22" or 24" Barrel in .260?

[planalpha]

Hey experts, I'm getting my first .260 rifle built and I'm trying to decide what size to go with for my new barrel length. Would the extra FPS of a 24" be worth the extra weight and less maneuverability than going with 22"? This rifle will be used for tactical long range matches and will be using 142 SMK's (although I'm not married to that bullet, that's just what I have on hand).

I know the difference isn't huge but wanted to make sure I didn't limit myself like I did with my 308 where my 26" barrel was incredible with 155 Scenars and when I cut it down to 22" (to add a can) I couldn't get them fast enough to be stable and had to change bullets/loads.

So what do you guys think?

Thanks, all.

 

[peaceatwar]

24" is the shortest I would go in the .260. I don't speak this from experience but others like Rob01 have chimed in similar threads and claim that 26" is the lowest they reccomend in a 6.5 variant. When you are talking about manuverability if 2"-4" extra at the business end / some extra weight is a big enough problem you may want to re-evaulate your kit.

 

[TimK]

Mine is 27", and I'm getting or just exceeding the typical velocities reported by most shooters using the same bullet and powder (142SMK, H4350). I wouldn't go any shorter. Start long. If you hate it, you can always cut it down.

 

[JB02]

Go with neither. Your starting length should be 26".

 

[turbo54]

I'm pretty darn happy with my 21.5" 260. It's a pretty fast barrel, gets ~2800fps from 43.5gr H4350, RP brass and the 140hpbt hornady.

 

[InTraining]

I went with 24", very happy with the results.

 

[leadbullet]

I have a benchmark 24 inch and hitting 1/3 IPSC steel silhouette at 1250yds is easy, the rifle balances well and recoil is negligible. So far I see no reason to go with a longer or shorter barrel.

 

[Chanonry]

26"+ you can't be sure of getting a supposed fast barrel so get the length to make sure

 

[JB02]

[MENTION=45618]turbo54[/MENTION], i thought you're a 7mm guy!

 

[turbo54]

[MENTION=45618]turbo54[/MENTION], i thought you're a 7mm guy!

I am, but 6.5s have they're advantages... Namely recoil.

 

[Jaxdialation]

Nope, 24-26 will work fine.

26"+ you can't be sure of getting a supposed fast barrel so get the length to make sure

 

[7mmRM]

I personally would go no shorter than 24".

 

[Coletta]

Mine is 22" and I am running 2725 fps. I could go hotter, but this speed was most accurate in mine. In my opinion, if it is cumbersome, then you wont use it. Cumbersome will be defined differently by each individual. I wish i liked how a 26" handled, but i dont.

 

[BigOhio]

Went 24" on my TRG and happy with it, easily getting 2850fps with 142smk. Most of the time running a Tigershark on the end and anymore gets really unweildy.

 

[planalpha]

Thanks everyone for your input. It looks like 24" is going to probably going to do it so that's where I told the smith to cut it. Looking forward to see how it shoots when it comes back.

Thanks for the help.

 

[NateD33]

I have a friend with a 20' custom .260 that shoots 1/4 MOA groups at 1000 yards. If you have good dope and a good load and you do your part behind it, you won't miss that 2 inches. I don't believe you'll have any issues what so ever with a .260 in a tactical match with a 22' barrel. I mean your talking about hits on steel, not an "X" ring. Just my two cents ... good luck

 

[Rob01]

Man all the top shooter in the tactical match circuit need to read this thread. They are doing it all wrong. LOL

 

[tylerw02]

So you were dissatisfied with a .308 at 22", but are considering a .260 at 22"? The .308 is much more forgiving in short barrels than .260 Rem. You CAN get good results with a short one, but you'll get better results with longer. If 2-4" is going to ruin the gun because of length and weight, you should reevaluate your priorities. If you need the gun to be lighter, get a modified Rem Varmint/Sendero contour rather than M40/M24, etc.

And apparently I've got a slower than hell 26" Bartlein on my gun. I get 2830 fps with a suppressor on the end with Berger Hybrid140s in the highest node its capable of with Rem brass, CCI BR2s, and H4350. I also ran H4831SC and could achieve 25-30 fps more.

Shooting it unsuppressed I'm just a about 2800 fps.

So if you've got a slow barrel like mine appears to the numbers everybody else saying, and go 22" you're looking at 2700 fps.

 

[Jaxdialation]

Yes, I've learned a lot here Rob I'm getting an SBR in 260 with a 243 switch barrel

Man all the top shooter in the tactical match circuit need to read this thread. They are doing it all wrong. LOL

 

[BoilerUP]

So you were dissatisfied with a .308 at 22", but are considering a .260 at 22"? The .308 is much more forgiving in short barrels than .260 Rem.

I'm curious what you mean by "much more forgiving in short barrels"...do you mean velocity loss per inch of barrel, accuracy, or something else?

 

[tipper]

I'm pretty darn happy with my 21.5" 260. It's a pretty fast barrel, gets ~2800fps from 43.5gr H4350, RP brass and the 140hpbt hornady.

I wish I had a magic wand

 

[jbaird]

GO 24"' you will be glad you did

 

[JB02]

Man all the top shooter in the tactical match circuit need to read this thread. They are doing it all wrong. LOL

I know! Don't they realize 26" rifles are so 30 seconds ago? That's why I'm getting a 300 Pegasus with the barrel chopped down to 12". Highly maneuverable, and fuck off handed ... I'll be able to shoot one handed with it!

Seriously, the sticky thread with the gear the pros use is helpful in putting together a build, but it may be helpful if barrel length was listed too. I don't suppose the powers that be could add that question to the survey for this years comp? Just like no .308s were listed, my guess is that not a single rifle would have a barrel length under 24".

 

[raptor99]

NateD33, I have to call the BS flag on your statement of 1/4" groups at 1000yds. If he's doing that he should be shooting F class or BR he would be setting all kinds of records. It may happen once in awhile as a fluke group but not consistantaly. Sorry Bud I have shot to many 260s, 6.5x284s and 284s at 1000yds to buy it.

My 260s were mostly 26" barrels and when I shot the throat out of one of them I had it set back to 22"s and it was a hammer to 800yds but my groups opened up at 900 and 1000yds to MOA. Maybe it was to wore out but I "Could" tell the difference.

 

[RobertHode]

I have a friend with a 20' custom .260 that shoots 1/4 MOA groups at 1000 yards. If you have good dope and a good load and you do your part behind it, you won't miss that 2 inches. I don't believe you'll have any issues what so ever with a .260 in a tactical match with a 22' barrel. I mean your talking about hits on steel, not an "X" ring. Just my two cents ... good luck

1/4" MOA... I will assume you are being sarcastic

 

[Twisted]

NateD33, I have to call the BS flag on your statement of 1/4" groups at 1000yds. If he's doing that he should be shooting F class or BR he would be setting all kinds of records. It may happen once in awhile as a fluke group but not consistantaly. Sorry Bud I have shot to many 260s, 6.5x284s and 284s at 1000yds to buy it.

My 260s were mostly 26" barrels and when I shot the throat out of one of them I had it set back to 22"s and it was a hammer to 800yds but my groups opened up at 900 and 1000yds to MOA. Maybe it was to wore out but I "Could" tell the difference.

He said 1/4 MOA, not 1/4 Inch.

 

[RobertHode]

He said 1/4 MOA, not 1/4 Inch.

Like I said... "1/4" MOA. 1/4" was an obvious typo.

 

[FCS]

I'm pretty darn happy with my 21.5" 260. It's a pretty fast barrel, gets ~2800fps from 43.5gr H4350, RP brass and the 140hpbt hornady.

Exceptional velocity and a bit on the unbelievable side. Ater working with the # of 260 in different barrel lengths and chambers I have in the last decade, that powder charge and velocity from a 21.5" barrel isn't something you'll see very often.

 

[turbo54]

Exceptional velocity and a bit on the unbelievable side. Ater working with the # of 260 in different barrel lengths and chambers I have in the last decade, that powder charge and velocity from a 21.5" barrel isn't something you'll see very often.

Cool, sounds like I've got a good one! I should note that my barrel measures 21.5" from front of recoil lug to crown, on an M2008, so I guess most people would call it 22.5". Also, it hasn't been on the chrono. Using the bullet library in JBM, and getting dope on a 12"x12" plate @ 1000 yards is how I estimate ~2800.

 

[raptor99]

Your right 1/4" was a typo and 1/4moa is still BS.....

 

[Niles Coyote]

My 260 is 24" and I am running 2837fps adv over 15 shots with 140 amax and H4350. For my use, namely hunting and banging steel in a non-match environment it works great. But if you are going to compete I'd listen to Rob01 as he has seen a few matches.

 

[deadnbrkn84]

I've got a Rock Creek cut to 22" melonited running 142smk w/43.5 H4350 @ 2812fps. Shoots very very well. It came back about 80fps faster after being melonited for what it's worth. I'm very happy with it.

 

[NateD33]

I did mean 1/4 MOA but I may be wrong ... what ever 5.3 INCHES is in MOA at 1000 yards is what the average was of 3 sets of 5 shot groups. I'm not the oracle of converting inches to MOA but I thought I heard someone else that was there say that was 1/4 MOA. But obviously I could be wrong, I won't deny that, since it would be IMPOSSIBLE to be a better shooter than a senior member of this site. Thanks for calling me out and getting to the bottom of that typo, all knowing of the 260, Christ ...

 

[peaceatwar]

24" is the shortest I would go in the .260. I don't speak this from experience but others like Rob01 have chimed in similar threads and claim that 26" is the lowest they reccomend in a 6.5 variant. When you are talking about manuverability if 2"-4" extra at the business end / some extra weight is a big enough problem you may want to re-evaulate your kit.

Man all the top shooter in the tactical match circuit need to read this thread. They are doing it all wrong. LOL

Because science.

 

[T2CH]

I did mean 1/4 MOA but I may be wrong ... what ever 5.3 INCHES is in MOA at 1000 yards is what the average was of 3 sets of 5 shot groups. I'm not the oracle of converting inches to MOA but I thought I heard someone else that was there say that was 1/4 MOA. But obviously I could be wrong, I won't deny that, since it would be IMPOSSIBLE to be a better shooter than a senior member of this site. Thanks for calling me out and getting to the bottom of that typo, all knowing of the 260, Christ ...

Thats a hair over 1/2 MOA (if I'm doing it right). Don't sweat the call outs, its just the internet breeds lots of claims that are not true and this site tries to keep it to a minimum.
Apparently the guy at the range that spit out 1/4 didn't know either...

 

[tylerw02]

Yes, much more forgiving in that you lose less velocity per inch.

 

[RugerSlinger]

YMMV but I have a 19" and with a Bartlein 8tw that has about 1500 through her and is still pushing 2725 with 140BTHP over 43.5gr H4350.

 

[raptor99]

Nate, like T2CH said this sight gets some wild claims by some and they get called on it. If your remark about being "The 260 Christ" is a smart remark that tells me a lot about you. If it wasn't ment that way then fine. I am not a 260 Christ, I have shot them a lot in comps and for fun they are a excellent round and capable of damn fine accuracy.

You will learn a lot on this sight if you ask questions and read. Thats one reason we try to keep the BS calims off of here because there is a wealth of knowledge here and most all of it is damn good info.

 

[AKA-Spook]

QL has an 80FPS difference between 21 and 24 inches with a stiff load of RL-17.... and 124FPS between 21 and 26.

 

[fastford]

i have a 22" 260 that pushes 130jlks at 2900

 

[Onemoretime]

i have a 22" 260 that pushes 130jlks at 2900

What load?

 

[fastford]

Lapua brass
Br2
Jlk 130
44.5 h4350
Oal 2.90

 

[cjgemm]

Not a 260, but my Creedmoor was spitting out Factory 140 Hornady loadings @ 2726fps from a 21" barrel. 2800 was easily achievable.

 

[30378]

First of all, cutting your 308 to 22" did not reduce stability with 155s. Cutting the barrel changed the harmonics of the barrel. With the 260 it depends how you are going to use the rifle. If it's a bench gun I would go no shorter than 26". If you hunt with it, the reduced weight from shorter barrel or fluting will help. The 260 is still great with 21 to 22" bbls and the shorter barrel does increase stiffness which reduces barrel harmonics. Short bbls makesa great rifle if you hunt in a stand.

 

[CrazyDonkey]

My 22" pushed 123SMKs at 3100fps. Next build is an 18" and I plan to be close to be right around 2900 with some type of 123gr bullet.

 

[bm11]

Mine is 22" and I am running 2725 fps. I could go hotter, but this speed was most accurate in mine. In my opinion, if it is cumbersome, then you wont use it. Cumbersome will be defined differently by each individual. I wish i liked how a 26" handled, but i dont.

This. I can actually push to 2800 using RL-17, but crazy accurate using H4350 at around 2725 (140 hybrids.) I shoot suppressed and the added length sucks.

 

[58blackflag]

This. I can actually push to 2800 using RL-17, but crazy accurate using H4350 at around 2725 (140 hybrids.) I shoot suppressed and the added length sucks.

What length is your barrel?

I will be receiving my new .260 next week, it's coming with a 22" rock 1:8 M24. I'm hoping to get a least 2700 out of my 139gr scenar/RL-17 hand loads that ran 2850 out of my 26" barrel. I'm curious to see the difference in the shorter setup.

 

[bm11]

Oops! 22".

What length is your barrel?

I will be receiving my new .260 next week, it's coming with a 22" rock 1:8 M24. I'm hoping to get a least 2700 out of my 139gr scenar/RL-17 hand loads that ran 2850 out of my 26" barrel. I'm curious to see the difference in the shorter setup.

 

[LongArm]

What length is your barrel?

I will be receiving my new .260 next week, it's coming with a 22" rock 1:8 M24. I'm hoping to get a least 2700 out of my 139gr scenar/RL-17 hand loads that ran 2850 out of my 26" barrel. I'm curious to see the difference in the shorter setup.

'


Any update on the speeds you got. I am getting a 22" krieger 1/8 spun up as I type. I just need to find powder.

 

[BoilerUP]

I'm getting at least 2700fps with 43.0gr H4350 and a 142SMK from a 20" 1:8 McGowen prefit.

I say "at least" because 43.0gr has averaged something like 2706fps across about 40 rounds on my chronograph, but shooting it at Rockcastle yesterday dope suggested something closer to 2740 (though the damn gun was giving me fits).