Hunting the 260 Rem at 1,000 yards?

[su37]

I just purchased a Rock 6.5 5R SS 1/8 twist M24 contour barrel.

I'm seriously looking at the 260 Rem for the role of knocking off mule deer out to a 1,100 yards.

I own both 260 and 6.5x284 in sporter weight's so this heavier rifle will fit a longer reach role.

I love the 6.5x284 but am very concerned about throat wear, I could chase it or I could just go 260 rem or the AI version for brass life not so much mv.

Will the 140 Berger VLD whack em' good at that distance using a 260? Would I gain that much advantage going with the 284 case? I could load it down a bit..??

What are your thoughts on this?

[James Jones]

I got my longest kill on a deer this past season with a regular 260 running 140gr Bergers in the 2800fps class , the shot was 944yds on a whitetail doe , the damage caused by the bullet at that range left me with the idea that its a perfectly suitable 1000yd deer gun.
Granted the deer down here are alot smaller than whats out west with a huge buck tipping the scales at 200lbs on the hoof so on an amimal that can be 50%-75% bigger , well that probably still would not stop me from shooting it at that range providing that the conditions were right.

as far as the accuracy , in my gun it was their plus some , energy hits harder at 1K than a 308 shooting a 175gr SMK does so in my oppinion its plenty , the biggest factor will be bullet performance , to tough a bullet and it just poke a hole to soft it may not penitrate well , i think that the 140gr Berger with its thin jacket and soft core would expand reliably at the speeds the 260 will gebnerate at 1000 probably even 1200yds

[su37]

James,

That's great input, I appreciate it.

To get 2,800 fps with the 140, I would think you are running a longer barrel?

Not that it can't be done with a hotter load.

[James Jones]

The barrel was a 27" 3 groove Lilja , very pleased with that barrel both accuracy and ease of cleaning. I was using 308 Lapua brass necked down and had turn the necks just barely but this gave the advantage of a tight neck chamber while also allowing to shoot factroy ammo.
I used Vihta Vouri N-165 powder , I had actualy run it up above 2900 fps a good bit but the accuracy was at 2800 and some change.

If I were to do it over with a 6.5 I'd run the same thing , I don't think that slight velocity increase with the 284 case is worth the added barrel wear and the same goes for the 260 Ackley.

I have to say though the regualr 284 winchester running a 180 Berger in the 2800fps range is very flat shooting and that likely what I'd go with if I were building a dedicated long range deer gun on a non magnum.