Factory loads for 260

[Crawford]

I just bought a Browning A-Bolt in .260 cal,since i don' t reload i was hopeing
you guys could could suggest a good factory round.I should' nt have any shots
beyond 100 yds where i hunt for deer. Thanks

[seattlesetters]

Nice choice. It doesn' t get much better for deer.

I' d suggest you find whatever 120gr loads shoot best in your rifle and use them happily ever after.

[handloader1]

I would go with a 140 gr. bullet. www.natchezss.com has a selection of factory loads from Remington and Federal. Speer also has a factory load, but I don' t know where to obtain them. Good luck.

[Recon Reb]

I have been very impressed with the 140 gr Speer Nitrex cartridge (with the Grand Slam bullet) and have taken some really nice bucks with it.I have ordered them recently off the Cabela' s website.I have also been reloading some Nosler Partition 125 gr as well .Remington once loaded a cartridge with this same bullet but stopped a couple of years ago.I would like to see more factory loads with a premium 120-125 gr bullet because I think this is optimal weight for the 260 caliber.

[seattlesetters]

Reb is right. For deer, the 120-125gr weight in 6.5mm is perfect. The long 140gr bullet is better suited to heavier game such as elk and moose.

For deer-sized game, the 125 Partition works VERY well, indeed, in this cartridge.

[akbound]

The 120 grain bullets in 6.5mm (.264 caliber) have a sectional density similar to a 165 grain .30 bullet. So the 120' s are plenty capable of sufficient penetration on deer size game. Which bullet in particular depends on a number of factors. I have had very good success with Remington factory loads using the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip. It is a very accurate load in my Remington 700. It has worked very well on the Pennsylvania whitetails I have used it on. (Being from Georgia I am going to assume that your whitetails are roughly the same size/weight as Pennsylvania whitetails.) Though this particular bullet is very accurate for me and to this point has provided both adequate penetration and great terminal performance it is a little " soft" . I do NOT think it would shoot through a whitetail lengthwise to reach the vitals. But as long as you pick your shots directly into the chest through the ribcage...it has been devastating. If you think that you might need to take a more " angling shot" I would be inclined to try some " tougher" bullets. Perhaps the 125 Nosler Partition? I have had considerable success with Partitions in all calibers I have tried them in. And they will no doubt penetrate from any angle.

Good luck on finding your load!

[Vapodog]

The .260 Rem shoots a bullet only .007 greater in diameter than the .25 calibers. Thats about twice the thickness of a human hair. Everyone considers the 120 grain bullet in a .25 caliber to be sufficient for deer. It should work in a .260 Rem as well then

I don' t believe winchester loads the .260, Federal I believe loads only the 140 bullet and Remington has a 120 and a 140. I' m reloading so I shoot the 129 grain.

Grab a box of 140 grain and go hunting. When the season is over learn to reload....you' ll love it!

[herman]

When I first got a 260 I got 2 boxes of Rem 140 gr.so i could get some brass to start reloading with.I couldn' t believe how accurate they were,shot several one hole 3-shot groups with them.
Have taken deer with 100,125,&140 and they all work great.Woeking on the 129 sst for this season.

[Crawford]

Thanks guys,this gives me a little head start

[Recon Reb]

I just ordered a 260 cal today for my 11 yr old son as a Christmas present .I have a Browning Abolt in the same caliber but was not able to locate another Browning since they no longer made it in the 260 .I decided on the Ruger Model 77 All-Weather.