Question for those shooting a 260 improved in F class

[fayettefatts]

I am thinking of trying a 260 improved for F class.

If you are shooting one now, when it comes time to replace your barrel, will you choose another 260 improved? If not, what caliber will you choose and why?

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Steve Blair]

I don't shoot one but suggest that Robert Whitley's 6.5 Super LR is about the best of the bunch. Dies are easily available, too.

http://www.6mmar.com/65_SuperLR.php

It is also true that any of the better performing 7mm cartridges (.284 Win, .284 Shehane, 7mm WSM, etc.) will have a ballistic advantage and recoil disadvantage to the 6.5 SLR.

 

[Ringostar]

Why 260 improved? I've been shooting regular 260 the past 2 years. I don't see much advantage improving it.With a 30 inch barrel I get more than enough velocity. Plus availability of dies, and fire forming all the brass is added expence and time. The 260 shoots great at 600 and calm 1000 yard matches. The BC with 7 mm bullets are much better in windy conditions. I'm planning a new 284 for 1000 yd, and keeping 260 for 600 yd.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

I shoot a .260AI shooting Berger 140VLD's @ 3020fps out of a 30" Krieger. When it comes time for a new barrel, I'll use the exact same reamer (I purchased one from PT&G and still have it) to chamber a new one, likely another Krieger. I'd put it up against anything for accuracy.

 

[Gadget]

Hi
I run a 22 BR, .243 ai ,260ai, and a 7rsaum. and will have no problem re barreling all of them, in fact I have one shot out 260ai, one in the gun and a new one in the safe. ( yep a keeper )

I run my 22br from 3 to 500mts and then the .260ai back for club comp's. the .243 and 7mm are my true competition guns, but I still take the .260ai for any lead up matches shot from 3 to 800mts but when the prize is on the line 6 & 7 mm.
You just got to love the 7 rsaum it's a great round

You choice or cartridge will come down to your pocket, barrel life on hot rounds will be expensive, we get 1000 out of our 6 & 7mm's but they are hot load's and used for big comps only, the 260ai may go to 2k to 2500, my current barrel is at 1850 and still going great.

If you don't have deep pockets and compete at club events the old 6BR and its variants are a brilliant platform, very accurate, cheap to feed, great barrel life and easy to tune.
I was at a 1200y shoot and a guy with a 6mm dasher was giving me a run with the 7mm, I got him but I had to work at it. ( it was a still patch of wind ) when the wind came back he didn't, so BR's do shoot all the way back to 1200 and can do it well.
Graham

 

[fayettefatts]

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

You have all touched on things that I am thinking about. I have been shooting a 6BR with great results. In fact I am breaking in a new 6BR barrel now. When I started shooting F class I didn't think I would shoot much past 600 yd. That changed this past season. I started traveling to a new (to me) club and have shot as much at 1000 yd as I did at mid-range.

While I consider the 6BR to be a great round, I think I may do better with something a bit less wind sensitive at the longer ranges. From what I have read the 7mm's are the way to go. The big issues for me are the increased recoil and cost.

Two of the rounds that seem to do very well at the local matches are the 260 and the 6.5x55. I think that an improved 260 would be better than the straight 260 when shooting the heavier bullets. Less case trimming seems to be an added benefit. The 6.5x55 may be an option, but I wonder about things like dimensional differences between different brands of brass relating to chambers and dies, if the rim diameter will be an issue, and again, brass stretch (the 6BR has me spoiled here).

It sounds like the 6.5x284 is too hard on barrels, and I have not heard of anyone using light loads with success.

The Dasher looks like another good choice. I know it is highly regarded in long range bench rest. I question if it is the right choice for F class with the increased time between shots.

Either the Dasher or the 260 improved will probably be my choice. I have a feeling that the Dasher will be a more accurate round, but I don't know if it can overcome the superior ballistics of the 260 improved.

Lastly I would like to limit my choice of chambering to those available in pre-fit savage barrels. Again cost is the driving factor here.

Any other thoughts and suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

FYI, I started nearly the same way you did and took the same path you are considering. I started with a 6 Dasher for 600 yard events (and under). I shot it at 800/900/1000 in a match and while it did great in still conditions, it's a bit wiley to dial in at those ranges with some of the NW weather we get.

I settled on a .260AI for longer range matches (> 600 yards) and still shoot my Dasher for the shorter matches, although I break out the .260AI for the mid-range matches once in a while too for variety. Either is easily capable of cleaning targets all day as long as I'm not doing something stupid while pulling the trigger.

 

[Dgd6mm]

My suggestion is to go to Northland Shooters Supply and talk to Jim Briggs about a CBI barrel. The chamerings, twist and lenghts that are available should fit your need, if not it is possible to get it done. These barrels are Krieger's button rifled barrels pre-fit for Savage. A 30" SS bull runs 320.00. Hope this helps.