Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .260 Picra with .264 | 120gr | Sierra Pro-Hunter bullet and 31 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, ReloadSwiss RS 14 and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 60% and propellant combustion ≥ 80%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 49,734 psi | 88% | 1519 fps | 94.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 64% | 48,008 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,140 psi | 89% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 50,082 psi | 89% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 48,443 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 49,139 psi | 87% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 48,834 psi | 86% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,894 psi | 90% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT² | <<locked>> | 64% | 48,994 psi | 87% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 48,428 psi | 86% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 72% | 50,328 psi | 89% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 68% | 48,457 psi | 86% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,372 psi | 89% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 47,514 psi | 84% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,820 psi | 86% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,968 psi | 60% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 47,166 psi | 83% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 48,472 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 64% | 49,168 psi | 87% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 48,791 psi | 86% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,055 psi | 60% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 49,516 psi | 88% | 1522 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 64% | 49,530 psi | 88% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 49,676 psi | 88% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,385 psi | 87% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 49,617 psi | 88% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265² | <<locked>> | 72% | 47,543 psi | 84% | 1486 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,589 psi | 89% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110² | <<locked>> | 72% | 49,182 psi | 87% | 1496 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,676 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,154 psi | 89% | 1335 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,521 psi | 66% | 1345 fps | 89.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,584 psi | 77% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,455 psi | 80% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,263 psi | 71% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,290 psi | 68% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,479 psi | 68% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 41,669 psi | 74% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,224 psi | 82% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,540 psi | 77% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,527 psi | 79% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,159 psi | 67% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 41,191 psi | 73% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,759 psi | 81% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,359 psi | 59% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,257 psi | 59% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 6.7 gr | 60% | 17,347 psi | 31% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,873 psi | 76% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,599 psi | 79% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,730 psi | 79% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,889 psi | 79% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 6.8 gr | 60% | 17,289 psi | 31% | 837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,762 psi | 53% | 1220 fps | 90.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,194 psi | 80% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 41,916 psi | 74% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,833 psi | 49% | 1168 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,512 psi | 79% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,228 psi | 59% | 1273 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,281 psi | 80% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,968 psi | 60% | 1283 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 9.1 gr | 60% | 26,760 psi | 47% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,629 psi | 81% | 1289 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
² fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 31 powders for .260 Picra loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Sierra Pro-Hunter. ReloadSwiss RS 30 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,522 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,089 fps to 1,522 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 5 of the 31 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (390 MPa), the top charges use 60–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .260 Picra with the .264 | 120gr | Sierra Pro-Hunter they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 11 FS burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon Clays, Hodgdon TrailBoss stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.