Hello, I'm new to this forum so I'm going to plead ignorant and probably ask a dumb question. I'm left handed and it hard to find a decent selection of rifles. I've been looking for a decent .260 in a left-handed rifle (Rem., Win. or Sako) and they're hard to find without paying a left testicle for one. From the research I've done the .260 is built on a necked-down .308 case. So....my question is; could I purchase a .308 caliber rifle and just change out the barrel to a .260, or would there be more to it? Is there a different way to go that is simple and not too expensive? Thanks.
.308 to .260 Conversion
- Thread starter HotRodA10
- Start date
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
First, it is a simple conversion. Swap the barrel, headspace and go.
Second, you are much better off as a left handed shooter shooting a right handed rifle. Everything except "positional" shooting you'll find is much better and intuitive with a right handed rifle. And yes, I am a LH shooter and all I shoot is RH rifles.
First, it is a simple conversion. Swap the barrel, headspace and go.
Second, you are much better off as a left handed shooter shooting a right handed rifle. Everything except "positional" shooting you'll find is much better and intuitive with a right handed rifle. And yes, I am a LH shooter and all I shoot is RH rifles.
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
I'm interested in the conversion process also. I think you would need a new bolt at a minimum and perhaps a new barrel. I'm not sure how close the bullet diameters need to be for the different projectiles to work in the same barrel.
Gonna subscribe to this one...
I'm interested in the conversion process also. I think you would need a new bolt at a minimum and perhaps a new barrel. I'm not sure how close the bullet diameters need to be for the different projectiles to work in the same barrel.
Gonna subscribe to this one...
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
You don't need a new bolt. The boltface size is the same for the 308 and the 260.
Of course you would need a new barrel. You need a 6.5mm barrel, the 308 is a 7.62 mm. The bullet diameters need to fit the barrel exactly, you cannot "fudge" it.
You don't need a new bolt. The boltface size is the same for the 308 and the 260.
Of course you would need a new barrel. You need a 6.5mm barrel, the 308 is a 7.62 mm. The bullet diameters need to fit the barrel exactly, you cannot "fudge" it.
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
If you're doing the work yourself, yes you will need to make sure the headspace is correct with a set of go/no-go gauges. If you're having a competent smith do the work, that is part of the job and they'll do it.
There are several threads in the gunsmithing forum detailing how to perform your own barrel swap if that's the direction you're going in.
If you're doing the work yourself, yes you will need to make sure the headspace is correct with a set of go/no-go gauges. If you're having a competent smith do the work, that is part of the job and they'll do it.
There are several threads in the gunsmithing forum detailing how to perform your own barrel swap if that's the direction you're going in.
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
Mike, it's intuitive because you shoot right handed rifles.
Stick a righty behind a LH rifle and he'll fumble, too.
If having the bolt and port in front of your face were such an advantage, Paul Mauser would have designed them that way in the first place.
I certainly don't see droves of right handed shooters switching to LH bolts for the benefit of reaching over or releasing the left hand to cycle.
Mike, it's intuitive because you shoot right handed rifles.
Stick a righty behind a LH rifle and he'll fumble, too.
If having the bolt and port in front of your face were such an advantage, Paul Mauser would have designed them that way in the first place.
I certainly don't see droves of right handed shooters switching to LH bolts for the benefit of reaching over or releasing the left hand to cycle.
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You don't need a new bolt. The boltface size is the same for the 308 and the 260.
Of course you would need a new barrel. You need a 6.5mm barrel, the 308 is a 7.62 mm. The bullet diameters need to fit the barrel exactly, you cannot "fudge" it. </div></div>
Awe come on Mike......a .260 skipping down a .308 barrel........a sight to see....
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You don't need a new bolt. The boltface size is the same for the 308 and the 260.
Of course you would need a new barrel. You need a 6.5mm barrel, the 308 is a 7.62 mm. The bullet diameters need to fit the barrel exactly, you cannot "fudge" it. </div></div>
Awe come on Mike......a .260 skipping down a .308 barrel........a sight to see....
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
FWIW,
You do not need to buy a .308 for the conversion.
ANY rifle with a .473 bolt face will do. That includes the 22-250, .243, .308. 7-08 in the short action.
FWIW,
You do not need to buy a .308 for the conversion.
ANY rifle with a .473 bolt face will do. That includes the 22-250, .243, .308. 7-08 in the short action.
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
Quote: "You need a 6.5mm barrel, the 308 is a 7.62 mm. The bullet diameters need to fit the barrel exactly, you cannot "fudge" it."
I wonder if you'd really notice the loss in MV until you got past 600 or so (LOL).
Quote: "You need a 6.5mm barrel, the 308 is a 7.62 mm. The bullet diameters need to fit the barrel exactly, you cannot "fudge" it."
I wonder if you'd really notice the loss in MV until you got past 600 or so (LOL).
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
I'm in the same left handed boat as yourself. A lot of problems would have been solved if the SAKO 85 action was made in left handed.
I completely agree with you that it's tedious using a right handed bolt. Also don't forget the safety aspect - one doesn't want a malfunction to expel gases acrosss your face.
I'v just asked my gunshop to get me a price on a Coopers of Montana "jackson" in .260rem. You hadn't mentioned this brand and I'd certainly consider one before buying a rifle and new barrel.
Good luck.
I'm in the same left handed boat as yourself. A lot of problems would have been solved if the SAKO 85 action was made in left handed.
I completely agree with you that it's tedious using a right handed bolt. Also don't forget the safety aspect - one doesn't want a malfunction to expel gases acrosss your face.
I'v just asked my gunshop to get me a price on a Coopers of Montana "jackson" in .260rem. You hadn't mentioned this brand and I'd certainly consider one before buying a rifle and new barrel.
Good luck.
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
The .260 is a great choice and even better now that Lapua is going to make .260 brass : )
JamieD
______________________________
Jamie Dodson
Wolf Precision
814-262-7994
The .260 is a great choice and even better now that Lapua is going to make .260 brass : )
JamieD
______________________________
Jamie Dodson
Wolf Precision
814-262-7994
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frog5215</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mike, it's intuitive because you shoot right handed rifles.
Stick a righty behind a LH rifle and he'll fumble, too.
If having the bolt and port in front of your face were such an advantage, Paul Mauser would have designed them that way in the first place.
I certainly don't see droves of right handed shooters switching to LH bolts for the benefit of reaching over or releasing the left hand to cycle.</div></div>
Actually, if you put a RH shooter on a LH rifle he will shoot better as well. Last time I checked there were many improvements over Paul Mauser's design which shows that his design was not "perfect" and could be improved upon. Your statement would be akin to saying that LH shooters cannot shoot at all because John Garand didn't allow for a scope to be mounted on the Garand for LH snipers to use. Would that be a correct statement? Of course not. So we can safely say that just because Paul Mauser designed a rifle one way doesn't mean progress stopped right there. It has been shown here and in competitions that there is a distinct advantage to being able to run a bolt without removing your cheekweld or grip, nor your finger from the trigger. You can check your chamber without removing your cheekweld, you can visualize any issues without having to move completely around the other side of your rifle. Another example would be the question of why BR shooters can buy custom actions with a RH bolt, LH port configuration (or vis versa). What would the point of that be?
I would fathom that if more LH rifles were available, you would see more RH shooters taking advantage of the benefits offered.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frog5215</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mike, it's intuitive because you shoot right handed rifles.
Stick a righty behind a LH rifle and he'll fumble, too.
If having the bolt and port in front of your face were such an advantage, Paul Mauser would have designed them that way in the first place.
I certainly don't see droves of right handed shooters switching to LH bolts for the benefit of reaching over or releasing the left hand to cycle.</div></div>
Actually, if you put a RH shooter on a LH rifle he will shoot better as well. Last time I checked there were many improvements over Paul Mauser's design which shows that his design was not "perfect" and could be improved upon. Your statement would be akin to saying that LH shooters cannot shoot at all because John Garand didn't allow for a scope to be mounted on the Garand for LH snipers to use. Would that be a correct statement? Of course not. So we can safely say that just because Paul Mauser designed a rifle one way doesn't mean progress stopped right there. It has been shown here and in competitions that there is a distinct advantage to being able to run a bolt without removing your cheekweld or grip, nor your finger from the trigger. You can check your chamber without removing your cheekweld, you can visualize any issues without having to move completely around the other side of your rifle. Another example would be the question of why BR shooters can buy custom actions with a RH bolt, LH port configuration (or vis versa). What would the point of that be?
I would fathom that if more LH rifles were available, you would see more RH shooters taking advantage of the benefits offered.
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
OMG plzzzzzzzz why this on going luv for 260, so many better choices
6.5GAP, 6.5CM, 6.5x47, 6.5SLR, 6.5BR-K, 6.5TAK
308 family all have poor shoulder/neck design, all the above have a better design in this area. All will match or beat 260 performance... 260 LAPUA brass non event
Mike
Didnt know you were a lefty, how did i miss that
Anyway if you are only going to shoot from bench a righty is ok, <span style="font-weight: bold">however</span>
if you plan on hunting, run n gun, positional shooting etc
get a lefty
By preference I only shoot LH rifles period
OMG plzzzzzzzz why this on going luv for 260, so many better choices
6.5GAP, 6.5CM, 6.5x47, 6.5SLR, 6.5BR-K, 6.5TAK
308 family all have poor shoulder/neck design, all the above have a better design in this area. All will match or beat 260 performance... 260 LAPUA brass non event
Mike
Didnt know you were a lefty, how did i miss that
Anyway if you are only going to shoot from bench a righty is ok, <span style="font-weight: bold">however</span>
if you plan on hunting, run n gun, positional shooting etc
get a lefty
By preference I only shoot LH rifles period
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
If a lefty shooting a RH rifle was better I wouldnt have re-trained myself to shoot RH. That all preference of the shooter with little or no actual facts to apply that theory to all shooters. Going from shooting a long action RH rifle left handed, to RH made a world of diffrence in comfort for me.
There are several short action cartriges that use a .473 bolt face. The magazine box should feed with little to no issues. I know that there are several barrel makers that sell treaded, short chambered barrels, just finish ream for headspace, a smith can do that.
Yes there are several other calibers that would be considered a better round, but there is also nothing wrong with the .260Rem. You can get the accuracy you want if the rifle is built right, there is no reason the .260 will let you down.
If a lefty shooting a RH rifle was better I wouldnt have re-trained myself to shoot RH. That all preference of the shooter with little or no actual facts to apply that theory to all shooters. Going from shooting a long action RH rifle left handed, to RH made a world of diffrence in comfort for me.
There are several short action cartriges that use a .473 bolt face. The magazine box should feed with little to no issues. I know that there are several barrel makers that sell treaded, short chambered barrels, just finish ream for headspace, a smith can do that.
Yes there are several other calibers that would be considered a better round, but there is also nothing wrong with the .260Rem. You can get the accuracy you want if the rifle is built right, there is no reason the .260 will let you down.
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
I have to jump in here and say I'm also a lefty who was told of all the superior aspects of shooting a RH rifle.... though in reality I found out that half my shooting is positional/slung up and became very cumbersome to shoot competitively with the RH rifle.
I have to agree with the thought that if it were advantageous to have an wrong side action then all the Righties would be shooting LH actions.
Stick with a lefty.
eta- The perfect setup would be a left-hand bolt with a right side ejection port. (I just ordered this exact configuration from Defiance... will let you know how it works)
I have to jump in here and say I'm also a lefty who was told of all the superior aspects of shooting a RH rifle.... though in reality I found out that half my shooting is positional/slung up and became very cumbersome to shoot competitively with the RH rifle.
I have to agree with the thought that if it were advantageous to have an wrong side action then all the Righties would be shooting LH actions.
Stick with a lefty.
eta- The perfect setup would be a left-hand bolt with a right side ejection port. (I just ordered this exact configuration from Defiance... will let you know how it works)
Re: .308 to .260 Conversion
My match rifle runs a defiance action LBRP
its the cats ass...you will like it much
Thou mine is setup as single shot, cant help but wonder how slick it wud be running a DBM.
Right handed/left handed has nothing to do with what side you shoot from, dominate eye is deciding factor period.
If your left eye dominate and shooting from right side your handicapping yourself unnecessarily, no i,m not going to give an explanation coz well if common sense dont prevail ... Google it yourself
My match rifle runs a defiance action LBRP
its the cats ass...you will like it much
Thou mine is setup as single shot, cant help but wonder how slick it wud be running a DBM.
Right handed/left handed has nothing to do with what side you shoot from, dominate eye is deciding factor period.
If your left eye dominate and shooting from right side your handicapping yourself unnecessarily, no i,m not going to give an explanation coz well if common sense dont prevail ... Google it yourself
