Would you get a .260 if you already have a .243?

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The question could have been, "If I already have a .260, should I buy another .260?

And yes, there are options in .243 that take you into the >100gr world, both in factory cartridges and in bullets for reloading.
 
Depends. They're pretty close in performance, so if you don't already have something larger, I'd go that route. Not that there's anything wrong with the .260, but it doesn' afford you much advantage, where a .30-06 or 7mm mag would be a significant increase.

OTOH, buy what you want. I have lots rifles chambered in cartridges that overlap. But I also have every species covered from varmints and predators with the .17 Rem. to dangerous game with a .375 Ultra and everything in between.
 
There is a difference when it comes to 260 vs 6.5x55, standard SAAMI chamber for 260 has small freebore space, which is more suited to handle 120 - 130 gr bullets, but when it comes to 139 - 142 long bullets case capacity is limited due to the seating depth, this is where 6.5x55 comes in with its chamber design to shoot those long pointy bullets, with plenty of room for powder charge. In the original design of 6.5-08 a-square the freebore space was larger, but when Remington standardized it with SAAMI they neutered it.
 
the .243 come in 115 gr. berger hunting bullets and 117 gr. D-TAC bullets. for a 300 yard shot they both do very well. they both have plenty of knock down power for just about anything at the 300 yard mark. That being said I own a 6.5x47 and a 6.5-06 AI and I do not own a .243 . or any 6mm round. I do have a friend that shoots the 6x47 for long range tactical matches and loves it. he does well so I wont argue. I was just wanting to put it out there that for a 300 yard rifle either of them will do the job well.
 
coug said:
the .243 come in 115 gr. berger hunting bullets and 117 gr. D-TAC bullets. for a 300 yard shot they both do very well. they both have plenty of knock down power for just about anything at the 300 yard mark. That being said I own a 6.5x47 and a 6.5-06 AI and I do not own a .243 . or any 6mm round. I do have a friend that shoots the 6x47 for long range tactical matches and loves it. he does well so I wont argue. I was just wanting to put it out there that for a 300 yard rifle either of them will do the job well.
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However, my .243 is a Savage with a 9.25 twist rate. Wouldn't I need a faster twist to stabilize those long bullets?

For some more info - the rifle I'm most interested in is the Tikka Lite Stainless in .260

Thanks for all the responses everyone. Keep them coming.
 
I've tagged a couple of dozen bucks with my .243, using Sierra's 85-grain HPBT. I was picky about my shots, and I don't recall any beyond maybe 200 yards at most. If I figured 300 was likely, I'd have gone to 100-grain bullets.

I did about the same with my '06, but I figured my practical limit at around 400 yards--although I did get ambitious one time and ruined Bambi's day at 450.

Never meddled around with the in-betweeners all that much. I guess that were I going to go bigger from a .243 I'd go to a 7mm08 or a .30. As a reloader, I prefer the '06 over the .308. For factory ammo, they're basically equal.

Lotsa folks seem happy with .260s, though...
 
Craiger12: The only way to be sure is to try them. some rifles with slower twist rates will stabilize bullets that another with the same twist rate wont. I have seen this happen in .223 rifles. I'm not saying don't buy a .260 if you have the funds why not? I like both rounds very well. if your rifle wont stabilize the heavies you will know in 2 shots. I like the .260 I almost built one. but barrel and brass life made me lean to the 6.5x47 and when i was looking I already had the 6.5-06 AI for speed. I would just buy the .260 that way you get a new rifle. That being said I own a bunch of rifles but I only shoot one for everything. but thats just because I need to be good at wind adjustment for those darn matches. sometimes it sucks to Carrie a 19lb 5' long rifle but I am better with it because of it. Just get what you want. they are both good rounds.
 
Tikka uses 1:9 twist for 260 Rem, so if you use 120 or less gr bullets, you shouldn't have any regrets if you buy one and 120 gr bullet is more then enough to stop deer big and small.
 
I would personally like a 1 in 8.5 or faster in any 6.5mm. But I like heavy high BC bullets. I found out the hard way they just out perform light bullets in just about every way.
 
To answer the OP: No. Here's why: The question I ask myself is "What shot am I going to realistically take with a .260 that I would not take with a .243?" If I really want to shoot 140gr bullets, why not get a .270 win and have the extra velocity - or bump up to something 30 caliber for some more bullet weight? "What about the great bc of the 6.5mm bullets?" If I'm only shooting 300yds max (which I would consider to be the my maximum ethical kill range), the 6.5mm bc advantage isn't all that much at that range. But that's just my thinking.
 
Well if you expand your abilities you will find yourself looking for that High BC bullet for game or steel. the problem with the .270 is that it only has crap bullet selection like its little brother the 30-06. and the problem with the 30 calibers is that they have to much recoil without a muzzle brake and if you have laid on a line very many times beside some with a break you would no longer want one. The 6mm or the 6.5 will give better performance than any low recoil 30 caliber round down range. If He ever decides to shoot in any matches or just try long range shooting he will have to buy a new rifle or take another trip to the gun smith. so why would you go in any other direction??? I don't know thats kind of like saying Ill buy a ford ranger to pull my camper. it don't work to well. You will see 85% long range match shooters shoot a 6.5mm 5% shoot a 6mm and 5% shoot a 7mm and the other 10% still shoot a 308 because their barrel isn't shot out yet. I would highly recommend the .260 but in a fast twist so just take your time and check out some of your other options before you buy a slow twist 6.5mm you will be glad you did.
 
6.5 mm 140 gr bullets are suited for elk I'm going repeat myself again that 140 gr bullet has Sectional Density of 190 gr 30 caliber bullet, but 30 caliber with 190 gr will never reach speed of 6.5mm 140 gr bullet, unless 300 Win Mag is involve, here they perform exactly the same ballisticly speaking... The recoil of 300 WM is slightly heavier then 30-06 ;-)
 
DIM said:
Tikka uses 1:9 twist for 260 Rem, so if you use 120 or less gr bullets, you shouldn't have any regrets if you buy one and 120 gr bullet is more then enough to stop deer big and small.
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I see the .260 listed as 1:8 and 1:9 twist on Tikka's site. Can you verify that it is infact 1:9 and not 1:8? I was hoping to be able to shoot 140 grainers as well as 120. Thanks.
 
Craiger12 said:
Primary use would be for deer hunting on shots no longer than 300 yards. The additional energy and penetration of the .260 would be nice for shots on larger game as well, which I would not use the .243 for. What is your opinion?
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My opinion is same as your's...

The extra penetration and energy would be nice on whitetails that don't give that "perfect" shot, especially bigger whitetails too.

I've shot quite a few bigger whitetails with my .243, and i've always thought it wouldn't hurt to have a bit more...

DM
 
I checked their website and didn't find anything for 260 in 1:8 twist, however they do make 6.5x55 SE 8", difference between two 260 using 308 case which is 6.5x51
 
However, when you click on the link to the PDF under that it lists the .260 as 1:8 twist. This is why I'm confused. I am not at all saying that you are wrong, I'm just looking for some clearification. Is there anyone that owns the Tikka in .260 that can clear this up?
 
Thanks for the info DIM. It looks like I may have to look to a different rifle, or reconsider the 7mm-08. I currently own a Savage Weather Warrior in .243 and I know that they offer the .260, but I was looking for a different rifle and liked the feel of the Tikka.
 
Check out a savage.... They IMHO... Are a better shooting rifle anyway. And you have a vast number of rifle configurations to choose from. They are also easier to get after market parts for. And you will find it very easy to find a gunsmith to work on it I.E re-barrel it.
 
To answer the OP: No. Here's why: The question I ask myself is "What shot am I going to realistically take with a .260 that I would not take with a .243?" If I really want to shoot 140gr bullets, why not get a .270 win and have the extra velocity - or bump up to something 30 caliber for some more bullet weight? "What about the great bc of the 6.5mm bullets?" If I'm only shooting 300yds max (which I would consider to be the my maximum ethical kill range), the 6.5mm bc advantage isn't all that much at that range. But that's just my thinking.
Click to expand...

The .260 has a much flatter trajectory compared to a .270 win.
personally I use remington 140 grain corelokt or 120 grain boat tails. I've killed everything from prarie dogs to elk with it. my rifle is a ruger mark II with a wood stock nothing special consistently shoots one hole five shot groups at 100 yards. Also has very little recoil. overrall i cant recommend it enough.
 
Craiger12, if you really need 260, then you might like this one its called Panther™ LR 260 and it has 6 grooves, right-hand 1x8.5 twist, button rifled barrel:
images
 
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