Does anyone make a factory heavy barrel .260?

[Quintin Likely]

For some reason or another, the .260 has me fascinated. Mild recoil, wide selection of high BC bullets, and it's something different. But the problem is, outside of a 40X from Remington's Custom Shop, I haven't seen anyone that offers a .260 in something other than a sporter weight barrelled rifle. Truthfully, I'd like one as a prone/LR rifle. For the time being, if I could start off with a heavy barrelled, fast twist rifle, that'd be less work I'd have to do to get shooting. Maybe another stock with a handrail and hand stop and an adjustible buttplate, Weaver base for a rear sight, turn the front barrel down for a sight band, add sights and irises and off we go. Long term, I'd like to get one built, but in the meantime, anyone out there make one of these?

 

[esldude]

http://www.kimberamerica.com/84m.php

Kimber at least does with the heavy barrel. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

 

[Quintin Likely]

Hm, even if it won't make my prone rifle right now, that Kimber does look mighty nice. I think I'll have to do some checking in on that. Maybe McMillian or someone can fix up a stock that'll fit their action.

Thanks!

 

[Jonathan]

Savage + home-installed aftermarket barrel

 

[Quintin Likely]

Hm, now that I didn't think of. I've already got a Savage 10FP sitting in the case, albeit in .223. What's all involved in switch barrelling a Savage? I've read a lot that it's somewhat easier than a Remington or Winchester because the way the barrel screws onto the receiver, but that's about it. Do I need to start off with a rifle that has a .308 bolt face, or can I use my .223?

Edit: Duh, use the search function, stupid. Savage Shooters

 

[tex_n_cal]

Cooper Arms might, they do a lot of wildcats and unusual calibers in all their rifles. The Model 22 single shot takes all the .308 class cartridges, and Coopers are known to be wickedly accurate.

 

[glazer1972]

You can get a .308 Bolt Face for the Savage you already have.

 

[Quintin Likely]

The Coopers are gorgeous rifles, but I heard you have to wait like a billion years (okay, not quite that long, but last I heard the waiting list was months deep) to get one, assuming a dealer doesn't have what you want on their shelf.

I saw Midway has a bunch of different Savage bolts, and reading around, I think I hit another stumbling block: Short or long action? Maybe it was with the 6.5x55, I don't remember, but there was something I read about a standard short action not allowing enough room to remove live rounds, the bolt has to be removed.

 

[Jonathan]

Yes, 6.5x55 is probably the most common round that falls in between the short and long action.

If I remember correctly, the Win70 is one of the few actions that will work with the swede in the short action version.

.260 will work great in any short action.

 

[ocabj]

Here's mine built on a Savage 10FP, originally a 308:



More info: http://www.ocabj.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=197

As far as using a .223 to turn into a .260, it will work. You will need a .308 bolt face, a .260 barrel (obviously), and most likely the magazine well and magazine follower for a .308. You'll want to look into the blind magazine parts, but I'm pretty sure that the .223 uses a shorter mag well and follower than a .308.

If you want to go 6.5x55 Swede or AI, you'll definitely need a long action. The 6.5x55 is going to be my next Savage based project.

 

[esheato]

The Coopers are gorgeous rifles, but I heard you have to wait like a billion years (okay, not quite that long, but last I heard the waiting list was months deep) to get one, assuming a dealer doesn't have what you want on their shelf.

Nine looooong months.

Ed

 

[Quintin Likely]

Gravy!

ocabj, awesome stuff, looks like it shouldn't be too hard. The .308 head space guages worked alright? I read something about setting the headspace with a piece of paper stuffed in the bolt face on Savageshooters.com, but that seemed kinda iffy to me. I think I'll buy the headspace guages and not worry about it.

Stay tuned.