I do not know how I missed this post. But some how I did let it slip by. I do not own one 260, I own five. I do not own one 6.5x55, I own twelve. They just keep following me home.
The 260 and the 6.5x55 are close, but the 260 is not a duplicate of the 6.5x55. It is in fact a bit sportier and is actually more accurate. However, in all fairness, a deer would not know the difference. The two kill deer way beyond their numbers on paper.
The 6.5x06 is closer to the 260 when handloaded and the 260 will eclipse the 6.5x284. Hard to believe but true. I also own two 6.5x06 rifles.
You will find, if you check, that quite a few long-range shooters have gone to the 260 today, both for military gun matches and 1,000 yard matches. My AR-10T in 260 with a Medesha upper will push a 120 MK from the 260 to 3,200 fps and hold sub .20-inch groups at 100. The barrel is a Krieger SS match 1-8 twist that I throated for the Sierra 120s, which it will feed from the clip. That is a bullet with a very high BC that never goes below the speed of sound to 1,000 yards.
The 85 in a 260 will do 3,500 fps and the 140 will do right at 3,000. All shoot sub .25-inch groups with ease. Thus a 260 shooter has a varmint rifle and Elk rifle in one stock.
I own a 7x08 and a 243 and the 260 is superior to the 7x08 and the 243 in performance. Do not know why, it should not be, but it is. The 308, which I also own and shoot, is an also ran in the race. The 308 simply cannot hold up to the long-range potential of the 260. I would say the 308 is like a VW in a road race with a Lotus (260).
The secret to the 260's accuracy is the twist rate in a good barrel. The 1-8 twist is like magic. It handles all of the bullets with superior accuracy. Several of the rifle companies offer a 1-8 twist, but most offer a 1-9. The 1-9 will work, but the fine edge goes to the 1-8.
I recall vividly the first time I saw the 260 round. An old gunsmith, former CIA agent, built a rifle on a lark in the 1980s. He brought his first target over to me at the range. He had a full-blown case of awe going on. He could not believe what he had achieved in a sporting gun, benchrest accuracy, right out of the chute. He fully expected 243 accuracy and got 22PPC accuracy. He was almost jumping up and down.
Dallan, go get the boy a 260 with a 1-8 twist. Get a medium weight barrel and cut it off or flute it if it is too heavy. Do not get a buggy whip barrel. You will be very, very happy. I have a 260 in an XP-100 that I built, with a 14-inch barrel. I can get right at 3,000 fps with a 100 Sierra in that gun. So, an 18-inch barrel should do nicely for a smaller figured person.
Ed
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