I think I am going to have to buy a new Savage in .260 Rem, would you guys recommend the Weather Warrior 16 FCSS 22" or the Predator Hunter Model 10 with the 24" barrel? I already have a Remington Mountain Rifle 22" so I am leaning towards the 24" just because. What are the gains of the 24"??


Thanks

What you`ll gain with a 24" barrel is maybe 40 to 60 fps in overall velocity. Otherwise, zip!

Which rifle you get should depend on how it will be used, under what circumstances the majority of the time.

If I`m reading your post correctly, you already have a 260 Remy mountain rifle with a 22" barrel? If so, you`ll gain absolutely nothing going to another 260 with a 24" barrel.

A waste of money imo.

Either length to purchase would be fine because I'd have it hacked to 21". If that threw off balance I'd wrap it around a tree and go another direction. YMMV

Or, you could get the new Savage Model 11 Lightweight Hunter with a 20" barrel. Just letting you know you have the whole range available. What would be a reasonable speed to expect from a 130 Scirocco II, or maybe a 120 TTSX out of a 20"?

My .260 just doesn't get projectiles out as fast as some of the numbers I've seen on 24HC...

I can only get 3,150 to 3,180 from 100's out of a 21 1/2" tube. Others quote speeds from 3300 to 3350 with 100's with like powders I use.

In my tube, if I could get to 2900 with 120's and 2800 with 130's I'd probably be happy...

Are they chambering the Predator in 260 Rem????

if so, I've got to get one of those... and with a 24 inch barrel..

I shoot them with barrel lengths from 22 to a heavy barreled 26 inch Rem VLS...

You are not overly handicapped with the shorter barrels..

I was going to put a heavy magnum contoured one on an Action with a 20 inch length...while shortening the stock an inch also..

A tad more velocity with the 24. Shorter barrels are stiffer though. Stiff means accurate. Duece Duece.

My Mountain Rifle is very opposed to 140gr bullets, I know I don't need to shoot them and honestly I am probably going to start running the 100gr TTSX anyway, but for some reason it just aggravtes me. On top of that, I just really like the .260 Remington, if one is good then two is fo sho mo betterer. The Stainless model may make more sense actually, I figured there would be a great velocity difference, I don't know why from 22"-24" I though that.

Shipping parts out this week to do a .260 @ 21". I wanted a reasonably light, well balanced hunting rifle, and a 24" barrel doesn't fit in there. 130gr AB's at 2750 is fine by me...

Right now I'm running the 120NBT @ 2880fps with great accuracy from my Mountain Rifle with H414.

I`ve a Rem M700 with a 24" bbl and a Kimber M84 with a 22" tube, both 260 rem`s. They will both shoot the same reloads to within a couple fps over my Pact and the shorter Kimber has actually shot a couple loads faster for a 5 shot avg.
This isn`t the norm I`m sure, but shows me there likely isn`t a whole lot of difference to worry about

I've had the same experience. It don't run as fast as easy as others. I'd be ecstatic with 120s @ 2900 in mine.

Ours is 23". Kills a lot of stuff with 140 accubonds now running 2670 fps. Get the 24" and whack as necessary.

Odd, I can push 120's at 2850 in the 250AI.

I love this....Scott has the same patience with ill suited rifles that I do.....none.

I'd go 22" on the 260 barrel.

It seems odd to me also, but for some unknown reason I tend to think the 260 just won't take being pushed. Book loads that are pressure tested are already up there at 60k, and they don't seem to be all that fast. Maybe it's the long bearing surface on the usually long 6.5 bullets???

Does 2" of barrel length, either way, make a rifle "ill suited"? And, extending the conversation, "ill suited" for what purposes and what environments?

A rifle with a heavy 26" barrel might be a PITA to weave in and out of thick cover or carry up a mountain, but would be no trouble at all in a box blind overlooking a cut bean field.

Jeff

If you already have a Remington 700 MR in 260, why do you want or feel a need for a Savage rifle in 260? Not that I begrudge a man multiple rifles chambered for the same cartridge, just asking, since I consider the 700 LSS-MR very close to the perfect vehicle for the 260.

With a MSRP of $801, the 16FCSS seems like a totally redundant choice and also a lesser grade/quality of rifle to me. The 10 Predator Hunter Max 1 has a little heavier and longer barrel, but any potential velocity increase would likely be in the 100 fps range and is that enough to justify spending $900 MSRF on a new Savage rifle? It wouldn't be for me, but that's just me being me.

I have a Savage 11 FNS parts gun with a 26" Shilen barrel and a McM Hunter stock that I put together for about the same price as the 10 Predator Hunter Max 1's MSRP. I think that you could do the same and come away with a better package of action, stock, and barrel, if that is what you're looking for.

Jeff

I have a 260 Rem, 22" Douglas long chambered #3 taper 3 pound barrel.

I can shoot some small groups with 100 gr Ballistic Tip at 3240 fps.

Steelie, We are leaving some fps on the table as my youngster doesn't like the recoil much. Could probably get another 100 fps but it is really not necessary as stuff keeps dying. 23" #2 does balance great in an edge though.

Personally I like a shorter barrel in the 260. I'm thinking of getting a light weight hunter from Savage once the local dealer gets a price list. I think 20" of barrel is plenty for any 308 based cartridge. I have a Remington Model 7 with the 18.5" barrel and it sends 129 hornady SP out at 2600-2700fps. Every deer ever shot at with that gun has died in short order.

Never missed a shot that afterward I thought 'I would have made that shot if I had an extra 2" of barrel'

Well that is because you are practical... some other guys would agonize for months over that simple decision...

Bingo, and I'd love it at .6 at the mzl.

Dober

Ever have an anxiety attack over a barrel length difference of 1.5"?

Jeff

Go for the 22". You won't gain much more velocity with 24", but you will gain 4-5 more ounces. It'll also be more handy.

Pretty much no difference now that I look at it.

Wouldn't you come out ahead if you upgraded the Remington 7 barrel and, maybe, stock, rather than buying a Savage with an $875 MSRP?

$875 spent on a barrel and a McM stock seems like a it would produce a better outcome. FWIW, I've been pretty happy with the 22" MR and 24" BDL/SS/DM 260 barrels that I've installed on Remington 7s.

Jeff

Maybe, I think the Savage would be about $650 or so from the shop I buy from.


Never had a new tube screwed on, no one around here does it and I have never checked on sending one off.

Bud's shows the Savage 11 LWH DBM in 260 at $701, but they are out of stock. On average, I have found that Bud's retail prices are between $40 and $75 more than small dealer wholesale.

Jeff

I guess I'm odd man out(again). I like long barrels, as long as they don't"get in the way".

Some of my shootin friends from Tx mainly shoot out of shooting houses and with bait stations near abouts, they don't care about tube length either.

Is that your way or are you on the ground mano o venado?

Dober

I'd have expected that from isaac.....

No idea, the guy I buy from usually hangs Bud's prices retail. Looking at his .308 VTR's Bud's are $654, I am thinking the guy I buy from sells his for $659, I think.

I do know I sure don't need another one, I do know that, wants are getting to me.


Dober, nope, no box blinds and what-nots here. I am a ground hunter/walker and occasional tree stand hunter.

Advantages for me included better balance and reduced muzzle blast and jump. Easy to shoot.
I went from 20" to 24" in my 7 and love the result.
Never worried about FPS or extra ounces.

stumpy

Bingo, and I love my 24 inch barreled 260 also.
Get what you want, the he ll with us......

diggin' my 6.5x55 with a 24" Douglas....8lbs all up, pleasure to shoot and balances well too.

You'll gain weight on your rifle and not much velocity, in my opinion, 22" barrels are the best combination of velocity and portability.