Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Anyone like the 260 Rem?

It has been a few years since I had mine but I do remember factory 140 grain Corlokts shot in the mid 2600 fps range out of a 22" A-Bolt barrel on a winter day.

I don't think that 2900 fps from a 20" with a 120 grain bullet would be a stretch. I have 2 20" barreled 260s, an Interarms Mark X mannlicher and a Remington 7 mannlicher, both of which will do 2900+/- with 120 grain BTs.

If you want more velocity, swapping for a 22" 700 MR barrel is both easy and inexpensive.

Jeff

While I tend to like fast cartridges, the 260 Rem of mine is currently the rifle I shoot for pleasure the most. I find it to be extreamly easy to load for, shoots everything I stuff in it very accurately, is easy on the shoulder.

The 100 gr partition screams along at 3250 fps, which is easily out performing the 243 win, and the 125 partition, or 130 gr Scirocco II put it in great shape for big mulies.

The best analysis of the 260 Rem is this in my book, it out performs the 243 win at both ends of the spectrum, which begs the question, is the 260 Rem really what the 243 win was meant to be? At the lighter bullet wt range it gives up nothing to the 243 win, AND with 120 + gr bullets is about everything a 270 win is with 130 gr bullets. All in a short bolt, light rifle, that's a winning combination in my book. The short mags derailed the 260, but, deservedly, the 260 Rem is getting another look by hunters.

I agonized for months whether my Remington Ti should be a .260 or a 7mm-08. In the end, I was going to have to wait much longer for a .260, while the 7mm-08 was available immediately - so I bought it.

Since then, I've loved the performance on big game of the 7mm-08 and have justified my ownership of the same by thinking it's a better combo for Alaska, BC or Montana, where a grizzly might want to take your kill while you're working on it. I can admit however, in the other provinces and states, a .260 (with the 100 grain Nosler) might be a slightly better deer rifle.

I know that the differences between the two are very marginal, and I'd still like to own a .260 - just because, but I can't really justify it at this time. The two most similar old world cartridges (6.5 X 55, and the 7X 57) have really carved out a long running reputation as "hitting beyond their weight class" - and I'm hearing that the newer rounds are getting that reputation too.

I'm fairly new to handloading, but with most powders I've tried it seems that I can go above book max on powder wght with no pressure signs, but velocity just seems to stall and accuracy degrades. Even at 2 grainns over max I don't seem to gain more than 50-70 fps and groups really open up. What gives?



Iv'e thought about this a few times, but scared that it wouldn't be as accurate. Although I may not be able to use all the accuracy from a field position. The old saw about " Only accurate guns are interesting" fits me to a T.

Thanks,
Dave.

Agree, BCBrian, 3/4 of my rifles I dont need, but I do want and like.........that's what makes our sport so much fun.

You might have a slow barrel. My 22" 6.5-284 is faster than either of my 24" 6.5-284s.

If you have a spare $150+/-, you could buy a 22" stainless 700 MR barrel in 260, another Remington factory synthetic stock, and have them installed on your action. If you decide that you don't like the 22" barrel, or it isn't accurate enough, you could swap back to the original barrel and stock. As long as you don't care where the roll stamps on the barrel are, headspacing a Remington action with a Remington barrel couldn't be much easier.

Jeff

Oh my gawd 260... I thought I liked the 260, but you're a madman with 15, ha, ha!

I love the round. So, much that I got rid of a poor shooting Ruger and rechambered an Arisaka carbine to it. The Arisaka shoots well, but it is a bit homely.

I'm really looking for a full sized gun in this cal without rebarreling something else. You can find the short carbines or maybe a Sako if you want to spring for one.

I've used the 85 grain Sierra quite a bit for groundhogs. It works. I think the jacket is a bit tough though - blows 50 cent piece holes, but always exits. I have some 95 gr vmax's loaded but haven't tried them.

Not sure why this round never took off. I'd rather have a 6.5-06... but rather than fool around with that, the 270 is too appealing a substitute.

If I can't find a nice, full size 260 I also may go the 270 route intead.

TM

For a full-size 260 Rem, the M700 Mountain LSS is sweet - and of course there's the M700 Titanium for those with the funds to spare.

I'm re-barreling a M700 243Win to 260 Rem to get my latest 260.