Extending leade in .260 Rem. rifle...

H

HShack

New member
I really like the 6.5 bullets; I also like that it uses the .308 case. What I don't like is that the high BC bullets have to be seated so deep in the case as to cut down on powder volume.

Is it a viable option to extend the leade? Is it difficult?

I am considering the Savage Model 11 Long Range Hunter [I like the weight] and the Model 12 Long Range Precision [I like the target trigger and the 26" barrel].

As this would be a hunting rifle for deer out to 600 yds. & for punching paper to 1,000 yds., I will either load Berger 140 gr. VLD's or Hornaday 140 gr. SST's.
 
Individual ledes on rifles can vary somewhat. I have a lede on my Remington 700 in .308 that can be measured in light-years (just kidding), while on my Savage .308, the lede is fairly short.
 
The heavier bullets don't always have to be seated deep. It all depends on what type of action you have. My hunting buddy has his .260AI built on a mauser action (i.e. long action). He can use a much longer OAL than I can in my Remington Model 7.

In either case, seating deeper doesn't have to cut adversely into powder capacity. I'm using 42.5 grn of RL-17 (almost a max load) and it is still less than a 100% fill. You just need to match your powder choice to the case volumn you are going to be actually using.
 
just to let HShack you can get the target triger in the long range hunter. I too am looking at getting a LRH in 6.5 CM for the same reason.
 
What Doyle said...

The maximum COAL in the reloading manual is a conservative "guide", often based on mag length. Every chamber, and bullet, is different.

I started reloading only a year ago, but from the beginning I purchased a Hornady OAL Gauge, and paired it with their Bullet Comparator.

The Bullet Comparator measures bullet length to the ogive, which is more accurate than overall length. With both of those gauges, you can get a maximum loaded length-for every bullet- based on the distance to the lands.

You may find that you can load longer, without risking jamming the bullet into the lands. It also allows precise experimentation to determine the optimal "jump" to the rifling. A "must" (or similar) for every precision shooter.
 
Is the action a short action or a full length (06 length) action? Most of the rifles I have seen for cartridges on a .308 case are shot action. I never liked short actions as the magazine limits the oal too much in some cases.

I have been out of the circle for rifles for a number of years now, and am not familiar with the rifle in question. However, I suspect it is much too heavy to carry all day every day when on a big game hunt.
Added. As I looked it up it evidently weighs 8.4 lbs. By the time you get a scope, mount, and loaded I suspect it will weigh over 10 lbs. Be sure you want to carry that much gun in the field.

For me, if I bought a hunting rifle today it would weigh no more than 7.5 lb. equipped and loaded. I think I could get one maybe less than 7 with a Leupold VX3 2.5X8.

Jerry
 
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JerryM said:
Is the action a short action or a full length (06 length) action?
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Hey, Jerry, yeah, the rifle he referenced is a short action rifle. In the Savage line, the two digit models (10, 11, 12, 16) are short action. The three digit models (110, 111, 116) are long action.
 
Thanks, PawPaw. That makes it harder to get a round with the bullet loaded out so that the max capability can be realized.

Years ago I bought my son a Rem 660 in 6mm Rem. I found that the short action required the round to be shorter than I wanted to get top performance. I can get over 150 fps greater velocity with my .243 which does have a 2 inch longer barrel in a long M 70FWT action.

On a side note, I had a friend who could buy them at 10% below wholesale. I paid about $90 or less for the gun. Guess who is still sorry he did not buy a set of those??:mad::mad:

Jerry
 
.260 Rem. leade

Yeah, Jerry; I presently carry a customized [by me] Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 topped with the Leupold Vari-X III in 2.5-8. It weighs in at 7 lb. even.

I'm 70 now, with bad feet. My deer hunting now consists of getting out of the truck and climb in to a little condo atop a 6' tower. So, heavy is not a problem. It's almost like shooting off the bench in there.

Someone on TFL said their magazine in a short action measured 3.0"; the .260 Rem. OAL is 2.8", so there is some wiggle room.

Or, I could just go with the LR Hunter in 6.5/284; Savage puts that in a long action even though the cartridge was designed for a short one. I'm assuming this is to allow for a really long bullet. And I wouldn't have to hot-load to get 2,800 fps with 140 gr. bullets. Would cost a lot more to load, though.............humm......
 
My 260s have, as you stated, enough wiggle room. I stay at 129 or below for them. Your idea of the LR Hunter in 6.5-284 is a good one. I had a 6.5-06 built long ago that was throated for 140SMK. It made a little difference with 129s, as I could push them within a few fs of 120s. However, the 140s hit the tach at 2935 in a 24" barrel!
 
Dude!! I'm seventy! I don't have enough time left to shoot what- 1200 rounds? Maybe more if I don't load near max. Besides, I've heard one can replace a shot-out barrel........
 
From what i have read the short action LRHs have the wiggle room you guys are talking about there made for guys that reload for long range hunting aparently.

PS and a 10lb. fully loaded rifle is not that heave considering most light weight rifles run 6 to 6.5lbs + scope,base & bullets = 8 to 8.5lbs .

So whats an extra 2lbs. Not much if you ask me, heck you could leave your wallet in the truck and make that up.
 
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Besides, I've heard one can replace a shot-out barrel........
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Yeah... I know...barrels are like tires...

At least with the Savage, he can screw on a new barrel himself after 1,000 rounds. Makes the expense and inconvenience of owning a real throat burner more tolerable I suppose. It's not as much the $$ of a replacement barrel, as it is the month or two of not shooting while the rifle is away at the gunsmith.
 
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