.260 Remington... thoughts?

[reloader-1]

Finally managed to round up enough cash to build my .260 Remington. Now, while I wait for it to head my way (ETA, 2 months), I was wondering what the other members thought of the round.

I know that it's popularity has been slowly building, and I eventually think that it will occupy the same market share as the 7mm-08 and other similar rounds, without ever approaching the .243/.308

 

[Robert]

Well the long range shooters love it. Seems to work really well for them. What are you looking to do with it?

 

[kludge]

I would have/am having a hard time deciding between the .260 and the 6.5 Creedmore. The Creedmore is in the lead right now; the shorter case makes fitting heaver bullets in the magazine easier. Otherwise, pretty much identical.


But a .22LR .260/6.5 and a .338-06 and I would be set. If I could only have a .22LR and one other rifle, then it would be a 7mm... probably...

 

[mshootnit]

I think the 260 is a great round. The swedes love their 6.5X55 and 260 should be just as good. It has a lot of inherent benefits and that's why it has caught on fairly well.

 

[Haxby]

The 260 should be a perfect deer round, but I don't see the evidence that it's catching on. Looks to me like it's going the other way.
Everybody that makes a short-action rifle chambers it for 243 and 308. Most of them also chamber 7mm-08. You'd have to look to find a 260.
Target shooters seem to go more for the 6.5-284 or the 6.5 Creedmore.

 

[reloader-1]

Well,

The reason for my "popularity" statement was two-fold - Savage is now chambering several rifles in .260 (for the 2011 model year) and Lapua just introduced factory .260 Rem brass.

It seems that the trend in target shooters is more and more to the .260 (Sako rolled out a custom run of it's TRG-22 in .260 this year) and with great brass being available, it seems that popularity will rise.

As to deer hunters, remember the .260 is the newest round out there (relative to other .308 based rounds) . It is following nearly the same trajectory as the 7mm-08. The 7mm-08 was introduced in 1980, the .260 in 1997. You should give the cartridge at least 20 years before you can estimate it's staying power.

 

[sixgunner455]

It's a very tempting round that makes a lot of sense. Has balanced performance for the envelope it works in.

I like it, and I'll probably have one someday.

 

[RyeDaddy]

Love mine! Works great for white tail, hogs, and the 1 ram I've shot with it so far. I like the lower recoil with more power than a 243. I'm hunting with my Savage Weather Warrior, and I plan on building or buying a target rifle in 260 this year to go with it. I can't think of anything bad to say about the 260, other than finding factory ammo is not so easy and it costs more than say a 308. I handload, so it doesn't affect me.

 

[Zak Smith]

If you don't see it catching on, you're looking in the wrong place



article | The Case for .260 Remington: A Better Cartridge For Practical Long-Range Shooting



article | 6.5mm Shootout: .260 Remington vs. 6.5x47 Lapua vs. 6.5 Creedmoor

http://demigodllc.com/articles/steel-safari-2010/

The 6.5mm caliber totally dominated with 39% of all rifles; 6mm was next with 28%, then .30 (22%), and then 7 mm (11%). Specific cartridges: .260 Remington (25%), .308 Winchester (17%), 6.5x47 Lapua (11%), 6% for each of 6XC, 7m WSM, 7mm RSAUM, .260AI, and then 3% each for .300 WM, 6mm-250, .30-06, 6.5-284, 6 Dasher, .243 Winchester, and 6CM/243.

 

[Haxby]

When I was thinking about getting a 260, there were Brownings, Ruger 77's, and Remington 700's. There aren't any more.

 

[DIM]

260 is neutered 6.5 x 55, look for chamber throat if it can support long heavy bullets, or you will end up shooting 120 gr max ;-) Savage makes quiet few models, but short throat...

 

[Zak Smith]

Not an issue. Plenty of guys shoot the 139-142 grain bullets and seat at 2.80" with no problems, standard chamber (not referring to Savage in particular).

 

[DIM]

yeah you could, but you will end up seating bullets way pass shoulders leaving not much space for powder, that will contribute to velocities you getting ans brass life span. I tried 139 Scenars, 140 gr NCC, A-Maxes and I was limited on how much powder I can put... Thing is I no longer have 260, they did switch on me, so I shoot 6BR... Its faster but got lower BC then 6.5...

 

[Zak Smith]

Nope, not a problem. With H4350 and RL17, you'll hit max pressure before you fill up the case with the 139gr Scenar, 140gr Berger, or 142 SMK . With H4831SC, it'll be close, but about 30% of the people I know competing with .260 use H4831SC. Typical loads shoot these bullets at 2800-2950 fps from 24-26" barrels.

ETA: Categorically, everyone I know competing with .260 uses one of those three powders.

 

[reloader-1]

Remington still carries the .260 in the Model 7.

I see the cartridge going up in popularity rapidly. The buzz in long range circles is all about the .260, and what happens in the LR area always trickles down to the deer rifle buyer.

I foresee cheaper factory ammo in the future as more manufacturers carry the loading, and more rifles are chambered in that round.

 

[eastbank]

my two .260 rems, a remington xp-100r with a 2.5x8 leupold and a browning 1885 low wall with a 2x7 leupld. you must reload to get the full benifit out of the .260. both shoot better than i do. eastbank.

 

[DIM]

I just wish I could play with 260 more, maybe I would discover its real potential, since I got dies and brass for 260 and bunch of bullets, I think that I will give it a try in custom made barrel, to get those 139 scenars group together maybe... or I'll get proven 6.5x55

 

[FLNT4EVR]

Build your .260, You'll love it, and if you roll your own it is a very versitile calibre.It is capable of cleanly taking North American game up to elk and moose.For Bison and Big Bears I would opt for something a bit larger.

 

[PedalBiker]

What I really wanted was a 270-08. The 260 Rem is the next best thing IMO, maybe even better.

I bought a Savage in .243 with the plan to rebarrel it eventually. Then I found a barrel in 260 Rem and decided to try it. I really like it. It's hard to say it's any better than a 7mm-08 for hunting, though.

I've had good luck with 120g Nosler BTs, but I've mostly shot 140g Core Lokts.

I don't see any practical difference between the 260Rem and the Creedmore. Since I already have head space gauges for .243 I find the 260 preferable.

Seating bullets below the shoulder has caused me no problems. My barrel has a short throat, so even 120g bullets don't have a lot of extra room, but I get decent performance with the 140g Core Lokts.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I see the .260 as a niche cartridge. Not a lot of average joe's are going to go for it as it doesn't have the "shaa-zam" of a short magnum or new market the .243wcf had back in the 1950's.

In fact, it's taken me a while to warm up to mine. I've finally found some combinations that shoot really, really well and the gun is splendidly accurate. It is easily the most accurate of the three Rem M7's I have. (.223,7mm08).

Last week, I was running some Hornady 129's through it with some RL19. At 45.0gr I'm getting sub-moa groups and ~2,700fps. Should be death to anything solidly hit. But, I have about 2 dozen other rifles that will do that. However, they don't weigh 7lbs loaded and shoot sub-moa and kick less than a .30/30..... And shoot with the trajectory of a .30/06 or some-such. And the gun is absolutely gorgeous.... and has a decent trigger...

It's taken a while for me to like it better than my 7mm08 as it gets 150 to 200fps less velocity with any given bullet weight they have in common.

Since I've started playing with RL17 in my 7mm08, it's hard to not like it. I shot some 150gr Hornady 150gr SST's this afternoon and got 2,750fps from 46.0gr of RL17. Accuracy is about average for this rifle at 1.5-2.0moa, but POI was essentially that of a 139-140gr bullet at 100yds. When this rifle speaks, deer fall dead, period.... Even though it's hard pressed to hit a beer can beyond 200yds every time.

I saw the .260 have a run of popularity when it first came out. But by 2006, Savage had dropped it from their standard listings, and guns were already hard to find.

Perhaps there will be another break-out and some new factory ammo. However, from the recent articles. I'd bet that the "break-out" cartridge is going to be the .260's near twin, the 6.5Creedmore.

However, only a real rifle-looney that prizes a low recoil big game slayer that shoots bug-holes with minimal recoil is going to be satisfied with a 140gr bullet at 2,550-2,650fps.

Besides, the 6.5Swede has had a 100yr headstart..... And it still isn't setting sales records...
And... my .257WbyMag Vanguard seldom fails to bring a smile to my face when I see 3,550-3,600fps show up on the chronograph and the sub-moa 3-shot groups it typically yeilds on the target. But, it weighs 10lbs and makes my bursitis in my elbows flare up after a 2mi. walk..... that's where the Mod7's bring a smile to my face.....

 

[Zak Smith]

Your .260 loads are 300-350 fps slower than what everyone I know is shooting in .260 with those bullets.

 

[reloader-1]

Perhaps there will be another break-out and some new factory ammo. However, from the recent articles. I'd bet that the "break-out" cartridge is going to be the .260's near twin, the 6.5Creedmore.

----------------------------------------

The break-out will be determined by factory components, specifically brass. Lapua makes .260, they do not make 6.5 CR. As shown by Zak's statistics (albeit a small sample, but generaly representative) the Creedmoor is not exactly surging in popularity among target shooters, and given the latest trends to mimic what top shooters use and compete with, I really do think the winner of the 6.5 battle will be the .260 by a long shot.

 

[DIM]

why won't you settle for 6mm, I'm trying 6mmBR right after 260 Rem and I can get 105 gr Scenar to 2900 FPS with just 30 grains of Varget and recoil of 223, well 243 with 33 gr will get you to 2750 fps.

 

[Get R Done Guns]

The 260 is a great cartridge. The manufacturers seem to be kicking out a few more guns in the chambering. An extremely fun cartridge is the 6.5-284. Light recoil, great velocity, and a hell of an accurate cartridge. The 6mm bench rest would be good also. There is really a ton of good choices out there.

 

[viking499]

260 is neutered 6.5 x 55

Nice....