.260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

N

noflyers

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Minuteman
May 3, 2009
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Georgia (home) Kentucky (family farm/range and wo
#1
Guys,

Santa brought a used .260 this year
cool.gif
and I am thinking of cutting the barrel down from 26" to something shorter (I have another 26" gun) anybody had any luck with a 1:8 twist in shorter barrel lengths? (Shorter meaning less than 22")

Is less than 22" just too short for 139 + gr 6.5's. and the 1:8 twist or does it even matter? My possible concern is whether or not I will have enough barrel to stabilize the heavy bullet.

Thanks for any insight!
 
#3
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

A friend shoots the 139 Scenars out of a 14" barrel 260 with a 1:9 and it does very well out to 900 with no prob but his new barrel will be 1:8. I'm planning on putting a 15" 1:8 on mine also and should be good to 1000 pretty easy. Yes, 14" bbl, that was not a typo
smile.gif


These are XP-100 pistols.

Topstrap
 
#4
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Topstrap</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A friend shoots the 139 Scenars out of a 14" barrel with a 1:9 and it does very well out to 900 with no prob but his new barrel will be 1:8. I'm planning on putting a 15" 1:8 on mine also and should be good to 1000 pretty easy. Yes, 14" bbl, that was not a typo
smile.gif


Topstrap </div></div>

SBR for a bolt...???
 
#5
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

I can’t see getting brilliant velocities with the 6.5 out of a 14 inch barrel. Grendel maybe, but .260 I just can’t see it. I would love to see good numbers out of a properly functioning chronograph and be proven wrong though.
 
#6
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Topstrap</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

These are XP-100 pistols.

Topstrap </div></div>

I've seen it in action. They do work pretty well. I think Dale said he was getting about 2,650 fps with the 139s.
 
#7
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

Ya don't have to see it to believe it.. just listen for that far away ........ "ting"

I was just saying that even with our short barrels that the 139's still stabalize with our lower velocities with very good accuracy with a 1:8 or 1:9 twist. I do agree that longer barrels are the way to go with higher velocities but he can still do OK even with a 20" on his rifle and get good performance.

I'm presently shooting a 14" 7-08 with 140 Bergers and my trajectory is nearly identical to my friends 260 with his 139s. I have to get a bit more velocity to match his Scenars but at our velocities those particular bullets really work for us out to 1000. Past that?????? no idea but am looking forward to this summer and finding out how far we can stretch them.

Topstrap
 
#8
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

I wouldn't go below 24". It can be done with shorter but it's a give and take. Do you just want to just get there or do you want to stay near optimal and get the most out of the round and have it shoot flat and good in the wind? I just don't see the advantage of shooting a 6.5mm with .308 ballistics. Just something to think about.
 
#9
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wouldn't go below 24". It can be done with shorter but it's a give and take. Do you just want to just get there or do you want to stay near optimal and get the most out of the round and have it shoot flat and good in the wind? I just don't see the advantage of shooting a 6.5mm with .308 ballistics. Just something to think about. </div></div>

+1000

The 6.5 calibers / bullets are best suited for speed and race performance, I say give it to em. 6.5CM, 260, 6.5x47L doesn’t really matter, 24" to 26" and let it eat.
 
#10
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

As always me and Rob disagree

However i will say my info is based only on 6.5x47

20" 123 scenar 2900fps +

that will spank any 26" 308 shooting 155/175
26 MOA @ 1k
Thats about 5 MOA better than 308, from a shorter easier to tote gun

Worth it YES... hence my 20" x47 build

If ya want a F class 1000yd rifle then maybe not, but for smacking steel out to 1k and hunting etc

I would however refrain from using 139/140 bullets thou the XP guys have some interesting data

 
#11
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

Sorry for the delayed response, The reason I asked was because I have always been intrigued by the shorty rifles. This rifle is a former paper puncher and the perfect candidate for some customization. I think what I am going to do is rebarrel with an older 1:9 I have and go ahead with the short barrel mod, probably start with a 20"-22", maybe go to 18.5" after a while. That way I don't have to chop my 26" braked barrel. Still interested in Lowlight's 20" barrel input,though. Perhaps he will chime in here, or does anyone have a link if he has posted the info before, I couldn't find it if it is here.

Thanks for the opinions.

 
#12
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

I've been shooting a 22" 260 Remington for a while. 139gr Scenar @ ~2833fps.

It seems to hang right in there with the other rifles at the Sporting Rifle Match down in Raton and our monthly Prairie Dog matches in Pueblo.

I've read that a shorter barrel can often exhibit superior mechanical accuracy than an extremely long barrel.
 
#17
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'"> <span style="font-size: 11pt"> <span style="color: #3333FF">
I have a .260 AI that I built many years ago with a 20" 1 in 9" barrel. It's on a Sako medium action in a mannlicher stock. It stabilizes 140gr A-Max's just fine. It's very handy.

Bob </span> </span> </span>
 
#18
Re: .260 barrel length and heavy 6.5's

My main goal is to have something a little handier than my other .260 which is 27"+ with the brake on. I am not up to the 1k mark yet because I am trying to be consistent at shorter distances then work my way up. But if I can have a rig that is handy doesn't sacrifice too much (in any way), can eventually smack steel at 1K AND keep my favorite heavy 6.5's then I am going to do it. No F-class here, just enjoying the medium range distances for now, when it warms up a little at the farm I will start working towards the max distance I have available 832 yards. Plus a shorty can serve double duty as a hunter if needed. A .260 SBR w/Vortex Viper 6.5x20 44 doesn't sound too bad to me. Now if an AI Savage chassis would make its way to my door, even better. Waiting to see if its going to be released at SHOT. Otherwise waiting for Manners to make another run of Savage stocks.
 
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