Load data:

43 g of imr 4350
130 gr Berger vld
fed gm210
Coal: 2.850" it's about 0.010 off the lands.
Brass: rem 243

Every where I've looked this shouldn't be a compressed load. I know the brass could be an issue but I double checked the h20 cap and it doesn't seem to present an issue. It's not overly compressed it's a light crunch, but a compressed load none the less. I do have a sub moa load hold to a tight 1.5" at 300 yds with 4831. But I have a keg of 4350 and have heard good things with the 260 and that powder.

It shouldn't be that compressed. I've run 44+ grains and it not come close to compressed. It appears to be a fairly light load for a 130 grain.

Ya that's what I thought??? That's why my start is 43 grains shouldn't be an issue. I figured if you couldn't help me chad I'm flat outta luck you seem to always post good info.

Thanks! The Rem brass is the only thing I'm not sure of. I've never played with Rem 243 brass for a 260. The bullet might touch the powder and give a little crunch, but the powder will fill into the sides of the bullet once it's loaded.

I loaded some 243 lapua brass and no crunch, weird. I guess wall thickness? Shouldnt 243 h2o cap be standard therefore yielding same case capacity?

If filling to the top of the case mouth with h2o the 260 will have a little more case capacity than a 243, not much but a little since the neck is larger diameter. No "crunch" on the Lapua brass hmm try case capacity check Remington to Lapua brass

This is not meant as slight to your reloading know how but check your scale with certified check wieghts and double check what powder you are using. 4350 and 4831 look very similar

This is what I was thinking.

All I can come up with is your brass being the problem. I loaded that same bullet with Rem .260 brass and 44.1 gr of H-4350 and didn't get compression. Have you also tried seating it even with the lands? The additional .010" of room may help a bit.

I'd suggest loading down a grain or two and working back up carefully. Brass capacity can and does vary. Sometimes you'll be able to get back up to the velocity you've been working with.

I'm no pro but I check my old 505 beam scale with several bullets from the same box. They are usually within .04 +/- grain for the 10-20 I check out of a box. Less than that usually for hornady's. No way to get an out of spec load on one of these scales if you know how to read it.