.260 Remington - New Build - Reamer Help

[MikeMcCasland]

Gents,

I'm in the process of building my ~4th .260 Remington, however this will be the 1st build that is going to a smith for a re-barrel (all previous ones were Savage or Lilja AR10 builds).

That said, I'm wanting to outright buy a reamer to loan to my gunsmith, as I anticipate having at least one .260 for the remainder of my lifetime, and probably a few smith done re-barrels as the years go on.

I've been looking at reamers, and measuring the OD of loaded rounds (mine come out to .293.5-.294 using Lapua brass). I'm thinking I'd want a .297 based neck, but I'm unsure of the freebore I'd want.

I'm going to be building this off a 700 long action, and although I can run the 140 class bullets, I have a gob of 123 Secnars that I'd prefer to shoot. That said, I feel like I'd be limiting the possibilities if I brought in a 123gr dummy round and had a short freebore.

This rifle will be used for informal long-range target shooting at the range and at my ranch. I don't want to neck turn; I just want something that will support 123s well, but doesn't ruin any possibilities of shooting heavier 140 class bullets.

My question:
Knowing what I've posted above, what reamer do I want? How much freebore do I want?

Barrel is a 8-twist Bartlein

 

[Sniper338]

Well I can't speak much.. because I don't run 123s...

IF YOU WANT TO RUN 140S CORRECTLY BUY THE 260 TAC REAMER FROM PTG. It's the reamer I use and it's a longer throat to seat berger 140s out correctly.

 

[wboggs]

Well I can't speak much.. because I don't run 123s...

IF YOU WANT TO RUN 140S CORRECTLY BUY THE 260 TAC REAMER FROM PTG. It's the reamer I use and it's a longer throat to seat berger 140s out correctly.

I have a 0.165 throat and it works well with 140 class. Do not shoot the lighter 123 so I'm not sure of how far they would be in the neck.
There are plenty shooters on here that do and they can give you the answer.
Good shooting.
Bill

 

[Cowtownup]

I use CBI barrels on my 260 and their 260 Remington Match chamber has a .298 neck and a .160 freebore.. I've had good luck with those barrels..

 

[Slim13]

My 260 was cut with the PTG Tac Match reamer. It’s perfect for the 140’s. If I were going to buy a reamer it would be that one. I had to put a wyatt’s box in mine since I run it out of a short action. You won’t have that problem with the long action though.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

@Slim13 - Have you tried to run any lighter weight projectiles through it? Any issues chambering Lapua brass?

 

[Slim13]

@Slim13 - Have you tried to run any lighter weight projectiles through it? Any issues chambering Lapua brass?

I have a .298 neck. “AKA no turn lapua brass neck”. I’ve run 130’s through mine and that’s as light as I’ve gone. I have an 8 twist. I’ve heard an 8.5 twist will stabilize 140’s as well. 8.5 twist might be a good option for you given you mentioned wanting to shoot 123’s. I shy away from anything lighter than 130 in 6.5 calibers. I’d rather shoot a heavy 6mm round than a light 6.5mm round. That’s just me tho... You will thank me for going with the tac match chamber.

 

[VaRandy]

My 260 was cut with the PTG Tac Match reamer. It’s perfect for the 140’s. If I were going to buy a reamer it would be that one. I had to put a wyatt’s box in mine since I run it out of a short action. You won’t have that problem with the long action though.

My Pacific reamer has a .297 neck, I shoot Hybrids with a .052 jump. Fits fine in my Ai mags.

 

[wboggs]

I have a .298 neck. “AKA no turn lapua brass neck”. I’ve run 130’s through mine and that’s as light as I’ve gone. I have an 8 twist. I’ve heard an 8.5 twist will stabilize 140’s as well. 8.5 twist might be a good option for you given you mentioned wanting to shoot 123’s. I shy away from anything lighter than 130 in 6.5 calibers. I’d rather shoot a heavy 6mm round than a light 6.5mm round. That’s just me tho... You will thank me for going with the tac match chamber.

I have a .298 neck. “AKA no turn lapua brass neck”. I’ve run 130’s through mine and that’s as light as I’ve gone. I have an 8 twist. I’ve heard an 8.5 twist will stabilize 140’s as well. 8.5 twist might be a good option for you given you mentioned wanting to shoot 123’s. I shy away from anything lighter than 130 in 6.5 calibers. I’d rather shoot a heavy 6mm round than a light 6.5mm round. That’s just me tho... You will thank me for going with the tac match chamber.

Mike
I looked up some of my notes and found a few on the 123 Lapuas in my 0.165 freebore.
Overall length is 2.825" seated 0.02 off the rifling. I ran some h4350 loads of 43.5gr just to get an idea.of accuracy and did not check velocity since I just wanted a 200yd fun load.
Accuracy was very average at about 0.75moa.
This is a fairly light load since I also use this load with my 142 SMK.
I'm sure I could work up a good load but my 142 load shoots so well I decided it was not worth the effort.
You can use this data to do the calculations on different length throats.
Hope this helps.
Bill

 

[Slim13]

My Pacific reamer has a .297 neck, I shoot Hybrids with a .052 jump. Fits fine in my Ai mags.

I hunt my 260. Just wanted the mag box to have some extra room to feed well. If you have a .297 neck you’re running a different reamer than mine.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I would check with PTG on the 6.5-.308 Reamer like the one Boots Obermeyer and Mid Tompkins ran in there Long Range Rifles.
They Ran 140 and 142’s and won a lot .

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I appreciate the responses; I think I'm going to end up going with the SAAMI reamer. As I look at the various reamer specs online it looks like the "match" or "tactical" ones have .295 necks, and I don't know if I want to deal with the potential issue(s) that could come with trying to shove a .294 round in there.

The SAAMI reamer looks to cut it at .297 but I can't see the freebore in the SAAMI diagram; I'm a newb so maybe one of you guys can point it out to me.

SAAMI spec image:
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/5554/Edoi15.png

I was thinking of ordering this reamer (for reference):
http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/saam...5504--260-remington-saami-chamber-reamer.html

I really appreciate the help and guidance guys.

 

[Slim13]

I appreciate the responses; I think I'm going to end up going with the SAAMI reamer. As I look at the various reamer specs online it looks like the "match" or "tactical" ones have .295 necks, and I don't know if I want to deal with the potential issue(s) that could come with trying to shove a .294 round in there.

The SAAMI reamer looks to cut it at .297 but I can't see the freebore in the SAAMI diagram; I'm a newb so maybe one of you guys can point it out to me.

SAAMI spec image:
https://imageshack.com/a/img923/5554/Edoi15.png

I was thinking of ordering this reamer (for reference):
http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/saam...5504--260-remington-saami-chamber-reamer.html

I really appreciate the help and guidance guys.

For the sake of reference in order to help you make a choice, the outside diameter of my loaded lapua case is .294. I do not neck turn. You need to know this dimension if you want to run Lapua Brass and NOT have to turn your necks. I’ve heard Alpha Munitions brass is similarly thick like Lapua.

 

[AP2020]

260AI, 30" Bartelin 1:8 5R S/S

0.297" no-turn neck is perfect with Lapua Brass having a loaded neck diameter of 0.295"