260ai or 300wsm??

[Jack300WSM]

Ok I've got a gunsmith locally who's built me four rifles so far. His work is always more impressive than my shooting. I want to get him to rebarrel another rifle for me before he gets out of the trade. He's in his late 70's. I've currently got a Savage model 10 in 308. I don't really want to buy a long action and want to build something alittle more potent than the 308. I'm torn between the 260ai and 300wsm at this point. I want something for long distance and god willing something for (probably never happen for this east coast boy) Elk. Had my eye on the 6.5wsm but he has the 260 and 300 reamers. And I've got a friend who has the dies I can borrow initially. Shot both but no real world experience with either other than paper. Pros/Cons, accuracy potential....Thanks

 

[Heavyiron]

The 260 is a great round. I started using the 260 when it was released in 1997. Probably killed over 40 deer with it. Lots of guys use it on heavier game and with proper bullets, and shot placement it will work. Shame that remington messed up in its promotion. If remington marketing had done it promo right the 6.5 cm, probably would not exist. It and the cm are ballistic twins.

 

[dirtytough]

If there was a chance I'd use it on elk I would chamber it in 300wsm.

 

[Heavyiron]

With a longer barrel ( over 24 inches) and the 260 ai will come into its own. It should be very close in ballistics to a 6.5 06.

 

[Jack300WSM]

The 260 is a great round. I started using the 260 when it was released in 1997. Probably killed over 40 deer with it. Lots of guys use it on heavier game and with proper bullets, and shot placement it will work. Shame that remington messed up in its promotion. If remington marketing had done it promo right the 6.5 cm, probably would not exist. It and the cm are ballistic twins.

I've got a friend who swears by the 260 Ackley. Says it's a different animal and is right there with the 6.5-284. I've got a target setup Savage LRP this smith built me in 6.5CM and she's good to go but don't know about the killing power as many people debate. The 300wsm is a killer and so is the 6.5-284. So if the 260ai can mimic the 6.5-284....that's what's got me stumped

 

[Capt RB]

You have a creed so get the wsm. Savage has a long magazine to seat the big bullets out and take advantage of the 300 wsm.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

The .270 WSM offers you, the best of both worlds, low Recoil and the ability to kill Elk at, up to, 600-700 Yards with, a 140 grain Nosler AccuBond or Berger Classic Hunter Bullet. The .260 might be a bit "light" for elk,.. at "distance" ! IMO
For my style of Hunting, AKA,. walk/ stalk dark timber, to open country ( to 700 yards or, so ) the .270 WSM / 7mm Rem Mag. is,.. plenty ! BUT personally, I HATE,.. Recoil !
I own, 2 T3, Tikka's now, one in .243 Win., one in .270 WSM, both weigh, 7.5 pounds with 4.5-14X Burris scopes,.. LOVE those, Rifle's !

 

[26Reload]

260ai...
I been reloading for 260rem, 65284 & 26 nosler....
Enjoy each....
260ai put you right in the middle with 65284....
26nosler is almost twice the powder volume.....

 

[Jack300WSM]

The .270 WSM offers you, the best of both worlds, low Recoil and the ability to kill Elk at, up to, 600-700 Yards with, a 140 grain Nosler AccuBond or Berger Classic Hunter Bullet. The .260 might be a bit "light" for elk,.. at "distance" ! IMO
For my style of Hunting, AKA,. walk/ stalk dark timber, to open country ( to 700 yards or, so ) the .270 WSM / 7mm Rem Mag. is,.. plenty ! BUT personally, I HATE,.. Recoil !
I own, 2 T3, Tikka's now, one in .243 Win., one in .270 WSM, both weigh, 7.5 pounds with 4.5-14X Burris scopes,.. LOVE those

260ai...
I been reloading for 260rem, 65284 & 26 nosler....
Enjoy each....
260ai put you right in the middle with 65284....
26nosler is almost twice the powder volume.....

What was the effect on meat. I mean I hear it's a bad dude but I know how nasty the 6.5-284 is. I've heard the Ackley is right there with it and puts the CM to shame

 

[FEENIX]

Ok I've got a gunsmith locally who's built me four rifles so far. His work is always more impressive than my shooting. I want to get him to rebarrel another rifle for me before he gets out of the trade. He's in his late 70's. I've currently got a Savage model 10 in 308. I don't really want to buy a long action and want to build something alittle more potent than the 308. I'm torn between the 260ai and 300wsm at this point. I want something for long distance and god willing something for (probably never happen for this east coast boy) Elk. Had my eye on the 6.5wsm but he has the 260 and 300 reamers. And I've got a friend who has the dies I can borrow initially. Shot both but no real world experience with either other than paper. Pros/Cons, accuracy potential....Thanks

Out of your two choices, because the majestic elk is in the mix, I'd go with the .300 WSM with 1:9" or faster, 26"+, and load it with 215 Berger and you're golden. Cheers!

 

[JohnnieB]

If elk are potentially on the menu, then 300WSM.

 

[26Reload]

I have loaded the 260 with 130acc....shoots them really well...of course it is a ruger compact..16" barrel...kills deer and elk a respective ranges...

The 65284 is 24.5" a rechamber...had it as the 260 barrel on the ruger but swapped it out as it was a little too heavy for ex-wife to handle....so far shoots well for hunting rifle...killed two deer this year with 142lrabs..found both bullets as i was shooting front on one bedded found bullet just inside off back quarter...second was facing away and tried to thread thru last ribs into lungs...hit a few inches off and still ran all the way up into the sternum and lodged there....both bullets did their respective jobs...
Haven't got to shoot a critter with 26nosler yet.....
I think for an elk bullet...the 26 with a hammer hunter can kill everything...
in perspective....an acc would be better choice on close shots and lrab better at longer shots.......hammers...wherever you see one.......

 

[Slick8]

The 260AI is more pop than the CM but just barely and just light of the 65x284. All three are killers and will take an elk. Provided distance is reasonable, shot angle is broadside and what ever variable you can come up with.

I won't say shot placement is key because a gut shot elk with a 300 anything mag is just that, a gut shot elk.

Is the 6.5 optimal for elk,... far from it. Some will disagree with that statement as it seems guys are killing everything up to a T-Rex these days with the CM.

It's not a magic bullet and there's no replacement for displacement.

I say since you already have a CM go with the 300 WSM. It's a killer and when loaded with 180-200 grain boolets will do a number on elk, deer, bear, hogs and coons.

In full disclosure, I too drank the cool aid and have a CM. I can say I love it for it's low recoil, ease of reloading, accuracy and killing power on deer sized game at reasonable distance.

 

[Jack300WSM]

The 260AI is more pop than the CM but just barely and just light of the 65x284. All three are killers and will take an elk. Provided distance is reasonable, shot angle is broadside and what ever variable you can come up with.

I won't say shot placement is key because a gut shot elk with a 300 anything mag is just that, a gut shot elk.

Is the 6.5 optimal for elk,... far from it. Some will disagree with that statement as it seems guys are killing everything up to a T-Rex these days with the CM.

It's not a magic bullet and there's no replacement for displacement.

I say since you already have a CM go with the 300 WSM. It's a killer and when loaded with 180-200 grain boolets will do a number on elk, deer, bear, hogs and coons.

In full disclosure, I too drank the cool aid and have a CM. I can say I love it for it's low recoil, ease of reloading, accuracy and killing power on deer sized game at reasonable distance.

I'm thinking a 300wsm tossing 180 partitions will blow through anything I run across. And yes the CM I bit. But it is my go to for 1000-1200 yds on targets. I've got a 7-08 I use for deer currently. I load it with 140Berger VLD hunting bullets @2900fps. No deer have complained yet. Never shot the 300wsm on game but from what I've read I shouldn't need more. I have heard finding accuracy is the task. Whereas the 260ai is inherently accurate.