Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Has the .260's hair turned red?

Terry Wieland (in Rifle magazine) said that he expects the 260 Rem. to become more popular since the US military has adopted it for several purposes. I wasn't aware of the military interest - does anyone have any knowledge?

Terry Weiland mentioned in a recent article on 6.5's that the .260 had just been adopted by the military for specialized use and consequentially it might give the round a boost.
I couldn't find any more info about this "development" and am curious if any of you folks have heard of this?

I've used .260's for the last dozen years or so but am down to just one as I consider switching to the 6.5 CM. I sure have lots of .260 stuff I wouldn't care to replace tho.

Ha! Great minds think alike. Or ask the same questions anyway

Well, all of you guys sure have me twisting my own arm to pull the trigger on one.

As I get older I'm really liking the medium sized rounds, they have plenty enough oomph but don't kick as much or eat as much powder as the '06 based rounds and certainly not like magnums. The .243 is a lot of fun to load and shoot but it definitely eats throats. I've been playing with a 101 year old 6.5x55 for a couple of years now and this weekend ran my first 50 rounds through a modern 6.5 Swede - an MRC 1999 - and sure do like that .264 bore in these middlin' sized cases. Both rifles are very accurate with mild recoil, there are lots of great bullets available and unless someone's been hiding the fact, they don't burn out throats like their half millimeter smaller cousin.



Now if Ruger would just start making the standard LH American in 6.5 Creedmoor...

Well, I just sent in the order for a new left hand Tikka T3X Hunter in .260 Remington. I was going to get one of the discontinued T3 models on sale but after comparing them side by side at the local Sportsman's Warehouse I much prefer the checkering and feel of the newer stock, plus I found a very good price for one online.

Simultaneously, I submitted an order for 100 Lapua cases and the necessary dies and such to get started reloading. After all, it's only money, right?

Thanks to all the enablers here for helping persuade me to get this, perhaps I can return the favor some day...

Huh.

I compared a T3 and a T3X side by side and decided I like the fit and finish and attention to detail of the old one better.

I just coughed up $102 shipped for 260 brass also. My problem is that even though I have plenty of brass to make it from, I have multiple rifles in all the chamberings and mixed headstamps/chamberings is just something I don't need. I have enough trouble keeping track of "which 243, or which 308", etc. already.......

Yeah, you and me both. Couple of .243's, couple of .308's plus older lots of brass from other now sold .243's or .308's sitting around waiting for the current lots to get used up, etc. etc.

Yeah. I try real hard to label stuff. And am usually pretty good about it, but well, you know.

I am now down to 2 223s for maybe first time ever. One bolt, one AR. Was sorting through some brass and found brass with extractor marks on it labeled for a bolt gun, etc.

I wish I woulda just had all 5.56 HS in the ARs and 223 HS in the bolt guns, but it is way beyond that now. Plus I really like LC brass and have for a long time.

The 243 stuff is a mess also. Brass here for 4 of them, have loaded for 6 that I can think of. I won't go on. 308s too. Same sheeeit.

I would like to streamline my mess. Pick 1-2 223 bullets, sell rest, etc., etc.

Have tried to consolidate powders also, but still have 28 different ones on hand. I am phasing certain ones out though.

Maybe, eventually I will run a tight-knit operation here

Different rifles in same cartridge - ID brass used in each - dot(s) on case head with perm marker 1st time used, repeat as needed.

Brass isn't the problem, that is just a symptom :

The .260 needs an 8" twist and a 3" mag to shoot the 140's as well as the Creedmoor. The T3 has the twist, and if you really need to shoot the 140's, those mag issues can be "adjusted".

Get the LH T3 before they are gone, and you regret it !

--> In fact buy 2 and convert one to 6.5-280AI ;-) [/quote
My last 260 build was 1:8 hart screwed on to a long action

I bet I have a thousand pieces of brass to load my 260s with.... and I bet less than 50 are stamped 260 on the bottom... most are stamped 308.... as they are plentiful and I don't shoot a 308... so zero confusion.

ldholton : " My last 260 build was 1:8 hart screwed on to a long action "

Why did you choose a long action ? Throating / Magazine length ? Which Long action ?

The reason for my earlier suggestion of buying 2 ( made only half in jest ), was that LH actions can be scarce, and a T3 .260 could be readily reamed out to the 6.5x280AI.
Mag & Bolt Stop mods extra of course

Used old sportsman 78 action , same as 700 LA so I could seat 140-142's out and "chase" lands as they wear and still run ammo through the mag. for hunter class silhoutte rifle

.260's hair isn't red.... but here's a redhead with her .260...

The OP asked his question in the wrong place, if he expects an objective answer.

A loony forum made up of a bunch of churners, turners, and barrel burners could never give a straight answer to it.

Of course, the .260 is and always has been a red headed stepchild, except for here where any and all cartridge configurations have their afficionados.

My interpretation of the OP's original question was whether the lack of component brass has made the 260 an undesirable cartridge choice.

Access to 260 component brass has been an issue since it was introduced in 1997. I think that most guys who shoot 260s accept that as a fact of doing business and just use resized 243, 7mm08, or 308 parent cases. If a person is going to shoot factory ammo or feels the need to shoot longer VLD-style bullets, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a much better choice. If a person is going to load his/her own ammo, doesn't mind using brass with different head-stamps, and thinks that he/she can get by with bullets of 130 grains or less, the 260 is still, IMO, a very viable 6.5mm bore cartridge.

You do realize a .260 will run a 140 VLD just fine at 2.8".... and typically still out pace a Creed.... right? Kissing lands isn't necessary... just preferable, and at 2.8" with a 140, the .260 still has more case capacity than the Creed with same bullet at same length.

I've yet to see a factory Creed that'll kiss a VLD and keep it in a 2.8" mag either. This whole "the Creed is better in a short action" wives tale is getting old. The only reasons a Creed is "superior"... is the factory ammo and platform availability.

If you really need to kiss a 140 and feed it from a 2.8" magazine, then the x47 is the best choice.

I just talked to the OP and he said the real reason for asking was that he was wondering if the 6.5 Creedmoor wasn't sending the .260 into an early obsolescence, something like the .243 did to the 6mm Remington. The relative dearth of readily available cases seemed to portend this but, being as loony as anyone, he was then wondering what would be the best route to go if the supply of brass cases headstamped .260 continued to dwindle.

We talked about several things and he also let on that he is actually quite fond of red headed children such as the 6mm Remington et al, and once converted a perfectly good and quite valuable LH .30-06 Model 70 into a 6mm.


Personally I think he's crazy and should stick with the .30-06, .270, 7mm RM and .300 WM which are what God intended left handers to shoot...

Seem to remember it was a factor other than simply the .243 that kinda killed the .244 Rem - or is that what you meant by the 6mm?