Why not a 260?

[mattri]

Looking for a 600 yard paper puncher. Single shot, no mag restrictions, not going to do anything with the rifle other than target shooting.

Everything from the 243, 6mm br, 6xc, 6mm Dasher, 6 SLC, 6.5x284, 7mm-08 etc, etc, etc are viable choices.

Why not go with a 260? Simple, no forming, easy to get components and load data, no excessive recoil, fairly flat trajectory and decent wind bucking.

Without re-inventing the wheel or going with an esoteric round that involves fire-forming brass, un-common dies and an extra 50fps, what other round(s) should I be looking at?

What's being left on the table, what's being gained?

Thanks, Matt.

 

[Erik Cortina]

You answered your own question. 260 is a good cartridge. Get some Lapua brass and 139-142 gr. match bullets and you are set.

 

[Trapper243]

I keep asking myself the same question. I have stuff on both sides of the 260 and if I had a 260 first I might not have any of the others.

 

[PREMOD70]

I don't own a 6BR but from what I've read the round is doing the same thing the 6PPC does at the shorter ranges. The 260 is good but the statistics point to the 6BR as currently being the better at 600 yards but if one wished to shoot 1000 yards also the 260 would be more in the running, JMHO.

 

[learningshooter]

I agree that the 260 is a great round. One of the downfalls of the 260 has been the availability of match grade brass. The 6.5 Creedmoore has peaked my interest. It has similar ballistics and match grade components are available. The powder rescipe is even printed on the box. It was really designed for what you are talking about. Just a thought. However the 260 has caught it's second wind with match/tact shooters and components are comming around.

 

[mattri]

Isn't Lapua making 260 brass now?

 

[Erik Cortina]

Isn't Lapua making 260 brass now?

Yes.

Read reply #1

 

[LR_Shooter]

I have 260 and 6BR, but don't have 600 yards to shoot them, my range is limited to 500, from what I can tell 6BR groups tighter, say 2"@500 vs 2.5" with 260, there are many factors which can contribute, like optics for instance, my 260 got buckmaster with mildot were reticle is thick compare to vortex fine v-plex wide reticle. One thing I dislike about 260 Rem is its chamber where throat is to short, which requires high BC bullets to be seated way pass body-shoulder junction, I'm talking about 142gr SMK, 139 Scenar or 140 gr VLD, so the fix to it is to get throat extended if you not planning on shooting 100 - 120 gr bullets or you might consider 260 AI or even better 6.5x55 which will do fine @ 600 and beyond

 

[mattri]

Lol must have been a senior moment- and I'm not that old.

 

[rockwood75]

I have honed down my rifle collection substantially due to the 260. More accuracy than I'm capable of some days. Great hunting round if loaded with a suitable bullet. Even having great luck with Remington brass. Tried Bergers in 140 and still came back to 142 SMK. The difference between it and .243? IMO, being able shoot heavier bullets.

 

[HPMike800]

6BR is just as good for 600yds and is a lot cheeper to shoot.

 

[Erik Cortina]

6BR is just as good for 600yds and is a lot cheeper to shoot.

Just as good? What about windy days?

How is it "a lot cheaper", a little cheaper yes, but not a lot.

 

[6BRinNZ]

mattri - what type of paper punching? 6BR will probably agg better than a .260 on any given day but when the wind blows the ballistics from a .260 can easily eat that advantage.

.260 were quite popular here until the 7mms started up (F-Open) and now a lot of guys are moving to 7mm for 300 - 1000yrds. 7mm and .260s can be easily accurate enough to drill the .5 moa bull so unless component cost is an issue the 7mm gets hauled out for the lot.

So nothing wrong with a .260 - if you back yourself in the wind then look at an inherently accurate round, if not then maybe go for better ballistics. After that just choose barrel life i.e. why not a 6.5-284.

Good luck

 

[Rock Knocker]

Im shooting a 260AI and it makes a first year shooter...(ME) shoot comfortably in the 190's in all conditions, wind and rain. Necking down from Winchester 7-08 brass was too simple. The fire forming was just that but after 7 fireings through the brass I have only had to trim a handfull of them and there is no end in sight for most of my cases, and i have run some pretty dang hot loads through some of them.

 

[mattri]

The margin of error is certainly a consideration. It seems as though the 260 might be a little more forgiving- is that accurate?

 

[zipollini]

One thing I dislike about 260 Rem is its chamber where throat is to short, which requires high BC bullets to be seated way pass body-shoulder junction, I'm talking about 142gr SMK, 139 Scenar or 140 gr VLD, so the fix to it is to get throat extended if you not planning on shooting 100 - 120 gr bullets or you might consider 260 AI or even better 6.5x55 which will do fine @ 600 and beyond

I think this is a good point to consider. The case capacity of the 260 is listed at 53.5gr and the 6.5 X 47 Lapua is listed at 47gr. Since one has to seat the 140 class bullets so far into the case of the 260 brass you essentially end up with about the same usable capacity as the 6.5 X 47 and you should end up with better barrel life with the 6.5 X 47 due to a better shoulder angle, neck length, etc.

 

[LR_Shooter]

there is a way to utilize its capacity, by compressing your load, but I think it will contribute to pressure variations, alternative you might want to consider RL-17 as your main loading powder, just 42 gr of it will outperform 42g H4350 or 45 gr of H4831SC and you will have room to up that load.

 

[mattri]

If the throat is cut for the 140s- would that allow the bullets to be seated so that there is still plenty of room in the case?

 

[zipollini]

Might want to keep an eye on your COAL also with the 260 and 140s as they might not fit an AICS mag if you are using them. Not a problem with the 130s though I hear.

 

[LR_Shooter]

good thing my 260 is set on long action with magazine to handle 30-06, so there are plenty room and yes extending freebore will fix seating depth issue.