.45 x 2.6

[Old Jim]

The more I look at the 45-100 the more I think it ought to be a fine long range cartridge. But for some reason, almost no one uses it.

Am I missing something there, costs, availablity? Or is it such an od-ball between the popular 45-90 and 45-110 that there's almost no gains to be had?

[Don McDowell]

Bryan Youngberg and Greg Cameron are two I can think of that shoot the 2.6.
But like you say it's sure not a common thing.

[Kurt]

Brent Danielson and I think Dave Gullo uses a Borchardt 2.6

[bruce moulds]

jim,
if you want to recreate the old creedmoor loads, with modern brass, the 2.6 is the way to go.
about 100 gns of 1f slowly droptubed behind a single card wad behind a bullet seated 1/8" in the case was the formula.
if you get a bit more powder in then that is what the ogd did also.
in the day they could do this with the balloon head 2.4" case.
modern 2.4 brass will take 100 gns with a 0.060 wad level with the top of the case.
of course you then breech seat the bullet and this will give the greatest accuracy of all, but is not suited to fixed ammo as the 2.6 case would be.
major hinman stated quite clearly that at the end of the era long range bpcr target shooters were breech seating with an airgap between the wad and the bullet.
surprisingly people seem reticent to try this today, possibly because the refuse to recognize the difference between bison and target shooting techniques.
for hunting the 2 7/8 case might be preferable with a grease wad as well, and the bullet seated a little deeper in the case for safe travelling and handling.
just as 60 years of age is the new 40, so the 2.6 is the new 2.4.
keep safe,
bruce.

[bruce moulds]

jim,
if you really want to make a 2.6 sing, do a search on the Shiloh site for "record long range score".
on page 2 of the thread is the actual article by major hinman describing how they did long range shooting in the latter part of the era, when they had learned a lot from former mistakes.
if you read this you cannot be a denier any more.
keep safe,
bruce.

[Gunlaker]

Thanks Bruce. I rmember reading it when Kenny first posted it but had forgotten about it. Sometimes it's good to re-read this stuff to pick up on things missed or under appreciated the first time through.

Chris.