Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Tell me about the 260 Remington

OK, I’m doing a little bit of research on the Internet etc. etc. but just looking for other opinions. I recently purchased a short action NULA In 260 Remington With the initial thought I was sending it back to Melvin to rebarrel to .243 win. But looking into what I have the .260 rem seems like a pretty darn good choice. Only down sides might be declining popularity/decrease factory ammo, and maybe a little more recoil?
Anything else
I’m missing?

Not a ton of ammo but I’d be hard pressed to make a good shooting 260 a 243.

If you’re a handloader there is a good chance you’ll find some 308 cases around.

I've always liked the 260, I definitely wouldn't rebarrel to a 243.

With the 6.5 craze, there's a great selection of new bullets on the market, and I'm seeing 260 ammo and brass on the shelf.

I'm not seeing much .243 - that will change, but I'd be hard pressed to change a .260 into something else in a short action, and feel I'd moved up.

AmmoSeek has a relatively decent selection of ammo for reasonable prices for the factory shooter.

If Remington had done the advertising push on the 260 that others did on the Creedmoor you would never have seen a Creedmoor. Edk

There is a dimensional reason working against the 260 that advertising wouldn't overcome.

If I recall correctly the NULA has a 3" magazine which is great for the 260. What is the rifling twist of your barrel?

The 260 is basically a 6.5 Creedmoor,especially if you are a handloader. I prefer 120 grain bullets for hunting in the 260 and the Creedmoor. Results are identical.

If you want a 243,just load 100 grain bullets in your 260 and you're there.

The 120 grain Ballistic Tip is a sure fire deer killer.

Best general hunting cartridge ever made - right behind (chronologically) the 6.5X55 and right in front of the 6.5 Credmoor. Really can’t find a better cartridge for 95% of NA game (in my opinion) - at “normal” hunting ranges. Rifling twist can affect that some for heavier bullets but if twist is the same there is no practical difference between these three - I consider them all peas in a pod.

PennDog

The funniest part is the Tippetty Top SOF units of our nation is all the sudden migrating back to the 260 Rem for some reason. Not a one of them can say why, but they are shooting the hell out of them all the sudden.

The amount they are using is a blip compared to the rest of the military but it’s still happening. I asked a few friends and not a one can explain the transition from the 6.5 Creed.

I think Penndog has covered the subject most eloquently

Math man makes a great point about the 3” magazine over coming one of the design superiorities of the Creedmore and Ruraldoc makes a grand point about 100 grain bullets.

Unless the barrel is “cooked” there is no practical reason to go to the .243

I'm interested in the whys and wherefores myself.

If their firearms have long enough magazines to eliminate the sleek bullet ogive in the case mouth issue then maybe it's the older, shallower shoulder angle giving better feeding.

Just thinking out loud here.

I'd put a reasonable effort into trying it out as a 260. That will likely help with the decision.

I like the 260, worked great on cow elk 2 years ago and easy to shoot too.

That is my experience for sure. One of the best bullets for quickly killing without excessive recoil in 260 and 6.5 Creedmoor.

It's a rich man's 6.5 Creedmoor! lol

I can understand wanting something other than a 260 but I couldn't see turning something I generally liked in all other respects from 260 to 243. Just me.

The 260 ought to be more reliable in autoloaders and full auto guns because of the more forgiving case geometry,but extensive testing by the military revealed that there was no detectable difference in accuracy or reliablity when comparing 260 vs. 6.5 Creedmoor.

I am a big fan of the 243, and have never shot the 260, but I would prefer the 260 over the 243 because the 242is subject to rare but troubling pressure spikes that I have never heard explained.
I think the 260 is very easy to reload for.

I see no downside to shooting it as-is. If you shoot it out, then think about a barrel. I like the .243, but will never buy another new one if the same rifle can be had in 6CM. Your lucky find is a perfect illustration of when the “obsolete” ones make perfect sense.