Rebarreling a rifle to 260 rem, looking to send 140 grain partitions down the tube, optimum length and twist? Do i really need anything longer than 22" to get decent performance, would like to keep the weight down. Thanks in advance for opinions.

1-8" is where you wanna be for 140's.

RL-26 pushes 147's @ 2,784 fps in my 22" bbl.

Thank You for the info

Here are the spec’s from my Krieger 260 barrel
The rifle has REALLY nice balance to it, and is very accurate.

I cut it to 23.5” when I put it on my Sako 85

6.5mm (260, 264) .256/.264
Material: SS
Contour No: SPT
Type: SPT
Breech Dia.: 1.245
Breech Length: 2.75
Blank Length: 27
Neck Dia.: .87
Neck Length: 6
Muzzle Dia.: .63
Twist: 8
No. of Grooves: 4

Good advice and nice specs given so far.

I have a few rifles chambered in 260 and like the 22" 700 Mountain Rifle contour as well as any.

Whatever barrel length and contour you decided on, you want a ROT of 1-8" or quicker for 140 grain bullets.

Thank You 260Remguy, as maybe you can see my vision from the posts in the Mauser forum where this is leading maybe.

My 1/9 twist Mountain rifle shoots the 140 Partition quite nicely.


There is no reason to not get a 1/8 twist barrel though. That’s what Remington should have put on them to begin with.

I think that rebarreling your small ring 98 to 260 would work fine if the action is in good condition. An added benefit of using that action to build a 260 is that the magazine is long enough to allow you to load the longer VLD bullets of the type that helped the 6.5 Creedmoor bury the 260. I have small ring 98 military Mausers rebarreled to 243, 257 Roberts, and 7x57.

That said, if the 7x57 barrel that is on your rifle is in good shape, I'd probably leave it as is.

I am going to run a few rounds thru it and see what it does, a trip to the gravel pit will tell the tale, there was handloads and lots of info in the deal, looks like 140 grains being pushed by RL19 powder. We shall see!!!!!! If it is good, i guess i have another caliber, I have a Mauser VX action planned but then this one appeared. The target will tell or give me a good idea if it can put a group together.

Consider this. In my Savage model 16 22" Bbl, 1/8 twist. CCI #250 mag primers, Rem brass, Badlands Precision 125gr mono, 47.5 grs Rel 26 = 3032fps. in the picture is a Nosler 140 gr AB on the left & a Badlands 125 gr on the right. Notice the Badlands 125 gr bullet on the right is longer than the Nosler 140gr AB. A higher BC & tight groups.

I put a 22" .260 700TI takeoff on my 725. Specs say it has a 1:9 twist.

I have not found to date that it likes anything other than 140 gr bullets, by several MOAs. With factory Corelokt 140s I get MOA with a good rest and steady hold. Have yet to try any 129/130, but it sure doesn't like 120 or 160. Including the much vaunted TSX in 120.

I can live with that. Smacked a cow caribou with it at 290 yards last August just fine. One of 10 or so over the years, plus an elk, and a wolf.

Yeah, don't sweat barrel length, to a point.

The 140 partitions may not need a 1/8" but that twist wont hurt them & it will be available if you ever want to go to the high BC stuff.

A 1/8 twist 22" barrel in 260 is a good place be IMO. I'm running a 28" on one gun & its faster than some, but still no speed demon. A 260 can be happy in a 22".

My 1/8 Criterion barrels shoot eveything from 120-147 grains, equally well. I would not go any slower than that.