6.5-08 vs 260 Rem

[Jakes10mm]

I'm a bit confused. What is the difference between the 6.5-08 and the 260 Rem. I understood the 260Rem to be a derivative of the 308 family,243, 7mm-08, etc). Are they different? I just mounted a 260Rem barrel to a Savage Action. I was considering forming some brass from 308's rather than buying the Remington brand.

I've also noticed that there are 6.5-08 Win and 260 Rem relaoding dies. The confusion begins.

 

[Forum Boss]

The 6.5-08 came first as a wildcatted version of the .308 Win. Then a commercial SAMMI round was standardized as the .260 Remington. There may be slight differences in neck-length and case dimensions between 6.5-08 and Rem .260 depending on the reamer. Specifically, some .260 Rem factory chambers are cut with a bit of taper in the neck, whereas a 6.5-08 reamer might have a tighter,still no-turn) neck with no taper from the neck-shoulder junction to the end of the neck.

What you should do is find out the reamer that cut your chamber and choose a die set that matches it most closely.

 

[RickB]

The thing about 6.5-08 reamers is that they vary radically, depending upon just what the person who specified it had in mind.

For example, the throating is dramatically different for one that is intended to be used in a 2.8" magazine versus one that is for a single shot which may exceed 3" in loaded overall length.

You would do well to discuss your needs with whatever 'smith you are considering to do the work.

 

[chris308]

I`m going to jump in with a question,
Am very seriously looking into a 6.5/08.I am having a reamer made for sure.My two options were to either neck down a 308 or neck up a 243.The 243 route seems to be the choice the over the course boys go taking advantage of the thinner neck walls.
Question is,Whatever way i go,would a 260 rem,competiton die set from redding work ok for this or would i be looking at custom dies? chris

 

[Wild_Bill]

Hi i would get Redding comp dies and use Lapua 243 cases necked up get the cases first then neck them up to get the clearences on a loaded case then create your reamer drawing to suit the cases you can call it a 260 or 6.508 there will be no real diference in the case if you stick with the parent case angles and just adjust the throat and neck clearence. I personaly would make the neck 2 thou larger than a loaded round make the boat tail junction 30-50 thou above the case shoulder to neck junction with the longest projectile you will be using and give the projection 3/10 of a thou clearence over bullet diameter that would mean a .2643 throat diameter this meens if the bullet is not straignt when you close the bolt it has no choice but to alighn with the chamber and be 1.5 thou out max.

cheers Bill
Australia

 

[RickB]

Chris,

I would not recommend the use of Lapua brand .243 Win brass unless you are prepared to neck turn the cases. My experience several years ago was that the consistency of the Lapua .243 Win case 'went down the drain' and, in particular, it got much thicker where the neck joins the body. I confirmed that this situation still exists with some cases a friend bought last year.

In my chamber that has a 0.297" neck the necked up Lapua cases would not chamber at all because of the problem whereas they had previously just necked up and chambered without further work required.

The Winchester brand .243 Win cases have necked up without any such problems. Either Remington or Winchester brand 7-08 cases have necked down without difficulty in my chamber. Be aware that cases formed from 7-08 cases will be a little bit longer than those formed from .243 Win cases and may require case trimming after fewer firings. For some reason the diameter of the Winchester brand 7-08 case is a little bit smaller than that of their own .243 Win case or the Remington brand 7-08 case just above the extractor groove and so will look a bit funny after firing, but this has not caused a problem in my experience.

The use of .308 Win cases will require neck turning on any of them that I have seen.

 

[wziz]

Am I missing something here, or is the Rem 260 brass so bad nobody will mention it?

 

[Ont0001]

RP 260 brass is not bad brass.Just be selective in culling out of a
greater number.I started with 1000 cases.Full brass prep and sorted
to match cases.,cold nasty winter's are best time to work on brass...too cold for range)
Maybe a little .The cull rate maybe higher than Lapua but in the end have had good success .The real pain was fireforming em all
to AI.,indoors!!!!)

 

[Ont0001]

RP 260 brass is not bad brass.Just be selective in culling out of a
greater number.I started with 1000 cases.Full brass prep and sorted
to match cases.,cold nasty winter's are best time to work on brass...too cold for range)
.The cull rate maybe higher than Lapua but in the end have had good success .The real pain was fireforming em all
to AI.,indoors!!!!)