Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Europe 260 Remington for Irish red stag

130 grain swift scirocco 2 @ 2826 fps
2305 ft -lbs

Like a 243 with a little more oomph
What do you think am I on the right track?
Edited

Uhhhhh....Is that good?

I killed a rocky mtn Elk with a 125 partition, around same velocity I think, 480 yds and she died.

Rule # 1 put the bullet where it is supposed to go
Making the first shot count
It will work just fine

Big Red Stag are only cow elk size(ish). I've killed 2 with .300 Win Mags and one with a .270 Win (all three with cheap C&C bullets), plus a hind with a .22 LR but for sure wouldn't have felt uncomfortable hunting the stags with a .260 Rem and 130 Scirocco II.

Proceed with confidence.

I downed a fine red stag on a private high fence ranch with my 30-30 carbine shooting Winchester 170 grain Power Point ammo. Two quick shots into the chest organs did the job. Both bullets went all the way through the other side and were not recovered. Distance was stepped off at 82 long strides.

Remington's 260 is certainly a good cartridge for big game. But I would opt for a 140 grain bullet.

Sherwood

I know of many nice bull Rocky Mountain elk killed with 140 gr TBBC out of a ..260.

I've put many big red stag's and some hinds down while using 140 Nosler partitions at varying distances with my 260 Rem.
Never needed a second shot with any of them.

I just got a cow elk with my 260 shooting a 130 Accubond. One shot with an exit. Hit your spot and it will do just fine.

Please post up about your trip. I hope to do this at some point but will have to do with the local stags for now. The 260 will work fine. Bell used a 220 Swift and many of the game guards or Ghilly's use a 308 or 270.

My cow hunt was on Morgan Creek Ranch, part of the Ranching for Wildlife program for Colorado residents. This is a big property with many elk but weather determines their behavior. We hunted hard for several days before lucking into a smaller bull and a medium sized cow after checking on a bowl in a canyon. 50 yard shot for a cow that hesitated for a split second. Doesn't get any better than that!

The bullet out of the 260 didn't bounce off, contrary to some rumors going around. 130 accubond and 44 gr. Ramshot Hunter was the load.

The folks running the show are very helpful. They offer guided hunts for more $ obviously. Elk Ridge Outfitters

Sorry for the hijack.

The guy I hunted with carried a .260 and has killed many Scottish stags with it

Wild red deer in Ireland and Scotland are considerably smaller-bodied than wild red deer in Europe--or on game farms in the U.S. They're pretty much the size of mule deer. A .260 is plenty, just like it is for mule deer.

Do you mean they're considerably smaller-bodied than wild red deer in mainland Europe?

I shot an Iberian Red Deer in Spain and it was mule deer sized. I figured there was quite a difference between red deer on the Iberian Peninsula and in say, Germany or the Czech Republic, but didn't know those in Ireland or Scotland were relatively small. Being they're further north, I figured they'd be fairly large for red deer standards.

There's also a biological phenomenon about islands: With some exceptions (apparently depending on island size) larger mammals on islands tend to be smaller.

The 6.5x55 has been killing everything on this planet for 100+ years. The 260 is nearly identical to the x55. You should have no problem with a well constructed 130gr or 140 gr bullet at 6.5x55 velocities.

I am suprised that no one has commented that the 260 is not enough cartridge and that it requires a 6.5 Creedmoor to kill one. LOL

drover

With the ignorance on this site, you'd be correct.

OP: Bullets matter far more than head stamp. You'll be fine with your 260.

Yup. When the Iron Age F&G departments brought them in their boats were small so they picked the little ones to stock.

Okay, I made that up......

I killed my one and only Rocky Mountain elk with .260, using 140 gr Corelokts at about 150 yards. Neck shot, bang-flop. It has also taken a half dozen or so caribou, and a wolf.

I wouldn't worry about it, given good shot placement at reasonable range - say 250 yards, depending on your skill. A couple of my caribou were over 300, no problem.

I've taken over 20 moose, various calibers, and have no qualms about using the .260 with 140 gr. bullets on one, if I get the chance.

It should do fine on stag, given proper shot placement.

"130 grain swift scirocco 2 @ 2826 fps
2305 ft -lbs

Like a 243 with a little more oomph
What do you think am I on the right track?"


Let me give you the detailed, accurate answer:







Yes!

125 partition is all you need. hit in heart-lungs D R T .

A have a rebarreled Ruger RL tanger in .260 that shoots 120 TTSXs really well. So that is what I would use.

Red stag, from anywhere, has been on my radar for quite a while. I really need to get serious and start to research.

i can't think of any species in the "deer" family that the mighty 260 rem pushing a 130 scirocco 2 @2,800fps wouldn't kill either shoulder or behind the shoulder shot.
good luck and post up the exit wounds,
Big Ed

Any bullet under 3000 fps bounces off anything from jackrabbits to elk. Everyone knows this, crap, it's depressing to come on here sometimes.

Yes. No problem.

This. BTW, it's those Green ones that require more killin' - but be careful to not over penetrate.

In the planning stage to hunt Spain October 2022 for Ibex and Mouflon sheep. Plan to take my 260AI with developed loads of 130 grain Accubonds atop 46.0 grains of H4350 that print bug holes at 100, 200, 300 yds. plus. This is a Remington 700 mountain rifle rebarreled with a Lilja #3 fluted contour. Holland brake and Jewel trigger. Topped with a Swarovski 3-18 scope. This 260 has accounted for many big game animals and is a true one and done rifle. Go for it! MTG

I’ve only made one red stag hunt but I shot four that time with a .270 (which is beside the point). What the point is, all of the game keepers were using a .243 with factory ammo and they found it to be perfect; however, they are professionals who wait for the perfect shot before taking it.

Sorry, that was my long-winded way of saying I think your .260 will do fine.

Lots of good info here that I agree with. No need to repeat what others have said. Only to add that I think your choice for a 260 for red stag is a fine one. I love mine. Anything from a 130gr - 140gr, Accubond, Scirocco, Partition, ( what ever your gun shoots best) with good shot placement will do nicely.

I've been giving thought to a similar hunt, but in Argentina. My back up will be a 260 Rem pushing 120 TTSXs, in case something unforeseen should happen to my 7-08, also pushing a 120 TTSX. But only because the 7-08 is a pound lighter.

I put a cheapo Speer .277 130 through 14" of whitetail at 150 yards at 2600 fps MV.

So...yes. lol

YEah-0 curious where in Europe and how the heck you wound up with a 260?

260 is my go to but am hunting smaller stuff than reds- but wouldn't hesitate.

Heck my hunting buddy shot and killed a huge Eland that wondered on our lease with his 270. That thing was bigger than any of his beef cows so a 260 and red stag......bueno.

I've killed A BUNCH of elk with a 260ai and 140 match burner, rdf and 142SMK. All have died quick and damn near where they stood. Many over 600yds a few over 800.

You have nothing to fear.