Originally Posted By Defender3:
No long range at Quantico this weekend or next, there's military training on those ranges.  I feel for the Marines as this weekend is going to be brutal at 95*+ with humidity at 80%+.  

The plan for this weekend is to first try the new prone position and grip to see if I can work out my issues.  I've been practicing in the basement and while it seems good, no plan survives first contact.  

I'm also going to try and load up some rounds to validate the 42.2g of H4350 with the H130ELD-Ms and some additional testing.

Load some of the 130g Hornady ELD-Ms at 42.2g of H4350 and 3-4 seating depths.
Load the ELD-Ms 40.8g and 41.8g to see if they too are good nodes.
Load the 130g Sierra TMK at 42.2g, 41.8g and 41.6g of H4350 and see how they perform.
Load the 130g Norma Golden Target at 42.2g, 41.8 and 41.6g of H4350 to see they perform.
Load the 130g Berger Hybrid at 42.2g of H4350 and see how it performs.
Load the 130g Berger Hybrid at 42.9g of RL16 and see how it performs (max load but reported to work well).
Load the 130g Berger Hybrid at 42.6g and 42.2g of RL16 to try and find a node if the max charge doesn't perform well.

I took the downloadable LaRue grid target (thanks for this Mark and Mark), dropped it into PowerPoint, scaled it back to 0.5" grids and then added pink dots for the testing to try and see the horizontal dispersion of the loads in one picture.  I printed them on 80lb card stock as the bond paper version just doesn't perform as well as a solid card. I may be overly optimistic by placing the dots so closely together, but heck, I never enter a challenge half speed.    Picture attached but if you use it, you may have to rescale to get back to half inch grids.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/52736/LaRue-Target-4-with-dots-259235.jpg

ETA - Missed page ownage.

Originally Posted By Stangs55:


Now what do I do...?

Originally Posted By mettee:


D3 is this download able? I want a couple of these :)

Originally Posted By Defender3:


Ah, right click, save picture as?  Then just make sure you scale it to print at 1/2" grids.  Or, I could e-mail you the PowerPoint.

Originally Posted By FRBaseball:
Well, I was hoping to shoot my .260 at the local match today, but I ran into a small problem. Apparently the bolt catch plunger and spring "locked up" inside the lower receiver, because the bolt catch did not have any spring tension on it at all today. I showed up to the range a bit early to confirm zero, and noticed it after firing one 3-round group. After discovering the problem, I separated the receivers and saw that the bolt catch was damaged from being impacted by the BCG. After some choice words, I loaded the .260 back in the truck and proceeded to shoot the match with a 16" 5.56 LaRue Stealth upper on a KAC lower. Using factory IMI 77gr ammo I ended up tying for 3rd place. I was the only guy shooting a gasser, and the only guy shooting a rifle that wasn't chamber in some flavor of 6mm or 6.5mm. That made me smile quite a bit.

When I got home, I chucked the lower up in the vice and drove out the bolt catch roll pin. Sure enough, after removing the bolt catch, I saw that the plunger was completely stuck inside the receiver. I popped it with a punch and hammer to get it "unstuck", and then reinstalled the bolt catch. Everything seems to be good to go now, but I am a little perturbed over how that happened. I can recall a few instances where the BCG felt a tad "sluggish" going into battery, like there was a small hitch in the cycle. I assumed that it was just the round not feeding smoothly into the chamber, but now I'm thinking that the bolt catch problem has been there for a while, and what I was feeling was the bottom of the bolt lug impacting the top of the bolt catch prior to going into battery.

The damage doesn't look significant, and the bolt appears fine, so I'll test fire it tomorrow to make sure it does indeed function as it should. If it doesn't, or if the problem reappears, then I will be giving the folks in Texas a call.

On a side note, that dimpled Stealth upper is the shit, and it shoots lights out. I dropped a few points out at 900 yards, but I don't blame the rifle for that, as the 77gr bullet just didn't have enough oomph to get out that far. Take away that one stage and I might have ended up in 2nd place.

That little group at the bottom measured .55". Not too shabby for factory IMI 77gr RazorCore ammo.

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/A62335/IMG_7172_zpseyindler.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/A62335/IMG_7173_zpsmitffunm.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/A62335/IMG_7165_zpsnr1ysddh.jpg

Originally Posted By FRBaseball:
Well, I was hoping to shoot my .260 at the local match today, but I ran into a small problem. Apparently the bolt catch plunger and spring "locked up" inside the lower receiver, because the bolt catch did not have any spring tension on it at all today. I showed up to the range a bit early to confirm zero, and noticed it after firing one 3-round group. After discovering the problem, I separated the receivers and saw that the bolt catch was damaged from being impacted by the BCG. After some choice words, I loaded the .260 back in the truck and proceeded to shoot the match with a 16" 5.56 LaRue Stealth upper on a KAC lower. Using factory IMI 77gr ammo I ended up tying for 3rd place. I was the only guy shooting a gasser, and the only guy shooting a rifle that wasn't chamber in some flavor of 6mm or 6.5mm. That made me smile quite a bit.

When I got home, I chucked the lower up in the vice and drove out the bolt catch roll pin. Sure enough, after removing the bolt catch, I saw that the plunger was completely stuck inside the receiver. I popped it with a punch and hammer to get it "unstuck", and then reinstalled the bolt catch. Everything seems to be good to go now, but I am a little perturbed over how that happened. I can recall a few instances where the BCG felt a tad "sluggish" going into battery, like there was a small hitch in the cycle. I assumed that it was just the round not feeding smoothly into the chamber, but now I'm thinking that the bolt catch problem has been there for a while, and what I was feeling was the bottom of the bolt lug impacting the top of the bolt catch prior to going into battery.

The damage doesn't look significant, and the bolt appears fine, so I'll test fire it tomorrow to make sure it does indeed function as it should. If it doesn't, or if the problem reappears, then I will be giving the folks in Texas a call.

On a side note, that dimpled Stealth upper is the shit, and it shoots lights out. I dropped a few points out at 900 yards, but I don't blame the rifle for that, as the 77gr bullet just didn't have enough oomph to get out that far. Take away that one stage and I might have ended up in 2nd place.

That little group at the bottom measured .55". Not too shabby for factory IMI 77gr RazorCore ammo.

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/A62335/IMG_7172_zpseyindler.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/A62335/IMG_7173_zpsmitffunm.jpg
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/A62335/IMG_7165_zpsnr1ysddh.jpg

Originally Posted By Stangs55:
Here's the problem...

I love reloading. It's cathartic and therapeutic for me.

But this is just some Hornady box 130 ELD match I picked up to help break in the barrel and get some brass....

Now what do I do...?

https://i.imgur.com/KAjO2dr.jpg

Originally Posted By Joshpuh:
Got out for some load dev sorry no pics. Interestingly enough the light load of h4350 with a 130 eld were stupid accurate at 100 yards but only going about 2500 fps. Even the hot loads only got to about 2700 but they had meh accuracy. Then I shot the loads with rl17 powder, got 2750-2850 with moderate loads but the accuracy left something to be desired. Think I will pursue the rl17 since I want the velocity really bad. Hopefully I can find a coal or powder charge that shoots little groups

Originally Posted By Defender3:


Maybe you can post the charges you used and we can search the memory banks for loads/nodes that we've worked for others.  Has your barrel had enough rounds to speed up a bit?

Originally Posted By Joshpuh:


My barrel has had exactly 197 rounds down the tube.
RL17 results 5 shots each, Labradar did not pick all of them up however
41.5gr Ave velocity 2741 ES 5 3 shots
42.0gr 2774, ES 15, 4 shots
42.3gr 2812, ES 36, 5 shots
42.5gr 2849, ES 14, 4 shots. The last group had 3 shots in a quarter size hole, then about two inches away the other two were in the same hole so not sure what to think of that. Never saw excessive pressure signs so I think I'm still safe with what I tried.

ETA tried to make more sense

Originally Posted By Defender3:


42.5 sounds like a good start.  As to the groups, welcome to my world.  Four touching and a fifth 2MOA off.  You may have the same shooter induced issues as do I?

Originally Posted By Joshpuh:
Took the 260 out with 70 rounds with the RL17 at 42.5. Shot a 5 shot group that came in right at an inch. Then we took it out to range strong consistent hits from 311 to 1018 yards. Thing is a dang tack driver that's on par with my buddy's 300 win mag bolt gun sometimes even better

Originally Posted By Defender3:


Your picture is indicative of the COAL versus BTO discussion.  You can see the differences in bullet design that has the Ogive in a different location based on the bullet's design, which then makes them not conducive to loading to, for example, COAL or magazine length.  Absent a measurement, that RDF looks like it will be seated very deep into the case to get the proper BTO.  That then could compress the powder, which in turn raises pressures, etc., etc.

Some quick measurements:

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/52736/Coal-vs-BTO-Chart-261730.jpg

Originally Posted By FRBaseball:

<snip>

On a side note, that dimpled Stealth upper is the shit, and it shoots lights out. I dropped a few points out at 900 yards, but I don't blame the rifle for that, as the 77gr bullet just didn't have enough oomph to get out that far. Take away that one stage and I might have ended up in 2nd place.

That little group at the bottom measured .55". Not too shabby for factory IMI 77gr RazorCore ammo.

<snip>

Originally Posted By LaRue_Tactical:
Mettee,

That brass looks ready to reload.



http://i.imgur.com/pJseYo1.jpg

Originally Posted By SecretSquirell:
I see several extractor flow/swipe marks.

Originally Posted By FRBaseball:
Well, I was hoping to shoot my .260 at the local match today, but I ran into a small problem. Apparently the bolt catch plunger and spring "locked up" inside the lower receiver, because the bolt catch did not have any spring tension on it at all today. I showed up to the range a bit early to confirm zero, and noticed it after firing one 3-round group. After discovering the problem, I separated the receivers and saw that the bolt catch was damaged from being impacted by the BCG. After some choice words, I loaded the .260 back in the truck and proceeded to shoot the match with a 16" 5.56 LaRue Stealth upper on a KAC lower. Using factory IMI 77gr ammo I ended up tying for 3rd place. I was the only guy shooting a gasser, and the only guy shooting a rifle that wasn't chamber in some flavor of 6mm or 6.5mm. That made me smile quite a bit.

When I got home, I chucked the lower up in the vice and drove out the bolt catch roll pin. Sure enough, after removing the bolt catch, I saw that the plunger was completely stuck inside the receiver. I popped it with a punch and hammer to get it "unstuck", and then reinstalled the bolt catch. Everything seems to be good to go now, but I am a little perturbed over how that happened. I can recall a few instances where the BCG felt a tad "sluggish" going into battery, like there was a small hitch in the cycle. I assumed that it was just the round not feeding smoothly into the chamber, but now I'm thinking that the bolt catch problem has been there for a while, and what I was feeling was the bottom of the bolt lug impacting the top of the bolt catch prior to going into battery.

The damage doesn't look significant, and the bolt appears fine, so I'll test fire it tomorrow to make sure it does indeed function as it should. If it doesn't, or if the problem reappears, then I will be giving the folks in Texas a call.

On a side note, that dimpled Stealth upper is the shit, and it shoots lights out. I dropped a few points out at 900 yards, but I don't blame the rifle for that, as the 77gr bullet just didn't have enough oomph to get out that far. Take away that one stage and I might have ended up in 2nd place.

That little group at the bottom measured .55". Not too shabby for factory IMI 77gr RazorCore ammo.

Originally Posted By SecretSquirell:
I see several extractor flow/swipe marks.

Originally Posted By FRBaseball:


And???? Who cares, keep reloading it until you have to glue the primers in.

Originally Posted By mettee:


The primers? Who cares...

No ejector swipes thats just dirt, they are all smooth as glass.

Cleaned the whole bcg with one paper towel. 85 rounds.

http://i.imgur.com/mTfCaQg.jpg

Originally Posted By SecretSquirell:

No, not the primers. It might just be the lighting but it looked like you've got some swiping/flow on the rims. Look at the headstamp lettering and you'll see what I'm seeing.

Originally Posted By FRBaseball:


And???? Who cares, keep reloading it until you have to glue the primers in.

Originally Posted By dHUTCH:
That sounds like a great idea...but as you know my new place won't be done until sometime in September. Hence why I am wanting to get these JLK's into your hands ASAP.

How is your Labradar holding up? Any issues with setup and recording velocities?

Originally Posted By mettee:


The primers? Who cares...

No ejector swipes thats just dirt, they are all smooth as glass.

Cleaned the whole bcg with one paper towel. 85 rounds.

http://i.imgur.com/mTfCaQg.jpg

Originally Posted By Defender3:


Since you're sending me boolits, I'll make an exception. Let's work out a structure for the JLKs, and I'll send you some ELDs.

The LabRadar has been a rock.  It drops a shot every once and awhile, but it's worked well suppressed and unsuppressed.  Only "issues" is it's delicate.  It's been reported that if you drop it or it falls over (hard), there's a part inside that flakes and you have to send it back.  I always use their base and sandbag it if it's windy, so I've not had any problems.

Originally Posted By Defender3:


I'm with you.  Just know that you do have to tweak the radar to bullet weight and there are steps to save data and move between strings.

Originally Posted By FRBaseball:
Mettee your brass looks fine. Load it up and blast away.

Originally Posted By Defender3:
Okay, an proposal for the group to help put this thread into transwarp (Note to Mark, that's better than a good tailwind for the Navion ). For the LaRue .260 owners in the thread who reload, please post the powder and bullets you have on hand.  

I want to get different bullets to some folks to try with the powders they're using.  For example, we have people using powders with burn rates from Varget (fastest) to H4831SC (slowest), and in-between to include Reloader and IMR (all around the H4350 burn rate).  I also have 12 different types of projectiles from the 123g Nosler custom competition to the 147g ELD-M.

We know there's are sweet spots for powder grains and projectile speed.  I was thinking the more bullets we get into the hands of reloaders with differing powders, the faster, and better, data we'll collect.

I'll be happy to send bullets to people if they will reload them, shoot them and report back to the group.  So, one person reports that 4831SC works with their 140g class of bullet, but will it work with the 130g Hornady ELD-M?  I'll send you the bullets to try if you'll use your powder and time to do the test. You want to try a lighter bullet like the 123g Nosler; I'll send them to you if you'll do the testing.

Here are the parameters I was considering, please feel free to comment or make a suggestion to make this work (or if you want to pony up some bullets):

1.  Intent is to find loads that work, a baseline.  It's not intended to find the max or fastest load, we can work to that later.

2.  I think we should give preference for people with chronos so we also get speed data - good or bad idea?

3.  You need to post pictures that we can evaluate and help with the analysis. We're looking for velocities and vertical dispersion and there are some folks here with lots more experience than me.

4.  I think we should do a ladder type test looking for vertical spread, and then load to a node for validation - as such, I'd offer 22 bullets for the testing - 3 each across 4 different loads and then 10 more for validation - is that enough?

5.  I'm offering the 123g Nosler Custom Competition HPBT, the 130g Hornady ELD-M, the 130g Norma Golden Target and the 140g Sierra SMK. I'll figure the details and the offer is good until I run dry.  I also reserve the right to reject a test, for example, if it's a one-off powder almost no-one would be using.  Not trying to be a dick, just trying to limit costs.

5.  How would you suggest we handle load depth?  Load only to BTO?

6.  Should we set a time limit?  For example, sending stuff out only to test in October doesn't help the cause in the manner intended.  

If we all chime in with our powders, we can cover a fairly wide range quickly and across three different classes of bullets.    

Good or bad idea?  Any comments or suggestions?

I have Benchmark and H4895 (both probably not suited to this cartridge), H4350, Varget and Reloader 16.