Building Confidence

[DrHenley]

Originally Posted by FfNJGTFO

I'm also seeing a caliber with which I'm not familiar (260 Remington). Is that a recommended caliber?

Nothing inherently wrong with the 260 Remmy cartridge itself, but Remington screwed the pooch with the rifles they chambered for it when it first came out. The problem comes when you put it in a short action rifle and then don't have enough magazine length to seat it out enough for heavier bullets that you need for LR. So Remington optimized the rifles for 120 grain bullets...which kinda defeated the whole purpose of the cartridge.

With standard short action magazines you would need to seat the base of a heavy bullet DEEP into the case, reducing powder capacity. The Creedmoor solves this by using a shorter case leaving more room in a short action magazine for the bullet, and then raising the max pressure to allow the same performance as the 260 Remmy in a shorter case. The 6.5 Lapua takes it one step farther by shortening the case even more and using an even higher max pressure (blown primers are common in the Lapua).

In a single shot rifle you have no such limitations. I know of LR target shooters that love the 260 Remmy, but then they have single shot target rifles.

I had a single shot falling block chambered for it at one time, but the barrel was too light leading to rapid heat buildup in the barrel. Again, not the fault of the cartridge itself.

[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by DrHenley

Nothing inherently wrong with the 260 Remmy cartridge itself, but Remington screwed the pooch with the rifles they chambered for it when it first came out. The problem comes when you put it in a short action rifle and then don't have enough magazine length to seat it out enough for heavier bullets that you need for LR. So Remington optimized the rifles for 120 grain bullets...which kinda defeated the whole purpose of the cartridge.

With standard short action magazines you would need to seat the base of a heavy bullet DEEP into the case, reducing powder capacity. The Creedmoor solves this by using a shorter case leaving more room in a short action magazine for the bullet, and then raising the max pressure to allow the same performance as the 260 Remmy in a shorter case. The 6.5 Lapua takes it one step farther by shortening the case even more and using an even higher max pressure (blown primers are common in the Lapua).

In a single shot rifle you have no such limitations. I know of LR target shooters that love the 260 Remmy, but then they have single shot target rifles.

I had a single shot falling block chambered for it at one time, but the barrel was too light leading to rapid heat buildup in the barrel. Again, not the fault of the cartridge itself.

OK Thanks! I'll most likely stick with .308 Winchester. There are some good deals on those. Is Savage Arms a good manufacturer? I see some good choices for those. Also, how about Tikka?

[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by DrHenley

Nothing inherently wrong with the 260 Remmy cartridge itself, but Remington screwed the pooch with the rifles they chambered for it when it first came out. The problem comes when you put it in a short action rifle and then don't have enough magazine length to seat it out enough for heavier bullets that you need for LR. So Remington optimized the rifles for 120 grain bullets...which kinda defeated the whole purpose of the cartridge.

With standard short action magazines you would need to seat the base of a heavy bullet DEEP into the case, reducing powder capacity. The Creedmoor solves this by using a shorter case leaving more room in a short action magazine for the bullet, and then raising the max pressure to allow the same performance as the 260 Remmy in a shorter case. The 6.5 Lapua takes it one step farther by shortening the case even more and using an even higher max pressure (blown primers are common in the Lapua).

In a single shot rifle you have no such limitations. I know of LR target shooters that love the 260 Remmy, but then they have single shot target rifles.

I had a single shot falling block chambered for it at one time, but the barrel was too light leading to rapid heat buildup in the barrel. Again, not the fault of the cartridge itself.

Thanks much! What about "6.5 Creedmoor?" I understand it's a direct competitor to .338 Lapua Magnum. But I'm also finding a bunch of LR Rifles available and "in stock" for 6.5 Creedmoor... not necessarily the same weapon in .308 Win, which is what I'd like to get.

[RKP]

Originally Posted by FfNJGTFO

.... What about "6.5 Creedmoor?" ....

https://ruger.com/products/precision...ets/18029.html

[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by Caleb

Good choice in bailing on that cluster.

What max range are you looking at shooting?

I have one of my LR rifles for sale in the classifieds. It’ll shoot out to 900yds and hit with >10mph crosswinds if you do your part.


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I was looking at 1000 yds, max. I am checking the list items I see for effective range, but few disclose that. I have to cross check against the manufacturer's specs for the rifle.

[DrHenley]

1000 is possible with a 308 but only with certain bullets. I think the big thing now is what ammo or reloading bullets can you find?

Here are a couple of loads available at Midway that will do 1000 yards easily with very low drag bullets. But you will have to try different loads to see which one the rifle likes, and at the moment, there isn't much available, either loaded ammo or component bullets.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/953728886

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102335492

[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by DrHenley

1000 is possible with a 308 but only with certain bullets. I think the big thing now is what ammo or reloading bullets can you find?

Here are a couple of loads available at Midway that will do 1000 yards easily with very low drag bullets. But you will have to try different loads to see which one the rifle likes, and at the moment, there isn't much available, either loaded ammo or component bullets.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/953728886

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102335492

I was thinking "Lapua .308 BTFMJ" I know most people prefer their .338 magnum, but they do make a decent .308 win.

[DrHenley]

Originally Posted by FfNJGTFO

I was thinking "Lapua .308 BTFMJ" I know most people prefer their .338 magnum, but they do make a decent .308 win.

If you can find it...

[Caleb]

Both Savage and Tikka make good rifles. Don’t count out Howa and Beragara. The best bang for your buck out of the box is the Ruger Precision Rifle, IMHO


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[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by Caleb

Both Savage and Tikka make good rifles. Don’t count out Howa and Beragara. The best bang for your buck out of the box is the Ruger Precision Rifle, IMHO


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Thanks. I put some of the Ruger Precisions on the watch list. I see several for .308 Win and I even see a .338 Lapua Magnum as well (but much higher price $2.5K).



I've been doing some cleaning of my "security closet" (I have a digital combo lock on the door latch) in order to make room for all the new ammo I hope to acquire when pricing drops. I still have a bunch of old C & R items from my Uncle's collection. Surprisingly, I believe some of them are still in working order, all be they not in the "prettiest" condition. I can get those cleaned up and smithed whenever I choose.



It's ironic I asked about Savage Arms, because one of those C & R pieces that still seems in working order is a Savage 12G SxS double barrel. I also have a Remington Model II Semi Auto 12G as well. Will be interesting to see if these still work.