Another shooter who likes the .260. With the 120 grain bullets, I will have three holes touching at 100 yards. This is with a Ruger Mod. 77 compact, with the 16.5 inch barrel. The 140 grain loads give slightly larger groups, but either is more than good enough for the whitetails in my area. So good accuracy, mild recoil, and a rife that carries easily in the field, I like it. I don't have the opportunity to shoot at much more than 150 yards, but from what I have read, long ramge shooters think this is a fine round also.
.260 Remington... thoughts?
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roc1
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How are the Ruger MarkII rifles in 260? I saw one but I did not think it was as good a gun as the old Tang Safety models. Need others ideas on that I guesss.
Thanks
roc1
Thanks
roc1
reloader-1
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I'd be interested to see what members here think of the Steyr Prohunter in .260 as well...
Never seen one, but I am drooling over the Savage 11 Lightweight Hunter.
.260 and 6.5 Creedmore are available. 5.5 lbs!
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11LH/
(Also in .223, .243, 7mm-08, .308, .30-06, .270, and 6.5-284)
ZeroJunk
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I bought a Remington Model 7 in 260 a few years ago. I couldn't get the velocity I wanted out of the short barrel. I sold it to my cousin whose 12 year old son at the time used for deer hunting, actually more deer control on their tree farm. Last I heard he had killed about 20 deer with it and was yet to lose one.
T.R.
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While certainly a viable deer getter, Sam Fadala and many others have NEVER achieved factory posted velocities. They used modern calibrated chronographs to determine actual velocities. Typically, the 260 falls short by 175 to 210 fps at the muzzle.
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Offfhand
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I have no idea who "Sam Fadala and many others" may be. Perhaps they need to take a course in 101 reloading or have someone explain how factory ammo is tested. I've been loading the .260 almost since it first appeared and have no problem duplicating and even exceeding factory performance, and know a number of .260 shooters who do likewise. The .260 is widely used by high-power competition shooters. Go to Camp Perry or other long range rifle tournaments and you'll see remarkable scores posted by .260 shooters. Perhaps "Sam Fadala and many others" should talk to these top riflemen (and rifle-women) and learn what loads they use.
ZeroJunk
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They are using longer barrels than a hunting rifle, and certainly longer than a Model 7. Also, when I was doing it reloading data was sketchy at best.
I think the success of the 260 as a long range target cartridge speaks for itself. But, as a hunting round the 7mm-08 will push same weight bullets quite a bit faster at typical ranges where BC doesn't mean squat.
I think the success of the 260 as a long range target cartridge speaks for itself. But, as a hunting round the 7mm-08 will push same weight bullets quite a bit faster at typical ranges where BC doesn't mean squat.
Offfhand
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All my loads, see above, were developed with a Remington Model-7, or rifles with same barrel length. and equil or exceed factory data. So no problem, where's the mystery? The target shooters using rifles with longer barrels get much more impressive results.
ZeroJunk
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The loads I tested in the Model 7 were 200 to 300 FPS lower than what was advertised in the loading manual which is exactly what you would expect from the difference in barrel length.
I ordered a Savage LRP in .260 rem and after a few months wait it should be here the beginning of Sept. I am excited after having a Remington model 7 in 260, I can't wait to see what a long barreled target rifle will do in this caliber. I am going to try some Berger VLDs over some Varget and 4831.
BoilerUP
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A lightly compressed load of 48.0 grains of H4831SC in R-P brass sends a 123gr A-Max 3000fps from my 26" 8 twist Criterion, with an ES of 20 and SD of 8 and no pressure signs whatsoever at 85°F and 500'ASL.
Haven't really run any 140gr bullets down the tube, but I've got one box each of 140gr Nosler CCs/A-Max/SMKs ready to try.
I also have a 700 Mountain LSS in .260, and while I haven't measured velocity a mild load of 41.5gr H380 and the 120 Nosler BT puts 3 shots inside a dime at 100yd and has proven quite effective on Washington Co, KY whitetail.
Haven't really run any 140gr bullets down the tube, but I've got one box each of 140gr Nosler CCs/A-Max/SMKs ready to try.
I also have a 700 Mountain LSS in .260, and while I haven't measured velocity a mild load of 41.5gr H380 and the 120 Nosler BT puts 3 shots inside a dime at 100yd and has proven quite effective on Washington Co, KY whitetail.
I was to... exited, but not for long... http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=587789 it didn't work at all...
it shot this @ 100 yards using 139 gr Lapua
and this @ 300 yards
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Zak Smith
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It's for when you no longer want to shoot a handicapped cartridge
That`s why Snipers use it !
BoilerUP
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There's no institutional momentum like military institutional momentum...
Zak Smith
Member
The military snipers who come to my match to win do use it.
Hellofalot of difference between poking holes in paper & killen !
Zak Smith
Member
Try again. The .260 has more energy left at 1000 than a .308 and it's easier to make the hit with. 6.5 has a long history in European military service as well.
627PCFan
Member
I have yet to see a .260 target shooter use theirs for hunting season and stabilize a 160 grainer. 
My vote for is for the 6.5x55. More powder choices, Laupua brass (not that I have ever checked for .260) and a wider variety of bullet weights. Now If I didnt get cheap and buy a POS barrel
My vote for is for the 6.5x55. More powder choices, Laupua brass (not that I have ever checked for .260) and a wider variety of bullet weights. Now If I didnt get cheap and buy a POS barrel YEH !I have yet to see a .260 target shooter use theirs for hunting season and stabilize a 160 grainer.
Zak Smith
Member
What you want to shoot at it is up to you, and what cartridge you choose is your own business. There are plenty of good reasons to shoot .308, but the fact is it is an inferior long-range cartridge compared to .260.
To clarify, .260 is not twice as expensive, even if you take into account barrel life.
To reload match-grade ammunition, the costs of .260 and .308 are almost identical. If we look at Lapua components, .260 brass more expensive, but .308 bullets are more expensive (using prices from power valley as of today). The difference in brass price, when averaged over 10 loadings for each case, is equalized by the cheaper 6.5mm bullets ($308/k vs $324/k). The .260 will typically use about 3-5 grains less powder (in my case it's 3.8gr or about 9% cheaper for powder on .260).
So if the ammo is about the same, around $0.53/round using those components, then if the .260 uses up a $500 barrel in 4000 rounds ($0.125/round) but the .308 uses up a $500 barrel in 8000 rounds ($0.0625/round), the .260 ends up about 10% more expensive per round when you take into account both cost to produce the reloads and the barrel life.
I know .260 shooters who have used them on deer, varmints, and prairie dogs. But to your point, how many do you know that have tried? The 160gr 6.5mm bullets are not really required for most things you can shoot with a .260 or .308. These bullets tend to not be very pointed (hunting bullets and not match bullets), so fitting them into the case should work fine and all the bullet cares about for stabilization is twist. Match .260 rifles are 1:8 and 1:8.5 twist, so the 160gr hunting bullets should stabilize fine.
BTW, there is Lapua brass for .260.
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