Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .260 Remington question

Does anyone besides Tikka and Savage currently chamber the .260 Remington?

Remington does in the SPS line with a 24" barrel 1/8 twist. I don't think many are out yet though.

Euro optic has some sakos..

That would get my coin.

It seems like a great cartridge. I can't figure out why so few manufacturers chamber it.

I think one reason is some companies have went 6.5 CM instead. Like Ruger for instance. Savage does both, but I'd imagine it's either/or for the other manufacturers.

It is curious Remington doesn't make more rifles in their .260 chambering though..

Maybe a strong 260 market takes away from the existing 7-08 market? Why tool up for two different cartridges when the 7 will go where most folks who want a 6.5-08 will need to go anyway?

I'm guessing Tikka will have a T3 next year in 260. My best guess would be a stainless hunter model in a wood stock. I'm betting the barrel may be fluted too.

Montana Rifle Company

Those MRC's are nice rifles!

NULA.

Concur.

Been very happy with it.

Looks like a long-term keeper.

They kill stuff too...this one launched a 130 NAB.



Cooper chambers the 260 as well.

I have a T3 hunter. Came in a wood stock which I promptly removed and installed a T3Lite plastic stock I had off my other Tikka I put in a B&C Medalist.

I love the rifle. One ragged hole with 5 shots from my handloaded 125 Noslers over H4831. Weighs ~7lbs.

I know where there is a LH Tikka Hunter that is going to be for sale. It's in "as new" condition.
pm me if you are interested. By the way, it's not mine. I'm keeping mine.

Steyr Pro Hunter

Never understood the quest for the .260. Not a bad cartridge, but what does it do other than fit a short action that others do not do even better?

Because Remington has great ballisticians, average engineers, and moronic bean counters and marketing pukes?

Kaffir! Infidel! Heretic!

I like my .260..... A Rem 725SA .244 rebarreled with a 700 TI takeoff in .260.

Screwed right on almost perfectly (exactly upside down, with a bit of lug-lapping)

It's a pretty decent 400 yard game killer. MOA or better if I hold my mouth right.

I ain't complaining.

I just acquired a tikka t3 hunter, and I am very pleased with it. Got Lapua brass and 125 gr NP's on the way. I to myself may know where another one is. Let me know if I can help. As far as why there are not many offerings, I don't know. I do know however there are quite a few long range competition shooters that use this caliber. Must be something to it. Just my .02 cents.

Cooper Model 54 as well.....the 260 Remington really should be more popular. Kinda like the .41 mag and 250-3000 (two of my other favorites). The thing I REALLY like about these cartridges is that during the ammo shortage I could find all these that I wanted - that's a plus right

That all said - and I have said this before, if I had to have just one cartridge to hunt in NA (save the big bears) I would do it with this round, in a Remington Model 7 (especially since most of my hunting involves deer).....130 grain Accubonds or a Barnes 127 grain LRX would get it done without worries!

PennDog

Very good selection of bullets, modest recoil, great reloading options, excellent accuracy potential.

Because it is .007" larger than a Bob.

I have 4 260s. 2 M7 SS, 1 M700SS and a Salvage with a 28" sewer pipe from Criterion. The 260 is the perfect cartridge for deer IMO. Light recoil with 140s and 100 grainers haul azz at 3350, or faster if you lean hard on the powder.

Have you shot and hunted with one?

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/.../products_id/90809/Remington+700+SPS+260

$568/ in stock

I'm thinking very hard about the one at buds

I'm thinking very hard about the one at buds

Wow.,...thanks for the update man! I had no idea that all other short actions fit better than the 260.

I'll sell my 10 year old little girls 260 and rush straight out and buy her a 358 winchester. I'm sure my daughter would deeply appreciate the big gash over the eye when the scope makes contact. Of course I'm edjicated and I understand the eye contact is much like cheek weld enhancing accuracy therefore making the rifle " MORE BETTER "

Point in question, is the 358 winchester More Better at heavier recoil substantially increases the chance of eye gash and recoil sensitivity in a young girl. Answer, Yes the 358 winchester is More Better.

Or maybe I should trade it off on a 243 so I can increase the throat erosion effect making it " MORE BETTER "

Point in question, is the 243 " More Better " at throat erosion than the 260? Answer....YES, the 243 is More Better.

Wow am I in the dark ages! I didn't know that everything was " MORE BETTER " than the 260?

Thanks man

Shod

Perfect platform with that long 3.1" magazine for seating out 140's

I used my Remington Model 700 SF SS 260 Rem on a cow elk last year at 220 yards using a handload with the Barnes 120 grain TTSX. I hit her dead center in the chest and all four legs went out from under her and she was down right there. Great cartridge....

I guess I should be clear, what does the .260 do that a 6.5X55 or 6.5X57 does not due better.. Other than that short action thing.

smithrjd,

I guess I would ask what does the 6.5X55 or X57 do that is significantly better than the 260. I have all three and there is not a bit of difference in performance in the field (IMHO). They are all more than capable cartridges!

PennDog

Shoots 260 ammo better.

GA Precision does...

Here is a reply by Mule Deer, on the thread 260 vs swede vs creed:
________________________________

Mule Deer
I've owned multiple rifles in all three chamberings, and my take is this:

The 6.5x55 is capable of the same sort of accuracy as the other two, and can exceed their velocities slightly, since it has more powder room and normally comes in actions with plenty of room for seating bullets out. But the chambers and brass can vary considerably, and there aren't any full-power factory loads. Most American factory rifles (when available) only come with 1-9 twists.

Many .260's also come with 1-9 twists, but the chambers and brass are far more uniform (though brass quality can vary). Cases can also easily be made from various other .308-based rounds. But if you want to shoot very high ballistic-coefficient bullets the standard "short action" magazine is a little too short for optimum seating depth. If you onloy plan to use standard hunting bullets, it works fine. Factory loads tend to be limited these days.

The 6.5 Creedmoor solves the magazine length problem of the .260 by using a slightly shorter case with a wider, steeper shoulder. Brass quality is excellent, and the factory loads are very good, though sometimes hard to find. The 1-8 twist for ultra-long bullets is common, and every factory rifle I've shot in 6.5 Creedmoor has been VERY accurate with both factory ammo and handloads.

For the record, the only one I own a rifle for right now is the 6.5x55, but it's a custom rifle built on an FN Mauser 98 action with a 1-8 twits Lilja barrel, using a tight custom reamer. Most American factory ammo or brass won't fit in the chamber, but Lapua brass does. I've had it for a while, but if I hadn't would have kept the Ruger 77 Hawkeye in 6.5 Creedmoor I purchased the first year they came out, since it was just as accurate.

_________________________
John


Now that Remington is going with the 1/8 twist, things are a little different.

It might be argued that the 260 is better because of logistics in the USA, since you can use 243 brass or 308 brass or 7-08 brass and neck it up or down accordingly.

For myself, owning and hunting both 6.5X55 and 6.5X57 I have no need of a 260. It is a good cartridge within its limits, but try some heavy weights and you will see why it is SIGNIFICANTLY less effective in the field than others.

Um, okay. Happy now?

Gotta be able to launch a 160gr RN at 2600fps to kill anything, I guess.

Of any SIGNIFICANCE..

Yep....you got me there. I have not shot "heavy weights" in the .260 (or the swede or 57 for that matter)....but then again I have not hunted the great bears yet with a 6.5

PennDog

p.s. guess I needed to supply the definition of "significant"

In the 6.5X57 over 200fps. In my Steyer with 160's I can get to 2860 safely. The 260 is a great round up to 140g after that it does not have the case capacity or COL to take the heavy weights. Probably more Moose have been taken with the 6.5X55 in 156g that any other cartridge. Depends on what your use is. I like to keep options open. To me the 260 limits itself.

Not a 6.5 guru here.... trying to learn more stuff...

With these newer high quality bonded bullets, 140 grains or less, what is the advantage of the 156grain bullet? Or other even heavier ones?

Not pecking at you, honest sincere question, I am not a 6.5 expert...

According to Chuck Hawks, your x57 oughta take you to Africa to kill elephants with Mr. Bell! LOL. Interesting comparisons of S/D's:

____________________________

For instance, the light 120 grain 6.5mm bullet has a SD of .246, the same as a 165 grain .30 caliber bullet. The 125 grain 6.5mm bullet has a SD of .256, equal to that of a 170 grain .30 caliber bullet. The medium weight 140 grain 6.5mm bullet has an outstanding SD of .287, which is essentially the same as a 190 grain .30 caliber match bullet. And the heavy 160 grain 6.5mm bullet has a SD of .328, about like a 220 grain .30 caliber bullet. Ponder these comparisons for a moment and it becomes clear why the 6.5's kill almost as well as the larger calibers, but with much less recoil and muzzle blast.

That the 6.5mm cartridges are suitable for most of the world's big game cannot be disputed. The record of the 6.5mm cartridges in Africa, for example, is well documented. 6.5's became the favorite cartridges of many well-known professional hunters in Africa, a number of who wrote about these cartridges. The legendary ivory hunter W.D.M. Bell was among these, and he went so far as to use his 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenhauer with 160 grain solid bullets for brain shots on elephants. He liked the moderate recoil and the deep penetration of the 6.5mm bullets. He also used the 7x57 Mauser with 175 grain solid bullets for the same purpose. With these two calibers he is reputed to have killed over 1000 elephants.

One more honest question...

When you load the swede hot with heavy bullets do you have to get the published load data from a shady character in the bad part of town down an alley by a tawdry pawn shop? LOL

But seriously, does anybody publish load data for modern-metal stronger action swedes?

Seems like I may have found another thread that answers my question:
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/3850534/1

JFC, chuck hawks...

You're comparing a LA to a SA cartridge?

Fine. 264 win mag kicks your 6.5x57 in the balls.

Hey, seriously, whatever floats your boat (we each have our preferences and biases).....just saying don't sell the 260 short (pun intended). Again, I certainly would not feel "under-gunned" hunting most NA game with it - assuming appropriate bullets and have seen no real world advantages of the two cartridges that you are touting over the 260 - just my opinion/experience and your mileage may (and appears to) vary.

PennDog

Buy once, cry once.

1:8 Twist Rem 700 Titanium

As long as I'm seeming to be getting reamed, I will ask this question, why the love of a SA over a LA? What is the advantage? Especially considering the cartridges in question. Perhaps the age old 308 vs. 30-06 issue.. I have the 06.

[quote Robert_White [/quote]

According to Chuck Hawks, your x57 oughta take you to Africa to kill elephants with Mr. Bell! LOL. Interesting comparisons of S/D's
[/quote]

Pay no attention to this joker...

When you are short and right. No need to improvise.

I find the sectional density comparisons interesting and entertaining minutia for debate and bicker on a boring evening.

Are you intimating that the data he posits is inaccurate???

The only real world advantage I have noticed for myself is that when shooting prone the bolt don't hit my nose with a short action if I am maintaining position and not breaking my cheek weld while shooting a 5 shot string. Maybe its just me...

I am thinking I could convert to the Swede addiction given some more thought and consternation.

It's really not that complicated:

1. Drive to the gun shop.
2. Pick out the one you like.
3. Pay for it.
4. Live happily ever after.


Or skullphuck it to death and worry about what people you'll never meet think about it.

Stop making sense!

I gave him that advice weeks ago..

I like a short action because I'm short with a short LOP. This makes the overall length of the rifle shorter for the same length barrel. Throw in the fact that the .308 Winchester will do everything the 30-06 will do with bullet weights in the 160 to 170 grain area with less felt recoil and what's not to like.

This is my opinion I'm sure not shared by anyone else.

Add in the plethora of ball ammo available for dinking around with and stuff built with premium bullets and you wonder why you have a reloading press.

'El Jefe..... how many is a Plethora?'.......

I have a reloading press so I have a reason to be in the garage.... where nobody else is.

Derby dood talking rifles... this place cracks me up.

That'd be mucho. And yeah, "reloading" looks a lot like solitary in me casa too...

Had a 12 year old out there all morning loading up .223 (55 NBTs/Varget) for his new rifle.... and a 13 year old loading up 125s to 2800 for his '06 in preparation for a cow elk hunt next week. Reloading is pretty therapeutic when it's solitary.... but it's a lot more fun when there's enthusiastic youngsters involved.