Barrel Options for a custom .260 Rem

[Felhammer]

Hi, I am having a coworker build me a custom .260 Rem bolt gun. I am having some trouble narrowing down the barrel choices. The build will be a 700 clone with an HS Precision M24 stock. I thought I had it narrowed down to a Bartlien medium Palma 24” until I decided to purchase a Thunderbeast ultra9. Now I’m leaning towards a Proof Research 22” or 20” Sendero. Would love any feedback or opinions on this setup. Thanks!

 

[TexasUplander]

Why are you leaning towards changing barrels? Weight?

 

[Felhammer]

Mostly overall length. Once the suppressor is added it’s going to be a long sob. I am very new to the civilian side of long range precision. I tend to think on the tactical side of application due to my former career as a soldier and my current career as a Fed. As a soldier I have used the M24a2, M24a3 M24e1, M110 and MK11 mod 0. So my experience is mostly narrowed down to 7.62mm and 5.56mm.

 

[Primus]

Skip .260 and go with 6.5cm. what's the application?

 

[Felhammer]

I would but I have inherited a ton of reloading gear for 260. The application is keeping up on my long game and hunting.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

I run a 26" with a 7.5" can and although it's long, it is manageable.

I would stick with the 24".

 

[mercracing]

All my 260 barrels are 24” plus suppressor.

 

[fdkay]

When shooting at the range, I was never encumbered by a 24" barrel with a can.
As noted, tactical operations with same led me to cutting the barrel back.
That being said, if you are not going to use this rifle in a "professional" manner, there is no reason not to stick with a 24" barrel.
It will help getting those 140 class bullets up to speed.

 

[Felhammer]

Thanks, you guys are great. Every time I pick up my buddy’s 338LM 28” I look above me to make sure I clear the rotors lol. I truly do appreciate the reassurance. Time to order parts.

 

[Steelnecktie]

Thanks, you guys are great. Every time I pick up my buddy’s 338LM 28” I look above me to make sure I clear the rotors lol. I truly do appreciate the reassurance. Time to order parts.

20” proof work great with my can

 

[lash]

Yeah, running 26” .260 with 9” can, in matches. It is long. But it works fine. Might go 24” for my next barrel.

 

[Felhammer]

20” proof work great with my can
View attachment 6989344

What kind of velocities are you seeing?

 

[Primus]

I would but I have inherited a ton of reloading gear for 260. The application is keeping up on my long game and hunting.

Sell the gear and go 6.5. .260 has been dying and will be dead in a few years. Being able to pick up cheap quality factory 6.5 anywhere in NA is a huge benefit.

Long range discipline and hunting are two different things. I would separate them I to 2 different weapons. A cheap, LW hunting gun and build a dedicated LR rig. With .260 your distance is limited anyway on big game. A tikka will do everything a custom will do withing 500 yards, at a fraction of the cost. This way you don't make to many sacrifices for your LR rig. Humping a heavy bitch around the mountains sucks almost as bad as being the bitch with a mortar plate strapped to his ruck.

 

[Heretoimproveforhunting]

I agree with Primus regarding his hunting remarks.

OP - hunting out of stands or hunting in the open? If stands, theres quite a bit of benefit to the shorter barrel when your sitting in a 4x4 box - etc. ive got one 260 in an mtu at 26”.it is a laser but its also an anchor. i would hate to sit in a blind with it, particularly with its can on.

ive now picked up an ai ax and have a 260 barrel on it at 20”. waiting on its can. have a 24” on order. have only done one day of initial load testing on the 20” (mainly to sight in) so icant speak yet to final speeds. and the supressor isnt in yet. but i do expect to loose some velocity on it vs a longer barrel suppressed. but at the end of the day that loss will be fairly negligable at distances within my shooting ability.

 

[Felhammer]

I’m not looking so much for a general purpose hunting rifle. I have property in western Fremont that overlooks the Arkansas river valley. In that valley are large herds of pronghorn. Anything coming down the ridge spooks them. So far the closest that any of us have gotten is 632y. I don’t want to use my 300nm. I know that 6.5CM has taken over in popularity and I recognize the marginal ballistic advantage that it has over 260rem. Most every hunter in my area to include myself has taken elk pushing past 500ys here with 260. If I need help with load workup my neighbor has been reloading 260 ever since he tested it on the Navy Markmanship Team. There are a lot of convenient reasons for me to go back to 260. I don’t know if it will stay barreled in 260 but that’s the advantage of a short action and having a co worker who is the lead gun smith for my agency. If I can keep the weight below 17 pounds I’ll be doing better than I was a year ago.

 

[SEMO Shooter]

260 is a fine round. 6.5CM really is not much different. You'll use the same projectiles. Power capacity will be slightly different. If you want to shoot factory ammo there will be a lot more choices with 6.5CM. Since you are going to reload, it really doesn't matter.

For precision rifle competition 6.5CM and 260 are both dying calibers. The 6mm are taking over.
http://precisionrifleblog.com/2018/12/14/rifle-caliber/

In a couple of years 260 & 6.5 will be about as popular at precision rifle matches as 308 is now.

 

[Steelnecktie]

What kind of velocities are you seeing?

It’s a 6.5x47. I’m running a 130 at 2750 with H4350 now. It’s not the fastest on the block with short barrel, but it shoots very good very consistently.

 

[J.Boney]

When KMW rebarreled my 700 build from 308 to 260, I went 24” Krieger Heavy Palma.. I feel that 24” is perfect for the 6.5s and would even think 22” would be good. I swear that Krieger shoots lights the fuck out with 139 Scenars...

I had a MTU contour on the 308, and glad I went with Heavy Palma.. love that contour. Had a 223 trainer built exactly like the 260, and damn it’s a laser too..

 

[surgeon260]

If you are a handloader, 260 isn't going anywhere. You've got Lapua brass and a bit more capacity than the CM. It's a great cartridge, PRS be damned.

I know that 6.5CM has taken over in popularity and I recognize the marginal ballistic advantage that it has over 260rem.

First part true (kudos to Hornady's marketing dept), second part false. Due to greater capacity, the 260 is capable of higher MV/superior ballistics given the same projectile.

 

[Felhammer]

2750 FPS is damn respectable out of a 20”. One of my favorite gas guns I own is a 308 with a 18” heavy varmint barrel. We aren’t winning any velocity races but at 400y I can stack impacts touching.

 

[J.Boney]

If you are a handloader, 260 isn't going anywhere. You've got Lapua brass and a bit more capacity than the CM. It's a great cartridge, PRS be damned.



First part true (kudos to Hornady's marketing dept), second part false. Due to greater capacity, the 260 is capable of higher MV/superior ballistics given the same projectile.

+1

I have had excellent results out of Win 7mm-08 Brass.. shoots tiny! Plus, I cry less when I lose one.. We have so many good options now for brass (Starline, Alpha, Petersen, etc.)

 

[Felhammer]

I was mostly referring to the ability to run slightly heavier pills in the CM.

 

[surgeon260]

I was mostly referring to the ability to run slightly heavier pills in the CM.

Fair enough. But Berger 140s @ 2875 with great brass life has never left me wanting.

 

[Felhammer]

Absolutely, It’s amazing what is available in .264 compared to when I was in my 20s.

 

[mercracing]

I’m glad your planning on staying with the 260. It’s a dang fine round. Leave the CM to the hipsters and their man buns.

 

[Felhammer]

The pros simply out weigh the cons for me. I think the long range, medium game hunting potential is fairly solid. One factor that has kept me from going Creedmoor is that I don’t like the taste of Starbucks and skinny jeans are uncomfortable.

 

[Primus]

.260/6.5cm just doesn't have enough ass to reliabily take elk at that distance. In field conditions getting a perfect shot is almost impossible and you need a margin of error 300wm, 300prc, or the 300n you mentioned would be much better options unless you plan to take shots under 200 yards. Losing an animal in the brush to a poor/underpower shot sucks as does tracking them.

Even for pronghorn at range, the 6.5 prc may be a better option if you are taking shots at distance.

 

[GrandpaDeadLegs]

I hear Frank talk about his LH gain twist 260 favorably on the podcast FWIW

 

[Felhammer]

I get what you’re saying however the record here in southern Colorado is consistent with dropping elk around 600y with 1 taken cleanly at 1091y. It is the 2nd most used hunting caliber for high desert +(7000ft) in Colorado and Utah.

 

[Felhammer]

 

[shoots100]

I was mostly referring to the ability to run slightly heavier pills in the CM.

The 260 has a longer case, so it'll fit longer projos without compressed loads.
The CM has no advantage with heavier projo's, unless you get a custom chamber and twist.
The CM is shorter in factory loads, and that .000025th of a second less to cycle the action isn't worth me having a round that wishes it was a 260.
I've been shooting a .260 since 1996, when it was considered a wildcat and It's still my go to cartridge to this day.
Maybe if they renamed it the 260 CM, the 6.5 CM would disappear ?
If you can afford to make it a switch barrel, you won't need to worry about barrel length.

SJC

 

[Primus]

Just because it has been done doesn't mean it should be, or that it could be done consitantley. Lots of states let people hunt deer with .223 but that doesn't make it prudent and ethical. It's not target shooting and under field conditions it's down right irresponsible unless you have 100% confidence in your ability. Even then shit happens and having more margin of error (energy) is prudent.

Most guys I know out that way are using 300 mags of some sort , .338 win mag, 7mm and 30-06 for closer shots.

Your a b4 right? Say you have your 338nm and a target at 2400m. Can you hit it? Probably walking your shots in assuming you got the elevation and reticle. Can you hit it first shot with 90% prob in the vitals? Doing something a few times doesn't mean you can do it everytime, the first time under adverse conditions against live game.

That's why when I see these fuckers making vids of long range shots on big game I lose a little respect for them. Are they posting the shots they missed? Are they bragging about how they wounded an animal who went off and died and was unrecoverable?

This isn't something shitbag haji who we want to to inflict pain and suffering on. It's a game animal that should be respected. They should die quickly and cleanly. They are a finite resource and there are way less animals than people who want to hunt them. They deserve to not be treated like target practice by reckless clowns who have poor judgement and a lack of respect.

 

[Felhammer]

Again, I get what you are saying. The issue that I have is that my 300nm detonates 70 pound antelope. If I am hunting it’s usualy with a bow. But My goal is as follows: while keeping caust to a minimum, build a medium weight suppressed rifle that isn’t going to destroy my wallet the way my 300nm does. It needs to be fun for my wife and nephew (11y) to shoot at the steel targets on the property (56 acres). .260 is it and it has served me well since 2004 putting mulies in my freezer every season. I acknowledge that there are 1000s of cartridges that are more suitable but not that fit my specific needs.

 

[Felhammer]

I preferred issuing dirt naps with the MK12 launching a 77gr out to 550m. The general look of confusion and disbelief was priceless. However, after 2 deployment in that capacity I went back to direct action teams where my hyperactive ass belonged.

 

[Primus]

Well if u can get close enough with a bow, you can get close enough with a rifle. There is zero need to take long range shots on game unless it's something extreme like sheep or goats on the side of a mountain.
Not trying to give you a hard time, just one of my pet peeves with guys who think hunting game at long range is cool.

 

[Felhammer]

the only live Animal that this rifle will be shooting at is pronghorn. There is no way to drop off the ridge without them knowing it. It will be used to get my wife out to 1000y eventually and get my nephew trained on the principals. If I can get a decent shot on this older pronghorn on the north side of the valley I will evaluate conditions before making the decision. I would not pull the trigger unless I had considered all data to include time till impact and potential for target to change position during flight.

 

[fdkay]

The 260 has a longer case, so it'll fit longer projos without compressed loads.
The CM has no advantage with heavier projo's, unless you get a custom chamber and twist.
The CM is shorter in factory loads, and that .000025th of a second less to cycle the action isn't worth me having a round that wishes it was a 260.
I've been shooting a .260 since 1996, when it was considered a wildcat and It's still my go to cartridge to this day.
Maybe if they renamed it the 260 CM, the 6.5 CM would disappear ?
If you can afford to make it a switch barrel, you won't need to worry about barrel length.

SJC

Both cartridges are constrained by the overall length of the action they are run through, typically a short action (magazine length comes in to play here).
Your first statement is off base.
If you are seating the exact same bullet to the exact same overall length in both cartridges, there will be more bullet inside the case on the .260. Always.
You can seat heavier bullets in the CM without fear of the base of the bullet intruding past the neck/shoulder juncture.
The .260 does have a very slight edge in case capacity, and a very slight edge in velocity, but the 6.5 is a more efficient case. It has been proven time and again that a shorter, fatter powder column is more efficient, that is exactly what the 6.5 gives you.
I don't know what action cycling time has to do with the price of tea in china, it is the same action, same action length, you pull the bolt back till it hits the stop and run it forward. Case length has nothing to do with it.

In all honesty, there isn't a thimble full of difference between the two. If you have .260 stuff and don't mind reloading, then it is a fine one to use, and brass is extremely simple and plentiful.
The CM was designed specifically as an across the course competition cartridge, it just happens to excel at many other things.
The reason for the popularity of the CM comes down to the availability and price of match grade factory ammunition and factory made tactical/precision rifles.

Just because remington fucked the pooch in marketing and support for your pet cartridge, don't get your panties knotted up because Hornady did it right!

 

[Badfinger]

I have a Bartlein 3B profile 22" 260 and really like it.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Unless weight savings is crucial stick to a steel barrel, especially if it's going to be used as a target gun. Burning out $800 barrel blanks will get expensive.

Any good cut rifled rem varmint or medium palma at your length of choice will do what it seems you're wanting.

 

[lash]

Both cartridges are constrained by the overall length of the action they are run through, typically a short action (magazine length comes in to play here).
Your first statement is off base.
If you are seating the exact same bullet to the exact same overall length in both cartridges, there will be more bullet inside the case on the .260. Always.
You can seat heavier bullets in the CM without fear of the base of the bullet intruding past the neck/shoulder juncture.
The .260 does have a very slight edge in case capacity, and a very slight edge in velocity, but the 6.5 is a more efficient case. It has been proven time and again that a shorter, fatter powder column is more efficient, that is exactly what the 6.5 gives you.
I don't know what action cycling time has to do with the price of tea in china, it is the same action, same action length, you pull the bolt back till it hits the stop and run it forward. Case length has nothing to do with it.

In all honesty, there isn't a thimble full of difference between the two. If you have .260 stuff and don't mind reloading, then it is a fine one to use, and brass is extremely simple and plentiful.
The CM was designed specifically as an across the course competition cartridge, it just happens to excel at many other things.
The reason for the popularity of the CM comes down to the availability and price of match grade factory ammunition and factory made tactical/precision rifles.

Just because remington fucked the pooch in marketing and support for your pet cartridge, don't get your panties knotted up because Hornady did it right!

This is exactly the summary of the .260 vs. 6.5 Creedmoor debate. No more and no less. If you got it, shoot it and say thank you. No need to justify it or sell it to anyone else.

 

[BradP]

I have a CBi barrel in .260 rem. I am n need for a stainless Long complete action