Got a steal on a new rifle, what to do with it?

[Thebear_78]

I recently traded a guy a AR lower for this remington 700 SA in 22-250. I don't have much use for a slow twisted 22-250 as I already have a very accurate T/C Encore in this caliber and was thinking what to do with it.

The short list is 308, 260, and 6.5 creedmore.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a light weight as I really like the feel of this laminated stock and don't have any heavier target/long range style rifles. Most of my rifles are fairly light weigh magnums. Mainly looking for something that I can shoot some long range steel with but still be able to take after the occasional deer, black bear or caribou.

I was thinking a stainless barrel with a slightly heavier contour barrel than the stock 22-250 tube.

My main question is the 260 and 6.5 really that much better than the 308 at longer ranges. From what I can see the trajectory is very similar between the three. What are the advantages of the 6.5s vs the 308.

Second question is between the 260 and 6.5 what are the big differences.

Thanks

The donor

 

[FOTIS]

260 all the way....

Popular and easy to load for

 

[BeeTee]

Take a look at the downrange ballistics for the various cartridges you're considering, and determine whether they will keep the bullet supersonic at the longest ranges you want to shoot. The super/sub sonic transition can be detrimental to accuracy. BT

 

[wildgene]

...ballistically speaking, except for the retained energy of the heavier .308 bullet, the .260 & 6.5 Creedmore beat the pants off the .308 & do it w/ considerably less recoil...

...the 6.5 Creedmore is a .260 Rem "done right". It has slightly less case capacity, but the shorter case w/ a steeper shoulder, less taper & a longer neck allows you to seat the long for cal. 6.5 bullets out & still operate in a short action, & seems to be a little more efficient, so the loss in MV is pretty marginal. W/ Nosler brass becoming available this spring the 6.5 CM is just gonna get "better"...

...the "little 6.5's" are really pretty impressive, giving excellent ballistics/ terminal ballistics in a very "friendly", efficient, low recoil platform...

 

[JD338]

Another vote for the 260 Remington!

JD338

 

[DrMike]

I have both a 260 and a 6.5 Creedmoor; they are ballistic twins, as you know. I like either cartridge.

 

[SJB358]

...ballistically speaking, except for the retained energy of the heavier .308 bullet, the .260 & 6.5 Creedmore beat the pants off the .308 & do it w/ considerably less recoil...

...the 6.5 Creedmore is a .260 Rem "done right". It has slightly less case capacity, but the shorter case w/ a steeper shoulder, less taper & a longer neck allows you to seat the long for cal. 6.5 bullets out & still operate in a short action, & seems to be a little more efficient, so the loss in MV is pretty marginal. W/ Nosler brass becoming available this spring the 6.5 CM is just gonna get "better"...

...the "little 6.5's" are really pretty impressive, giving excellent ballistics/ terminal ballistics in a very "friendly", efficient, low recoil platform...

I am with Gene. That little 6.5CM is a very awesome little cartridge. It looks just right!

 

[Guy Miner]

The biggest reason that I still cling to my .308 Win is because it's approved as a Law Enforcement round, and I still get to use it in that role. Also get a lot of "free" Federal Gold Medal brass for it that way. It's proven very accurate and effective out at 600 yards.

The .260 and the 6.5 Creedmore, along with the other 6.5's, walk all over the .308 at longer ranges, particularly at 600 and beyond. Take a look at the wind drift figures for a 6.5 with a slick 140ish grain bullet vs a .308 with the typical 168 gr HPBT match bullet... Wind drift in the 6.5's is considerably less, and at long ranges it's windage that counts more than trajectory.

Elevation is easily compensated for by dialing the scope knobs. Reading the wind, and adjusting for it properly is as much an art as a science. Much tougher. I can do a lot to help my .308 at longer ranges, but it's still no 6.5, and doesn't hold a candle to them at 800 - 1000 and beyond.

Mmmmm - you might not want to shoot that donor .22-250 - Dad got one a few years back and found that the factory Rem barrel with 50 - 53 gr bullets over H380 produces VERY tight accuracy. One hole groups at 100 yards, prairie dog tight at 400 yards.

Guy

 

[gerry]

I'm a 260 fan so will recommend that but the 6.5 Creedmoor does pretty much the same thing. As for brass the 260 is more available and you have more choice so does have a bit of an advantage there too. If you pull the 22-250 barrel you shouldn't have too much trouble selling it. That is a very nice looking gun and as a 6.5mm of some kind it would make a very nice gun for hunting deer, bears, caribou, wolves etc.

 

[.300winmag]

You can't go wrong with the 6.5, .260 or .308. If I were building another long range rifle (which I am having a 6.5x47 Lapua built as we speak) I'd go for the .260 of those three options. In long range shooting, the wind is your biggest enemy, and there are really only two things you can do about it. One is learn to shoot in it by practicing in it, and two, is selecting a cartridge and bullet that will minimize its effects. A .260 with 140 grain Berger Hybrid can easily be pushed to 2850, it also has a G7 BC of .0.317. Where as a .308 Win. can push a 175 grain Berger VLD at 2650-2700, and it has a G7 BC of 0.255. So right off the bat the .260 already has a 24.3 percent higher BC and a higher muzzle velocity.

What that amounts to is the .260 having 28 percent less wind drift than the .308 at 600 yards, and 30.2 percent less wind drift at 1,000 yards. Also, the .260 has more energy at 600 yards than the .308 because of the higher BC and added velocity. At 1,000 yards as well, the .260 drops 20.3 percent less. These numbers came from my ballistics program with the listed bullets and BC's and the .260 having a muzzle velocity of 2,850 and the .308 having a muzzle velocity of 2,700.

So in my mind, if you want a rifle for long range, I'm with the majority here, .260 all the way.

 

[shoots_5]

260 with a 1:8.5 twist barrel. You won't be disappointed! I absolutely love mine! I've shot it with the 140 amax out to 1106 yards so far and accuracy and ballistics have been impressive. Just got a new steel target and heading out today to see how far I can ring it.