Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Sako 85 throat length for .260

Am eying a sako 85 stainless synthetic in .260 Rem.
Anyone knows whether this rifle is throated for the light bullets ( 100-130 gr.) or heavies ( 156-160)? Can not find info on their website or a place to ask this question.
I know their 6.5x55 Sako 75 is throated for the 160/156 grain bullets.
I vision my .260 as a low recoil deer gun with 100-120 grain bullets.

Why are all .260's chambered with a 22 inch instead of a 24 inch barrel? We could use the added velocity.
I never felt un-handy with a 24 inch tube even in the thick brush.

Since the 260 isn`t, and never has to my knowledge, been loaded with bullets over 140 gr by a factory. I doubt Sako is throating for them. Don`t know that for a fact though, manufactures seem to throat any way they want, bullet lgt be damned.

I wouldn`t worry about the loss of 2" of barrel either. I`ve a M700 DBM with a 24" tube and a Kimber M84 with a 22" both in 260 Rem from the factory. The Kimber actually drives the same load faster then the longer M700 with some ammo. Never is there more then 20 or so fps difference in velocity though in either direction.
BTW both are throated short enough to allow most 140 gr hunting bullets to touch the lands, and still fit the 2.815" magazine.

My 300 Wsm magazine is 2.945 in my 85.

Thanks Joe good point of no factory load exists over 140 grains. How is the accuracy you get from the Rem. and the Kimber? What bullet weights do you shoot?
Thanks for your time,
Shrike

shrike both rifles shoot just under 1" for 5100 quite consistantly with ammo they like. The M700 takes to 100gr bullets while the Kimber likes 120s best.
I have used the 120 gr BTs in both rifles lately for hunting, but have I used more 129gr Hornady SP on deer then any other. That goes for the 6.5 Swede too. That Hornady inter-Loct is a hard act to follow IMO

IMHO, a Sako will out the box outshoot Rem's and Kimber's. In 260, the throat of my 75 is fine with 140s, but right now it's on a steady diet of 130 ABs and it shot a few groups where the FIRST 2 went into the SAME hole at 200 yds. Never had a Rem do that, nor would expect a Kimber.

That said the other brands will do, but if you want the MOST accurate.....Sako GUARANTEES their accuracy, Rem and Kimber does not.

Lastly, bbl length, I thought they were like 22 5/16? None the less, IME w/6.5x55 (and 260 will mirror), 2" of bbl w/equate to 60-75 fps if that, and one would never notice the difference on game if you place your shot into the vitals IMO.

If you handload and shoot nothing heavier than 142s, get the 260 FWIW. Today's bullets in 120-140gr are better than ever and will kill as well as any 6.5mm. OTOH, if you want Nostalgia, go with 6.5x55 and load or buy 156-160 grain.

Either 6.5mm round is good medicine IMO on non dangerous (IE Bears) game in NA if shot is placed up to 400 yds or so.

Thank you guys for your input.
It will be a Sako in 260!!

If you don't like it, let me know what your 'used' price is I won't be holding my breath, if it shoots like my sons!

I don't run an M85 but a M75 260 Rem. With 140gr Accubombs I'm within .015" of the lands and they function just fine in my magazine. If I wanted to chase I could slighty closer while still clearing but these loads are shooting great. Not to get overly technical but the barrel length is 22 7/16.

FWIW, my 85 and A7 both shoot better at 2.85"COL than at the useable max of 2.92"(85) and 2.89"(A7).
They're both WSM's(not 260's) but I still wouldn't worry about reaching the lands with the Sako barrels.

If you hand load, a load of 43.5 grains of IMR 4064 and a 100 grain bullet gives an MV of 3350 fps in my Rugers in 260, both having a 22 inch stainless barrel.

so velocity with light bullets shouldn't be an issue..

while I prefer a 24 inch barrel, the 2 inches shorter on my Rugers have not proven to be a handicap..

If you want to be able to have a longer throat, a gunsmith can take care of that for a couple of bucks..