My .260 Build Thread

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gdcpony

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Here is a thread the I will track a build I have been dreaming of for a few years now. I will only update when something changes or to reply to you guys. Hope you enjoy as it may take a bit for all the parts to come in.

First is the starting point. I bought the upper rifle a couple years ago just for this build. figured I could shoot it while waiting to do this. At the time it seemed we might lose them (yeah I got a little panic and bought the last on the shelves the day after the shooting before prices went up)
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Now, I can finally start the build! I deliberated quite a bit over the caliber as you can see here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=767949

Finally the .260Remington won the rights to be fired out of what I hope will become a master piece of a build. I have the following ordered:

Barrel- http://www.shop.blackholeweaponry.com/260-Rem-caliber-24-length-AR10-260R-24.htm
A 24" standard profile from BHW threaded with no fluting. I shall see how it shoots.

Handguard- http://www.jprifles.com/buy.php?item=JPHG3-7D
The longest JP piece I could get.

Brake- http://www.jprifles.com/buy.php?item=JPTRE-324S
I just need to figure out how to get proper washers for it.

Gas tube- http://www.jprifles.com/buy.php?item=JPGS-5B
I want to be able to tune this rig so I got one I could adjust.

Buttstock- I picked a Magpul PRS up off Craiglist for $165

A few misc parts and I should have everything for it. For now I wait impatiently for my orders to arrive. As they arrive I will give my impressions and finally assembly. Then at long last, I will give a range report with factory and reloaded ammo for you all.
 
Good luck, Pony! I've never gotten into tactical rifles myself, unless I was going to be able to quick-turn one for a significant profit, but I'm excited to see what comes from this. Are you going to reload for it? .260 Rem factory ammo is relatively expensive, but reloading components are not.

I saw your post deliberating the .260 or .257 and am glad you chose what you did, unless you were going to be able to chamber for a .257 Wby Mag of course.

Standing by for an update.
 
SmokingFrye, I do reload. I already have the dies ordered, and will be reducing my .308 brass down for it and using Hornady's 123gr SST (claimed BC of .510) to see how far out I cam make groundhogs disappear.
 
Looks great!

Have you played with reloading any heavy bullets yet? Curious if a 140gr will fit in the mag.
 
I have tried heavy bullets before in other things and found that I tend to prefer the middle weight pills. compromise of drift and velocity. Besides .510 is the highest BC I have ever used already save for an experiment with a 7x57 custom job I had long ago for 1000yd matches (i never won lol).

With my expected game and ranges it should work well.
 
Well, all but one part is in. I figured I would test the parts one by one, but I have hit a large snag. The factory DPMS barrel nut will not come off. I have tried heat, cold, PB, and combinations of these. I am using the armorer's wrench ad vise blocks.

So now I a deliberating whether to pay the $70 the local smith wants to remove it, break out a pipe wrench (internet suggestion), or even Dremel up and cut the SOB off (another internet idea). Not to fond of any of these options as I have done this type of work before, but not on a large frame AR.

Am I missing something?
 
There is something magical about 6.5mm. It's the caliber at which long-for-caliber bullets have a weight and energy very useful for a wide variety of game. Also the entire history is long bullets so the cartridges themselves, throats, twist rates, etc.are always designed for that role.

I went through a similar thought process myself before deciting that I would either build an automatic .260 or a bolt 6.5x55. I did the latter and am very happy (have some minor regrets I did not go 6.5x55 AI 40deg).

No matter what the factory future is for the .260 and the Creedmore, with your choice you can always do a simple 1-step neck up of .243 (right in the sizing die).

Mike
 
So when will we hear how the barrel shoots? :)

I'm thinking of doing a similar build sometime in the future.
 
Got an update from BHW. I have an 8-12 week wait for the barrel. So who is up for some shooting with the barrel I have now on these parts? I have some 308 to shoot off, so...
 
Here we are so far. I Got the old gas block to fit under the JP guard and went shooting. Oh boy does it make a difference! I was bursting milk jugs at 400 like no body's business.

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So I have all my pieces and I go to put them together. Then I run into a major issue. The OD of the BHW barrel is 1.204 near the chamber area. The diameter of the barrel retaining nut that came with the JP Enterprises tube is 1.210. The inside diameter of the tightening tool for it is 1.160. Finally, the ID of the jam nut to align the tube is 1.160 as well!

So what it comes down to is that I can't put on the tube and get it to line up right. I am torn between having the barrel turned down to 1.1 or expanding the holes in the jam nut and tightening tool to 1.21. I don't know if I can do the latter with the set screws where they are.

I have sent emails to both BHW and JP Ent and am awaiting their replies on this matter.
 
I want to give you some hard earned advise...just purchase your 260 brass stamped 260 rem... necking down 308 brass is not a huge deal, however there is a real good chance you will have to neck turn. If the barrel has a match chamber or even a decent chamber you will be neck turning which is not worth it in a bolt gun. If you decide you must use 308 brass I would ask for the chamber dimensions if you know the person cutting it, or make a cast to find your neck diameter. You can also fire some 260 factory brass to get a decent idea, but that's a nice setup you have, if the neck is tight/no clearance KABOOM!!.
 
That's why necking up .243 is the better solution. Neck not too thick and you won't have to trim. Get an elongated carbide expander ball and you can do it right in the sizing die in the same operation.

Mike
 
Well, both JP Enterprises and BHW came through in a big way for me.

BHW offered to take all my parts, make them fit right and even test fire it. All this for the cost of shipping! I was amazed. I expected at most them to offer to turn the barrel down.

JP then emailed me and said they already had new parts enroute (jam nut and barrel nut tool) that were made for this problem. They usually dealt with light weight barrels. The 1.2 diameter barrel is a standard, but not for those ordering from them in general.

In all I should have done more research before ordering. I never looked at what the standard diameter 308 AR barrel is right there. JP states their standard only fits up to a 1.17 barrel, so they were honest. BHW makes their barrels to a standard 1.2.

Still seeing two companies going the distance for their customers is a refreshing change these days. I have now decided who I will be ordering from in the future and recommending to anyone building any AR.
 
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