260 rem for big game?

jdemora

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
67   0   0
Location
Kingston Ontario
I am not very familiar with this caliber and see many like it for coyote and wolf but how does it fair on deer or bigger? How is the recoil compared to a 30 cal?
any info is appreciated
thanks
 
The biggestt thing about the two is that you can't rechamber your model 7 into 6.5X55 IMP.!!
A fella at the range a few years back was looking at mine and got real exoted about it ( 6.5 arch) tell he found out his M7 action wasn't long enough.

The two are so close , like Lefty said, that it is a moot point when the bulett hits the bone!
They whollop moose and deer with absolutely no problem.
They do not have the extreme range of the big magnums, but most game animals are killed well within the parameters of both of these cartridges.

JMHO.....
Cat
 
Given comparable action strengths, the 6.5x55 and the 260rem are kissing cousins. I've shot moose, deer, elk, bears and coyotes with the 6.5x55 from both m38 swedes and coyotes only (so far) with a Tikka T3. I prefer the T3 for the added velocity, but wouldn't feel undergunned with the swede. The real secret is, "it's not how big your bullet is, but how well you can shoot it". The 260rem like the 6.5 x55 swede has very mild recoil, even in a model 7 remington. If you have the trigger pull taken down to 3 pounds or even less, it's capable of fine accuracy which will usually mean more confidence, which relates to better hits on the most vital areas of the game you're going to hunt. Go ahead and get one, just don't let your wife shoot it, or you may have to buy another one. Stick with 140 grn bullets Hornady, Speer etc or for premium bullets Like Nosler or Barnes, 129 grain bullets will do just fine for deer. One more thing, practice makes you a better marksman, shoot a lot at different ranges and get to know your gun and where it will shoot instinctively at any range and under different crosswind conditions, don't depend on books for drop and windage indication. When I was first starting out a great old gentleman took me under his wing and beat this into my head. He had me convinced that the 303Brit was the "be all end all" and if it wasn't for my insatiable urge to try out every new calibre/rifle/scope/trigger etc etc, appetite, He may have been correct. bearhunter
 
The .260 is a very capable caliber on big game.
For any hunter that wants or needs a light, short action, medium caliber that has modest recoil this as a great choice.
 
riden said:
Bartell not all over this yet?????????

Must be hungover.

I odn't think we will see Bartell around for awhile. Yesterday his friends and family had an "intervention' and he is now in rehab, where he won't have computer acess for a few weeks.

Let's hope for his recovery.
 
260 Remington is a great cartridge, my personal favorite by far.

Great accuracy, modest recoil (as for comparing to a 30 cal, I guess its nearest cousin would be the 30-30 in a lever, or a heavier 300 Savage), good selection of bullets from 85 gr. varmint hollowpoints, through 160 gr. round nosed soft points. My favorites are the 95 gr. Hornady Vmax for coyotes, and 130 gr. Barnes Triple Shock X's for hunting deer.

I've owned three rifles in 260 Rem.

My first was a factory Remington m700 LSS mtn rifle. I used the 140 gr. Nosler Partition over 46 grs. H4381sc to take a few deer with great results. Chrony showed these bullets exiting the 22" barrel at a modest 2620 fps. I re-stocked it with a WildCat Composite fiberglass stock later, and sold it last year.
Pictures885.jpg


I bought a second m700 LSS mtn rifle in 260 Rem from CGN member 280_ackley, to use the action for a custom 260 Rem I had in mind. I only fired two groups out of it, with handloads that came in the rifle. Both groups were .75" @ 100 yards.
Pictures887.jpg


I got my current 260 back from the gunsmith last June. it is a blueprinted stainless short action model 700, with a 23" stainless fluted 1:8" twist Ted Gaillard barrel. It shoots under half inch with the 95 gr. Vmax over Varget (3315 fps), and my hunting load consists of the Barnes 130 gr. TSX over H4350 (2840 fps and instant death).

I've only taken wolves, coyotes, and deer with my 260 Remingtons, but I may try and tackle a black bear this spring. I have some Lapua 155 gr. Mega loads to try...

here's some pics of my 260's,

Pictures723.jpg


13Pictures_866.jpg


13Sept30_05_006.jpg


6.5Panther008.jpg


Oct_2_05006.jpg


13m700_260.jpg


6.5Panther.jpg


6_5_Yote.jpg


Dec4_05_003.jpg


Skeena_06_004.jpg


Skeena_06_015.jpg


shooting004.jpg


6_5_Panther_002.jpg


:D
 
The Toddmeister must be out "Fox-Pro-ing" ...

I'd bet he'd give the 260 the affirmative thumbs up and
recommend 120's for deer, 140's for moose, bullets properly
placed, of course. He might even like the looks of the 7oo Mountain
with detachable box magazine. Maybe even a Leup 2x7 in QR mounts
so's he could switch off to a Varmint scope in tthe "off-season".
 
260 will be one of my next rifles, but the next one might be a 221 Fireball if I can pry out of Doug's hands! :p

Maybe I am wrong, but I am getting the impression the Tod likes the 260.:D
 
just for ####s, here's how the 260 stacks up against both the 270 Win & 280 Rem, with the 25-06 thrown in for good measure.

All loads will be figured on factory ammo muzzle velocity, and use Nosler Partitions close to a sectional density of .260, for sake of keeping things equal.

25-06 Rem 120 gr. Nosler Partition @ 2990 fps
+/- 3" PBR of 289 yards - 247 yard zero
100y - 2745 fps, 2005 ft-lbs, +2.6"
200y - 2510 fps, 1680 ft-lbs, +2.1"
300y - 2290 fps, 1400 ft-lbs, -4.0"
400y - 2080 fps, 1155 ft-lbs, -16.6"
500y - 1885 fps, 945 ft-lbs, -37.4"
Recoil in 8 lb rifle : 16 ft-lbs

260 Rem 125 gr. Nosler Partition @ 2900fps
+/- 3" PBR of 285 yards - 243 yard zero
100y - 2690 fps, 2010 ft-lbs, +2.6"
200y - 2490 fps, 1720 ft-lbs, +2.0"
300y - 2300 fps, 1465 ft-lbs, -4.3"
400y - 2115 fps, 1240 ft-lbs, -17.2"
500y - 1940 fps, 1045 ft-lbs, -37.9"
Recoil in 7.5 lb rifle : 14 ft-lbs

270 Win 140 gr. Nosler Partition @ 2950 fps
+/- 3" PBR of 288 yards - 246 yard zero
100y - 2730 fps, 2315 ft-lbs, +2.6"
200y - 2520 fps, 1975 ft-lbs, +2.0"
300y - 2320 fps, 1670 ft-lbs, -4.0"
400y - 2125 fps, 1410 ft-lbs, -16.5"
500y - 1945 fps, 1175 ft-lbs, -36.8"
Recoil in 8 lb rifle : 20 ft-lbs

280 Rem 150 gr. Nosler Partition @ 2890 fps
+/- 3" PBR of 284 yards - 242 yard zero
100y - 2685 fps, 2400 ft-lbs, +2.6"
200y - 2485 fps, 2060 ft-lbs, +1.9"
300y - 2300 fps, 1760 ft-lbs, -4.4"
400y - 2115 fps, 1490 ft-lbs, -17.4"
500y - 1945 fps, 1260 ft-lbs, -38.1"
Recoil in 8 lb rifle : 20 ft-lbs



Stacks up pretty well ;)
 
I have also had two 260's, the first was a mountain rifle LSS I bought from Rembo through RickF. The single most accurate rifle I've ever owned, I shot 200 yard groups that were under 1/2 inch with hunting bullets, specifically 125 gr partitions. I killed a few deer with it, no problem. I loaned it to a buddy I was hunting with this year, he shot a big mulie buck and 3 does with it, all one shot kills, with 130 gr TSX's. In all cases I was using H4350 powder. My buddy talked me into selling it to him, and then I went into withdrawl, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, it was terrible. so I bought a walnut blued mountain rifle in 260 also off CGN, I had to adjust the trigger, mount a scope, grabbed some handloads form the other gun went to the range, and shot two 5 shot groups both under an inch.
Great calibre and the 260 with the 700 mountain rifle is a great combination.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom