Donna, Handloader Magazine#190, December 1997, has a Pet Loads, by Ken Waters. The article cover bullets weights from 120 to 160 gr. There is also an article with a few loads, in Handloader #228, April-May 2004. If you can't find these issues, I can scan the articles and email them to you.
Of all the rifles I own the 260 is the cartridge I like the most. For most whitetail deer hunting here in PA, the 260 is the best all around cartridge I've found. I have heavy brush calibers and screaming long range cartridges, but the 260 will cover 90% of my hunting needs. The light recoil is pleasant and helps to make pinpoint shot placement. I've been using the 140 gr Hornady Spire Point, and it works very well. The killing power seems far beyond what the paper ballistics show. The longest shot I made was a lung shot on a doe, at about 350 yds. It dropped in it's tracks. I'm going to try the 129 gr. SST Hornady on deer this coming season.
I also use the 260 for varmint hunting. The Hornady 95 gr. V-Max, and Hodgdon Benchmark makes a great load. Pressure is near max, in my barrel, but the accurracy is great. Last spring I shot a five shot group at a 100 yds. that measured .370 inch. The 95 gr V-Max has a high ballistic coefficient (.365) and will keep right up to a 22-250, even though it starts out 500 fps. slower. But with the 22-250 is a 50 gr. bullet, the 260 is a 95 gr bullet. The hit of the 95 gr. V-Max at 500 yds. is a lot more then a 50 gr bullet. The 260 a very flexible cartridge, being able to use bullets from 85 to 160 grs., making it useful for critters from ground hogs to moose.
