Realistic reasons to hate on the .260?

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horsey300

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OK guys, first, I'm good with the creed, but this is not a vs thread. I am set up to run the 6.5 already, but I stumbled upon a .260 for 400 before fees and that's hard to walk away from. Savage short actions give me a Lil more room for the cartridge and I can always rebarrel later if it doesn't work out. Most common bullets I'd run would be 100-123s, 140 (accubonds, elds maybe and ablr) and just for giggles the 160 rn. Not for anything competitive, just the furry stuff. Is there any number of good valid reasons NOT to get into a .260? Factory ammo is a non issue as I handload.
 
I've got a REM M7 in .260 that I bought for my son, before the 6.5C caught on.

Haven't had an issue with it, easy to load for, but I've only loaded it for whitetails with the Nosler 100BTs when he first started out, then the 120BTs. Four one shot kills so far, the closest being 75yards and the furthest at a 198yards (lazed). With the 120s I get 2920 FPS with H4350 out of the M7s 20" tube. Brass is plentiful and I necked up a bunch of .243 just cause I could.

Not the latest/greatest cartridge, but doesn't exactly bounce off deer either....
 
Nothing wrong with the 260. But I can't think of a single reason to have both 260 and 6.5 CM. The 2 cartridges are very close in performance and I can completely understand someone who owns a 260 not being interested in 6.5 CM. But there are just enough advantages in favor of the 6.5 that I'd have a hard time choosing 260 over 6.5 if I didn't already own one.

I could justify a 6.5X55 for nostalgic reasons or one of the faster 6.5's in addition to either the 260 or 6.5CM.
 
horsey300 said:
Is there any number of good valid reasons NOT to get into a .260?
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No. Not really.

I have several unrealistic and unsubstantiated reasons, even a few wildly irrational claims. But, logically, no compelling arguments against it, as you are an already seasoned rifleman.

Were you a young buck, looking to whet his stone to a new discipline, I’d think you mad and warn against it.:)
 
Demi-human said:
No. Not really.

I have several unrealistic and unsubstantiated reasons, even a few wildly irrational claims. But, logically, no compelling arguments against it, as you are an already seasoned rifleman.

Were you a young buck, looking to whet his stone to a new discipline, I’d think you mad and warn against it.:)
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I agree with your sentiment, I warned 1 gentleman the the 6.5 was NOT everything he was dreaming of (6.5 leopard parameters) but tell most less experienced folks the creed is a good jumping off point. My thing is, I can easily spend 400 on just an action (X3 or more for the customs I plan on). If I use it even only as a loaner for a couple of years(much likely more often and longer) before I rebarrel (new stock and scope cuz I'm me) I'm only in for $500/year...... @LoonWulf pointed out a fear, would I waste my play money at the wrong time? I know the .260 isn't in favor but I also know it can be a hoot!
 
I can’t think of anything a light weight 260 can do that 243 can’t do better. And 6.5cm is a big improvement over 260 with heavy bullets

I still have one. But I wouldn’t buy a new one these days
 
taliv said:
I can’t think of anything a light weight 260 can do that 243 can’t do better. And 6.5cm is a big improvement over 260 with heavy bullets

I still have one. But I wouldn’t buy a new one these days
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I do understand this in theory, truly, but clarify for me, with a 3" coal and 8 twist barrel, where does the .260 fall short with the heavy hunting class bullets?
 
Well mag length and twist are the two biggies but if you exclude them I’d still take the 6.5cm because of case design
-better shoulder angle
-longer case neck
-easy to get brass with small primer pockets

I never liked any of the 260 brass. In fact if you go back a few years you’ll find my posts about how 260rem was the one cartridge lapua did a horrible job on. So all those years when I was shooting my 260ai in competition I always bought 243win brass and necked up to 260 before fireforming.

plus of course there is so much more product support these days for 6.5cm. Or several other cartridges like 6.5prc

that said, I believe with a long throat and no oal constraints from magazines the 260 would edge the cm out in velocity just because it has a slightly larger capacity
 
Even though the price seems good, unless you intend to rebarrel to a .338 Fed or .358 Win, IMHO you’re just spending money and duplicating what you already have. I have a CZ in 6.5x55 and I don’t see any reason for buying a .260, 6.5CM etc. even if it was a smoking deal. They all pretty much do the same thing.

I’d take Loon Wolfs understated, yet sage, advice and save the $$$ for something else that really gets the blood pumping. :)

Stay safe.
 
The 260 works fine, but you limit yourself needlessly and duplicate your 6.5cm unless the rifle is something special.

I am renowned for my stinginess, but I have learned that I don't have to jump all over a gun because the price is attractive. Now if you would just be so kind as to give me the same advice as I ponder adding one of the recently imported Beretta M81s in 32 ACP to the fold...
 
bfoosh006 said:
Look up the SIG 277 Fury.
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I'm aware of the sig cartridge, it doesn't trip my trigger, and really has no relevance to anything being discussed here. Frankly the most attractive thing about ANY .277 offering is the tlr edge(and a wsm R1 to launch them) that I'd like to play with, but the .277 sig will still not be a 6.5 leopard, thanks but no thanks.
 
to be perfectly honest, out of all the cartridges available today, i still think a 260AI is pretty friggin awesome, with 2 changes since the years I competed with it:
- needs more oal, which you have
- needs small primer pockets, which are available now
i've thought for a few years about building another. being able to launch 140g hybrids over 3000 fps is pretty impressive for a short action with 40something grains of powder instead of the recoil that comes with 60something grains of powder
 
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