.260 Rem build - Short, or Long Action?

[RHux]

I run 140 VLD at 2.9 in my Savage Sa...plenty of room.

 

[Kurz]

This is purely speculating on my part at the moment - I'm overseas, working for the U.S. Army for the next couple of years. It will be at least 2020 before I'm building or shooting any rifle.

As long as we're just spit balling ideas, let's review some other options aside from the .260 Rem. while skipping the Long Actions.

One of the strong candidates is the 6.5 Creedmoor or the 6mm Creedmoor. Both are highly regarded in many of the precision rifle venues including the gas gun portions. Part of this success is attributable to the shorter case and same case capacity as the .260 Rem. Using the favored 130 grain VLD bullet designs, you can load to magazine length (2.800") without encroaching on the powder space at all. This removes your project from the necessity of having to run a Long Action magazine to accommodate a Short Action cartridge without compromise. I tested the Berger AR Hybrid with the 6.5 Creedmoor over Re-16 through a 24" barrel, netting nearly 3,000 fps along with superb accuracy. This offers good numbers for drift and drop out past 1,000 yards. Brass in two flavors of primer pockets and flash holes is available from 3 different sources now without being limited to the fairly expensive Lapua brand. Even the Hornady brand stands up to the competition.

On nearly equal footing is the 6.5x47 Lapua cartridge loaded with the same or similar bullet. The only change is the slightly slower velocities which can be achieved with the lesser case capacity. Again, the big sale here is the shorter cartridge fitting the SA magazines coupled with excellent accuracy, without any problems whatsoever while still being very competitive.

The 6XC and the 6mm version of the x47 case have proven themselves time and again while competing without the additional recoil of the heavier bullet versions. Accuracy is beyond reproach.

I think you owe it to yourself, especially with the time frame involved, to examine more of the better competitive cartridges available for the precision rifle events without resorting to the Long Action.

 

[nicholst55]

Well, I definitely have some things to consider. The 6.5X47 or 6-6.5X47 is intriguing. I probably won't actually be competing - at least not seriously. I may try it just for something to do after I retire. And who knows, by 2020, there may be another 'hottest' cartridge outperforming everything that's currently available!

On a somewhat related note, several companies have recently begun offering either barrels or complete M14-type rifles in 6.5 Creedmoor. Smith Enterprises, in Mesa, AZ, just announced that he'll be offering Hart barrels and assembled rifles in .260 Remington. Just to be different, I'm sure.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Grimstod]

The 6.5CM has yet to set a single world record in any displin. Whether its F-Class or IBS. But the 6.5x47 has a bunch dispit the fact that it is not nearly as popular. Just think on that for a little

 

[ShootDots]

The 6.5CM has yet to set a single world record in any displin. Whether its F-Class or IBS. But the 6.5x47 has a bunch dispit the fact that it is not nearly as popular. Just think on that for a little

Here is some food for thought along the same lines. I have owned and shot out 4 / 6.5 x 47s. I have owned 4 / .260A.I.s and shot out 2 so far. I can honestly say that as far as pure accuracy goes, I think the .260A.I. tit-for-tat will outshoot a 6.5. x 47 if you shoot more than one barrel. Any one barrel from either cartridge may outshoot the other. However, my bet would be on a .260A.I. with several barrels over time. Yet, I don't believe the .260A.I. has ever won any major event! How can this be? My guess: There is simply not enough of them "out there" in any one discipline at this moment! I think it is just now really beginning to catch on. Just some food for thought..