22" or 24" Barrel in .260?
- Thread starter planalpha
- Start date
I'm getting 2800 FPS out of a 24" barrel with 42.5 gr H4350 (or 41.9 gr AA4350) pushing 140 gr Nosler custom comps.
As others have pointed out, you can always cut it down if you find that you can get the velocity you need out of a shorter barrel.
Start long.
Joe
As others have pointed out, you can always cut it down if you find that you can get the velocity you need out of a shorter barrel.
Start long.
Joe
I get 2750 with a 24" Rock barrel, 42.9 H4350 with a 142 smk. Not super fast, but it shoots good. I have some other bullets to try, just need to find time.
You got a reaaaaaally slow barrel then man. My last 260 was getting 2820 (140s) easy with a 24" factory savage barrel. Also my 22" 6.5x47L gets 2910 with 123s.
I have both right now, a 22" and 24". I had (notice past tense) a 26". I pick up the 22" almost every time. I get 2975 from the 123 Scenar with H4350. I've just started playing with the 140s and haven't chronoed them yet in the 22" gun. In my 26" I was getting 2915 with RE17. Knock that load down in a 22" barrel and you'd be getting 2800+. If that's good enough for you, then get the shorter barrel. Once you're past the issue of external ballistic performance you're just talking personal preference and your goals for the rifle. I'm fine with 2750+ fps from a 140gr 6.5 and really prefer the shorter gun. If I want to carry around a a huge rifle I'll grab the .338.
My AW w/24" Bartlein in .260 loves to push 140 Amax at 2750 fps. It is deadly accurate out to 1000 yards!
FWIW, I have a 22" Bartlein barrel on order from Moon @ Crescent Customs. Looking forward to the shorter length since I always shoot suppressed.
I have spoken to some who have no problem pushing 139 Scenars to around 2750 with 21" barrels.
FWIW, I have a 22" Bartlein barrel on order from Moon @ Crescent Customs. Looking forward to the shorter length since I always shoot suppressed.
I have spoken to some who have no problem pushing 139 Scenars to around 2750 with 21" barrels.
I got my barrel an Obermeyer tight bore 6.5 1/8.4 cut from 25" (running 2880 with 44.1g h4350) to 22" it is now running 2830 with 43.5gr h4350, 2844 with 43.8gr h4350, 2854 w/ 44.1gr h4350, 2861 w/ 44.3gr of h4350. I am going to try 43.2gr of h4350 to see if it groups good and is still over 2800. The 44.1gr group shot one hole 5 round groups and 1.4" @ 300yards. The 43.8gr load shot good but not as good as the 44.1gr which was my previous load. All powder loads were sub MOA. All things considered I wished I would have went shorter.
The bullet is 139 scenars
The brass is Remington
The primers are Federal
The bullet is 139 scenars
The brass is Remington
The primers are Federal
Last edited:
Hey Andrew, remember my 21" Rock barrel on that Surgeon I had. It was shooting your 130 VLD loads at 2940 and the factory Amax at 2800 even. I didn't believe it either but I competed at the Woody's event twice last year and made hits on 6" plates out to 700 yards with the 140 Amax. I might have made a mistake selling that thing.
Last edited:
If maneuverability is a factor for you, dont hesitate to go witht the 22" barrel. I have one 260 with a 26" barrel and one with a 22" barrel. There is less than 50 fps difference in measured velocity between the two with the same load. The practical effect in real world shooting applications is none whatsoever.
I'd start with a 24 in her and after 1,500 rounds through have the barrel chopped 2 inches and rechambered.
That's almost exactly the same speed my 26" 1:8 Criterion got with a 123 A-Max and 39.3gr Varget.
20" Kreiger, M2008 action.. Lapua brass, 43.5g H4350 and 139g Scenars get me 2825fps.. everything the same but using 42.5gr of AA4350 gets me 2750fps.. That was measured at 3000ft elevation, and usally i shoot higher elevation.. shooting it at sea level in CA means i can pretty much throw away all my dope cuz the speed drops a lot..
Similar threads
