.260 Remington

[k3yston3]

Any one have one with a 23" or longer barrel?  I am deciding on length, as I am getting ready to have a rifle barreled in .260.  I am not sure if over 22" is worth it on the .260, or really any of the .308 based rounds.


Thanks

[Graybeard]

I'd not go more than 22" for sure with it, the few extra fps are not worth much in the real world and the longer barrels are not nearly as handy. In fact a Model 7 with 20" would be my choice I think.

[Cement Man]

I like the handling characteristics of a 20" barrel for my hunting purposes and have had a few of my .308's and .223's lopped off and re-crowned. I believe the overall average difference in muzzle velocity with factory ammo and hand loads for the 2" reduction in .308, between me and my hunting partner was (-) 54fps and I don't consider that a significant difference for my purposes.  I think the .308 family does just fine with 22" or, as some prefer, even less.  Certainly there are other cartridges that really need a longer barrel than 22", but I don't think the .260 is one of them. 

[Explorer1]

I have a 31" 260 barrel (A Palma barrel) which shoots GREAT.  Can do over 3600 fps with 95 gr bullets in COLD weather, warm weather causes the load to stick (i.e. its TOO hot).

But if want to carry it, stay short and give up the few fps.

[Lone Star]

I've had two 260s, one a Model 7 and the other a 26" M700VLS.  The M700 was by far the most accurate, but I never carried it far big game hunting - it is a fine long range varmint rifle though.  The M7 accounted for deer and caribou and was great to carry, but I sold the M7 and kept the M700.  The M700 has taken one Texas deer, the only one I fired it at, and a bunch of varmints.

.

[Slamfire]

I also have a pair. One is a rebored Savage that was a .243, it has a 22 inch barrel and is just a bit heavy for this old man to tote around in the woods or mountains. The other is a re-chambered Arisaka Ty[e 38 Carbine, that was just too accurate for the 6.5x50 SR. Whats the use of a tack driver with a maximum range of 200 yards?  The 19 inch barrel of the Arisaka is as good for balance and handling as anything I've ever owned. 

[nomosendero]

It would be hard to say what barrel length your 260 should have, we do not know what the application is for this rifle. 

If you are Whitetail hunting in the woods & seldom shoot past 300 yards, I would agree with GB that the 20" Mod 7 would be fine. But,
if you are going to add Antelope & such to the list, then I would want 22-24". If you are going to also shoot Target/Tactical, then I would get a 24-26".

[basdjs]

I shoot a 24" .260 barrel on my Encore and love it.  Consistently shoots 1" groups at 100 yds. with 120 gr. Nosler ballistic tips.  On the Encore with a 3X9 Redfield Lo-Profile scope, it makes a great, compact single shot whitetail combo.  My son shoots a Savage Model 11 bolt action .260 with a 22" barrel and it shoots equally well.  I trust either at any distance that I can shoot accurately.

 I'd agree with others... no reason to go over 22" unless you go to a single shot in which case you don't have the added length of the magazine and a little longer barrel gives better balance and keeps the muzzle blast a little farther from your ears.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

  Forget about speed, see what feels "right" to you for barrel length.  Losing 100fps means something like .5inches at 300yds or less.

Jim