tried quite a few combos.

22" 1:9"

For a hunting load, settled on:

Barnes 100 gr. TTSX
44.7 H414 (H4350 was nowhere to be found at the time)
Lapua brass
F210
Jump 0.010"
Avg 3080 fps

Could run it well beyond 3200, but found good accuracy with DRT results, better than 120 gr. Barnes and 120 Ballistic Tips.

Your IMR 4350 should work fine with 100 gr. TTSX, turn up the powder and velocity. Work up powder charges first, find the best, then test different seating depths. Accuracy with Barnes can be specific to the amount of jump. Try 0.010" for a starting point. Move back 0.010" with 3 shots per length. Don't be surprised if best is 0.050" or more of jump.

Cull



Exit wound, note the petal pattern

44.0 imr 4350 Berger 130 hunting vld OAL 2.93 Winchester magnum primers 2800 fps
Tikka ctr 260 is shooting less that half inch. Had 1st shot 1/4" off other 3 shots pretty much same hole.
I also have 120 nosler partition load and 85 grn hollow point load and all three shoot great, let me know if want those loads.

That's a light load. I ran 43.0-43.8 gr H-4350 with a 140 gr bullet.

What length barrel and what velocity?

24"

2800 fps MV

In my Tikka CTR 260 20" barrel. I shoot 140 ELD over 42.2 grains of H 4350 and it's a super accurate load I tried loads up to 43.5 and the higher I went the more the groups opened up. I also use 42 grains of H4350 with 130 Nosler Accubonds this one shot sub half inch so I didn't go any higher. I shot two deer with this load last year and it dropped them where they stood and I use 43.2 grains with 123 Sierra Matchkings . All loads shoot less than 1/2".

Thanks THF, huge help as always!