I'm looking for a new rifle to do some longer range target shooting and I'm leaning toward a .260 Rem. The problem is not many rifles are chambered for this cartridge. I would like to keep it around $600 but I can't find much to choose from. Remington only has one rifle in .260, the Model 7 which is basically a shorter barreled version of the 700. I don't like losing barrel length because I'm worried about its effect on velocity. The only other one I can find is a Ruger M77 and I haven't heard much praise for the Ruger's out of the box accuracy. I can't find anything made by Savage or Weatherby in that caliber either.
Does anyone know of any other companies offering a .260 in this price range?

You can call savage and they will build you one,the last quote my buddie got was around $600.If you can find a used one in rem BDL that would work.It has a 24 in barrel.The last ones I saw at the gun shows were as much or more than I gave for mine new.
If you allready have a short action savage you can get a barrel for around $3oo bucks.I am waiting on a 26 in barrel now.

Also, keep your eyes open for a Steyr SBS in .260, they are out there too

LLS

Your long range intentions will be better seved with a 6.5 X 55. When it comes to the longer heavier bullets for longer range the enemic .260 really takes a back seat. roger

Bartsche's right...A 140g 6.5mm Hornady SP bullet is 1.250" long. In a 260 Rem. with a COL of 2.80" the base of the bullet will be sticking almost a quarter inch below the case neck. For long range and heavier bullets in the 6.5 go for the Sweede or 6.5/284, both in long actions.

The .260 Rem IMO in a M-7 Remington is one of the finest deer hunting rifles ever made and I load the 120 Northfork HP in mine so it shoots a lot like a 25-06 in a short action.....nothing wrong with the 140s either!

But for a long range trget rifle, I'd sure be looking at a Savage in 6.5/284.....the caliber is excellent but the bigger case will help in the longer distances.

I assume the 6.5-284 is a custom chambering you have to special order? I saw Norma makes brass in that size, but I can't find any rifles chambered from the factory that way. I don't have any load info on that one either.

Here is what you do.

Buy a used Savage M10 (not a M110) in varmint configuration chambered in 22/250. Pick up a barrel nut wrench and barrel vise from Midwayusa, along with the headspace gauges for the 6.5 caliber of your choice.
Then you call up Fred at Sharp Shooter Supply and order a barrel in said caliber(he sells threaded, fully chambered Douglas barrels in the Savage Varmint contour for the 260, 6.5x55, and the 6.5/284 - $305). Then you install said barrel yourself, using the tools you've purchased.
Then you sell the tools, and the 22/250 barrel on EBAY to recoup some of your costs. I'm guessing you ought to be able to come in close to your $600 price tag when done. If you really want to splurge, buy Fred's trigger and recoil lug along with the barrel.

This is truly a simple operation- I was able to do it, you can too.

Hornady sells brass for the 6.5/284 also.

SBB

While the .260 Rem. is probably the better dual purpose rifle (varmints and deer), the 6.5x55 is probably the better deer rifle (doesn't usually shoot the lightweight bullets as well due to the SAAMI spec long throat for the 160 gr bullets). You should be able to find a Tikka Hunter or CZ 550 in the Swede in or around your price range. Have heard mostly positive comments about the CZ, don't think I have ever heard or read a bad word about the Tikka rifles. Maybe my next one will be a Tikka in 6.5x55 since my Howa in the same caliber just doesn't shoot that great...

Rowdy!! The .260 Remington will serve your purpose well!! IF YOU CAN, find yourself a VLS Remington in .260 Remington, It probably won't be shot out!! They only produced them for a couple years, 26" barrel, heavy barrel, laminated stock. If you want a lighter one then find yourself a BDL/SS/DM model (detachable magazine).....they made them for 2 years only and THEY HAD 24" barrels. I have a specimen of each and the light barreled one(daughters gun...MISS GHD) will put 5 100 grain Noslers into one of the "SHootNSee" target pasters(3/4")(and have the black still showing around the perimiter of the paster!) ahead of 43.0 grains of VARGET and a Federal Match primer............she has shot 3 decent bucks.........only deer she has ever pulled triggers on, first one was 271 yards, second was 197 and 3rd was 28 steps!! ...........she has yet to see a deer take a step after pulling the trigger!!! All were "DRT", "dead right there"!! The VLS is a classic example of "a barrel thaat like them all"! With 95 grain VMAXS it will rag paper(ahead of VARGET again) but with 140AMAX's or 142Match Kings, it will just make a hole and then the raggedness disappears!! The effects of the AMAXS on groundhogs out to 300 yards is impressive!! A trip with extended groundhog "devastations" is planned for soon! The click chart(MOA CHART.......get used to thinking "MOA" instead of "clicks" folks) is set to go to 1000 yards. 300,400,500 yard performance at the bench has been "more than pleasing"! Can't wait to stretch it out! Up to 500 yards on the vermin, the .204 can handle it!! The .260 began life as a 1000 yard BR cartridge!! As far as accurracy goes compared to the 6.5-284.....................the latter has garnered a lot of fans! For a couple reasons! (1) "I've got a 6.5-284!!!.......and the audience asks questions because they never heard of it!! and (2) I have a fondness for breaking in a new barrel every 1200-1500 rounds!! If you're thinking 6.5 diameter, the .260 is "downtown"!! ...........................albeit, I cannot understand REMINGTON(SAUM) or Winchester(WSM) not developing a FACTORY load for that case design!! I've shot cartridges built off of both........even the WSSM's and there was evidence of usable stuff there!..............especially the 6.5 SAUM!!! GHD

I have an extra 260 in a Remington 700 ADL matte synthetic with a 22". If you're interested, shoot me an email at remguy260@msn.com.

Jeff

Kimber also makes .260 Rems in their 84Ms, albeit a bit more than your $600 ceiling.

One more quick question on the .260. What is typically the maximum effective range on this load? I'm not looking for a 1,000 yard gun since I don't even have a space that big and open to shoot. I would be thrilled to reach out to 400, 500, maybe even 600 yards but I doubt I would ever shoot farther than that.

Anyone that tells you that a Ruger 77 in 260 is not a good shooter, never owned one!

I own two, and both are excellent...

Another good thing Ruger did, over most of the other companies, is put a one in 8 twist on theirs as opposed to a one in 9 the other guys use... one in 9 only reliably stabilizes bullet weights to 129 grains....

A 260 loaded with H 4350 or IMR 4350 will also propel a 140 grain Bullet to 2750 fps, while a Swede will propel it to 2800 or so.... the difference in velocity is nothing critical either way...

I own multiple rifles in both chamberings...

Going with a Model 77 is not a handicap whatsoever, and a 260 doesn't have to apologize for being a little less than the 6.5 Mauser...

You have the right cartridge picked out.. and whatever rifle you pick will be a good shooter.. it is a very accurate cartridge...

I can have a 6.5/284 built, or a 6.5 Rem Mag, or 264 Win Mag built.. but have never seen the need to do so.. the 260s, the 6.5 Swedish Mauser and the 6.5 x 57 has the ability to do what all the above will do, with less powder, less fuss and less barrel wear.. increased barrel life.. and do so providing excellent accuracy....

you will do well with the 260 Pilgrim!

cheers
seafire

Have to agree on the ruger,the one I had was with the boat paddle stock and it would shoot.
Had one in a rem mtn rifle also and it would shoot.I sold them both not because they wouldn't shoot but because I had to have the rem BDL with the 24 in barrel.I am partial to 24 in barrels.If savage offered more 24 in barrels I would have more savages.
I did have to work on the trigger for the ruger though.Bought a 7mag ruger for $300 bucks because he didn't like the recoil but after I worked on the trigger it will shoot also.This rifle looks like I had just taken it out of the box.

Thanks, I hope to get out this weekend to do some looking and I'll give the Ruger a close look.
Seafire, what kind of performance do you see at over 300 yards and how far out do you typically shoot your .260? As I said above, I'm not looking for 1,000 yards...I would be tickled to shoot out to 500 or more though. I'm assuming the .260 is flatter shooting out past 300 than the .223 I currently have.

On the 260 for long deer shots, it has been used out to 600 yds or so effectively according to posts I read on longrangehunting.com and I can believe it.

The 140 amax I believe was one bullet of choice for such longish shots.

That said, long range shooting on game requires much practice and I would assume you would properly practice, and use a LRF in the field.

Oh, wind as you know is a big factor. The cartridge is up to it-if the shooter is.

quote:

Seafire, what kind of performance do you see at over 300 yards and how far out do you typically shoot your .260?

I don't use my 260s for varmint shooting...

I use them for deer hunting, and practice at long range with them before deer season starts...

For varmints or deer that are antelope sized like we have here... my most commonly used hunting load is with a 100 grain bullet. with an MV of 3350 fps out of a 22 inch barrel...

Recoil is still low enough that I have not lost sight picture in the scope of the game animal..

This is as fast as the 25/06! ( actually a hair faster!) the load is 43/5 grains of IMR 4064.. and it is a tack driver...

I zero it 3.5 inches high at 100 yds.. from a steady rest... 300 yds with this load on deer is a chip shot! All you have to do is put your crosshairs on hide and pull the trigger.. if it is within 300 yds, and you held steady, you can watch the deer go down in the scope!

Check ou trajectory charts, with that load zeroed 3.5 inches high at 100 yds, and then see how flat it is out to 500 yds..

I think you will like what you see....

Gidday Rowdy,

Get the 260 and use it with total confidence. It is my go to deer calibre and with any bullet in the 120 to 140 range it will do all you want.

I went out to the full bore range here with a few of the guys and once you got passed the 300 yard mound it shot flatter than the venerable 270 which some of the other guys were using. This was with 120gr corelocts over 45.5gr of H4350. The guys all wanted to have a go and were holding about 2 foot lower they reckon than with their 270s when we got back to 600 yards.

This was what was said by died in the wool 270 guys and I think a couple of them are now looking at 260s.

There is nothing wrong with the 270 but the experience speaks for itself.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

One more question on the .260: There seems to be a very limited selection of decent brass for this round but as I understand you can either neck up a .243 case or neck down a .308. Does this require any special dies, or do you just full length size them? For example, full length size a .243 case in a .260 die?

I did some research on the .260 and I am sold on it. I am having a poster here rebarrel a mauser action to the .260. But I right after I made the deal with him there was a shitload of them for sale right here. I have moved from Michigan to Colorado and I am excited to see what it will do when I get it back.

to create a .260 case put a small amount of case lube inside the kneck of a .243 case and put it through a lee full length .260 resizing die, it simply swages them out,no problem.

quote:

Originally posted by rowdyredneck:
One more question on the .260: There seems to be a very limited selection of decent brass for this round but as I understand you can either neck up a .243 case or neck down a .308. Does this require any special dies, or do you just full length size them? For example, full length size a .243 case in a .260 die?

The Mail order places still have Rem 260 head stamped brass avaiable..

Nosler is coming out with 260 Rem head stamped brass also...

As for myself, I prefer Winchester Brass over Rem most of the time..

for my 260's needs, I neck down 7/08 Win Brass or 308 Nickel Rem Brass or Federal when I pick it up in once fired bulk...I don't shoot a 308 or a 7/08, so I don't get confused with the headstamp....

I do shoot a bunch of 243, so I avoid in most instances necking up.. 243 brass.. but in a pinch I have done so...

It is actually easier to neck down 308 or 7/08 than it is to neck up 243... however, if you are using a tight neck chamber, necking up the 243 would be the better option...

or if you want brass that lasts for a zillion reloads.. pick up Lapua 308 or 243...

I wouldn't panic about brass availability.. as long as 308s and 243 survive, then brass availability isn't a problem, unless the head stamp being different presents a problem...

quote:

Originally posted by Super Bon Bon:
Here is what you do.

Buy a used Savage M10 (not a M110) in varmint configuration chambered in 22/250. Pick up a barrel nut wrench and barrel vise from Midwayusa, along with the headspace gauges for the 6.5 caliber of your choice.
Then you call up Fred at Sharp Shooter Supply and order a barrel in said caliber(he sells threaded, fully chambered Douglas barrels in the Savage Varmint contour for the 260, 6.5x55, and the 6.5/284 - $305). Then you install said barrel yourself, using the tools you've purchased.
Then you sell the tools, and the 22/250 barrel on EBAY to recoup some of your costs. I'm guessing you ought to be able to come in close to your $600 price tag when done. If you really want to splurge, buy Fred's trigger and recoil lug along with the barrel.

This is truly a simple operation- I was able to do it, you can too.

Hornady sells brass for the 6.5/284 also.

SBB

Actually shouldn't the 6.5-284 be chambered into a long action?
I KNOW I wouldn't chamber the shorter 6.5x55 into a short action...

Hell, I won't chamber the 6mmRem or the 257Rob into anyting other than a long action.

The 260? sure, but I wouldn't buy a 22-250 savage to rebarrel, if I wanted to rebarrel
a savage into 260 I'd buy a heavy barreled 243win, then the "conversion" to 260 is just a barrel swap, because the 260 rem is a necked up 243.


AD

I agree AD, I would not want to put the 6.5x.284 into a true SA like the M700. Rowdy, I would look for a used 243 or 308 & have it rebarreled w/ a med. heavy 24"-26"bbl. You can even ue the stock that will come w/ it, just modify it to take the heavier bbl. It will probably run you a bit more than $600 but you might eb able to stay under $700 depending on the bbl. mauf.

If you are only target shooting (paper)I would suggest a .223Rem with a 1-8"twist or faster and shoot 80gr. bullets with Varget. Savage makes a rifle with a 1-7" twist. I use a Remington 40X with 80gr.Sierra's moly coated 25grs.Varget Norma cases Fed.205m primers and have no problem at 600yds

The 140 grain A-Max in a 6.5x55 is pure gold.

I've always thought the 260 Rem is the best kept secret out there. My oldest boy has mine, and sometimes I get the hankering to build one for me.

quote:

Originally posted by AggieDog:
I've always thought the 260 Rem is the best kept secret out there. My oldest boy has mine, and sometimes I get the hankering to build one for me.

I built my 6.5/308 before Rem thought it was a good idea. Brass quality was an issue when I was first working with mine, as the 260 came out 6 months later, and the brass did not impress. I have heard since good reports, but myself I have not confirmed it.

That said, all else equal, the 6.5x55 gets the nod due to brass, Lapua ready made, but if you desire a short action, 260 is the way to go, although a short throated short actioned 6.5x55 might surprise folks. It would be interesting, but the x55 was designed for heavies, and a longer action is desired to launch those. If one were using 85-120, possibly up to 129's, a short action x55 properly throated might do as well as a 260 with top quality brass.

The only 'improvement' in design of the 260 I would want if it were being built ground up, is a longer neck. I think it would make accuracy easier and perhaps more consistent.

I've been tossing around ideas and looking for information all week, but right now here's what I'm considering:
Buy a Savage varminter in .308 with the Accu-trigger, then sell the barrel and install a .260 1:8 twist heavy barrel on the Savage action. I'll probably end up with more than the $600 I had intended, but I feel its the only way I'll end up with something I'm truly happy with. I haven't seen any used Savage varmint rifles around so I might end up ordering a new one if I can't do any better. I figure I should be able to recover at least half the cost of the .260 barrel by selling the factory Savage barrel if I buy a new one. I'm looking into Savage's custom shop too but it looks like they only offer a 1:9 twist on their .260 barrels. I'm just out of ideas right now, but I think this outfit should make me happy.

You know Rowdy...

contact me about that 308 barrel if you go that route.. or if you are ordering one, consider and 243 and contact me on that one!

cheers
seafire

A fellow shooter who uses the .260 claims he has to bump the shoulder back every three loadings. Says it is hard on brass, even with mild loads. Does this match with other's experience?
His latest thing is to rechamber the Remington to 6.5x284 and load it short to fit the .260 box magazine. I fail to see any advantage to this endeavor as bullet bases will be nearly to the base of the shoulder.

If you buy new and sell the barrel, the 308 woould be one with poorer resale, since there are a bunch on the market. 243 might sell higher, but check ebay and Savageshooters for prices first. I do know that 30-06 and 270 are the cheapest take off barrels, but I haven't looked into short actions as much.

204 Ruger should sell high, but then you have to swap the bolt head (and re use the ejector and extractor and assorted pins and springs.)

quote:

Originally posted by Don Howe:
A fellow shooter who uses the .260 claims he has to bump the shoulder back every three loadings. Says it is hard on brass, even with mild loads. Does this match with other's experience?
His latest thing is to rechamber the Remington to 6.5x284 and load it short to fit the .260 box magazine. I fail to see any advantage to this endeavor as bullet bases will be nearly to the base of the shoulder.

I think I would go 260ai before I went 6.5x.284 on a 2.8 box. That's what I did & like the round alot. Very little stretch in those AI cases & the round does squeeze about50-75fps extra vel. over the std. 260.

quote:

Originally posted by rowdyredneck:

Buy a Savage varminter in .308 with the Accu-trigger, .

BEWARE!!!

My 12BVSS-S goes back to Savage this week as the accutrigger after deteriorating for over a year and 1000 rounds has ceased to funtion at all. I have never once adjusted the trigger.After thouroughly cleaning the sear it looks like it is a case of ware on mild steel. Could be wrong but that's what it looks like. roger

There is nothing about the design of the 260rem cartridge thayt would cause it to be harder on brass than a 7mm-08Rem or a 243Win.

If he is indeed stretching brass that much I'd be more inclined to look at either the particular rifle or the loading dies.

Like if the neck is too tight in the die the expander ball will tend to stretch the brass....

OR he's using Norma brass which IME tends to stretch more...

AD

quote:

My 12BVSS-S goes back to Savage this week as the accutrigger after deteriorating for over a year and 1000 rounds has ceased to funtion at all. I have never once adjusted the trigger.After thouroughly cleaning the sear it looks like it is a case of ware on mild steel. Could be wrong but that's what it looks like.

Roge,

Mine only has about 2000 rounds thru it, but it is pumping along just fine with no problems whatsoever... maybe you got stuck with a lemon trigger....

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
[QUOTE] maybe you got stuck with a lemon trigger....

You have a marvelous grasp of the obvious , John. roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
[QUOTE] maybe you got stuck with a lemon trigger....

You have a marvelous grasp of the obvious , John. roger

yeah, I know I do Roge...

a classy older guy I met down at a range in Azusa once made me that way...

straightened me right out!

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
My 12BVSS-S goes back to Savage this week as the accutrigger after deteriorating for over a year and 1000 rounds has ceased to funtion at all. roger

Savage is an extremely accurate rifle.......and that's as far as it goes....my personal experience is for poor feeding, poor safety function, poor triggers and the stuff my Labrador leaves in the grass looks better some days!

My (deceased) father's M-99 presentation grade in .308 is the only Savage rifle in the house!