.260 Rem v 7mm08

migrant hunter

migrant hunter

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
182   0   0
Location
Southern Alberta
I have promised myself a new deer rifle, most likely a Remy CDL.:)
I had fancied a .260 Rem as it fits in nicely between my .243 and .308, but Remington don"t list a .260 in the regular CDL(only in model 7 CDL)
The 7-08 is still a short action, 08 derived case, running a 120/130 gr bullet around 2800-3000fps.
Anyone got a 7-08 or a .260?
I really love my .243, but would like something with a litle more punch at the 300-350 yd mark but still flat shooting. This is a deer only rifle, and I favour the "small-medium" calibres, so no 264 winmags please!:slap:
opinions on the 260 and 7-08 appreciated.
good shooting
 
The 260 Rem is available in the 700 CDL Stainless Fluted. I currently have two 260 Rem's and have had a couple of 7mm-08's. They are both great calibers but if I were going to stick to "deer" sized game, I would not hesitate to go with the 260.
The 260 seems well suited for bullets up to about 120gr but after that (140 gr), they have to be seated deep in the case and you lose considerable velocity. The 7mm-08 is well suited for 140gr.
If you look at the Remington Ballistics tables, you will see that the 260 retains its velocity better than the 7mm which results in good downrange energy. Trajectory is also flatter with the 260. Recoil is light with a 260 and moderate with the 7mm.
 
I had a Model 7 ss in 7m-08 and could not get very good velocity out of the short barrel. I tried many powder/bullet combos. I got just over 2700 with 140grain bullets. I think that the 7mm-08 fares better with the 24" barrel.

Aren't deer in the UK ~70lbs soaking wet? Not including stag of course. I figured that the .243 would be ideal. I sent my friend some 75gr X for his .243 and he had great success with it, even on boar.
 
I've had two 260's both great rifles and the cartridge is great on deer, I shot 7-8 deer with it using `125 gr partitions and every one was a bangflop.
 
I went with the 7/08...and it has become my hands-down, all time favorite rifle. Loaded with 130-140 gr. TSX's, It is freaky accurate, and a fun 'yote gun out to 500m, it bang-flops deer and B bear with minimal meat damage, and if a moose steps out at 300? I wouldn't hesitate.

What can I say...I just love it.
 
If it were me, I'd base the decision on what bullets you want to use and whether or not you handload. If you don't handload, I don't know how it would matter between those cartridges, but a handloader would have more options to help make the choice.
 
If you handload, the 7-08 offers slightly more versatility, albeit not much. In the real world there just isn't much difference between the .260 and the 7-08 performance on game. The 7-08 has a slight edge maybe with heavier bullets.

I load 120 gr Sierra ProHunters over moderate loads of IMR4064 powder for a light kicking deer cartridge for my teenage son's 7mm-08. It's fast enough for 250 - 300 yard shooting without holdover, and we still have the option of switching to heavier bullets when he is ready for larger game. By the way - the 120 gr ProHunter bullet has shown excellent penetration and performance on deer in the 2700-2800 fps range.

I would be more concerned with the longevity of the .260 rem if you are not a handloader. There is not as much factory fodder available for the .260, and i expect there could be less in the future. The .260 was not a marketing success story for remington, and i think it's days as a factory production cartridge may be numbered.

Bottom line - there's not enough difference between them to give you a 100% definitive answer. Both are very capable deer cartridges. Any judgements beyond that are mostly personal opinion from ballistic table addicts who enjoy splitting hairs with theoretical pontification. Interesting stuff to be sure, but not real world arguments in most cases. ;)
 
Last edited:
I hate to agree with tod again, but here we go.I carried a 7-08 , loaded with 160 gr partitions, on a moose hunt, and never felt under gunned.If i had carried a .260 loaded with 130 gr TSXs , I would've felt just as confident.
Scott
 
THis is canadian gun nutz. That means 95% of us own more than one hunting rifle. The ones who own 260s & 7-08s for the most part own another rifle in a larger caliber that they will usually use on larger game. Im not saying a 260 or a 7-08 wont kill a moose or elk, of course they will, they have been doing it for decades, not to mention the 7x57 & 6.5x55 killing game big and small world wide for a century. Put the bullet where it needs to be and you'll be elbows deep in blood n guts. :)
 
todbartell said:
THis is canadian gun nutz. That means 95% of us own more than one hunting rifle. The ones who own 260s & 7-08s for the most part own another rifle in a larger caliber that they will usually use on larger game. Im not saying a 260 or a 7-08 wont kill a moose or elk, of course they will, they have been doing it for decades, not to mention the 7x57 & 6.5x55 killing game big and small world wide for a century. Put the bullet where it needs to be and you'll be elbows deep in blood n guts. :)
Click to expand...

The prefered caliber by natives up north of here, is the swede 6.5x55mm
 
Thank for all the input guys, all appreciated.
As 1899 said, barrel length on the model 7 will drop a few fps off a 24" barrel.
I don"t think the wood/blue CDL is available in 260, but I did want a short action 6.5.
I"ve nothing against the 7-08, I just have no experience of it. I"ll have to run some figures for 7mm through the Sierra programme, but I can"t see it matching
the trajectory of the 6.5 bullets.
This project will be my first rifle in Canada, if all comes to fruition. If I can get over in August to do my PAL, I might be buying my first rifle in Canada before the end of the year(maybe even in time for deer season!)
If I get my residency through I will bring my .308 anyway, but I don"t like the amount of bruising it does.
I might be a bit premature, but I can"t help fantacising about my new battery of rifles!
good shooting
 
I forgot to say, I handload everything.
Is 260 brass readily available? I imagine 7-08 might be easier to form from 308 than 260 from 08 or 243.
How about 7mm bullets in 120/130 gr? I expect 6.5 bullets are easy to get as it"s popular in the 6.5x55 cartridge.
good shooting
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom