Looking for sage advice on 260 build

[gary0529]

I have commissioned my gunsmith (well known in precision circles and have used him before with great satisfaction) to build me a 260 Rem hunting rifle. Most likely to stay with 140/142 gr Sierra or Berger. Only Lapua brass.
Here is what I have settled on so far: Stiller Tactical 30, Lilja 1:8 twist stainless barrel, Jewell trigger and probably Rem BDL bottom. Will put on 20 moa scope base.

What I need to decide is stock-now, it will be bedded, probably pillar or whatever 'smith says is best.
Do I go laminate, synthetic? Cost is not a problem. How it handles and looks is.


The floor is open.

Thanks in advance for any and all thoughts.

Gary

 

[CaptainMal]

Can't make a reasonable comment on your choices. Do have a question on why those choices are there.

You are building a "hunting" rifle. What kind? For what?

Obviously it's not going to be a "mountain rifle" you carry all day. With your parts it will weigh over 10lbs.

Too big a caliber for prairie dog or groundhog in quantity. 140 gr. bullets mean big game yet you choose a "smaller" case that will deliver less energy at longer ranges.

Just had a 260 Ackley built. 26" bbl and getting 2,900fps out of 140 SST's and Berger VLD's. Going to use it in a tower to shoot long-range (500-700 yard) deer in Georgia. Carrying is NOT an issue as I get off the quad and then haul it up into the tower. 26" bbl is not so long that I'm "bonking" it on the railings inside the tower.
Energy delivery is important and the regular 260 might not be the best solution. An Ackley or 6.5-284 would be better for energy.

Just wondering. Good luck with your selections and surely some will provide their advice.

 

[gary0529]

Capt.

Probably the first reason is that I don't have anything in 6.5 and once I get an itch, well...

Second, probably never be in the mountains carrying anything-

Not for varmints in that I have a fine selection of 17, 22 and 24 cal to fill the bill.

Most likely use for deer and deer sized game- I can stretch a shot on my place to 400 yards and a little bit.

So, having said that, do I need it as an AI or faster, not really.
Would I like an accurate sub 10# rifle for deer and occasional paper punching out a ways on those days when the 6mm BR just does not seem right? Yeah, probably.

Anyway, just my thoughts. Like I said, I really don't NEED another gun but then, why not.


Gary

 

[CaptainMal]

OK.

Like the action and twist. Indifferent on stock and bedding. What that gunsmith likes may be a factor.

Don't think you will need a 20MOA base or anything special there to shoot under 500 yards.

Have fun building and using. Like you, I don't need another rifle either. Had no 6.5 so re-barrelled a 25-06 I wasn't using to get this AI I will probably not use either.

It's a game and the fun is the playing.

 

[jr600yd]

Gary,

Well you picked a caliber that will dump deer at the ranges you suggested. Like Captain Mal I would question some of your equipment. First your choice of bullet weight. You might want to look at the 120gr class for hunting. 142SMK's are great for competition. A 20 MOA scope base is fine for shooting past 600 yds but your going to have a problem under 250 yd. At this range
your scope will be bottomed out making a close in shot a problem. A 30" barrel is fine in competition but I think something around 24-26" might be better on a huting rifle. The type of stock is up to you.

It's your rifle and you've picked some good equipment. Thats just my .02@ worth

 

[gary0529]

Thanks to both for the input.
The gunsmith did say that I would probably be better off using 120's for deer, etc. but since I told him I would like to have the ability to reach out past 500 IF the situation ever presented itself he said, go ahead and use the 1:8 twist as it would not present any difficulties with the lighter bullets. Sane thinking with the 20 moa base, as cost will not be that much more, if any.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Gary

 

[boltfluter]

Gary,

The most comfortable field stock I own is a Manners T4. The vertical grip makes all the difference. Not sure if you will like the looks for your application. Just my .002. Paul. 8)

www.boltfluting.com

 

[gary0529]

Paul,
Thanks for chiming in.
Not familiar with Manners but will definitely give them a look-see.

Gary

 

[.260 james]

I have a .260 Built strictly as an open country antelope rifle. Forget the 120 gr. bullets entirely. Shoot the 130 gr or 140 gr. berger hunting bullets. I use the 130s and the antelope go straight to the ground. 400 or 500 yds is not that far with practice. with the 120s, Nosler , hornady, etc. the results just are not the same.
My .260 is built on a 700 with a 30 in. krieger barrel, 20 moa Night force rail , and cheap Choate stock. Its heavy but it shoots incredibly well.
As far as a 20 moa rail to high for short range, My rifle is sighted dead on a 200 yd. no trouble whatsoever if your scope has a usable amount of adjustments.
My load consists of Reloader 17, rem. brass, cci 200 and 130gr. hunting VLDS 3.0" groups off a bipod are normal at 500yds. .

 

[gary0529]

James,

Thanks for the first person experience.
The way you set your rifle up is really what I was looking for.
I guess I just needed some validation.
The only decision now is who's stock to use. Given that the barrel was just ordered and experience tells me that I have a 3 to 6 mo. wait I figure I can chew on the stock question for a bit.

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, much appreciated.

Gary

 

[2dogs]

I have been shooting the 260 quite alot this last year. I have to agree with James 260. Unless the intended target is very thin skinned critters I would avoid the 120 grain bullets. I have shot several good sized pigs with the NBT 120 and while I have gotten quite good results, lots of dead pigs on the ground, those have all been shot behind the ear. I am going to switch to a bit heavier bullet as soon as I shoot these NBTs up. My rifle is Remington 700 with aDouglas #7 contour 18.5" barrel. My rifle shoots 3 inch groups at 500 yards easily.

 

[.260 james]

Gary , one more piece of advise, Alot of People say that Reloader 17 is this and that. Granted it may not put up the sd and es numbers of H4350 or H4831, and it may not be as temperature insensitive as those two. But if you work up a load for YOUR rifle. Nothing will touch the velocity, and I found that as you get near max. pressure the fouling greatly improves and accuracy gets better. The load I have been shooting is not max. ,but I got Way past where I wanted to be Velocity wise. It out runs H4831 by 125 fps. easily. The krieger i have cleans with a few patches of Butch's bore shine.
I am not a match shooter at all, but the results so far after two hunting seasons with this gun have been exceptional.
A Manners Stock is a nice addition I would like to add to my gun also.

 

[gary0529]

Thanks again guys.
Looking seriously at the Manners stock.
I will post pix and report when it is finished but don't hold your breath as the journey just started.

Gary

 

[BigDMT]

Sounds like a good build that will no doubt prove to be very accurate with whichever stock you choose.

I might suggest that you opt to test a lighter bullet with your 260 Rem. Judging by the velocities I personally witnessed with the 120gr Sierra MK's in my own 260 Rem, I'd think the 130gr Bergers would be about as heavy as you'd want to go. I was getting about 3000 fps with the 120 gr MK in a 24" barrel. You might be able to hit that speed with the 130gr Berger in a barrel of similar length, but the trajectory of a 140gr or 142gr might disappoint at long range with slow velocities.

In a long 28"-30" competition barrel, I think the heavier pills are definitely an option, but for the lower velocities found in a "hunting length" barrel, 130gr would probably be tops if you want good flat trajectory and good bullet stabilization at long ranges.

If you are dead set on using the heavy bullets, perhaps giving your chamber an Ackley shoulder would be a wise choice to get that extra velocity. The Ackley shoulder is supposed to really "wake up" the 260 Rem.

Anyhow, you seem to be on the track to having a wonderful rifle built that will bring you plenty of bounty for years to come

 

[Chuckhunter]

Gary, I don't have the 260 but I do shoot a 6.5X47 and it's become my favorite for deer and antelope. 130 Berger's are just plain poison, everything drops right where it stands. My stock is a Mark Bansner (High Tech Specialties)< I chose that stock because I don't care for a Monte Carlo comb and he makes a classic stock that fits me to a tee. I think you'll really like the 6.5 caliber.

 

[tome]

I had lone wolf restock a lh Tikka 25-06..pillar and glass bedded...i sent it to him as an average shooter and got back a tack driver..we live in an area were long cornfield shots are the norm.. they didn't run far if they run..remember deer are thin skin animals...you need something that shoots 100-120 gr bullets fast..3000 to 3200 fps...speed kills

 

[.260 james]

130 bergers are definitely the way to go, the difference , if any ,velocitywise compared to the 120 gr class bullets is minimal, and the BC of the Bergers takes care of that before the 100 yd. yd line.
In my 30" barrel I am seeing 3120 fps. More then enough to get the job done. First pronghorn i shot with it dropped before i could see it happen in the scope. And a 17 lb. .260 dont move around too much!

 

[Jayman_10x]

I'm looking at doing a long range paper punching/hunting build, somewhat similar to the OP, different caliber. For stock options I recently found this site
http://shurleybrothers.com/

Some good looking stuff there. I do not know prices yet but really like the wood. Otherwise a strong laminate might work well. I'm old school and like the look and feel of good wood stocks.

All the best,

Jason

 

[gary0529]

Jason,

Man, you got to stop sending me to a website like that- dang, there are some beautiful stocks.
You threw my entire selection process into upheaval and how I have to mull over how bad do I want a wood or laminate instead of carbon fiber.
Thanks for the information and web site.

Gary

 

[.260 james]

Wood and laminates do have a certain something that makes the rifle seem mor alive!!!!!