260 Rem.

[cleveland48]

I have a browning synthetic stalker in 260 rem.  I am loading it with 47.0gr. of IMR7828 max load..(Lee Handloading book).  And 44.0gr. of IMR4831(Lee book also).  Their  velocity in these books are 2755fps and 2715fps.  I do not have the money to buy a chronograph.  And no one around me has one.  I'm pretty sure these velocity's come from 24in. barrels.  So here is my question for any of you who have this caliber and a chronograph.  About how much velocity do you usually loose in going from a 24in barrel to a 22in. barrel.  I know every gun is different with different loads, so any help would be appreciated.  I was thinking it was probably around 100fps or a little more but that is just a guess. Anyways thanks guys and good luck this year.Andrew.

[john keyes]

what bullet?

have you tried any hogdgon powders?  H414, H380?

[nomosendero]

The vel. loss won't be dramatic with this modest case. But there is no substitute for checking the vel. inYOUR barrel. Different barrels of the same length with the same cartridge & the same load can & often will vary in velocity. I would ask around at gun shops
for someone who has a chron. who may be willing to check your vel., or if you have short term budget concerns you could go in together with friends & buy a "chrony".

Anything else is guessing.

Getting a chron. many years ago was an eye-opening experience!! Some readings were very different than the fact. ammo data or reload manual data, slower than stated more often than faster than stated.

[cleveland48]

I have tried H4350 with good results in 120gr. Ballistic tip.  I have only used IMR powders with the 140gr. Hornady S.P.  My brothers and I have thought about going together annd buying a chrono, but with the price of fetilizer and everything going up we may have to put it off a little while.  We have around 8 or 9 greenfields we will have to plant this year.  I am gonna try to look up some gun shops around here and see if they have one.  There arent many guns shops around here (Northeast MS), but i'll definetly look around. Tnanks for the advice. Andrew.

[davem270win]

I have a Ruger Compact in 260. I use H4350 with a 120 Barnes X. One way to work on barel length is to use a Powley Calculator. I have the old fashioned paper one, but I think there are several versions online. The calculator allows you to figure a load, and then you can change barrel lengths to get a MV figure. May not be perfect, but should give you some idea.

I have a 16.5" barrel, and the bullet is still fast enough to kill deer.

[beemanbeme]

There's an old Indian saying: "if your hunting load is accurate and effective, don't run it over a Chrony."    When I found out just how wimpy my go to 30-06 load was that I had used for years, I was amazed that it would even kill a deer.

[Dave in WV]

I didn't know that wiseman was a native American. Good advice 'cause deer can't read ballistics tables.  If they could they wouldn't drop when hit by a bullet from a .243. 

[BBF]

since you seem to have the space available with all those fields you can try this.
Sight in your rifle at 100 yards to hit the bullseye
Move your target to 200 yards( acurate would help on setting up the distance to targets)  :-))

Measure the drop the bullet has.
Go back to your ballistics table and try to match your results. This will give you are pretty close idea what your muzzle velocity is.
 Don't be too picky. For instance if you get 3+1/4 inch drop on the target and the book shows 3.32 ", you are close enough.

[cleveland48]

I was going to try to get to a field where I can shoot to 300 yards and check the drop. I shouldn't be shooting much farther than that.  I mainly run dogs and hardly ever have shot over 200yds, but about 90% are about 50 lol.  But I do still hunt alot now, because most of the dog clubs around here are dying out.