First post and questions

[LR_Shooter]

Hi, decide to enroll to this forum, it seems you guys know a lot and I'm looking to get in to some competition shooting.
I been shooting of bench for many years, seems I can keep my groups tight, I primarily shoot 223 and 308, but I hunt with 270. Now I'm thinking to get new rifle to shoot targets at 600 - 1K. Savage came up with new models called LRP, so I'm thinking to get one in 260 Remington. Would you consider 260 right caliber for a job and what's your opinion on Savage target models? Is it wort buying it, or I should build custom rifle using high quality parts?
Thank you for any advise.

 

[featherweight]

You would have to spend a lot of coin to match Savage out of the box IMHO.

 

[LR_Shooter]

I've heard stories that recoil lug must be replaced and the barrels are not that perfect, since there are no lapping done and they prone to copper fouling.
So what should I look for as far as replacement parts if I buy Savage target rifle? Do you think I can buy factory rifle and it will shoot just like custom rifle would without modifications straight out of the box? What happens if its not good competition shooter, will I get replacement? I know one thing as soon as I walk out the door with purchased rifle, there is no return policy specially if its been fired.

 

[featherweight]

More questions than I can answer, all I have is a M10 Predator Hunter .243, it shoots under 1/2" all day and would do better with a better shot I'll bet. I have heard worse and more scarry stories from the big name rifles than Savage, that's why I picked it.
I can have it clean within a half hour, so fouling is no issure.
I am a Winchester guy but my last one is still being a PITA and the M10 is almost boring after only a month, that's all I can say about that, good luck.

 

[LR_Shooter]

Tough choices... I wish it was that easy

 

[TonyR]

Could you be more specific about the style of shooting you want to do? People might have different ideas if you want to shoot prone with a sling, F-Class, or BR for example. There are a lot of Savages at matches these days and many of them are winning, some with more modifications than others depending on the style of shooting and the distance.

 

[2506]

The best way to find what you need to get is to go to a shooting match in the discipline you want to shoot in and see what everybody is using. Then talk to them and ask to shoot their rifles. Most will be glad to help you out.

 

[LR_Shooter]

I was thinking F-Class @ 600 to start with, my practice range is limited to same distance so I'm more used to, 1K there is nothing close to my backyard to offer, but what a heck why not try it just another 400 yards and 230" down
My other concern can 260 REM do what's required and do that successfully, the other choice would be 6.5-284, but the scary stories about barrels burning out quickly stopping me.

 

[TonyR]

I was thinking F-Class @ 600 to start with, my practice range is limited to same distance so I'm more used to, 1K there is nothing close to my backyard to offer, but what a heck why not try it just another 400 yards and 230" down
My other concern can 260 REM do what's required and do that successfully, the other choice would be 6.5-284, but the scary stories about barrels burning out quickly stopping me.

Within F-Class, there is F-Open which is pretty much anything you want as long as the caliber is less than .35 or less according to local range rules and a 22 pound gun with a 3 inch forearm. Then there is F-T/R which is shot off a bipod with either a 308 or 223 and weight limit of 18.15 pounds. If I were going to shot F-Open at 600 yards or less, I would get a Savage F-Open rifle in 6mmBR. Everything will cost less than anything else you could try and the 6mmBR is as accurate as anything up to 600 yards. They also shoot great vertical at 1000 yards but you give up a lot of wind drift to the 6.5 and 7mms. The 6.5X55 Ackley Improved is said to equal the performance of a 6.5X284 with much better barrel life. I know people whio shoot it successfully at the higest levels of F-Open. A straight 284 Win with a long throat or a 284 Shehane are excellent 1000 yard F-Open cartridges with better external ballistics and barrel life than a 6.5X284. Any of these will work on a Savage action.

Once you narrow your goals down a bit, you might want to start a new thread such as "Savage for 600 and 1000 Yard F-Open" and people with direct experience are likely to see your post and respond to it.
Good luck with your project.

 

[LR_Shooter]

Tony, you right, I think its time for me to move this discussion from here.
Before I do, what's opinion on 260 Remington, seems that case capacity is good to get to 1000 yards. Its 308 case after all.

 

[bozo699]

L R Shooter,
Welcome to the forum, The 260 is more than capable for 1K shooting I have known a few people to use it, it wouldn't be my choice I would do a 6br improved however I am still using my 6*284 for 1K bench rest and love it, barrels are expendable commodities just like bullets, (don't worry about barrel life) if you are worried about it I suggest a 22 rimfire or pellet gun as the mechanics of the rifle will wear out before the barrel does. A friend of mine was consistently getting 7" groups at 1K with his re barreled 260 savage, good luck and most of all enjoy.
Wayne.

 

[TonyR]

Tony, you right, I think its time for me to move this discussion from here.
Before I do, what's opinion on 260 Remington, seems that case capacity is good to get to 1000 yards. Its 308 case after all.

No question that it will work at 1000 yards but you will be giving up winddrift to shooters with 7mms in the 2900-3000 fps+ range and also others shooting the same or better BC 6.5mm bullets going faster than you can. You could accept that and look at it as a way to force yourself to be a better wind reader. No harm in taking that approach as long as you are OK with limiting yourself.

One of the advantages with the Savage is easy barrel changes so you could always get another barrel later if the "bug" bites. Barrels are like razor blades in F-Open. Not as bad as bullets, powder and brass but still a consumable item, so having an extra doen't hurt much in the long run and is an advantage when you have to fit your work into a gunsmith's schedule and the backlogs of barrelmakers.

 

[jr600yd]

I've shot the 260 in many 600 & 1K matches. Go for it. The Savage is a good rifle, you will be pleased.

 

[LR_Shooter]

Thank you all! I think I'm going to order one! Being short action if I decide to change caliber 6.5-284 would be out of the question, but with 6 mmbr or 308 I can have more opportunities for matches like F/TR with 308 and for short matches with 6 mmbr

 

[TonyR]

I think you are making an excellent choice but I don't think there would be any problem shooting the 6.5X284 or 284 in the short action if you load single shot. I shoot a 284 Shehane with COAL of over 3.2 iches in a Rem 700 SA. I have to remove the bolt to eject a loaded round but the empties come right out. I have another 7mm with a case as long as a 30-06 and that works fine in a Nesika K which is also a short action.
Good luck.

 

[jlmurphy]

I have a LRP Savage switch barrel, 6mmBR and .300 Win Mag, and I do have to pull the bolt to remove a loaded Mag round, but it really isn't a problem. I have won competitions with both barrels, the rifle will shoot. My tactical rifle is a Winchester Model 70 chambered in 6.5x55 Mauser. I love shooting against the .308 Winchesters, the 6.5x55 is a great long distance cartridge. If I could only have one rifle, it would be chambered in 6.5x55.

 

[LR_Shooter]

I was looking at ballistic-load tables 260 rem vs 6.5 x 55 swiss and I do not see where advantage of swiss round comes in. Maybe my tables outdated, but they look almost the same. Swiss cartridge has more volume capacity, its almost like 7.62 x 54R but rimless.

 

[bozo699]

LR Shooter,
The 6.5x55 is well known for its inherit accuracy, now with the introduction of .260 Lapua brass the popularity of the .260 Rem may explode, it will be interesting.
Wayne.

 

[Groundhog Devastation GHD]

What's not to like about a 260?? Sure it's 150fps slower than the 6.5-284 but brass is easy to come by. Barrels don't give up as quick and accuracy suffers not the least!!! Will it go to 1000?? Definitely!! And if you want to groundhog hunting or deer hunting with the rifle, it will suffice at those two venues too!! And worried about getting one on a Savage??? Let not your heart be troubled!! Find another brand that out of the box , affordable, can run with the customs of today!!!! You can't!!! BTDT!!! Charlie (GHD)

 

[LR_Shooter]

did I say something, that they not? All I notice looking at the charts is that they both use 6.5mm bullets and they can lunch them with about same speed, I mean 260 and 6.5x55, however swiss has more case capacity.
About Savage, I wish if they could guaranty accuracy but they don't, however they do say " Varmint barrel models (Varmint, Law Enforcement Series): 1" or better at 100 yds ", but no one test them if they in fact capable of shooting accurately. I know so many people have them and they so happy with them you can't go wrong "in the perfect world".
Any idea what was this about http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php/topic,2912089.msg28077481.html#msg28077481
they say many people got bad rifles, but what was the problem?