.260 Barrel Length

[nashlaw]

I have a .260 Remington(not improved) and would like the tube shortened. I would love it at 20", but was thinking that might be too short.

Please relate your life experiences regarding this.

Thanks,

David

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

why the love for 20"

 

[GUNNER75]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

Have little experience with my new .260, but I went with 24" due to research on here and from shooters at matches. I don't think I would go less than that. Wanted 22", but settled on 24".

 

[NorCal Vu]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

We run 26" in the 260s out here with great results out to 1K.

 

[Criver600]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

Short barrels are great and look cool but if your hunting early morning/late evening and take a shot your vision is really screwed........ Probably not going to burn 40+ grains of powder in 20 inches.

 

[nashlaw]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: criver</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Short barrels are great and look cool but if your hunting early morning/late evening and take a shot your vision is really screwed........ Probably not going to burn 40+ grains of powder in 20 inches. </div></div>

Boltripper: I just like the handling characteristics of the 20". I have noticed that a lot of guys are going with shorter tubes on the .223s and .308s and thought I might give it try on a .260.

I will probably cut it to 24" and be happy with it.

 

[Shady_Jay]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

Mine finishes at 27.5 with the T2K brake.

I wanted plenty of room for future barrel set backs. There isn't much to work with on a 20" once you burn the throat out.

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

I use a 26" barrel on my .260 with 130 Bergers at 2,925 fps and it's GTG to 1k with ease. Ditch the 20" idea for the .260 and go 24" to 26"

 

[Balldboy]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

I've had 30" 26" and another 26" that was cut to 22"
Since I shoot my 26" 7-08 more than the 260
and my 25" 22BR more as well and plan to build a 28" in 6-250, I kept the 260 22" and sold the rest.

It handles great, wears a 4.5-14X40 LR scope and sits in a bedded HS Prec. sporter stock.

Pete

 

[Pete Lincoln]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

mines a 22"

Pete

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

With the 22", what velocities are you getting with a 130 or 140 grain bullet?
I'm pushing a 140 VLD at 2838 fps and a 130 VLD at 3012 fps out of a 28". I am curious to what the shorter barrels are getting. I have thought about going shorter, also.

 

[zscurlock]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

I get 2820fps 139 scenar with a 24.5".

 

[superde]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With the 22", what velocities are you getting with a 130 or 140 grain bullet?
I am curious to what the shorter barrels are getting. I have thought about going shorter, also. </div></div>

Would like to know as well.

 

[raptor99]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

Chad,
I had a Pac Nor super match go bad in the throat due to a barrrel defect. Pac Nor replaced the barrel an sent the old one back to me.

It was originally a 26" in a 260 and on a whim I had it cut down to a 22" by taking 4"s off the chamber end. The reason I did it was to see if I could shoot to 1000yds with a 22" barreled 260.

If my memory serves me correctly I only lost around 60ft per sec. by taking 4"s off the barrel. I then went from a load of 37grs of Varget to 38.5grs an was nearly back to where I started.

I am thinking I was shooting the 140 AMAXS in the high 2700fps range. I wish I could be more specific but its been to long ago an that was 3 barrels back.

The intresting thing was that as a 26" gun it was a heavy .5 to .6 with the .6 being the average. I was never that impressed with it as far as the accuracy of it went. I had a stock 260VLS that shot as well.

However after cutting it down to 22"s this gun became a sub .5 gun most of the time shooting in the .4s to high .3s at 100 for 5 shot groups. I even had some high .5 groups at 200yds. It would shoot .5 moa or under for 3 shot groups out to 800yds if I did my part or the wind didn't get me. The weird thing was after 800 it went to near a MOA gun for 900 an 1000yds which was strange to me. The barrel may have even been going south at the time too since I had around 1400rds hard rounds down it when I had it cut off.

I about cried when I had to take that one off!!!

 

[Chiller]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

I would be like to know what the low end on length is for a .260.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

Good info! Thanks!
Chime in if you have 22" or less barrel length 260 velocities. Thanks!

 

[Lowlight]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

I'm toying with this idea with going below 20" with a 260... I think the burn will be fine like with the Gladius... and the shorter stiffer barrels are proving to be pretty friggin accurate.

It wouldn't be meant to be a 1000 yard gun, but what are you really giving up if the accuracy is stellar... a few shots at most at 1000, big deal, it would be more of a handy patrol type rifle than a F Class entry... different missions.

I'm guessing a tick less recoil than a 308, better wind, etc... a 2009 Gladius build with an 18.5" 260 might be interesting.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

Nice, Frank! I'll even provide some test ammo for it, if you build it. Just let me know.
If you get 2650 fps with a 140 VLD, you're effective to 1300 yards+. The come up is 33.25 MOA to 1K, and 7.35 MOA of wind- 10 mph (9.84 mils and 2.18 wind). Still not bad!
For 2600 fps at 1K, it's 34.71 MOA and 7.56 MOA wind (10.29 mils and 2.24 wind)

 

[Lowlight]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

I'm thinking it is doable Chad...

What I can do is have George Spin me up an 18.5" 260 barrel for my AW, I think my current 260 barrel for that is 22" but i would have to measure it as I don't remember.

Betting it works.

 

[Chiller]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

would love to hear results.

 

[Lowlight]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

I would have to send my Oehler 35P in for repair my others are not here and I think I messed up my PACT.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

Awesome. Frank, let me know, I'll provide some test ammo with the bullet of your choice. I have 142 SMK, 140 A-max, 130 and 140 Berger VLD. I can get others. Rem brass, H4350 or R17 powder, 210M's and bullet.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think I messed up my PACT. </div></div>
Alright, what did you do to your PACT? Did you shoot it!

 

[Lowlight]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think I messed up my PACT. </div></div>
Alright, what did you do to your PACT? Did you shoot it!

</div></div>

No, I get a start signal error, but in its defense it did go through baggage claim.

My Oehler has a bad switch, it wont set to match the screen configuration.

I did shoot my CED Screen arm, but I had a spare, just caught it and cut it...

 

[DarinR]

Re: .260 Barrel Length

George is making me a 23" 6.5 Creedmoor barrel that should be ready any time. Reading this post helps me feel comfortable that I didn't have it made too short.

Thanks,
Darin