Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 260 vs 7MM08

For hunting whitetail and possibly an occasional elk hunt, is there any "real world" difference when it comes to killing the animal? Forget about ammo availability , just interested in performance on game.

This could turn into a classic popcorn event...

DF

Couldn't imagine a well placed 140 grain Partition from either one not performing it's duty on an elk. Questioning their abilities on a whitetail is a moot point.

Yep, I am going to enjoy this one.

I have yet to see a real difference. Both proven very effective in their modern form or their classic ballistic twins 6.5x55 and 7x57. Speed vs bullet weight vs sectional density.... blah, blah blah

At normal ranges they both perform admirably. Go with your gut.

I got it popping now!!

Both effective when using good bullets thru vitals....

Insert the definition of 'tried and true' here ...

If for some reason you want a heavier bullet, consider the 7mm.

It's amazing how easy it is to entertain a bunch of Loonies.

Cheap entertainment at its best, loving every post...

DF

Well I never shot a 260, hunted for four seasons from 1980-84 with a 7mm-08, I have shot and still do shoot a 6.5 x55. Nope not that you would be able to tell with the numbers of White tail and Elk you are ever going to be able to shoot in your life time. One of my old buddies from Alaska, shot all his moose with a 7mm-08 thought it was the very very best cartridge for the job. He would shoot a good 15 or so Moose with a box of cartridges, he would check zero from time to time. With the other 5. The key will always be putting the bullet in the right spot. So Marksmanship skill is first in importance, you could then say Bullet and Bullet construction for the task at hand second and third the cartridge you launch the bullet from, sights could be forth on the list ( you have to be able to see well enough with the sights to shoot accurately enough for the conditions) and sixth the rifle itself, it can be anything as long as it fits you and it has a reasonably good trigger. All this is contrary to the folks here at the 24 hour Campfire. Were endless experimentation and hair splitting rules supreme. We all have at one time or another chased the purple dragon of finding that perfect combination of rifle-cartridge-bullet- sights and accuracy. Its what makes hunting and shooting the finest of all sports, I will leave Flyrods and trout fishing for another day.

in the field no real difference....ive got a 260 cause im a 6.5 slut and the wife has a 7-08 cause thats what we found a Rem Seven Youth in and she loves the rifle.....

If you want to buy factory ammo over the counter, the 7mm-08 is maybe a little better bet, but not much. If you hand load your ammo, flip a coin. If you are using exclusively factory ammo, the .308 is the way to go.

John

Within reason, proper placement of a properly constructed projectile usually trumps case capacity and bore diameter. The 0.020" difference in bore diameter between the 260 and 7mm-08 is, for a practical matter, inconsequential except in the mind of the shooter.

Distillation = no practical difference if the shooter does his/her part.

Or so it seems to me.

Jeff

260/Swede = same/same.
7mm08/7x57 = same/same

Both the Swede and 7x57 have been killing moose (and everything smaller) for over a hundred years. Flip a coin.

Is there a difference if the shooter doesn't do their part?

With similar BC bullets, there is about 2 pounds less recoil from a 260. Hurts a little less on the shoulder while seeming to produce the same terminal effect.

^^^^^^^^^^ +1
My regular using rifles are a .260 and a 7x57(same as 7mm-08)
Different guns but same terminal effects.

Larger caliber never compensates for poor marksmanship.


Thanks guys you've confirmed what I thought, no real world difference!

stir.....stir.....

Good summary with differences only a Loony could come up with, a Loony with too much time on his hands.

For the .260 argument, do a Fire search for Scenarshooter and see pages of dead critters taken with well placed 6.5 Scenar projectiles. That scenario probably has more to do with Pat than the round, just happens to be one of his favorites.

DF

I always love the 'this caliber is better when I [bleep]-up' answers....

There's no replacement for shot-placement ....