I am a huge fan of the 260 Rem. I think this is possibly the best deer caliber on the planet for shots out to 300 yards. It can be had in a lightweight rifle and will shoot lights out out to 300 yards. You get almost 270 ballistics in a much lighter less recoiling rifle. It is also great if you have a wife, gf or kids that can hunt with it. I have a Rem 700 mountain rifle and an Encore pistol in this caliber and love both of them. Don't et anybody fool you, the 260 can be hot rodded to near 6.5mm Rem Mag or 6.5-284 ballistics all day long. Most factory loads are very conservative anyway. I recently bought a box of Nosler custom loads in 125 grain partition (since Remington decided to quit offering them) that are chronoed at 2975fps, and that's with my 22" barrel.