Who is shooting a 260 Rem or wildcats of it

[James Jones]

I'm getting all my ducks in a row to have a gun built tha barrel is a 6.5mm 3 groove Lilja 26"(thanks Al) and the action is gonna be a Rem 700sa
I'm gonna be using this gun for paper and deer , deer out to about 400yds and paper maybe to 1000yds.
I'm pretty much set on using the 140gr A-max or 142grSMK , I'll be using 308 Lapua brass necked down.

the question is how much more velocity is realy gained with the 6.5-284 over the 260?
NOTE: the reamer the smith has a less body taper with
37deg soulders (basicaly an Ackley)

any words of wisdom for you fellas?

 

[drags]

JD, I shoot two .260s for high power silhouette my ram loads are 35gr. of varget for one gun and 35.5 in the other gun using the 142smk, this is my ram load (500 meters)it takes down the rams with authority. Velocity is in the 2500 to 2550 range, I would not hesitate to shoot deer at 400 yds with either of the rifles. As you know you can load the .260 faster than 2550fps so you should be in good shape for a 400yd (plus) rifle.
Drags

 

[winmagman]

JD
I shoot a 26" barreled 6.5-284. It runs the 140 gr. Amax, SST, and SMK between 2920 and 2950 depending on the bullet. I've shot about a dozen deer between 300 and 525 yds. with it and only the 2 shot with SMKs took a step, and they didn't make 100 yds.

I almost went with a 260 on my last project( a 4-500 yd deer rifle) but decided on a 6.5 wssm instead. I've only tried one powder so far(4831sc) but I get about 2750 with the 130 gr Scirroco. I don't see any problems with a 260, especially an AI version, doing what your looking for.

Chris

 

[Matt27]

JD

I have a straight 260 with 30" barrel.

One note of caution of using 308 brass.You might have to neck turn your brass when necking down. Lapua necks are thicker.

I use to neck down 308 and got tired of the hassle and since switched over to Rem 260 brass. I have not noticed any differance in performance with the rem brass.

Another option would be to neck down 7-08 brass.

The 6.5-284 usually has 100-150 fps on the 260.

With a longer barrel and the right powder in the 260 you get 100% case fill and get 6.5-284 speeds.

I was pushing the 139's comfortable at 2950fps.Which is right where the 6.5-284 runs them.

I switched over to Bob's Cauterucio's 120gr bullet and am pushing them 3160fps. Another powder showed promise with the 120's that went as fast but with less pressure. I should be able to get another 100fps.

 

[James Jones]

Sounds good guys I plan on using the 308Lapua just so I can turn the necks for a better fit and less work on it,plus the Lapua stuf is pretty tough.

I'm pretty sure its gonna be the 260 and if all else fails I'll bore it to 6.5-284

 

[Shawn Carlock]

JD,

I have a .260 I use for competition and "light" work. It has a 26" tube, shoots tiny, tiny, groups and runs the 140 AMAX @ 2840 fps with 43 grains of H4350 you should be knocking on the door of 2900+ with the AI version. I would not even blink an eye to shoot a deer out to 500-600 yards.

 

[James Jones]

what brass and primers are you using Shawn?

 

[Shawn Carlock]

Rem brass & CCI BR2

Shawn

 

[308 nate]

JDJones,
With my improved .260 I get 2850 fps. in a 25", 1 in 8, 5C with 142SMK's and 46 grs. 4831SC. 210FGM. I use .308 Lapua brass (This is a screaming accurate load in my rifle.)I use the .308 Lapua as it is a bit cheaper than the .243 Lapua brass, but they both work very well and have used both.I have also used .260 Rem. brass but it takes a bit more work to get it up to par. I have not had to neck turn but it is right there, meaning a fired case will hold a bullet with very slight friction, but the loaded rounds chamber smooth. I can see how a different lot of brass you may have to neck turn.
308nate
P.S I have hit 2950 in this rifle with (with other powders I think it was VV500 series and reloader 22) good accuracy, but it is hard on brass. None of these loads were hard extraction, but the primer pockets loosened up pretty bad after 3 - 4 firings. FWIW Nate

 

[James Jones]

Sounds like a winner Nate , I got the barel just gott get all this stuff boxed up (need more bubble wrap) and it'll be on its way.

with the BC of the 140 A-max and at 2900fps I would think that this setup should give a 300Win mag shooting a 190Smk a run for its money balisticaly.

Thanks agin fellas

 

[Coyboy]

JD, I have a 1-8 twist 3 groove, 26" long. It's chambered in 260AI. I use sorted rem brass and ccibr2 primers like Shawn. My load with H4831/140 A-max, is running at 2920fps. I'm on my fourth loading with the rem brass and have no issues with loose primer pockets. May just be a fast barrel.

This gun is consistantly shooting under 1/2 moa to 600yards,(furthest I shot paper)

Last December I took a buck at 609 yards, bang/flop.