I'm ready to buy a new barrel for my tikka. I have a fair budget of up to $500 for the barrel shipped to my door total. What I don't have is months to wait on an order. Any suggestions on manufacturer or retailer with barrels in stock. Looking at brux, bartlein, krieger etc...

Also still undecided on .260 or 7-08. Possibly AI on either one.

I sold the best rifle I ever had to try to duplicate it in LH so I want to get this selection right.

If you go 7mm-08, FiremanJG, Jason, has some Lapua match 7-08 brass. He wants me to take em, but they won't fit in a 243 Win. LOL

'Firemen, Hardheaded suckers. I gave him my address, he sent them to some address in Wash, DC.

Obermeyer, Brux, krieger

Bartlein, Hart

Try Bugholes

Sent you a PM for where might find one as well.

Dang it Randy! I thought you had a 7-08! Thats why Iwas wanting to send them to you.

OP, I had a 260 and put 2500 rounds through it. Now I have a 6.5 Creedmoor. Go Creedmoor. Shorter case, better case geometry, low ES, exact same external ballistics as the 260 Rem.

Kmon1 pointed you to Bugholes which is exactly where I would have sent you.

Thanks for the info so far. I've now looked at bugholes and will continue to. I will likely go with them if not a smith someone recommended to me who has barrels in stock and provides complete service. I'm liking the smith idea because he is close enough I can go to his shop and talk thru my decisions.

I'm leaning more towards the 7-08 possibly in AI for several reason. I already have and load for a 7-08. I'm very pleased with it's on game performance. I Want a maximum 22" barrel and would prefer 20".

The 7mm 162 amax seems to outperform the 6.5 140 amax at reasonably obtainable velocities from the two cartridges in question. Is this correct or am I reading into it wrong?

7mm-08 A.I. and 162 A-maxes is an awesome choice! It will outperfom the 6.5 in energy delivery and barrel life.

The wind correction is pretty much exactly the same for the two. And in the end that is what matters when engaging anything at distance.

3rd Generation Shooters Supply in OK normally has a pretty good selection of Kreigers. Bugholes is a good choice and as an absolute last resort Bruno's normally has a selection (he's higher and shipping is insane).