Anyone with a savage rifle in 260?

[aramarine6]

I'm wondering if anyone here has or has previously owned a savage model 10 predator or long range hunter models in 260 remington. I orginally was going to rebarrel my rem 700 .308 that has a 16.5 barrel. However after pricing out a rebarrel job I've decided to leave it alone for now, as it is an excellent woods gun. I know savage makes quality rifles but their twist rate of 1/8 is alittle higher than I'd like in a 6.5 caliber. I should mention that this would become my lightweight target/LR hunting rifle for speed goats some day Any reviews or range reports would be greatly appreciated as I plan to make a purchase shortly after Thanksgiving.

 

[acloco]

Why do you think 1:8 is too much twist? ....especially in a LR or target rifle for the .264/6.5 caliber?

Most of the bullets you might use in either application are very long - 140/142 gr.

Just finished helping to build a 260 on a Savage. Results were very favorable with a 5x5 whitetail harvested with the one shot and done method.

 

[aramarine6]

My opinion is that 1/8 is excessive for any weight projectile the 260 will be shooting. Nothing beneficial comes from over stabalizing a round. Same goes for the 308 shooting 175s. A 1/10 is not needed when a 1/11.25 will stabalize them just fine. I'd prefer a 1/8.5 to 1/8.7 which is why I was orginally looking at rebarreling.

 

[screech]

I agree with not needing to over stabilize. Although personally I think you need a 8.5 at slowest. I built a 9 twist 6.5x284 and we had to drop to the 130gr berger. Wouldn't stabilize a 140 Amax or the 140 Berger. I've had good luck with 8twists in the 6.5x284s so I wouldn't let that scare me.

 

[BrentM]

I am no twist expert but even berger claims the 8 twist is the target for the 140 vld. They have a stability program you can play with on their site. I shoot 160 matrix in my 6.5-284 and 8 twist and my rifle loves them.

On another note I have put several rounds through a 260 in a 12LRP and compared it to my 6.5-284. The LRP has 26" heavy bull and it shoots quite well. Nice rifle, very heavy. Speeds are impressive as well for a 260. I was seeing 2800 to 2850 on the chrono with the loads we had worked up. Seems to be shooting consistent .35 groups. I think it is a great chamber.

 

[stomp442]

1:8 twist is far from excessive in the 260. To shoot the long 140s like the bergers and Amax you will be glad you have it.

 

[jdwelch10]

I have a savage 12 lrp hunter in a manner t 5 stock chambered in 260. The rifle is heavy but it does shoot well. The twist seems fine to me as I am actually shooting the 123 gr bullets. I loaded some 130 gr bergers for hunting and those shot very well too. The better groups out of this rifle are in the .3's at 100 yards and about 1.5" at 300.

Its going to be my long range target / plinking rifle. Probably going to be rebarreling a 7 mag to 7 stw for the long range hunting.

 

[aramarine6]

Like I said it's just my preference. GAP uses a 1-8.7 and shoots 140 bergers just fine. I also don't plan on using bergers. Never have. I have great success with hornady and sierra products. Weight with the rifle also isn't an issue, so maybe I'll look into that LRP you guys are talking about. Are any of you getting close to 2850 fps with the 140's out of that 26 in barrel?

 

[BrentM]

Like I said it's just my preference. GAP uses a 1-8.7 and shoots 140 bergers just fine. I also don't plan on using bergers. Never have. I have great success with hornady and sierra products. Weight with the rifle also isn't an issue, so maybe I'll look into that LRP you guys are talking about. Are any of you getting close to 2850 fps with the 140's out of that 26 in barrel?

Did you read my post regard the FPS? The guy who owns the rifle claims 2885 but I am unsure if the chrono can be trusted until Drop confirms it. I never saw results that high.

Regardless of twist preference it seems the 8 twist is working well enough and it appears, based on the results, it should suit your needs fine until a new barrel is ready to be fitted. The Hornady Amax 140 has a bearing surface very close in length to the 160 Matrix. My 6.5-284 shoots that bullet very well at 1500 yards. Vertical deviation at that range has been very minimal. From that info I think the large bullets really like the spin at extended range.

 

[Greyfox]

I have a LRP Savage in 260. It shoots 140 AMAX's , Berger 140VLD's and 142SMK's all at ,25-.5 MOA at 300 yards. I have no issues with the 1;8 twist in either my 260 or 6.5x284's.