.260 Hawkeye

[Peakbagger46]

My fiance wants to get a deer/elk rifle with her tax refund this year. She likes the weight and size of my model 7 in .308, but it kicks too much for her. After doing some looking around, I "found" the 260 Remington and I'm thinking that might do the trick, and I reload, so ammo cost/availabity is not an issue.

The only youth/woman model in current production I can find is the Ruger Hawkeye compact. Are there other choices out there with a short stock and lighter weight? If not, how is this gun?

 

[Maverick223]

.260 Hawkeye

The way you stated the title I thought it was a new cartridge.

The Hawkeye is a good, reliable rifle based upon the proven Mauser action. I love the .260Rem (as well as the 6.5x55mm, and 6.5Creedmoor). Other than the overly short barrel length (16.5in. IIRC) I like it.

 

[lopezni]

The .260 is a great cartridge, ammo is tough to get (oh you did say you handload). Go for it, just don't waste money on the compact model with the 16 1/2" barrel as mentioned by Mav223. Don't forget that rugers come in .257 roberts and .25-06 which are both light recoil-great deer cartridges. Though the .260 is better than either of them.

 

[bcaill4]

If she likes the model 7 it is availible in .260 with a 20" barrel

 

[Abel]

I'm no fan of the 16.5" barrel either. You can get a lot more from the 260 in a 20" or 22" barrel. The Browning X-Bolt Micro Hunter has a 20" barrel and comes in 7mm-08. I would rather go with a Browning than a Ruger or a Remmy.

 

[Maverick223]

If 7mm-08 is an option, make sure and look at the new Winchester Featherweight, it has a 20in. bbl at the same weight as the Ruger. I think it is the better rifle, but a little more costly as well. FWIW, I like the .260Rem. a little better than the 7mm-08, but they are very close.

 

[MNgunhead]

I shot a buddy's Browning A-Bolt in 257 roberts the other day. I really liked it. The recoil was really mild and it has a bit more snort than 243 win. I think it would work fine for whitetails. That is the caliber I'm going to set my daughter up with when she's old enough to hunt. She's only 8 years old, but already likes to shoot my 22's. Daddy's proud. 260 rem is a good cartridge as well. Go for it. Since you reload, you can work up an accurate load and don't have to be at the mercy of factory offerings. Good luck. Get those girl a shootin'.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

sounds like a 6.5 x 55 Swede is made for her.

 

[peptoe]

If I were getting a 16.5'' Hawkeye I'd opt for one in 6.8, a round more suited to a short barrel. I also like the 260 though, but a bit if a waste in a short barrell, although I did read an article that said that it only lost around 6% velocity in the short barrel.

 

[Abel]

I just spent the last 30 minutes reading up on the new 6.8mm SPC & I have to say that I am impressed. And it was developed to do better out of the new M4 carbines with 16" barrels. We may be onto something, but I think that the OP wanted something that could put an elk on its ass. The 7mm-08 and 260 both seem like a better round for elk...but for deer? I might be on the 6.8 bandwagon! I already thought up a new civilian name for it. The 270 Remington Bantam. Catchy, huh?

 

[lopezni]

Well for the AR fanatics, I've been recommending the Stag 6.8 Hunter as a deer rifle. The 120gr bullet is sufficient enough for deer at North Country distances. Makes a nice rifle for getting rid of the pesky coyotes that seem to be everywhere.

 

[peptoe]

I understand it's better to use a bigger bullet, but shot placement is still the key.

 

[longdayjake]

Why would you guys suggest the 6.8 spc over the .260? The .260 from a 16" barrel will shoot 140 grain bullets with a bc of .61 at higher velocities than the 6.8 can shoot a 110 grain bullet. Sure its a soft shooting round, but it won't even compare to the .260.

I just bought a hawkeye in .223. It is a wonderful rifle and now I own 2 m77s and I am a very proud owner.

 

[Abel]

I suggest the 260 if its elk. I just think the 6.8 design history was interesting & it seems like a nice deer round.

 

[rangerruck]

I say, the 243 or the 7.08 is better for hunting and less recoil for both. The 260 is really made to be an accuracy cartridge- sure you can download it, and use soft points for hunting, but the 260 cartridge really shines at distance and accuracy, so a short bbl is really killing it.
Most makers make a small/short rifle in 243 or 7.08 , and are usually excellent hunting rifles.
Lastly, anything in 25.06 or 270, with a 20 or 22 inch bbl, will get the job done as well, without much recoil, and plenty of bullets , cases, and load data about for both.

 

[rockit]

Don't forget that rugers come in .257 roberts and .25-06 which are both light recoil-great deer cartridges. Though the .260 is better than either of them.

The 260 is a good round but it isn't better than the 25-06 anywhere. Just close energy wise on some loadings.

 

[Maverick223]

The 260 is a good round but it isn't better than the 25-06 anywhere.

I disagree, it is shorter, and is not overbore (barrel burner) like the .25-06. There are also better bullets available for the 6.5mm. Overall I much prefer the .260 to the .25-06 despite slightly lower energy, besides I can't think of anything that the .25-06 can do (or kill) that the .260 can't.

 

[longdayjake]

I can't think of anything that the .25-06 can do (or kill) that the .260 can't.

I am a huge fan of both the .25-06 and the .260. For larger game I would totally go with the .260. I love the .25-06 for long range varmint hunting simply because the high velocity makes for some very straight shots.

However, the .25-06 can do something that the .260 cant. It can shoot bullets at 3,300-3,500 fps.

 

[Maverick223]

Right you are, for varmints the .25-06 has a lazer medium range trajectory. I concur with your assessment that it is a little better for varmints (but personally I favor the 6mm Rem. for medium-long range varmint), but it still won't kill anything that the .260 can't.

 

[kanook]

My wife has the Ruger 260 MKII compact and loves it. It seems that every time she has a deer in her scope it goes down. And as far as the barrel being 16", the deer can't complain.

I've got the 308 compact and it was a little much for my wife which is why we went to the 260. And now that Ruger offers it in 6.8 i will be getting that as soon as my booger hookers touch it. Remember if you hand load the 6.8 (270 short) can do more in a bolt than in a semi.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Kanook, Since you've shot both the .308 and 260 in the same platform, what is the recoil differance between the two?

 

[Maverick223]

I have shot both out of the same rifle (on different occasions), and find a significant difference between the two. IMO the .260Rem is closer to .30-30Win. than the .308Win.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08.....
She will love you for it.....barring no malfunctions.