260 rem or 7mm-08

[PhrankKastle]

All my bolt action shooting has been Enfields and Mosins. While I love both of them I've decided to get a more modern rifle and I'm looking at a Howa Ranchland 7mm-08 or a Remington Model 7 260 rem.

Whichever I get is intended to be my deer gun for a trip out west this fall as the shots I hear out there can to be a little longer than my 45-70 Guide Gun is used to.

As near as I can gather ballistically the 2 rounds appear to be very similar so I'm asking if anyone has any real experience pros and cons on one over the other.

 

[Schleprok62]

I have a 7mm-08 and love it!!! The 260 Rem is supposed to be a great round too... But, seeing how you're going out west, I would lean more toward the 7mm-08 Rem...


Also, what will you be hunting?

 

[kanook]

never shot the 7 08, the wife loves her .260 over her .270. At 107yds the .260 made burger out of the exiting shoulder of a whitetail.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

My 7mm-08 has been deadly on Adirondack bucks.

Mine is a Mod 7 Remington.

I like the 154 Hornady handloads in case a 200+ lb. buck comes into the scope.

 

[SaxonPig]

Have not shot either but if the 260 is a .257 bullet then I would prefer the .284 bullet of the 7-08 for deer. A 257 is a bit light IMO. Others will disagree but they're wrong.

The 7mm will also have a better coefficient for long range accuracy and simply be more powerful.

They should call it the 7x51 instead of 7-08. It's catchier.

 

[oneounceload]

The only buck I lost out west was with the 7-08 instead of my usual 7mm mag. Depending on what/where you're hunting, either should be just fine. Ballistically, they are, for all intents and purposes, the same. I would lean towards the 140 gr bullets in the 7-08. I have a 6.5 x 55, which is also close to the 260. In my gun, it preferred 120's for accuracy, but also shot the 140's fairly well.

Either should be ok to about 250-300 yards, especially from a short barrel like the Model 7.

Where are you hunting?

 

[NCsmitty]

The rounds are so close in performance, it comes down to what rifle feels the best and perhaps is the best value for the money.


NCsmitty

 

[Jim Watson]

Have not shot either but if the 260 is a .257 bullet...

It's not.

 

[homers]

Whatever you hit isn't going to be able to tell the difference.

 

[9mmepiphany]

but if the 260 is a .257 bullet

the .260 remington is pushing a .264 slug...same as the .264 Win Mag and the 6.5x55mm

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`ve both, a 708 of some brand for the last 20 yrs and a 260 ever since Remington announced the cartridge. I have used the 260 for the last 10-11 yrs for whitetail and find it does all you need on deer size game.
I like the premium 120 gr loads, if you don`t reload they are a good choice IMO.

BTW a 260 uses a .264" bullet

 

[PhrankKastle]

Thanks for the replies, I was leaning towards the 7mm-08 Howa but then the friend who's setting up the trip to Montana is looking to sell his Remington in 260 and gave me first refusal.

The hunt is intended to be for whitetail or mule deer

 

[dullh]

Here's another vote for 7mm-08. I love my Browning X-Bolt in 7mm-08, and if I had to give up all my long guns but one, I'd keep the X-Bolt in 7mm-08. My preferred load is a 140gr Gameking (just handloaded 50 of 'em).

Can't speak on the .260 since I haven't used it. Is the .260 a long-action round? If so, I'll never try it since I like short action (7mm-08 and .300WSM here).

 

[Uncle Mike]

7mm-08 Caliber in the Remington Model 7-
My daughter hunts with one... loves it. Never had to punch one twice and she has dropped them from 20y out to 312y(rangefinder)!

Hornady Light Mag. 139gr. SST=many dead deer!

While I'm not a fan of the Howa's many are... they tend to be pretty good when you get a good and really sh1**y when you get a bad one... problem is... Howa doesn't tell you which one your going to get.

If you want a really good rifle... IMHO check out the Savage 16 in 7mm-08!

 

[shaggy430]

I LOVE the model 7 Remington in any caliber. Go for the .260

 

[Taurus44]

Can't speak on the .260 since I haven't used it. Is the .260 a long-action round? If so, I'll never try it since I like short action (7mm-08 and .300WSM here).

The .260 Remington could basically be called the 6.5mm-08

My vote would be for the .260 for its versatility. It really is almost the perfect short-action cartridge.

 

[~z]

they are ballistically similar as has been said. You will find a larger bullet selection in 7mm however.
~z

 

[BBstacker]

The 260 Rem and 7mm08 are almost the same with the 7mm08 having 110 FPS and 100 ft lbs more unless you use Hornady lite mags. They are 525 FPS and 250 ft lbs more and drop 4.7" less @ 500yds. But all things being equal 260s cost more and Hornady does not make lite mags for the 260. I have a 7mm08 and my friend has a 260 he is reloading do to the cost and finding them.

 

[gondorian]

How do ammo costs compare between the two?

 

[BBstacker]

260s are about 4 to 5 $ more a box

 

[bpl]

The .260 is a very cool round, it should be more popular, IMHO. However, 7mm-08 is more popular and ammo is more widely available, in my experience. I went with 7mm-08 myself and have had excellent results. Both are flat shooting, low recoiling and overall excellent rounds for deer hunting. Just about perfect, I'd say!

 

[rangerruck]

BBstacker just hit it; the cost. there is very little selection of 260 rounds out there factory-wise, and they will cost you. I think more like 7 to 9 bucks a box more. If money were no object, then the 260 remmy has it all over the 7.08, ballistics-wise, and if you handload, you can make that round do miracles, especially at long distance.

 

[TX Hog Hunter]

I'd go with a Tikka T3 in 7mm08, these are great rifles for the money and the 7mm08 has a lot more bullet choices than the .260 which makes it more versatile.

 

[lefteyedom]

Go with the 260. It is a ballistic clone of the 6.5X55 which has killed everything on the face of this planet.

 

[Afy]

.260 Rem.
It more accurate, lower recoil and longer barrel life.