Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 260 Rem vs 7mm-08????

For those of you who shoot or have shot one of the above calibers, which one should I select for my next purchase and why? Looking for a lite hunting rifle for general use in the CONUS. Meaning whitetails, hogs, black bear, elk?, coyotes.... curious about "on game" performance and bullet selection as well. Also, resale.

I have larger calibers in heavier guns so that is why I want a lite rifle. Perhaps 7lbs rigged?

thanks

If you reload, flip a coin.

If you don't reload, 7/08.

I do not have nor have I used a 260. That said if I wanted a light rifle for my wife that's probably what I'd get her & load 100 gr bullets.

For myself when looking at ammo availability (even though I load all my own) & talking to local dealers in Natchez, MS area near where I live I went with a 7mm-08. I shoot the 120 gr Nosler BT in it, light recoil with good penetration on the deer I've shot here. I love it for that purpose. To be clear most of my shots are close due to where I hunt. Most of my shots the last few years have been 40- 60 yards with 1 at ~ 20 yards & another ~ 125. One shot kills, through & through penetration on all counts with 120 gr BT at 7mm-08 velocities. The deer in the area I hunt are not that large. If I were purpose hunting bear, hogs, etc. I'd step up to a 140 gr bullet.

The 7mm-08 has worked well for me FWIW. I'm sure the 260 would as well, just haven't tried it.

i've owned both. the 7/08 gets my vote because of availability of ammo and its longevity so far. as for effectiveness on game, its a wash. personally, unless you really want one of them, i'd go with a 308. lots more models available and ammo is cheaper.

I own both... got the 260 first... so I use a lot for hunting..

I hand load....the debate of which is best is like the old 30/30 vs 32 Win Special Campfire arguments of our grand dad's hunting days.....

FWIW, my gunsmith has played around with both since they were wildcats. He says that he cannot tell any difference in their effectiveness on game up to and including elk, nor can his clients for whom he has built rifles. I really like the 7mm-08 and have owned several, two of which I had built. They all reside with my younger daughter and my grandchildren. I have been thinking about getting another one.

Since you said resale is a factor, I vote 7mm-08. A 160 Partition at 2700 should be lethal for any hog, black bear, or elk; in my estimation. And as mentioned, the 120 NBT should cover your deer hunting needs pretty well. It would also do a number on the coyotes you mentioned.

Don't need eather one or want to again

Don't need eather one or want to again

"Don't need eather one or want to again "

Why the hater????

Results on game IME - identical. Both will get the job done. Personally - I like 6.5s and left the 708s for the 260.

As Rancho sd - handload 260, you get a tad less recoil w/130s in 6.5 than a 140 in 7mm, I like the BC/SD on the 130 AB in 6.5 and the #s hold up better than 120 if you are shooting any distance.

260/130 vs 708/140 are about same/same in performance on paper, and in field. Very subtle but to me noticeable difference in recoil.

If one likes 120s, again - is a handloader, I like the 120s in 6.5 over a 7mm. Higher BC/SD which I like on longer shots.

Since elk are in the mix, I'd opt for the 7-08. Aside from that, I have both and hunt with both. their performance on deer sized game is basically the same. Kinda like the difference between a 7mag and a .300WM.
I use 140gr bullets in both of them so that may be a factor. Once you're in the 2600-2900fps bracket, gaining a 100fps by going to a lighter bullet is kinda pointless IMO.

pretty much, my wife and daughter use a 7-08 and i use a 260 for all the same hunting......interchangeable....why we use two different? the Rem Seven youth rifle the girls like only came in 7-08 and i traded into the Kimber 84M Montana in 260....woulda took a 7-08 or 308 had i come across one of them but found the 260 first....

As soon as you added elk to the mix my vote went to the 7mm08!

You can say that again.

Persackly.....

I like the 100gr bullet coming out of the .260 at 3200fps+. That is practically 25-06 velocity. Between 120 and 140gr, there is no difference. But at 150 gr and above the advantage shifts to the 7-08. So antelope and deer-go .260. Deer and elk, go 7-08. Can't offer an opinion re hogs, as I have no experience with them.

I've used both and would hunt with either for all the above mentioned game and would include elk and moose! A 140 Partition in either will handle it all!

Yep. Was looking for a 7mm-08 bbl for the Rem 725 SA. Came up with a .260 Rem 700 TI that screwed on nearly perfectly (the barrel stampings are exactly upside down).. but after lug lapping, the headspace was perfect - just on the tight side of the guage, but chambers all factory ammo. And I neck-size reload for it...

I'm happy. A caribou, an elk, and a wolf over a 6 week span had their day ruined.. I'm looking to add a moose to the run some season plus some repeats...

PS - it has the ugliest factory stock I've ever seen....

What will a 7/08 do, that a 260/120 Barnes won't do - on elk?