StruttinGobbler3

Just looking for experience/opinions with this caliber. I've got a Remington model 700 action laying around the house, and am considering having my local gunsmith build a 260 rem on this action. Anyone have experience with this round? It will be used primarily for deer and hogs.

Valentine

It's an American cartridge, using a necked down 308 caliber cartridge. It is very similar to the 6.5 Swedish cartridge, used in a military rifle and for Swedish hunting.

It's been around commercially for some 15 years, young for a cartridge, but it's European connected past makes it older.

I recall the importing of the 6.5 Swedish bolt action rifles in the 90's. Shooters loved the low recoil in a deer rifle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.260_Remington

WV Hunter

IMO, that is a good choice for what you are looking to do. I wish I bought the one I was looking at years ago, regrettably I didn't. I personally love that cal, to me I feel like its a great mix of not much kick, plenty of performance. Ideally you'd probably want to handload which I assume you probably do if you are even considering having a gun built as factory ammo is not readily available it seems. Buddy of mine has one, loves it. Still kicking myself.

Murdy

I recently bought a new rifle, Savage model 11. Final choice came down to .260 Rem or 7mm-08. Went with the 7-08. Ballistics are similar out to 400. 7-08 does better if you want to go to a little heavier bullet for hunting purposes. (I'm not an expert, this is based on things I've read online, so take that for what it's worth). Either way though, I like both calibers, but, unless you are looking for a long-range gun, I'd consider the 7-08 as well.

TNHagies

I love the 260 for Whitetails! Plenty of energy to get the job done. The ones I've shot/owned have not been picky with factory ammuniton either.

BarnesX.308

Decent whitetail gun. Very accurate. If I remember correctly, Jim Carmichael designed this round for competitive target shooting.

As for ammo, I haven't seen it on the shelves for years. Maybe a place like Cabela's would have it. Handloader? Don't worry about it. Buy a bunch of brass online and have at it.

HatchieLuvr

FANDAMTASTIC round!

As far as I'm concerned, the ONLY reason one would have for buying a 243 instead of 260 is because of availability of ammo OTC. The 120-140 weight range in the 260 is just so much more capable and authoritative than the 85-105 offerings available in the 243. (I'm particularly talking about shooting larger bodied deer. The 243 is fine for deer up to 150#s but the results I've seen on a couple of 200+# bucks my youngest son shot lastyear, left me questioning the 243 and that's with him shooting Barnes TSXs!) A 120-140 Barnes in a 260 AINT stopping inside ANY whitetail...

btw, I fixed "my fears" as my 17 year old now has a 45-70 and my 12yr old has a 7-08.

salukipv1

I'd consider the 6.5-284 and/or 7mm-08 instead perhaps.

schickster

I have the Rem Mtn Rifle in 260 and like the gun. I have bought all my ammo thru Midway USA using Remington Managed Recoil 130 grain. I traded in my Rem 243 BDL for this and wished that Remington would have made the 243 in the Mtn Rifle series also, I would have owned both calibers.

StruttinGobbler3

Thanks for the replies everyone. I do handload, so ammunition availability won't be an issue. However, Federal Premium has a 260 load that is loaded with Barnes triple shocks that I intend to try. That should be a good load. I have all the components in the mail now. A Shilen select match grade #4 sporter barrel, and a HS Precision sendero stock. The Rem 700 action I already have. Considering a Timney trigger, but I may just have the factory one polished and tuned. Should be an interesting little rifle.