.260 Rem mag-length loads

[memilanuk]

Years ago I had a Model 7 in .260 Rem, but only shot factory hunting loads thru it. Later I had a Match Rifle in 6.5-08, but it was throated loooong for S142MKs and the L139. Mag length loads had to feed from a stripper clip so I usually shot 120-123 gn bullets for that.

Now I find myself looking at maybe getting a gun chambered in .260 Rem again for varmint/tactical/practical rifle matches. Dies and brass are inexpensive and readily available (assuming one counts necking down Win 7-08 brass as an option : ) but I have some misgivings about seating the bullet so deep in the case as to allow magazine fed operation. From my previous experience with the .260/6.5-08, I'm not so much worried about impinging upon the powder capacity as the round always seems to have extra air space, but putting the bullet body/tail junction down around (or below) the case neck/shoulder junction (aka donut region) bothers me, at least in theory.

Any comments or experiences on whether its an issue or not in actual practice? Not necessarily looking for 'benchrest' accuracy but naturally I'd like it to be as accurate as possible.

TIA,

Monte

 

[260Ravage]

I load my .260Rem with those looong lapuas 139 grainers and they protrude down below the neck into the shoulder area. I don't experience any problems,, they shoot very accurately.

 

[AKDaddy]

You could always build your .260 on a long action.

Another option is to use a Savage short action, which has a magazine length of almost 2.95". That's what I did, and although 140 grain bullets still need to be seated deeper than the neck/shoulder junction of the case, they are not all that far into the case. 130gr Bergers end up with the boattail right at the neck/shoulder junction, and 123gr (hornady, smk, lapua) all seat well above the neck/shoulder junction at full magazine length.

I had PT&G make me a custom .260 reamer throated so that the 130 Bergers would be slightly into the lands before I ran out of magazine length. I could jam the 123's and 130's into the lands pretty good without running out of magazine length . I forget what the throat length was...I'd have to look it up. Dave Kiff would know!

Another option would be to use a Rem 700 short action and get an aftermarket extended magazine (eg Wyatt's) installed. Those will give you close to 2.95" of COAL too.

 

[Nowind0]

I have never experienced problems with donuts. I expand Winchester .243 brass and once I fire it once, any trace is gone. I shoot the 123's mag length and the 142's and 139's extended.

I have been experimenting with 139's at Mag length and have gotten some really good accuracy under 0.5 MOA at 200 yds. The bolt is a little stiff, on the last load, but really good numbers and group.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I had a Wyatt's extended length magazine box fitted by Russell Gall.

http://www.midwayuk.com/apps/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?SaleItemID=993148

so I don't worry about long rounds any more.

Regards JCS

 

[Chuckw]

you can also modify the front of the mag well and use detachable magazines that allow an OAL of 2.985. thats what i did with my .260ai and i can reach the lands without any protrusion below the neck/shoulder junction with almost any bullet.


chuck

 

[HPMike800]

I shot a lot of mag length 140smk's out of an AR 10, You can't push them as hard as you would loaded long but they shoot fine.

 

[jonbearman]

You could use a savage long action ,centerfeed and you wont have any real problems either.

 

[Scott Harris]

consider a 6.5x47L to solve this problem as well. It has a shorter COAL that allows you to seat on the lands and still be magazine length.

 

[memilanuk]

As it turns out... Savage's short action magazines allow seating 140gn bullets out considerably further (2.925" or so) than their throating reamer does (~2.810"). Presumably the SAAMI .260 Rem reamers assume a Remington short action magazine box. Small wonder, considering they were the ones to 'legitimize' the round from the 6.5-08 Win originally - but still somewhat aggravating.

In my case the problem was solved by choosing another one of the *available* factory options... 6.5 Creedmoor. It loses (most of) the extra air space that my old .260s had, as well as blows out the shoulder and body taper. Almost like a .260 Ackley 'short'. So far accuracy with factory loads is beyond what I'd hoped for, and preliminary handloads look even better.

Thanks for all the responses,

Monte