6.5 Creedmoor vs. .260 Rem

rdii61 - I would love to shoot a "sweet" .308! ;) To be fair, the one I'm shooting is very basic. We put a butt pad on it and I shot it 150 rounds or so last time so it was certainly improved but the trigger has issues so it's not a fair comparison probably.

I don't really understand the ratio of the twist. I assume that is what is referred to as "rifling" but as to how the physics apply... I've got nothing! I did note that many of the "factory" guns seem to come with an 8:1 ratio... I will need to study more to understand. I was hoping to order my new gun tomorrow but more pondering may be required so not so Merry Christmas to me...:mad:
 
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Twist refers to the distance a bullet must travel to make one full rotation. Your 8:1 would actually be a 1:8 twist or 1 revolution per 8 inches. The faster the twist the heavier/longer bullets you can stabalize.

A slow twist like a 1:12 twist in something like a .223 would limit you to around 55 grain bullets or lighter where a 1:7 twist .223 will let you run 80 grain bullets without problem. If you were to shoot too heavy/long of a bullet for twist it will not stabalize and you would wind up with "keyholes" in your target. This is where the bullet actually hits sideways and makes an elongated hole instead of a nice little round one.

Don't get wound up in the whole twist thing right now, most factory rifles are set up with the twist for the bullets most commonly used in factory ammunition. Once you get into reloading then the twist will become more important, as you'll tailor your rounds to your rifle. Your shooting mentor might be able to explain it better to you as well.
 
Ooooooooh! I mostly get it.:D I'll still study more. Thanks!!

I think I'm leaning toward the .260 Rem... the ammo is a bit more expensive but possibly more prolific. My theory on the ammo becoming unavailable and needing to reload is that it would give me the justification to learn to reload so... that's a win-win! I'm willing to pay more to perform better as far as having to buy factory ammo. Over time, perhaps I can customize the gun or eventually afford another custom gun. I realize that Savage doesn't have the best stock but that can be changed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!!
 
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260 Remington... It's a great round... reach and barrel life!!

Rifles001.jpg
 
That's a nice gun... I don't think my Savage will be quite that fancy... I've more or less convinced myself that the Model 12LRP is what I need. Then it's on to contemplating the scope.

It's worse than drug addiction. Pretty sure!:eek:
 
Been shooting and reloading for the 260 for a few years now and it's by far my favorate. Even though the 260 is a little longer then the 6.5Creedmore case capacity is not a problem with the 260 and you DONT have to seat your bullets out more as with the best powders for the 260 you will hit max pressure before you run out of case space. I have done alot of testing and you dont gain any accuracy seating your bullets out so far they wont fit in most standard magazines. Also as far as I know the 6.5Creedmore only has 1 manufacturer of brass and ammo where the 260 has around half a dozen different manufacturers of brass and ammo (most having multiple offerings of hunting and match ammo) and I have heard through the grapevine that Winchester and another manufacturer (I cant remember who) will be making brass and factory ammo in the near future. You can also form 260 brass from 243, 7mm08 and 308 brass.
 
It's worse than drug addiction. Pretty sure!
Click to expand...

While both doing The Gun Thing and drug addiction are spendy and time intensive ...... Drug addiction will not leave you with any useful skills, and will wreck your health...... The Gun Thing will teach you all manner of useful skills, from range estimation to practical excercises in mathematics and problem solving ..... plus having a CCW permit gives you a "Good Guy Card", and drug addiction will give you a rap sheet.......
 
I've never look at what type factory ammo for the 6.5CM or 260 that would be for 1000yd shooting or close to it. Just dug this up Cor-Bon had 260 with 142gr Sierra HBPT at $42. per 20rds and Hornady has factory 140gr A-Max for the 6.5 CM at $24 per 20rds. If I was going to buy factory ammo to learn on and some future date get into reloading I'd do the 6.5 CM. I'm sure there may be other 260 Ammo cheaper.
 
Both of these cartridges are wonderful 1000 yard competitors.

That said, playing in F Open gets spendy in a hurry, because the competition really hinges around 6.5-.284 and 7mm calibers. The 7mm bullets seem to be where its at right now. That doesn't mean other calibers don't or can't win competitions, but the fast 7mm's seem to be really what the top guys are shooting.

A properly set up .308 shooting 155 grain bullets will be very competitive in FTR, since that is what most of the top guys are shooting. Shooting the 155 bullets it isn't too abusive, either. It will be cheaper to shoot, with barrel life at 5000 rounds or more. Factory loaded competition ammo is available from multiple places, and you might even find a friend who is willing to reload for you if you buy components and supply him/her with some.

If you really want a 6.5 rifle, either the 6.5 Creedmoor or the .260 are great choices, and really your decision should be based on which you can find competitive factory loaded ammunition at a cost effective price. I would NOT worry about the "what if there is no support in a few years" issue with the Hornady, since I don't know a single shooter still shooting the same rifle he started with even 5 years ago, except for .308 guys. The two are so close in performance that there is no real difference.

Creedmoor ammo is easily found online, and the recipe is right on the box if you decide to load it yourself in the future.

The new Savage you are considering is a great rifle, and will be competitive out of the box if the .308 FTR rifles are any indication. (About 1/2 the US FTR team shoots stock Savage FTR .308 rifles.)

Hope that helps!
 
You guys have been great! So helpful... I did it!!! Merry Chritmas to me. Ordered the Savage Model 12 LFP in the .260 Rem today.... I'll have it Thursday and I'm pretty excited. Now I'm trying to figure out the best "affordable" scope for the range I'm working at... I've been whispering sweet nothings about reloading in my husband's ear while he sleeps... hoping that subconcious programming thing works. If you have any wisdom about an affordable scope, that would be nice. I'll do a search and see what's been previously done so if you're tired of me - it's ok - I understand!

Merry Christmas fellas and thanks for the help.

:D
 
Ordered the Savage Model 12 LFP in the .260 Rem today....

I went through this same debate last week and Ordered the Savage Model 12 LRP 6.5 Creedmoor. Good luck with your 260 Remington. What is your budget for a scope? :)
 
What is "affordable" in the daisy budget?
I think 2/3 - 100% of the rifle cost is a reasonable range for a target rifle scope.
I have Leupolds that cost about $800. They are higher now.
That money will get you a Sighttron SIII, Bushnell Tactical, or a Vortex Viper PST now, but I have no personal experience. Sighttron SII and Millett Tactical are a step lower in price and get good reviews.

You need lots of elevation adjustment to shoot 1000 yards.
It takes about 35 MOA to go from 100 to 1000 yards with a .308, although less with a .260. Note this is from center, or half the range in the catalog.

The SWFA Super Sniper scopes have a lot of adjustment for inexpensive scopes, but they are fixed power.

Get more power in a scope than you think you need.
The Internet Experts proclaiming "the military snippers shoot a long ways with a 10X" are not appreciating the benefit of a lot of magnification when the target is clear and contrasty, like a bullseye on a known distance range.
 
Reasonable is in the eye of the purchaser!

Congrats on your purchase! For F class, most shooters are using scopes with 12-50 power ranges. You can shoot lower powered scopes, but it is tough to see a target with a 5" center with less than 20-30 power, minimum.

Nightforce 12-42x56 BR scopes are a bit less expensive than the NXT series, and offer all the performance, but with taller target type knobs and front parallax instead of left side knob like the NXT. You are in the 1300-1900 range there.

The best bang for the buck right now are probably Vortex scopes, with the Viper PST 6-24x50 the current price leader at around $800-850.

The Sightron SIII's are good scopes, too, but I prefer the Vortex because you get Zero Stop and they are rock solid by all accounts.

I would not buy a Millett, as I have heard of many issues. They have a good return policy, but that doesn't help if they dump in the middle of a match.

Super Sniper scopes are the wild card, they are very decent scopes for the cost. Just remember, though, that if you buy a fixed power scope, with high power, that you can't back it off when the mirage starts jumping on you. I may use 42 power early in the day, but back off to 20-25 when the range heats up and the mirage starts running hard.

Scopes are a "buy once, cry once" purchase. I know guys still shooting the same Nightforce they bought years ago, with it on the 4th or 5th rifle.

I tried to go lower priced, but now own 2 Nightforces, nothing else was satisfactory for a lower price at 1000 yards. Others have felt differently, though!

Remember, all the advice offered is just that, advice. The only way to really KNOW what scope you want is to get it on the range and look through it at long range. My Nikon 2.5x10 power looked great at 400 yards, but simply wasn't getting it done at 1000 yards!
 
I was hoping to get in around $500 (trying to stay married)... but want to give myself a chance so it's flexible to a point. I can always get a night job at Starbucks.;)

I was looking at the Nikon Monarch 4-16x50sf with the BDC. Remember, I'm only working at 400 yds right now - 1000 is stilla pipe dream away BUT, I'd like to buy something that will be good as I work further out.
 
daisy,

Nothing wrong with the Nikon, but you'll want more at 1000, and since that is your goal, you will end up paying for the Nikon now, and then something else later, so it will cost you at least 30% more than just buying what will work in the first place.

I do understand having to stay within a budget, though!

Faced with your dilemma, I'm going to go off the normal advice I woud give, and I would seriously consider the best 20-30 power fixed scope you can afford, and would just deal with the issues of mirage as best you can.

Weaver scopes have served my friends well in that regard, like this one:

http://swfa.com/Weaver-24x40-T-Series-Rifle-Scope-P2869.aspx

or consider the Super Sniper range:

http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-Scopes-C1719.aspx

BUT....you have to look through them to get a good idea of what works for you!
 
Put a hunting scope on it for the time being shoot, save your money and get what your dead set on. If your dead set on budget options. Leupold MK4 2.5-10 M1/M2 series, Vortex Viper PST, SS, Bushnell, and IOR. All decent choices. Look to find a magnification that your comfortable with also. A 10x should save some money as there are 10x42mm SS scopes for 400$.
 
Grendel65 - thanks for the references and RATS - looks like I'll have to take another trip to the gun store...;) My husband finds it so odd that I have so much fun there! I do understand about pay now or pay later. My only fear is that I buy something for 1000 yds but then never develop the talent to shoot that distance. It's a dilemma for sure! I think the new gun will give me a fighting chance but it's still an awful long way for a blonde girl!:D

Merry Christmas gang! Thanks as always for sharing your knowledge.
 
No talent needed to shoot 1000 yards, only work and experience. Experience only comes one way; from work!

If it took talent, I'd be out of luck! BUT....I can work at it!

Now, to shoot at a National Championship level, that requires some other skills, mostly wind reading, but once again, the best wind readers all have experience! There are a few guys (and girls, Michelle Gallagher and her Mom and family come to mind) that seem to be almost from a different world when it comes to that.

BUT...you can be in the game with the rifle you have and a decent scope.
 
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