Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles GAP .308 VS. GAP .260....Shootout!

Both solid shooters, for me, I'd pick a 6.5 for drop/wind, etc. and feel it will match or better a 308 downrange.

Not much one would do that the other could not given these examples - good rifle/load-bullet, and shooter. The difference is small at 200 IMHO.

Nothing wrong w/the 308/155 but I like the 260/130 for less recoil and good trajectory/wind.

Mathman, agreed. It would take alot more data to draw any 'general conclusions' if we are talking 308 vs. 260.

What I can say is that over at snipershide dot com, an awful lot of 308 shooters have switched to 260 for a reason. That said, it has not and will not uproot the 308 for everyone or all applications.

The 308 is VERY rooted b/c it has such a history and there are so many scopes set up just for it.

Again, both will do a great job given the rifleman knows his rifle.

Good shooting Pat.

at 150 yards 300 yards and 500 yards... jus' sayin'..chuckle

I think the 260 wins due to slightly less recoil.


Pat, why not run a fast-twist 243?

I haven't yet, but it's on my short list....how was your ES with it?

I have one already....well, sort of. It's a 6XC that runs 115gr VLD's and Dtacs at 3000fps. Really a shooter.

Seems like the 2000MR would work with that 130 Berger too.

Funny that guys are already argueing/debating.

Sit back, relax and enjoy an informative presentation of real world data collected by a guy who presents facts, good or bad.

Thanks for doing this BTW,

Your western neighbor.

Pat, I've only loaded a few in each bullet weight and run them over the clock... I plan to accuracy test this summer.

PRM, a guy that posts over at snipershide.com worked on the 2000MR project... here's his data on temp sensitivity:

While I was out hunting this morning, I got to thinking about this thread and what kind of data and information I could add, besides shooting paper and steel and decided to put up some numbers on coyotes I've taken with both calibers. For many years I've kept very accurate records of the coyotes I've taken, rifle, load, day/date, distance, location, weather conditions, etc..I went through my journals and added up the distance per kill on 100 coyotes for each rifle.



This is my Surgeon .308. The load used in the comparison is the same as my light .308. The velocity is the same, 155 scenar at 2950fps.



This is my GAP Crusader .260. The load for this rifle is the 139 scenar at 2850fps. Both rifles are nearly identical....both sport S&B 5-25X56 PMII's, Mcmillan A5's, 26" MTU barrels, Jewell triggers set the same.

The farthest shot on 100 coyotes for the .308 was 866 meters. The closest was 31 meters. 16 shots were 400+ meters. The average shot was 274.28 meters.

For the .260 the farthest shot was 882 meters. The closest was 66 meters. 21 shots were 400+ meters. The average shot was 303.08 meters.

That's some pretty solid real world data there. I was a little surprised. Remember, coyotes aren't big game animals....I just thought this might be interesting to look at.

After I was finished comparing the .260 and .308's 100 coyotes, I did the same numbers with my Surgeon 6XC. It was 12 meters farther shot average than the .260.....but that could be another story in itself.....grin!

Oh baby, call me a sick man but I'm already for the white to come back...grin

Dober

Cool pics by the way, and probably literally..

Dober

Here's a question I would be curious to know.

It has nothing to do with ballistics or statistics

Which rifle is going with you to Wyoming next week?

And how did you go about making the decision?

Great write up Pat! I appreciate you taking the time to do this as there is always plenty of interest in these two.

My thought would be for a person unfamiliar with the weapon and perhaps drop, a 260 would be a fine choice. However for the person that wants to shoot a bunch a 308's barrel life should provide plenty of entertainment. Did I mention I have a rifle chambered in both?

6XC.....that rifle is like cheating......grin!

When the shoot is over I'm sending it back to Kansas City with George for a new barrel and suppressor.

I will have the Crusader .260 along if the XC breaks during the competition.

Right on! That heavy .308 of mine has 4000+ rounds through it and still shoots in the .2's and .3's.

Pat, what's your edjumicated guess on the useful life of a 260 barrel vs. 308? Or at least, what are others saying about the 260's life?

Pat: Have you noticed whether the Coyotes have a preference?

I was wondering which you'd take.

That gun with a can on it would be a perfect for what you do. And tax deductible too, I'd imagine!

Best of luck at the shoot.