7mm-08 vs. 260 Remington

[brutus51]

Thinking of getting a new bolt gun, Primarily for target shooting out to 300yds and possibly for deer hunting. Of the two which one is the better choice. I will be reloading exclusively after I establish a cache of brass and I already have a 30-06 for hunting.

So the criteria is as follows:
1. Best down range accuracy.
2. Availability of bullets.
3. Economy of components.
4. Best rifle for the purpose.
5. Best barrel length.
6. Least felt recoil. (I want to be able to spend the day enjoying it)

Have I overlooked a better candidate?
The Browning A bolt is in the range of my budget.

 

[Otto]

Primarily for target shooting out to 300yds and possibly for deer hunting. Of the two which one is the better choice.

For your objectives, it doesn't matter....both will easily do 700 yards and neither would have a problem harvesting deer.

 

[steve4102]

There some .264 bullets out there with very impressive BC and SD.

 

[scottishkat]

So the criteria is as follows:
1. Best down range accuracy.
2. Availability of bullets.
3. Economy of components.
4. Best rifle for the purpose.
5. Best barrel length.
6. Least felt recoil. (I want to be able to spend the day enjoying it

I don't think they currently make the A Bolt in either caliber. However I currently own 4 rifles in 260 Rem and the performance of the 260 with 24" and longer barrels is impressive but the 20 and 22" offerings from some companies handicap the round. The 7mm-08 is an excellent choice as well.

The 260 is very accurate its felt recoil from an 8 pound firearm is minimal I can shoot my 85 Sako all afternoon before it bothers me at all not so with the 7mm-08. I don't think the components are that much different in cost as long as you don't want to shoot lapua brass and scenar bullets for target work these are probably more expensive than any 7mm-08 product.

As far as the best rifle for your use make sure you get the 24" or longer. barrel for the 260. My 7mm-08 was a 700 remington with a 22" and was a very nice hunting rifle.

Allthough the Lapua brass in 260 is more expensive than any it may be more economical. At best I average 6 to 8 reloads from remington brass. I have some Lapua brass going strong after 10 reloads.

 

[GLOOB]

As far as economy, you might get better results necking down 308 brass to 7mm, rather than all the way down to 260. Of course, you can always buy a neck turning setup to take care of that issue. 243 cases can be easily necked up to either caliber, no problem.

 

[Kachok]

I load 6.5x55 (the 260s twin) and 7mm-08 While the 7mm technically has a larger selection of bullets I like the 6.5mm bullets better in general though there are a few real standouts in the 7mm world. Not a bunch of difference in recoil though you have to give the edge to the 6.5mm seeing as it's 123gr bullets have higher BC bullets then the 7mms 140gr and it's 140gr have better ballistic then the 7mm 160gr.
In terms of sheer downrange performance the edge certainly goes to the 6.5, higher speed and less drift.
Performance on game leans toward the 7mm-08 higher energy inside normal hunting range and larger frontal area, but mind you my 6.5x55 has killed everything it has hit in a matter of feet so the advantage there is debatable.
Technically the 7mm-08 should have a longer barrel life though I have yet to shoot the barrel out of either.

 

[ClemsonAl]

There is an article in the October issue of Shooting Times, covering all of the 7mm and 6.5mm cartridges. He said to take your choice between the 7mm08 or the 260. Either will take a deer at 300 yds.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I never shot both side-by-side but I'm sure the 6.5mm will deliver less felt recoil than the 7mm08 for shooting all day at the range. Since you're reloading I would go with the 260 if forced to choose between the two.

Just a note, in the mean time until you find something you like you can always load a light bullet for your 06 and shoot that. You can go as light as a 110gr bullet but I've found better accuracy with 125gr or 135gr bullets...

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've got both. Each rifle though both are Rem. Mod-7, have different personalities.

The 7mm08 definitely has a bit more "horse power" when it comes to taking down deer, but dead is dead. The .260 is no slouch and is a bit more accurate than the 7mm08 (different personalities as I said).

For deer, it makes no difference. Advantage goes to the 7mm08 for ammo availability and availability of loading components on most LGS shelves.

If I was to get a new 7mm08 I'd look at the Savage or Marlins on the budget end, a Tikka for mid-value, and a Forbes Light Rifle or Kimber on the upper end.
My Remington Mod'7's have a few "issues" and for the price aren't that good of a value. Both required working of the trigger, and both have been free-floated and glass bedded. The .260 suffers from an insane 1/10" twist barrel which makes is very fickle about boat-tail spitzers over 120gr. (Yes, thats right! a 1/10" twist!). But, with 120gr bullets it's a sub-moa tack-driver. I've gotten good groups (at or just under moa) with 140gr Spitzer flat-base bullets (Speer and Hornady) and same with 160gr Sierra RN (discontinued).

I really like both rifles and especially consider the 7mm08 a "keeper" as it has killed a train-car load of game in it's short life (attained in 2004). I consider it a 2moa rifle, but It kills far beyond expectations. The fact that the short 20"bbl gets published velocities for 24" bbls is it's standout point... I originally planned to rebarrel it to .284wcf but quickly decided against such after chronographing both factory and reloaded ammo. It easily attains 2,900fps with 139-140gr bullets.

The biggest advantage the 7mm08 has over the .260 is that the 140gr bullets (and most other "same weight" comparisons) the 7mm08 will be between 100 and 200fps faster. Certainly an advantage in the game fields. When comparing such bullets as the 160gr Sierra GameKing and Nosler Partition to the eqivalent 140gr in the .260, the 7mm08 holds the advantage in weigh and diameter with equal b.c. and s.d. Though neither have much recoil, the recoil of the .260 is just a tad less than the 7mm08 but you have to shoot them side-by-side to really notice a difference.

Given the expense of an elk tag and trip to the western U.S., I don't consider either first choices for elk, but, my 7mm08 HAS taken an elk... by a friend in '06. I probably won't be taking mine west this November. Most likely the .300RUM and either .30/06 or .338ME. Even the .257wbymag nor .270 won't make the "cut" this time.

fwiw; you can form .260 brass from .243 or 7mm08 brass, and .308, too but it's more difficult. btw; I don't own any head-stamped .260. It's all been formed from .243wcf.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Given the expense of an elk tag and trip to the western U.S., I don't consider either first choices for elk, but, my 7mm08 HAS taken an elk... by a friend in '06. I probably won't be taking mine west this November. Most likely the .300RUM and either .30/06 or .338ME. Even the .257wbymag nor .270 won't make the "cut" this time.

The OP said he already has a 30-06 which is quite a good choice for Elk so he's set for that IMO. I'm a huge fan of the 30-06 and I'm not alone since it's been very popular for over 100 years...

 

[greenlion]

You know what would fit every criteria you listed, AND would..

have less recoil than either
be cheaper to shoot
have a great selection of bullets for reloading
be more common in factory loadings
be as accurate as either of those
have ballistic coefficients almost as high as either of those
shoot super flat
reach out to 1000 yards for target shooting
be chambered in more factory rifles than either of those

243 Winchester

 

[Kachok]

The 243 in no way shape or form can match the 6.5mm or 7mm low drag projectiles for long ranged shooting, not even with custom 1:7 twist barrels.
The 243 will not compete with the on game terminal performance of a 140gr 6.5mm or 150gr 7mm-08 totaly different class of performance there.
The 123gr class 6.5mm bullets can shoot further flatter and with less drift then the 100gr class 243s we have run the numbers on this many times.
I personally like the 243 I started deer hunting with one many years ago, it is a perfectly adequate performer in every way but it simply won't match the 6.5mms out at 1,000 yards, or on thick bodied mulies.

 

[greenlion]

You didn't read what I said, or what the OP asked for. He is looking for a 300 yard yard gun for target shooting and deer hunting. The 243 fills that role VERY well.

I never said the 243 would out-perform either of those rounds. Go back and read what I said. Everything I said is absolutely true.

 

[Kachok]

Given that we are on the reloaders forum I am assuming that the availability of factory ammo is a non-issue for him as it is me, last I checked there were just as many 7mm bullets on the market as there were 6mm, the rest of the stuff you were spot on though. The 243 does make a dandy low recoil deer gun with a real world effective range out to 300 yards. My only gripe is you really need to know your bullets and shot placement to be reliable with a 6mm, bullets that small make narrow wound tracts and don't make alot of remote damage beyond 200 yards so kills can be delayed, and to complicate that problem further small caliber bullets make for smaller exit wounds and weaker blood trails which is not an issue everywhere but around here I can promise you trying to follow a faint blood trail through this brush is some tough work. Me personaly I rather deal with the little extra added recoil from a 120-140gr bullet in a slightly larger bore.
The speed, accuracy, and trajectory of the 243 does make it a fantastic neck shooter though, and I will take that over a 35 caliber through the lungs any day

 

[Kachok]

BTW the "kick" from my 120gr 7mm-08 loads are shockingly light recoiling, I have not shot a 243 in years but I bet there is not much difference. H380 is AWESOME in the 7mm-08 all the way from 120gr to 160gr.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I have both also that I built. The 7-08 is a savage with a 26" barrel. The 260 is a remmy with a 28" barrel. I get 200 fps more out of the 7-08 with 140gr Bergers thati do with 140gr nosler custom comp in the 260. I haven't shot them side by side but. If your gonna go a factory length rifle I'd look at 7-08. If you try and neck down 308 to 264 you'll need to turn necks down. You'll get a donut around the neck that will make chamber hard.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Now I don't know about where you are all from but try to find bullets in 284, 264 or 243. The 6 mm 107 are great target. And im sure will kill a dear dead. If you want target bullets. Compare a 162 amax, a 140 amax and see it's really a non issue for 300 yds.

 

[Bio-Chem]

For the stated purpose they are identical. Flip a coin as you won't notice a difference either way. neither one is more inherently accurate than the other, especially out to 300 yards. There is no way a normal shooter could tell the difference in recoil between similar rifles chambered in each caliber.

The only difference you will find in your stated criteria is #2. There is a larger selection of 7mm bullets, and they will be easier to find on store shelves than in 6.5. You will probably find it easier to find new brass in 7mm-08, but if you are ok necking up or down then it's no different.

For a 300 yard deer rifle that you target shoot with as well i'd probably chose a 22" barrel. You don't need anything longer than that for those ranges, it'll be easier in the field, and you will get plenty of velocity without any concern.

 

[brutus51]

Is the 1 in 10 twist the standard for the .260 or is that just the way Remington makes them?

 

[Kachok]

The only difference you will find in your stated criteria is #2. There is a larger selection of 7mm bullets, and they will be easier to find on store shelves than in 6.5. You will probably find it easier to find new brass in 7mm-08, but if you are ok necking up or down then it's no different.

Actually I have been much more successful in finding 6.5mm bullets lately then 7mm, or 30 cal or .270, come to think of it 6.5mm has been the only reliable thing on the shelves around here, I have a 10 year supply of SSTs and SGKs for my 6.5x55.
The 7mm-08 offers some real advantages on game, larger caliber bullet makes for larger holes, and the increase in energy makes up for the lower BC bullet inside hunting range, but I just like my 6.5mm it is the most accurate thing I have ever shot, no deer has lived long enough to complain about not being hit by my 7mm.
Both are run to shoot, recoil is pleasant even on extended range sessions.

 

[Bio-Chem]

There isn't a deer alive that can tell the difference in hole size between being hit with a bullet of .284 and .264 or whatever accompanying increase in energy between these two rounds may be.

 

[twofifty]

Is the 1 in 10 twist the standard for the .260 or is that just the way Remington makes them?

Savage barrels the 260 with 1 in 8 twist.

 

[Kachok]

A 1:8 twist is the most versatile for the 6.5mm bore, much as how the 1:9.5 does everything well in 7mm.

 

[scottishkat]

260 rem twist rate

Remington made some runs of 260 rem in 1 in 10 the later ones are all made 1 in 9. The 1 in 9 will shoot 140's well. The 1 in 10 is made more for 100 and 120 bullet weights. I have shot the 130 vld with success in a 1 in 9 and need to try the 140 vld. The 1 in 8 will shoot them all.

 

[Eb1]

Load 125 grain Nosler BT, 130 grain FN from Speer, the 125 grain Sierra FNHP, or some bullet in the 125-135 grain range. Load it down to around 2500-2700 fps, and you will have a light recoiling deer killer from the .30-06.

I don't know if this meets all your requirements, but it is the most economical. At least to try anyway and see if you like it. What does it cost? $30 at most for a box of bullets?

I like .25 bores. I am a huge fan of the .25-06. The recoil is minimum for a hi-powered rifle, and the down range effects on game is amazing. As well is its accuracy. I like the 115 grain Combined Technology bullets and the 100 grain Ballistic Tips over IMR 4895 or RL-19. It is lighting bolt effective.