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Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

Lowlight

Lowlight

HMFIC of this Shit
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Minuteman
    • Apr 12, 2001
    36,340
    44,093
    Base of the Rockies
    www.snipershide.com
    #1
    That's right, shorter is smarter, not only do I get great accuracy, I'm enjoying plenty of pep in my shots...
    SH-Apex 1.jpg


    So, took the new rifle and Vortex Razor out on the tower for the first time to get a feel for the rifle... ended a class at lunch and the day was pretty much a wash for video because the wind is howling 24 MPH on the low end,<span style="font-style: italic">(Kingsville has a wind advisory today, gusts to 45MPH)</span> so the noise will just waste any footage, but it's only 1/4 value so, why waste the opportunity to put rounds down range right.

    For you eggheads keeping track, conditions as follows:

    Baro: 29.62
    Temp: 92 degrees
    Wind lows of 24MPH 1/4 value...

    Load from Chad at Dallas Reloads <span style="font-style: italic">(actually my load from home)</span> - 260 Remington, Remington Brass once fired, 139gr Norma FMJ-BT with 43.3gr of H4350.

    SH-Apex 2.jpg


    Here is what I put in the palm to get me on steel, (<span style="font-style: italic">Which pretty much gave me a first round hit, after 500 I was about .3 mils high, so i adjusted.) </span>

    139gr
    BC .585 (<span style="font-style: italic"> I guessed cause I didn't care to look it up )</span>
    2750fps (<span style="font-style: italic"> again, huge guess </span>)

    My final hits on steel:

    500 yards, 2.8 Mils
    600 yards, 3.7 Mils
    700 yards, 4.7 Mils
    900 yards, 7 Mils
    1000 yards, 8.8 Mils

    At 1000 yards the wind with a 1/4 value was 1 Mil hold, smack.

    I will be running it through a chronograph, but the wind would make it impossible to get a real set of values, so I figured what better way to find out what it will do than to simply shoot it at distance and see what it looks like.

    We zeroed the Vortex yesterday, and today was the first chance to shoot it, so I have no real information to put forward, but I will say it appears to be mechanically sounds, tracking looks to be really good, you put in the dope and it hits, however I will be doing a lot more in the days to come. As long as the weather holds, I am off tomorrow and plan on spending the day with the scope in a hardcore fashion.
    SH-Apex 3.jpg


    I honestly feel the accuracy and handling of a short barreled rifle trumps the modest gains of a barrel 10" longer. It hits hard, the numbers work out great, and frankly if you can't step up to hitting with a little less push, maybe you need to consider benchrest, cause these shorter barreled rifles are absolutely kicking ass.

    Longer is lame.
     
    #4
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

    Longer is lame. </div></div>

    That's NOT what she said...



    Thanks for the review, I'm thinking about some options to get into a 260 SA and this is really helping sway me to a shorter barrel for the build.
     
    #7
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No, not a Remington Footprint. </div></div>

    Damnit, are you SUUURE you don't want to put this in an AICS?

    Seriously, this is going to be a sweet build. I may get kicked out of the house over this one.
     
    #8
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Longer is lame. </div></div>
    Thats what I keep telling my wife
    crazy.gif
     
    #11
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    Nice Frank! For the numbers, the 139 bullet with the corrected BC of .615 is running 2760 fps. This works out to 8.8 mils(confirmed) or 29.6 MOA to 1K.
    We are still testing loads with this rifle to fine tune it to the rifle.
     
    #13
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SSG3K</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Whats the action on the rifle?

    Rich </div></div>


    PGW maybe? Was wondering the same thing myself.
     
    #16
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
    Also, for the MOA crowd, that is 30.1 MOA to 1000 yards. </div></div>

    Who? what?

    - Nah, they left 2-3 years ago..
    wink.gif
     
    #19
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

    Also, for the MOA crowd, that is 30.1 MOA to 1000 yards. </div></div>

    Man that is a sweet stick! Oh and us MOA guys already knew that due to our amazing math skills...
    cool.gif
     
    #24
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    Without getting too wrapped around the axle it looks like the rifle loses about 10fps per inch off what the guys with a 26" + barrel are getting. Roughly 100fps different when compared to the 28" barrel crowd, translated to about 3MOA at distance.

    When you think about the application, a tactical rifle, even a tactical competition rifle, its really a much smarter choice to lean towards the shorter rifle. Its handy, balanced, and doesn't need the long cases which are now being charged extra for when traveling by air.

    If the shooter was to spend time practicing, learning to drive the rifle better, I think in the long run they would be better served overall. I understand for some the need to game the system which is why they build tactical rigs with 28" barrels, but to stay true to form, or at least truer, I think the shorter barrel is the answer.

    It's taking advantage of modern bullets, barrels, and powders instead of trying to exploit those advantages, but again, if youre only interested in gaming a tactical competition, 28" is the answer. However if you truly want to work the rifle, while using the ballistic advantage a 260 gives you over a 308, shorter is smarter.
     
    #25
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    AGREE LL

    If you can go short then do it!!

    Hell thats a hot looking data book in that pick!!
    smile.gif
     
    #27
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    i always thought short barrels is what you end up with .....after barrel setback.......i guess LL got tired ....POLE VAULTING his way to the tower with his long guns......
     
    #28
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    I have a 23" barrel on my 7wsm and its a hammer. Loaded it down a bit and get 3150 out of a 162. When i build the 6 crusader i am going to start at 25-26" and start cutting it back to 18 just so see..With shorter barrels you can take advantage of different powders and the numbers arent worth packing the extra length...even on the big 338's

    I want to hear more about the action..
     
    #30
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Without getting too wrapped around the axle it looks like the rifle loses about 10fps per inch off what the guys with a 26" + barrel are getting. Roughly 100fps different when compared to the 28" barrel crowd, translated to about 3MOA at distance.

    When you think about the application, a tactical rifle, even a tactical competition rifle, its really a much smarter choice to lean towards the shorter rifle. Its handy, balanced, and doesn't need the long cases which are now being charged extra for when traveling by air.

    If the shooter was to spend time practicing, learning to drive the rifle better, I think in the long run they would be better served overall. I understand for some the need to game the system which is why they build tactical rigs with 28" barrels, but to stay true to form, or at least truer, I think the shorter barrel is the answer.

    It's taking advantage of modern bullets, barrels, and powders instead of trying to exploit those advantages, but again, if youre only interested in gaming a tactical competition, 28" is the answer. However if you truly want to work the rifle, while using the ballistic advantage a 260 gives you over a 308, shorter is smarter. </div></div>

    I'm really diggin' this but I'm leaning towards a 7-08 shooting 162-168's. Any reason the 7-08 wouldn't perform better or at least the same?
     
    #31
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    Jason,

    Why do you have to ask me questions I have no idea what the answer is... the contour is listed as the "apex contour" which I have clue what that means as it is spec'd from the builder... probably a Remington Varmint Contour, like a 5.5 or something similar. Anything heavier is really unnecessary. I don;t spec contours I let the builders do that.

    Overall length with the Surefire Flash Hider is 19.75" measured from the receiver.

    I have no clue anything about a 7mm-08, never shot one.
     
    #32
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Onemoretime</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

    I'm really diggin' this but I'm leaning towards a 7-08 shooting 162-168's. Any reason the 7-08 wouldn't perform better or at least the same? </div></div>

    Onemoretime,

    Let's see 7mm-08. It's 0.020" bigger than a 260 rem, and 0.024" smaller than a 308 win. All use the same case. We know what a 18" 260 will do (as Lowlight has noted above). We know what a 18" 308 Win (as Lowlight has shown in the past) will do. Extrapolation into a 7mm should not be hard to figure, about midway in performance between the two one would think. Some very good match 7mm bullets exist. I think a 7mm-08 would work well if you reload. Definite dearth of factory 7mm-08 match ammo is the only problem I forsee.


    Bob

     
    #33
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    It would be interesting to maximize the advantage of that muzzle brake and chrono one in a short-action .284 Win running 162 AMAXs at mag length, with AW mags. Tell me that kind of a setup will be offered....
     
    #34
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    RG,

    The rifle being offered for the build is going to be a 260 or 308, but I would suspect you could outside of the build and have one down to your specs. ( Spare barrels will also be available for purchase )

    We plan on having the barrel threaded as a standard offering with the build, and then with braking options available to suit the shooter. The surefire F.H. was available for the test build only to give us an idea what it would be like, without having to order a SF Muzzlebrake just to test it out.

    The only thing, this action is a SA, he doesn't have a LA available yet.
     
    #36
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    Looks very promising!

    .260 meaning the chambering, not the caliber, correct? Because if available in 6.5 Creed there would be no need to reload.

    Any news on whether the action can be set-up to take AW mags, and whether an AICS can be machined to fit?
     
    #38
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    Got it.

    Missed the AW thing.

    Saw the long tang on the action, though, and wondered about stock options (for the rifle, not the company
    grin.gif
    ).
     
    #40
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Frank, shouldn't you be out throwing scopes off the shoothouse??</div></div>

    Wicked Front came through this morning, wind, rain, really evil stuff... so no scope throwing today, Zombieland instead. I'm hanging around all next week just to abuse stuff.

    Ps, I got the word his action will fit in a chassis and has the same bolt pattern as a 700 SA. Some mods necessary, but it will work.
     
    #41
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BobinNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
    Onemoretime,

    Let's see 7mm-08. It's 0.020" bigger than a 260 rem, and 0.024" smaller than a 308 win. All use the same case. We know what a 18" 260 will do (as Lowlight has noted above). We know what a 18" 308 Win (as Lowlight has shown in the past) will do. Extrapolation into a 7mm should not be hard to figure, about midway in performance between the two one would think. Some very good match 7mm bullets exist. I think a 7mm-08 would work well if you reload. Definite dearth of factory 7mm-08 match ammo is the only problem I forsee.


    Bob

    </div></div>

    A couple guys on here are shooting 22" 7-08's at 2750-2800fps for the 162-168's. Lets say we zap it for 100fps based on LL's post above we would still be in the 2650-2700 range with a 160gr 7mm bullet.

    Might be tasty for my own build based off of this one. Or... if we can get a spare barrel in anything we want then.....
    cool.gif
     
    #45
    Re: Short is Smart - SHR Test Build 18" 260

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Soon, i have the spec's the numbers, etc, expect an announcement next week. I want to make sure I don't miss anything...

    </div></div>


    sounds great !

    that is one wicked looking action and rifle !
    cool.gif
     
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