IMR 4451 for 260rem

[The Badger]

Chaps I like other folk can no longer get H4350 for my 260rem can any one advise on he suitability of IMR 4451 as a substitute.

As an alternative could N150 be used to good effect.

Any other advice with regards to alternative powders will be welcome.

Thanks

[Laurie]

I've not tried it in 260 as yet, but IMR-4451 is usually an excellent alternative to H4350 in the small / mid size 6.5s. It works fine in the slightly lower capacity case Creedmoor for instance.

N150 is a good choice for 120/123gn bullets. N160 is better for 136-142gn, and for 130s, it could go either way but I'd lean towards N160.

Reload Swiss RS62 is another excellent replacement for H4350, in some cartridges quite outstanding and it should be such in the 260 as gave best results for me in the not too ballistically different Creedmoor.

Lovex SO65 and SO70 both work.

IMR-4955 which we don't have yet but should soon hopefully, is the next slower burning powder in the IMR 'Enduron' range and will be a likely IMR/H4831 alternative post-Reach. Hodgdon has some 260 Rem loads listed, but it gives slightly lower MVs with 140gn class bullets than 4451.

[Creedmoor]

The kind chaps at Berger will happily work up loads for you, just email them the details and phone for the results.

Bob reciently worked up RS62 pushing a Berger 140gn VLD & Hybrid with a col of 2.800” down a 24” barrel with a start load of 40.0 gn giving 2551fps topping out at a Max load of 44.2 gn at 98% fill and 2808 FPS.

This upper weight seems to match what I’m reading on line and mirrors the 44 gn a fellow shooter worked up to at Minsterly last month with very good sub 1/2 MOA at 100 yards through his Tikka T3X.

[The Badger]

Many thanks Laurie for your usual well informed response. I have some N150 which I shall try and I will see if it is posible to get some RS62 to try.

I have not saw it at any of our retailers over here.

 

Thanks again