Ruger compact?

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I'm looking at getting a Ruger M77mk2 compact stainless. Can't decide between the 308 and the 260. With the short barrel of the compact which would likely be the better all around round? I'm thinking the 308 would be better but I'd like to hear what others think.
 
I guess I'm wondering which round will suffer more loss of performance with the short barrel. I'm comfortable with what they can and cannot do in a standard length barrel.
 
Id imagine you'd lose 20-25 fps per inch, so about 125-150 fps. Not that big of a deal really, the 260 would still be capable of shooting a 120 gr @ 2800 fps, and the 308 would do 2650 with a 150 grainer.

Anything Id point a 308 at, I would feel comfortable shooting with a 260.
 
Light weight hunting rifle for use in the mountains... might run into bears. Should likely get the 308 I guess but I like the 6.5mm bullets for deer. I'm just working myself up to spending some money ;)
 
I have been looking at these rifles as well. I desided to go a different route and got a Kimber 84M with full length barrel but personally I would take the 308 as it will have more energy at range that a 260 does.
 
I bought a 77 Compact in 260 for the girl. Nice little gun.
I was going to buy her a 243 in a 700 at first but after seeing the size of the Ruger I picked it up.

As much as I loathe the 260 as a cartridge it's a logical solution for her as a moose rifle. I think it would recoil substantially less than a 308.
I've got some 85gr Sierras loaded up fairly mild and as the summer progresses then I'll start loading 125 Partitions and 130 TSX's as she becomes more comfortable with the recoil.
 
Typically a small bore gives up more velocity as the barrel shortens than does a large one. This isn't surprising as the bigger bore has more volume per inch length than does a smaller one. Having said that, the difference between the .260 and the .308 is not great, the .264" bore has a volume of 4.08 cubic inches in a 20" length of barrel while the .308 bore has a volume of 4.8 cubic inches in a section of barrel the same length. While the .308 would be my choice, there is no reason why a 6.5mm, .277", or 7mm based on the same case couldn't do very well in the all-round role.
 
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