Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 260 Remington Question?

I just picked up a new stainless fluted Sako Varmint rifle in 260 Rem, and was wondering what ammo everyone was having the best luck with. I know I need to hanload as the variety of factory fodder is not good, but is there any decent ammo avail?

120 Ballistic from Federal is the best factory fodder IMHO...
Great deer round...

Really handicapping yourself not handloading for the .260 as you well know..

I know, I went to local shop this week to buy a RCBS kit, and they were out, guess I will have to make a call to Cabelas.

I loaded 125 gr partitions over 45 gr of H4350.

100gr partitions are the only ones shooting poorly, 125 part, 129sst and 130 bergers are doing well. Im using H4350 for everything and have been real happy. I agree with G that the 120BT is the best factory load out, at .260 speeds I would not worry about it being fragile at all.

vinc,

Funny you mention the 100 NP's. I've roughly 50+ more loaded up with 45.0 H4350 (very mild load as I loaded these using the 100 Barnes X old data, probably could have gone up to 47.0 or so for some more velocity). I figure this leaves at around 3000 and recoils less than my .243 with 70's at 3450 if you can believe it....

About 1/2" at 100 to boot...

Extremely good combo and a heckuva deer bullet including a mulie at 272 yards last November cross canyon...

When the last batch of these 100's are done I've 150+ 125 NP's waiting to be killers....

If limited to factory ammo in the 260, I'd agree with the rest of the guys and suggest the 120 grain BT from Federal and/or the 120 grain AccuTip boat tail from Remington.

When you start reloading for your 260, I'd suggest trying the following bullets:

95 grain VMax for anything under 125+/- lbs.
120 grain BT, 125 grain Partition, and 129 grain Hornady for anything in the 125 to 250 lbs. range.
140 grain Partition for anything heavier than 250 lbs. or for game that needs several inches of bullet penetration.

Jeff

What purpose does the 260 Remington serve seeing as how the 7-08 and the 260 are ballistic twins? Inquiring minds what to know.

Just had to do it didn't you....grin...
You can ask that question about +/- 100 calibers....

I acquired a .260 before a 7-08 and I see no reason to go 7-08...
That said, if I would have acquired a 7-08 before a .260 I'd have no reason for a .260...

I got interested in the 260 because I could buy a Remington 7 stainless and I couldn't buy anything chambered for the 6.5x55 across the counter in stainless.

I've always been more of a 7x57 guy than a 7mm-08 guy. The only 7mm-08 rifles that I currently have are Savage 99Cs, but they are too valuable (on the current market) to shoot.

Plus, the 95 grain VMax makes the 260 a better combination varmint-medium game cartridge, if you reload.

Jeff

That's easy. With both shooting 140 Factory, the .260 has 15 more ft/lbs of energy at 500 yards.(according to Rem charts)

I bought a .260 because I had a 6mm and a 7mm. Now I have a 6.5 mm. Seemed like the perfect whitetail cartridge. And I still think so. I use 140's for deer and hogs with expected performance on some very large hogs. I haven't tried BT's in years after 2 bad experiences, but I may try some for fun.

stumpy

Gmoney,
I remember your post on the 100gr and thats why I picked them up to try. I thought it might be the twist but the 95vmax is doing just fine, even used the same load range 44-46gr of H4350.

The 100part gave me a 3-4inch pattern at 100, I did not even bother to measure it. Next groups of 129SSt and Bergers went right about an inch. I liked the idea of matching it with the 95 Vmax but I guess I will have to try a different powder

I have a few 260's and I'm building another one. I havn't had the best accuracy results with the 120 NBT, it's been good but not the best. The 120g Speer always gives me better accuracy. I haven't used either on deer yet. My VLS loves 140g MK's and H4831SC but I mainly use that load on long range rock chucks. For 120's I usually load H414 or H4350.

Bb

I have a .260 lowwall and love it. When I checked the Sako site I didn't find the .260 listed in that model.... was it a limited run? What is a real world price for that rifle?
Thanks and please keep us posted on how it shoots!

I'd vouch for the 120 AccuTip from Remington. They worked well on a couple deer. And yes, I did have the 120 Ballistic Tip blow up on a deer's shoulder about 4 years ago.

The 140 CoreLokt seems to be too tough for deer, though it does kill them, just not all that quickly. The 140 Sierra from Federal does pretty well if you like penetration with your expansion.

I get good results with many differentloads but the 120 Remington Accutips gave me my all time best group for any rifle, any load, ever. That includes handloads........................sadly. I reload the 140 Sierra Gamekings and they are available in Federal factory load. For my situation I find 140 Gamekings out of a 260 to be a perfect blend of all worlds. I have one of those no good A-bolts, did the trigger myself, B&C Medalist stock, Leupold M8 6x42 with a #4 from Premiere. From the decellerator pad to the tip of that long Sierra missile in flight at a perfectly matched speed for its intended use this rig thrills me.

The 260 Rem is in my opinion, what the 243 was touted as being, a true duel purpose varmint/big game rifle. It's faster than a 243 with 100 grain bullets, and bullet weight can easily go to 140 grains for larger critters. If I only could have one, between the 243 or the 260, the answer is very easy, 260 Rem.

Gawd it pains me to agree with "aggiedog"...as a UT Longhorn fan!
I shot a 243 for about 10 years in the '60's & '70's and had more Issues with tracking and losing critters than I have in the 30 years since then put together. I moved to a 270 back then and just recently started fresh with a modern 6.5 Swede in a Tikka T3. I'd have just as soon as bought a Ruger Lite in 260 or Swede but just can't/won't consider the Compact with its 16" barrel though. Try one of either 6.5 persuasion and you'll see why folks think these things are like eating potato chips...once you use one you'll get another 6.5 in another flavor to go with the first one!
Ron

+ 1...

Oh and Gig 'Em!!!!!!

I just got a .260 and so far it seems to like 125 and 140 gr partitions over 45 grs of H4350. In fact at 100yds they have the same point of impact. My friend is loadin for me and has some 130gr scricco's that were gonna try. But for deer and the occasional black bear I really like Partitions!!! Outa the 7-08 the 140 partitions are serious deer thumpers. I'll prolly go 125 NP. Just cuz I've seen what the 140's do. I'm really liking the .260!!! I'm glad I bought one!