The best load tested so far was with 41.5g of H4350. Ran it across the chronograph today at 2545 with an ES of 18. I’m thinking there’s something out there a little better that we haven’t tried yet. Or at least as good but faster.

Tikka CTR 20”
Lapua brass
CCI #200
Barnes Match Burner 140. ( only 140 we could find in bulk)
41.5G H4350
COAL 2.938. ( to fit in mag)
2545 FPS with an 18 ES
.334” 5 shot group @ 100 yards


Keep testing or run it? I’m afraid the ES is going to hurt at extended ranges. Right now he will just be shooting 500 but in the long run who knows.

The speed doesn’t go subsonic until around 1250 yards. Can I assume it will be stable at least until 1000?

You're about 2.5 grains from the real max charge in a .260 Rem with a 140 gr.

If this shoots tight, this is a low node charge.

Wherever it drops below 1340 fps, that's the real retained velocity to look at stability. Getting trans-sonic is not so good for lots of bullets, others will do alright. Your bullet is not one that will probably do well.

I"d be looking for an accurate load at 2700fps if it were me. That's what we did for my son's rifle that's identical to yours.

Kinda off topic, but did u notice an excessive amount of copper fouling with those match burner bullets?

Sorry, I have not idea about the velocity thing. It does seem slow to me without knowing anything about 6.5 ammo.

I Shot a few hundred of the Match burners and I never noticed any more copper fouling than any other cup& core bullet. If you are asking based off the reputation of Barnes all copper hunting bullets penchant for fouling barrels which I have seen.... this ain’t the same bullet design.
I would rank these as far as match bullets go about like the old Nosler competition bullets. They shoot decent and have inflated BC Numbers.

Thanks for the info guys. After Saturday’s match we will load him on up to 44.0 and test them all again from the bottom up.

KR I haven’t noticed any fouling to speak of with them. After 40 rounds of load development with them he scoped the bore and there was no obvious signs.

I did say today that they looked soft. The seater stem was clearly marking them. RCBS dies. I’m going to see if I can clean that up.

I have had to buy additional seating stems for 6.5mm, 7mm, .30 cal.

These days there are lots of bullets that are more pointy, and the ring reduces BC.

Also, a tip, especially with Lapua brass of all cartridges, the necks are too dang tight. Way too tight! Think I measured an I.D. of 7mm-08 at .276" a few weeks ago. Now, I run all Lapua brass through a K &M neck mandrel before loading it.

thanks for the feedback. i actual bought some of the exact same 140 match burners. I only ask because of a previous post where someone mentioned a large amount of fouling on their 308 match burners.

Just measured one of the sized .260 Lapua. .2595”

Not near as tight as your 7-08 brass.

Nosler 7-08 that I’m loading right now is .2800” after sizing.

Im going to start checking all my new brass as I get it since you’ve mentioned this.

Edit: because I’m a DA sometimes.

So you've got about -.004" from bullet diameter. Typically .001" or -.002" is plenty.

-.004" is contributing to the seater ring on the bullets.

Makes me feel better about my 7mm-08 tossing 175's over 2600, I would think you could do better.

I am running mine at 43.5 grains, 135 grain bullet. No chrono though

Give some rl26 a go… you’ll probably really scratch your head right around 47-48 grains man it make some speed.

Sounds good but I’ve managed to find enough 4350. It’ll have to be a total failure before I give up on it. At least as powder availability is now.