260 as a hunting round?

[300 ultra]

I dont get the popularity of this cartridge. Ya I get high BC Bullets and a accurate cartridge but looking at the velocity it looks like the only thing it would be good at is punching paper. I know people kill animals with smaller and slower cartridges but why. I guess the people that shoot 308's and short actions will be all over this cartridge.

 

[NomadPilot]

It's no 338 Lapua, but you really don't need that kind of power for most of the hunting in the United States (or Africa, for that matter). If ya don't like it, don't use it. lightbulb

 

[Ski]

It doesn't make sense to me to post such a thing, unless you are specifically looking for some sort of argument from folks. There are different style shooters, (thank goodness) and some simply don't want the kick your tag suggests you shoot.

But to say it only looks good for punching paper, you couldn't be more off base. It'll handle whitetail, mulies, antelope, and even elk to a certain degree.

I have a 260 and have several one shot kills ranging out to just under 500 yards. I also have a 7mm-08, a 7 rem mag, a 30-06, a 300 wsm, a 300 win mag and enjoy shooting them all.

Having said that, I'm not afraid to carry the 260 when I'm hunting. I don't punch much paper, but I'm guessing it would be easy on your shoulder.:rolleyes:

 

[436]

300 ultra,
Actually it made it's bones as a hunting cartridge in the form of the 6.5-308 then the 260 Rem.. After better bullets came out for 6.5mm caliber, the LR guy's started picking up on it; well we know what happen then. In my neck of the woods it's well thought of as a hunting cartridge for most everything up to Elk at all reasonable hunting range. It's not short on power or leg's if you have to pull off a long game shot.
Give one a spin, you won't be disappointed.
436

 

[Mikecr]

Don't overlook the power of accuracy, and tactics of long range hunting..
The cat is skinned in many different ways, depending on the challenges to logically overcome.

I see there are 'hunters' who set up a bench and shoot naval guns at game really far off. I don't relate to this as hunting at all but recognize that it can be impractical to stalk in some areas.
Where I live currently, deer are shot with buckshot as they cross the highway, running from 'deer dogs'! I could never do this either. It's just not how I was brought up to hunt. But I recognize that it's not possible to stalk deer here, because the woods have too much undergrowth to even walk through.

Where I'm from(NE PA), anyone can certainly stalk game, but they'll need a carry rifle to do so(reasonable weight), because it's all hills & valleys. An accurate 600yd gun with a bipod can be carried and suits the challenge there. Well, a very accurate carry gun is NOT a 15-20lb naval gun that is equally accurate in larger high recoil cartridges.

I shoot a 6.5WSSM with 139Laps. This is equivalent to a 260AI, and given it's accuracy I wouldn't hesitate to take any game in America with it to 600yds or more. So I can understand atleast local popularity in any cartridge that gets it done.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

They are fighting words lol. Its a great round not just beacuse of the high BC but the above avarage SD as well. Combine all that with its low recoil and you have a real winner. Its a great round for light weight hunting rifles, guys with bad shoulders or youngsters. Its not a 50 thats for sure and shot placement at longer ranges is paramount for success.

 

[Buano]

I had no experience with the .260 Rem before I picked up a used Rem Model 7 in .260 Rem with a youth stock for my (then) 9-year-old daughter. Her first deer with it was shot at 109 yards and 6" of the spine WAS MISSING. It's got all the powder of a .308 with a flatter trajectory. Bullet weights are sufficient to maintain energy at considerable range. While I'm not impressed with the accuracy of the Model 7, I am impressed with the cartridge.

My first deer rifle was a 7 mm Rem mag. I soon got tired of leaving cannon ball holes in deer I meant to put in the freezer. I then went to bullets that had more controlled expansion to limit meat damage. That ended when I put a target on a 9" oak and shot a few rounds. Bullets passed through the oak & shredded a 12" pine behind it. That much penetration isn't safe in the woods I hunt in because we never know when other hunters will wander through, so I dropped down to a .25-06 as my primary deer rifle. Lately I've been carrying a .243 on many hunts. Each of these has been "enough gun" for what I was hunting & the .260 doesn't take a back seat to either.

Now, I wouldn't pick a .260 if planning a moose hunt, or even a western muley hunt if ranges might be more than 400 yards, but for most deer hunting it's an excellent round — especially in a light cary rifle.

 

[300 ultra]

So my intention wasnt to start a ****ing match but yet someone explain to me why it would be needed in my safe. I have many rifles and many calibers but I dont see a practical use for such. I still pull my 270 win more than any other rifle for hunting. That being said a 6.5-06 would seem to make more sense to me in a 6.5 caliber and if I need a light rifle with little recoil my 243 win would seem sufficent. Just looking for opinions not I've killed more animals than the plague with my 260. Thanks....

 

[Hntbambi]

If you look at it from pronghorn and deer are not hard to kill perspective, the .260 Rem makes a lot of sense. You don't need a belted magnum or an Earsplittinloudenboomer to quickly and efficiently take game under bull elk size. The 260 is a very accurate cartridge, has mild recoil, and has better long range ballistics than the .308 Win. Predators and varmints with the 95 gr V-Max are also a lot of fun.

If you choose to not like it, that's fine. Just don't bash it without real world personnel experience.

 

[Ski]

So my intention wasnt to start a ****ing match but yet someone explain to me why it would be needed in my safe. I have many rifles and many calibers but I dont see a practical use for such. I still pull my 270 win more than any other rifle for hunting. That being said a 6.5-06 would seem to make more sense to me in a 6.5 caliber and if I need a light rifle with little recoil my 243 win would seem sufficent. Just looking for opinions not I've killed more animals than the plague with my 260. Thanks....

It may not have been your intention, but your choice of words made it come across as such. Read your first post again and you might agree.

Secondly, why would you ask someone else to give you a reason to put another gun in your safe? As you clearly stated, you have so many already, why would you want one? If you had asked the question in terms of input from someone in the group that has had experiences with any of the several choices you mentioned, or even did a search regarding the caliber on this site alone(it's been discussed), you would have gotten what you were looking for instead of the "****ing" match.

 

[woodnut]

Well, I for one don't think 300ultra was starting a ****ing match; just an odd way to start a dialog on the virtues of the 260Rem. So I will join in !
Hntbambi must have read P.O. Ackley's books. Great reads !
I was kinda like 300ultra; why and what would I want to add to my already full gun room? But, I had a wee head start as a long time ago I got a Mauser in 6.5x06. Shot it once at the range;printed a tight clover leaf three shot group and never shot it again !My 280 was just fine thank you.
Then along comes the black guns and I got hooked on VERY accurate AR15 uppers. DPMS upped the excitement when they came out with the 308; but I saw in the "wings" there was a 260Rem. awaiting it's debut. A friend got one and man, was it ever accurate ! I got one and it too was extremely consistent and very, very accurate. It's low recoil made it pleasant to shoot; much more so than my friends 25WSSM AR15(which is also very accurate).
I'm going pig hunting next week and can't wait to see them DRT from the 139 Scenars! Since I knew the shots could be anywhere from 45 to 100 yards; I finally got around to shooting those ranges. Surprise ! Surprise! Even with the center of the scope at least 2" above the bore; the groups went from 1/2" low to 1/2" high from 50 to 75 to 100 yards ! I'm still wondering how that's possible; but it is.Let the pig whacking begin !
Also, both AR10s shoot consistantly in the .3s at the bench. Mine even has a group smaller than .2" ! Yes, they are three shot groups and at 100 yards. I cronoed my reload at 2755fps with the 139 Scenars and the 140 Noslers are just as accurate so I'll be shooting those excellent but cheaper bullets.
So, 300Ultra, if you want a new experience and cartridge; I highly recommend the DPMS AR10 in 260 Rem. Just either get their match trigger if available or throw out the *** trigger and put a Rock River match in. gun)

 

[300 ultra]

Thanks for the info everyone. I will work on my presentation's for future threads. "Im Just a peckerwood from the mountains with to many guns". I think that was how the quote went.:rolleyes:

 

[Jammer1]

Now, I wouldn't pick a .260 if planning a moose hunt, or even a western muley hunt if ranges might be more than 400 yards, but for most deer hunting it's an excellent round — especially in a light cary rifle.

Lets keep in mind that the Swedes and the Finns have been quite effectively killing moose with the 6.5mm Swedish Mauser for many years. As for hunting over 400 yards, the 260 shines there too. Where I live in Western Oklahoma, there is no better cartridge for doing it all in my opinion. Yes you could do the same with a 300 Mag of whatever persuasion, but not any better.

While it certainly wouldnt be the first choice, I wouldnt hesitate to take anything in North America with it short of Grizzly, Polar bears, and Bison. With a well built hunting bullet, those long slender 140 gr bullets will penetrate astonishingly well.

 

[johnnyk]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the .260Rem. I had one in a Moutain Rifle a few years back and it killed everything that it was pointed at. My son "cut his teeth" on it and after a few years of everything being DRT he began looking for other rounds to try.
I killed quiet a few deer with it myself and while it's not boring it is effecient and very effective. Once I floated the barrel on that Mtn rifle I realized the true potential of it's accuracy. In a rifle set up with a 26" (or longer) heavy barrel it would easily hold its own with any cartridge in its class. It is a deer extinguisher. JohnnyK.