Anyone have a rifle in this caliber? How does it compare with the 6.5x55? I have a Savage 110FP in 223. Can I just get a barrel for the 260 Rem or will I have to change the bolt face?
Thanks, Peter.

Peter,
The .260REM is a necked down 308(or a necked up 243) .

It shares the .473 head of the .308, 06, 270, 243, etc., so your .223 bolt face is too small.

The 260's Saami pressures are rated higher than the older 6.5 x55 (though most of us load it higher in 98 actions or actions other than the small ring Mausers)

Dr Arch , however, proved the small ring Swede could handle magnum pressures--you just need to add gas handling provisions --ala 98 Mauser type.

The 260 IRC it's about 1 cc shy of the Swedes volume.

Both are great rounds-- kinda 6 one way / half dozen the other.

Thanks duggaboye. I have a 6.5x55 (Rem 700 Classic). Love the rifle but the problem (so far) is that the accuracy load is way below the max. and I would love to develop one that is a serious long distance load. I even tried Berger VLD's without success (again, so far). I just picked up some Nosler Match bullets and will try them.
Peter.

What's the factory twist 260rem vs 6.5x55?

Remington factory twist for the Model 700, 260 was 9, Ruger 77 was 8, Browning A-Bolt was 10 IIRC

6.5 x 55 depends on maker I've seen 7.9, 8, 8.25, 8.5, 8.66, 9, 9.5 and even a 10 or 11 (can't remember for certain)

Twist for the Savage 11 FCNS in 260 Rem is 1 in 8 per Savage web site.
Peter.

I have the rem classic and a Tikka, very accurate, in the rem I use 51 gr. rl22, nosler 120 gr ballistic tip, lapua brass,fed.match primer. hot load work up ,1 shot deer load.

Mike, thanks for resurrecting this thread! I will work up your load.
Peter.

So the difference in usable case capacity between the 260 Rem and the 6.5x55 at their standard OALs is a little more than 13% in favor of the Swede. The 6.5x55 will never be a 270 Win, but it does have a little more room than the 260 Rem.

From QuickLOAD V.3.2:

260 Remington
53.50 grains max case overflow
47.44 grains usable case capacity with Nosler 120 BallisticTip @ standard OAL

6.5x55 Swedish
57.00 grains max case overflow
53.90 grains usable case capacity with Nosler 120 BallisticTip @ standard OAL

Just to update the thread. I found that Nosler Match (seconds) were very accurate in my Rem 700 Classic. I did not chrono the loads but again, as posted above I suspect they are well below max.
Peter.

I shoot the .260 with two bullets.

One is the 139 Lapua Scenar for target shooting. This is a remarkable bullet.

The other is the 100 grain Sierra Hollow Point exiting the barrel at around 2730 fps.

Shown here with custom built 6.5-30x58 USO Scope, this is a heavy hitter in a varmint target rifle. This caliber has been somewhat displaced by the 6.5-.308 AI. Rifle is M70 with Lilja barrel and McMillan prone stock.



Shooting prairie rats in Montana with the .260



For those not aquainted with "pd" hunting and the rig here above, we are talking about a range in big sky country of 400 to 700 meters, and a target zone of about 2 x 7 inches.

that looks awesome, I live in Utah and have been looking for a place to hunt some dogs down here. Are the mounds you can see all over from the dogs? How many rounds do you think you can get with that rig before you have to set it back?