260 Non Toxic Load Needed

[Uncle Norm]

One of our main landowners now requires non toxic ammunition.
I have a .260, in which I use 120 grain Sierra Prohunter bullets and Viht N160. MV 2750fps, which is a powerful round that takes big woodland Red effectively.

I have a box of Nosler Expansion Tip, 120 grain copper bullets, that i would like to load with N160. However I have not been able to find a N160 starting load for the Expansion Tip, specifically.

It has been suggested that I start 2.5 grains lower than my current lead load.

Recommendations/experience welcomed please.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I'm using N555 with this bullet and am pleased with the performance. I'll find out how much N555 over the weekend. Historically I used N160 with traditional bullets.
Regards
JCS

 

[Biathlonjimmy]

I'm using peregrine 118gr with RS 60. Has been very effective on red even at range. PM if you need more details.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Not entirely sure if you're stuck with the nosler brut the yew tree's are brilliant and Rich will happily help with data.

Have a look for similar in 120g Barnes and start at minimum?

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

That Prohunter load at 2750fps is quite mild.
I’d just substitute the copper for the prohunter and see how it performs.
You could back off a couple of grains if you are of a nervous disposition.

 

[Acm]

That Prohunter load at 2750fps is quite mild.
I’d just substitute the copper for the prohunter and see how it performs.
You could back off a couple of grains if you are of a nervous disposition.

Nothing wrong with a mild load if it shoots, if you can lob the e tips at that sort of speed you will be fine out to 300m

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I'm using N555 with this bullet and am pleased with the performance. I'll find out how much N555 over the weekend. Historically I used N160 with traditional bullets.
Regards
JCS

Checking just now, I see that I used 41gr N555. I also see that 43.6gr of N160 worked well with 123gr A-Max. Also 44.05gr of N160 worked well with 120gr Sierra HPBT. A ladder test with N160 and the Nosler E-Tips might give you a hint on how much N160 to use. All my loads used Lapua large primer brass.
Regards
JCS

 

[Uncle Norm]

That Prohunter load at 2750fps is quite mild.
I’d just substitute the copper for the prohunter and see how it performs.
You could back off a couple of grains if you are of a nervous disposition.

Thanks, I am not one for hot loads and the 2,750 fps mv is very effective at the ranges I shoot at. I once shot an injured Red at 250+ yards and knocked it straight over.
The rifle has a 20'' barrel.
I wouldn't say that I'm nervous, but having kept both eyes and all my fingers intact for 73 years, would like to continue to do so.

With my .243, going from Speer 85 grain btsp to Barnes 85 grain TSX, both at 3,012 fps mv, I had to reduce the N160 by two grains. (44.5 to 42.5) 20'' barrel Sako Finnlight.

 

[Uncle Norm]

Not entirely sure if you're stuck with the nosler brut the yew tree's are brilliant and Rich will happily help with data.

Have a look for similar in 120g Barnes and start at minimum?

Not stuck with the Etips but given a whole box by a friend. Just looked on the Barnes website again and they do a 120 grain TSX in 6.5mm.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Hornady CX 120gr might be worth a look for the future. Expanding well on munties so, being a monolithic, no doubts that they will on big deer - I was expecting them to pencil through more on small deer so pleasantly surprised. I've also got a box of E-tips to try.

 

[Bowland blades]

I run a 260 ! My recommendation is a 100 grain TTSX and N150 ! I get 3300 fps and it will burst through a red at 400 yards .
I do load the 120 TTSX at 2850 fps with N160 and it works but not as much expansion
happy to give load details via messenger with the clear caveat that its safe and proven in my rifle and might not be in yours , use safe loading procedures to test .
The 100 grain version has taken foxes and all uk deer other than fallow ( which i dont currently have access to )
Its rough on CWD /Muntjac and as for fox well it would be useless if we still get pelt money (Less meat loss than Lead on medium / Large deer ) so i got a 223 that i am running on 50 grain Ecx from Hornady! Early days with that .223 load though

 

[Dan Newcombe]

I use a Virtus 110gn Merlin and RS60 and does a good job for me on Roe and Reds.

Accurate and effective. No idea how fast they are going but would be clipping along I would I’ve thought.

Considering trying the 100gn as Bowland suggests but at the moment too lazy to change

 

[JockStalk]

Copper does like a bit of speed to aid expansion and penetrates well. To that end you might find dropping bullet weight helps, if you don’t want to hot up the 120.
Hasler do a 110gr which might be a sweet spot. They don’t separate as some designs do, less copper shards in venison.

 

[takbok]

I would go for 100gr Barnes TTSX or similar - it's all you need.

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

Try Edinburgh Sporting Rifle, Ed there had one and tests lots of copper bullets

 

[Brian243]

I’m shooting a 22.5” barrelled T3 in .260. I’ve settled on 120 grain Barnes TTSX and found them very effective and available from my local RFD (Simpson Brothers). In my rifle RL16 and N555 are equally accurate at 2,800 fps.