Tikka T3 260 Remington ?

steve-r

steve-r

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Hi folks, still in the market for a new synthetic stock deer rifle to replace my Savage 99c 308. I've been reading lots of threads here.... comparing the 260 to 7-08, and also about the Tikka vs Savage vs Remington value/quality, etc. ( those 3 are more aligned with my wallet than some other brands!)

So now I want to take the comparison a bit further, and start some internet shopping.
Whether its here in the EE , Elwood Epps, Reliable Gun & Tackle here in Vcr, or the US sites like Gunsamerica or gunbroker.com , I can't seem to find (google) any Tikka T3's in the 260 chamber..yet the Tikka.fi site says they have the 260 Rem in their product line .

Savage doesn't seem to offer a 260. (why not?)
Remington obviously does, but so far I've only found one online (Model 7 SS for $930 at Lever Arms.).
i don't re-load ( currently ) and I read the advice that if i shoot factory i'm better off with the 7-08 cuz the 260 factory ammo offerings are scarce, but is the gun availablility also limited?
Are they offered in North America, or Canada?
is it too new to be commonly available?
I haven't started phoning gun retailers yet, but usually if its in a store, its on the web. if anyone's got a link to another web retailer carrying Tikka in Canada, i'd be grateful! thx.
 
if you dont handload you are indeed much better off buying a 25-06, 270, or 7mm-08

Savage and browning at one time did chamber rifles in 260. ruger and remington still do. its almost 10 years old now! :D

T3 in a 260 would be waste anyways its not even a short action. might as well get a 270
 
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i was leaning away from the 270 cuz the recoil is similar to the 308, looking for something I can practice more with....hence the 260 or 7mm-08.
25-06 looks ballistically similar on the factory ammo sites, but might be a bit light.
i guess the limited 260 options are really narrowing this down to the 7mm-08 ....more factory ammo options...and more gun options, both new & used.

TodB - i see you're in BC, are there any other reputable gun retailers in the lower mainland I should talk with?
are there any that will bring a couple rifles to a range and let me try them for fit, feel, etc before buying?
 
Go with one in 6.5x55 over the .260 if you can. Because the Tikkas only use one action length you are going to lose any advantage the .260 offers (it's a short action cartridge compared to the long action length of the 6.5x55). If you are a reloader the 6.5x55 is going to give you just a bit more usable case capacity.
 
Sako 260

Fellas there are some decent deals to be had in a Sako in 260. I have it on pretty good line that the dist for Canada, Stoeger is over stocked in the SS/ Laminate and the SS/Syn models both in the 75 series which in my humble opinion are nicer guns than the new 85 model that replaces them, esp if you like the cheek piece style of the 75 stock. You can PM me if you need exact pricing. Fs
 
yeah, i was kinda doubting they'd do that.

paige said:
a model 7 in 7mm08 is a great little combo thst is very good at taking anything you shoot
Click to expand...

that is tempting...am I giving up anything in accuracy or bullet energy with a 20" barrel vs a 22" barrel? inside 200 yds? beyond? all the factory ammo ballistic specs indicate they've used a 24" barrel.


back to the "Tikka long-action wasted" thought wrt 260....i get the 'don't buy a long action if you're shooting a short-action bullet theme...but what would that really be costing me? longer unnecessary bolt throw? more weight? less reliability? less accuracy? what is the real trade-off? or is it just a manufacturing shortcut that Tikka has taken to get the cost down?

this 'analytic' appreciates all the advice & suggestions.
 
Well steve-r I think you nailed it there is no argument against the blocked one length action in the Tikkas... this is strictly a cost saving manufacturing technique.
What are the advantages to a short action.... less length, less weight and a stiffer More Accurate action right.
Well the T-3 lite is extremely light... in fact it is the lightest rifle in its class regardless of action length!
The length is redundant when you are talking about a 1/2 to 1 inch overall especially if the rifle fits and handles well and the t-3 fits that bill nicely.
Lets get down to the nitty gritty ...accuracy... I shoot all the popular factory rifles allot as part of my job and nothing, I repeat nothing will out shoot a T-3 out of the box with factory ammo... or reloads for that matter.

This argument that the T-3 is somehow inferior because it has a blocked action is about as valid as arguing against the short magnums having an advantage with regard to action and bolt length and stiffness for better accuracy.... It is redundant if the long action is a good shooter or if the short action isn't!:rolleyes:

Get the .260 in a T-3 if it turns your crank... forget the .270 unless it is a Short Mag!!!;)
 
I made note of the action length not as a knock against the rifles (I have two T3's and love them) but as a comparison of the cartridges. The .260's only reason to be is to come as close as possible ballisticaly to the 6.5x55 while fitting into a short action length. In most other guns where there is a different action length then it may be a consideration but with the Tikka's one size fits all action the decision comes down to the cartridge choice (and I feel the Swede is a bit better than the .260).
 
ok, T3 260 is back on the shortlist...if I can find one now.

snow dog, since i'm not reloading yet, a quick check of the factory ammo offerings for the 6.5x55 - Remington : 1 . Federal : 1, Winchester : 1...all are 140gr softpoints......even fewer than the .260 Remington. (Rem:3, Fed:2, Win:0 120&140gr)
-and ballistically the 6.5x55 offerings don't appear to shoot quite as flat as the 140gr 260 or the 7mm-08, according to the mfg'r's website specs

-no doubt the longer case is an advantage for custom loading...a longer term consideration for me
-6.5 recoil is also slightly lighter according to ChuckHawks' table...and that would let me practice more

You know, these are all so close, maybe my usual approach of technical analysis before I buy isn't the answer...it usually is.. but maybe i just gotta go hold ( & shoot ) a few of these, and then go with my instinct on what fits & feels best, and then make it work.

if I can ask another question please....
what does the collective experience out there say about finding a rifle that fits? a tailor can fit a suit....a golfclub maker can fit club length, lie angle, swingweight, etc.... short of going custom build, what are the most important featues to look for when fitting a factory rifle?

thanks again for all the valuable insight!!
 
Another T3 fan ... either the 260 or 6.5x55 will do very nicely as a deer rifle.

As to fit ... a good gunsmith can make any number of modifications to help
... however, IMHO, fit is not nearly important with a rifle as it is with a shotgun. Unless one is under 5'-6" or over 6'-5", standard factory rifles pretty much fit most people acceptably.

Did your old Savage REALLY "fit" you, or had you just grown accustomed to using it and how it "felt" ?
 
Handloading is definately the way to go with the 6.5x55 - the factory loads are usually quite mild. The Norma and Lapua factory loads are a bit hotter but are pricier and harder to come by.

If you are not a handloader and don't plan on becoming one then you should look to a caliber that you can find most anywhere. Most stores like Canadian Tire or Wal-Mart will have some type of .270 or .308 ammo available. .260, 6.5x55, 7mm-08 may be a bit harder to find in stores like that. A good gunshop, however, should keep several different loads for each caliber in stock. Keep in mind where you will be getting your ammo from when deciding.

As for the rifle fitting you, as mentioned, unless you are either rather short or tall most rifles will be fine for length of pull (the distance between the buttstock and the trigger). Measure from the crook of your elbow to the first knuckle of your trigger finger - if you're in or around the 14 inch ballpark you should be fine. Keep in mind that you want the rifle to fit you while you're wearing your hunting clothes like a heavy coat or jacket. Buttstocks can be shortened or lengthened fairly easily. The next thing to check is whether or not your eyes line up with the scope when you bring the rifle up. Taller or shorter scope mounting systems and cheek pads can be used to change things for a more comfortable fit.

Whichever way you go keep in mind that there is no substitute for practice! The more you practice then the less recoil will be a factor.
 
I have looked around on some web sites from some Canadian dealers and nobody seems to list the .260's. Also, looking on a few American sites (Gun Broker or Guns America) it looks like the .260 is hard to come by down south as well. Makes you wonder if Tikka has actually made any in that caliber. Seeing as Steve-r already shoots a .308 it kind of makes sense to stick with that caliber anyway. The .260 does not seem to have a big fan base right now (it's fairly new on the market) so he might be better off sticking with an established round as he is not into handloading yet.
 
Snow Dog said:
The .260 does not seem to have a big fan base right now (it's fairly new on the market) so he might be better off sticking with an established round as he is not into handloading yet.
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The 260 Has a BIG Fan base in the right Circles.
It's been offered commercially for a decade and been around alot longer then that in it's various Wildcat forms (6.5-08, panther etc.)

Yes it's overlooked but then the Majority of the Best Cartridges are... ;)

I am Very Happy with Mine...soon to have another:dancingbanana:
 
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The 260 is the most popular cartridge in High-power silhouette. Most of them folk however are not buying factory ammo.

As far as hunting mid size game goes, it really doesn't offer anything that the already established 7-08 offers.
 
steve-r:

The fact that you don't reload, ammo costs for the calibers you selected will go off the roof. Not to mention that they are hard to find and limited in selection of ammo and/or bullets.

260 to 7-08 are very good deer rounds. They are marginal for bear and IMO too light for moose if that is on your horizon. If you are not considering many rifles in the future stay with you .308.

I have the feel that you want to get rid of you Savage 99c and get a new toy. Tikka is very accurate out of the box. You may want to consider a Tikka in .270 or .308 and install a Decelerator pad. These two calibers and ammo are very easy to find.

Of course your last option is to stay put. Just my $.02.

Danny
 
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