Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles what is the .260's upper limit?

whats the largest animal that you would comfortably shoot with the .260? As far as i can tell its pretty adequate for all north american game except maybe big bears but is it a really good choice for elk and other large thick skinned animals? thanks

Yes. I'd not hesitate to use it on any and all North American ungulates.

Elk would be the largest N/A game I`d use a 260 on. For the moose and certainly for the bison and big bears, I`d want a larger caliber.

the Euro's been killin' lots of moose and thier prefered cartridge is the 6.5x55. It's all about shot placement.

..........I am aware of those 6.5mm capabilities for moose. But the preference is still for a larger caliber.

In NA I'd be comfy with except the big bruins. The rest of them, no a bigga deal to take out with a good bullet.

Dober

I may be wrong here. But I can't imangine a moose being tougher than an elk. Ain't worried about bison kickin my ass. Big bears are altogether a different story and I'd want someone with a backup rifle!

Well, IMO, the .260 is a dandy, capable cartridge and if it was my only rifle and I was damn elk hungry, I would use one with a great deal of circumspection to shoot an elk (and I damn sure wouldn't expect some magic bullet to do my work for me). But it isn't and so I wouldn't consider it. No more than I would consider shooting a deer with a .22 centerfire.
IMO, the folks whose mantra is "shot placement, shot placement, shot placement" have never had a shot gone sour for whatever reason when a bit more weight of metal or a calibre or two may have carried the day. But then, perhaps most of their shots have been made from an armchair.

Do you think Steelhead had to move his portable armchair out of the frame when he took all those pictures of game slain by the Bumblebee?

The .260 is a nice round but it isn't perfect for elk and moose. It will work though with proper bullet placement. Things is, when can we always be sure of proper bullet placement when you have 2 seconds to fire in the bush and your heart is racing? As for the Europeans using the 6.5x55....yeah they do. The moose are generally smaller than a NA moose though and these guys have all season to get their animal. I would want to be fairly close to any moose I shoot with a 260. I would rather use a 30-06 or bigger for an angry bull that just had his day ruined.

i dont think moose are near as tough as an elk. ive never hunted elk but i live in moose country and using your favorite deer gun is the norm. i believe moose are thin skinned compared to elk and they rarely have any fat on them whatsoever

Bust them all in the ass with a 325 Wizzum.

Life is tough and it's tougher when you're stupid....

Steelhead, good advice, I will just add, bring a 260 or 6.5x55 as a back up

Within 300 yds, I'd tackle anything but the largest bears without hesitation with good bullets, and holding fire on ANY animal till sure of shot placement, as I always strive to do when shooting ANY round at any game animal.

I believe somewhere Dogzapper or someone spoke of Moose taken with 6.5mm 120 ballistic tips, it seems out of a 6.5/06, w/ shot placement. I myself would choose a 130 accubond or 129 SP on the light side, but a mono in 120-130 as a TSX, along with most other bullets like 125/140 PTs, or various 140-160s will likely do well on most any game, WITH shot placement.

I recognize those who want more cal/mass and if I were venturing in bear country, I'd feel better if hunting or wanting more surety of having to STOP a dangerous animal, by using a 338 or 358 cal pushing a 210/225 or heavier, respectively bullet of decent contruction.

A 260 is not ideal for the largest game, but the hunters of yesteryear (seems Charles Sheldon comes to mind) were not phased when using the 6.5x54 and 250-3000 on the largest of NA game. They had modest speeds with cup/core bullets of decent S.D. They were successful. They also valued shot placement much more than many hunters consciously do today as many hunters carry magnums that have plenty extra discretionary/disposable FOOT LBS. to give them the confidence to sometimes forget that one should always do their best to try when possibly getting the right shot presentation, and having a good rest/good hold and maintain trigger control and follow thru to maximize the chances for a quick kill.

Re: ass shots as well as the other comment on 22 centerfires on deer....

I have never shot anything in the rear (know it was tongue in cheek) nor used a deer w/ a 22 cal.

I do know someone who wanted to 'experiment' for lack of better words by using a 53x bullet in a 22/250 on a doe, and shot it in the hip. Result, deer dropped, complete penetration broadside. He had success, albeit not an ethical choice or one I would have done, he answered his curiousity on performance.

My point...shot placement is key IMHO, paramount and second to bullet choice second, and foot pounds and pre-impact bullet wt. are next.

I'd rather use a 250 savage with 100 TSX than a 300 Whiz Magnum with a 150 grain cup core at magnum speeds at close distances. Retained mass throughout penetration thru vitals counts in my book.

I strongly believe quality bullets take smaller bores closer to the level of killing effectiveness as conventional bullets did/do with larger cal. bullets that either lack S.D. and/or post impact integrity (weight retention) due to construction of some specific bullets.....or a combo of excessive speed.

All bullets are not created equal yet SHOT placement is the best hedge against failures of any kind in my book.

Using a round on the 308 case, I'd use a 260 w/o worry for elk, moose, and bear but if selecting one, would choose a 338 Fed w/185 or 225 TSX or 210 PT, or 358 Win w/225 TSX or PT first, as all else equal, the wound channel should end up wider, though likely similar in depth. The 260 would kill as dead, but death may not always come as quick if the shot is not a CNS hit.

The 6.5 is a long for weight calibre, and the 160 keeps on drilling through in a straight line. Bullet placement is essential for any shot to harvest game, irrespective of calibre or speed. Deer Moose and bear have all died when shot by me with a 6.5x55 which is a twin to the 260. I had a big bear charge from up close in the alders once, and it died with a round in the top of the head. That tells you how close it was. The bullet was recovered in the heart after breaking its neck. No other round would have done a better job.
Randy

in the right hands... elephants, in the wrong hands a paper plate is a challenge.

I seem to do my best when time to shoot is limited severely. Probably reactive shooting is my strength because when I have time to think, I do. That is OK with paper, but not game.
Randy