Why i like my 260 rem so much now that there is no ammo over the 6.5 cm

[xsn10s]

I'm getting ready to build another 260 with a carbon wrapped barrel for back country hunting.

I'm on the cheap so my back country rifle is a pushfeed M70 FWT 30-06 in a McMillan stock. I don't get near enough the range time like I did in the past. But I was banging steel out to 800 yards with it the other day without dialing my knobs. It's really a 400 yard rifle but i like to stretch it's legs. I like your choices in rigs!

 

[OCHO505]

I have a 6.5x284 and a 260 Rem IMP. 30 degree shoulders. Both are rugged one hole shooters. The 6.5x284 is my long range rifle I built for speed goat hunting years ago. The 260 is my PRS rifle for winds days when I feel the 6 Dasher will get bucked around. I'm getting ready to build another 260 with a carbon wrapped barrel for back country hunting.

I have a 6.5x284 also and was thinking of getting a .260 thoughts on differences for everyday shooting. I want to get something to just work on bench time and less recoil. The 6.5x284 is harder to find ammo for my buddy has had great luck with new Sig Sauer Box ammo for his .260.

 

[Bobby-Long]

I have experience with both the the 260 and 6.5 Creedmoor. Too bad Remington established the original twist rate of 1 in 10"for the 260. That mistake really killed the chance of a running start for the 260 out of the gate. Even though they changed the twist rate to a 1 in 9", quickly after realizing their error, this twist still prevented consistent stabilization of many bullets of over 130 grains in their factory rifles, especially the longer and more modern boat tail bullets that are all the rage today. Remington management didn't foresee the 260 being used with heavier projectiles possibly. It's use was purposed as a hunting cartridge, and with bullets up to 130 grains and their factory 1-9" twist rate it dies that satisfactorily.

Add this well known fact, and reinforce it with the ideas already spelled out in previous replies and posts, namely that even with the appropriate twist, the heavy bullet has to be seated so far in the case in a short action that the bullet consumes an appreciable amount of powder space. This renders the velocities achievable between the two cartridges of negligible difference.

Furthering the troubles with cartridges where a major portion of the bullet shank sits well past the base of the neck unsupported, articles have been being written speculating the impact of bullet deformation that occurs when the unsupported bullet section yaws in the case when entering the lead, essentially having the effect of pushing a limp noodle through a hole, to make an exaggerated analogy.
It has been speculated the minute deformation that can happen to the bullet, the deformation of which can be magnified by overly generous chamber dimensions, leads to a decrease in accuracy in said cartridges.

With all of that being said, I still shoot and like the 260 Remington. It's factory specs lend to less of a bullet jump to the lands when shooting lighter bullets. There is increased velocity with said bullets over the 6.5 CM due to the freed up space in the case. The shoulder angle of the 260 lends to easier feeding. And, as has always been the known, 260 brass can be made from any 308 based cartridge if desired.

The 6.5 CM was designed exclusively as a target cartridge for long range. It serves well in that purpose, and doubly well as a hunting cartridge with heavy bullets. The entirety of the long heavy bullets are much better supported to maintain alignment with the bore. It is my belief, that all machine work and components being equal, this lends to inherent accuracy going to the Creedmoor with heavy bullets.

The 6.5 Creedmoor, as has been stated, appears to be going into US Military duty, and if contracts for ammo production mirror that of the 7.62x51 and .556, it can be expected there will be an abundance of good military brass available to the public at some point.

So, in summary, do what you want, have fun and enjoy these great cartridges. I'll continue to shoot both or not.

 

[xsn10s]

Didn't Clinton stop all brass sales to civilians? If so I doubt that the current admin is going to allow brass or ammo sales to civilians.

 

[Rhino55]

you can still buy small firearms brass through DRMO. Most of it is machine gun brass. The reason I have a huge stock pile is because I shot on the Navy Rifle Team for 10 years. I have a lot of M852 and 118 LR in 7.62x51 and Black Hills 223.

 

[Rhino55]

I have a 6.5x284 also and was thinking of getting a .260 thoughts on differences for everyday shooting. I want to get something to just work on bench time and less recoil. The 6.5x284 is harder to find ammo for my buddy has had great luck with new Sig Sauer Box ammo for his .260.

I have never bought a commercial ammo for my 6.5x284 or the 260 IMP. I reload everything except 22LR and 9mm.

 

[xsn10s]

Most of my 223 I got from working at a police academy and some agencies back in the day. I shot the last of my 118 last year, I probably should of sold it or saved it.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

I have had 308s in the 70s, 243s in the 70s, 7mm-08 in the 80. All these cartridges were and still are devastating on deer coyotes, hogs. The in 97 the .260 Rem came out. Been shooting .260 ever since. I put together a precision 1,000 yd .260 and it is a tack driver. Recoil is manageable, I can see the impact when shooting steel all the way to 1,000. It wasn't poplar because of the variety of factory loads and 10 maybe 9 twist if you ordered it. Then came the 6.5 Creed and so many jumped on the band wagon. I am not knocking the 6.5 Creed, it is a good cartridge, but it seemed like a big fad. A lot of manufactures Major Brands as well as custom shops were pushing it for sale. Most people that have the 6.5 Creed don't even know what a .260 is. I have had some Creed shooters look at me like I am a dinosaur with the .260. Well I shoot everything from 85 gr to 150gr bullets with 1,000s+ Lapua cases. Let's say that I don't have to worry about shooting or what loads I will use with a .260. 6.5 Creed factory ammo has been scarce and another thing I noticed everyone I know that has a .260 reloads. Most of the of the 6.5 Creed shooters buy factory ammo. I know a lot of custom barrels in 6.5 Creed are throated for factory Horandy Match cartridges.

 

[wbm]

The reason the 6.5 creedmoor is so magical is Hornady convinced a lot of people it was a 300 win mag...almost...at 1000 yards

That is simply not true.

You are making reference to one specific test with a specific set of components that compared it to one specific set of components in 300Win. Hornady never said it was "magical" or a "300 win mag almost." It is a success because it filled a niche a lot of people wanted filled. You anti Creed guys create a calumnious pile of bs and then act like it is true.

Quit hiding on the net and get out in the real world and start trashing peoples firearms. See how that works out for ya. I know here in SC low country a lot of people have and like 6.5CM's so ya might want to watch your mouth out here in the real world.

 

[Rhino55]

That simply is not true.

You are making reference to a test with a specific set of components. Hornady never said it was "magical" or a "300 win mag almost." It is a success because it filled a niche a lot of people wanted filled. You anti Creed guys create a calumnious pile of bs and then act like it is true.

I know Dennis DeMill (USMC Retired) and the Hornady engineer that developed the 6.5 CM back in the late 90s. I admit, it filled a "flavor of the month" for 6.5 shooters and at the time the 6.5x284 was the long range shooters go to. The main reason I like the 260 Rem. Brass is easy to find, neck down and trim 308 brass. It handles the heavier bullets well and room to expand on where the 6.5 CM is pushing the max loaded as is.

 

[wbm]

Yeah. The surprise to me was when SOCOM did a head to head with the 260. I am a retired marine and was really surprised when they went for the CM. Thought there would be feeding issues with it.

 

[xsn10s]

I know Dennis DeMill (USMC Retired) and the Hornady engineer that developed the 6.5 CM back in the late 90s. I admit, it filled a "flavor of the month" for 6.5 shooters and at the time the 6.5x284 was the long range shooters go to. The main reason I like the 260 Rem. Brass is easy to find, neck down and trim 308 brass. It handles the heavier bullets well and room to expand on where the 6.5 CM is pushing the max loaded as is.

Yes I agree. The CM isn't a bad round, originally it's right in there with the off the shelf 6.5 Swede and 260 Rem. And with hand loads the CM is even better now. But so is the 260 Rem or Swede. With some machining and altering of a Rem 700 SA a 260 AI has even more horse power. So nothing wrong with the 6.5 CM. Just like you I have a ton of 308 win cases and have a 260 AI barrel waiting.

 

[xsn10s]

Yeah. The surprise to me was when SOCOM did a head to head with the 260. I am a retired marine and was really surprised when they went for the CM. Thought there would be feeding issues with it.

I was really surprised too. Historically the military makes some questionable picks with small arms. The 30-40 Krag is a good example.

 

[wbm]

Irony....have only one 6.5x55 left...a vintage M96 and ammunition and component are available in several places.

The 30-40 Krag is a good example.

LOL Oh yeah...what a dog!

And truth be told the Stoner system was better than the AR.