.260 Remington

AdamT

AdamT

Well-known member
What’s the scoop on the 260 Remington for anyone that uses or has used one. Have one on the way, planning to use it for my son to start doing some deer hunting with a bolt action instead of gas guns.
 
What twist is your barrel? That usually the rub with .260s as the early ones were 9 twist which would allow up to a 1.3" bullet. In other words, 140 grainers that were flat base. They would not stabilize anything like a Hornady 140 gr ELD. With that said, if it is an 8 twist, you can shoot anything accurately. I have found that in my 22" 9T barrel, the sweet spot is 2,688 fps for 140 gr bullets. I have hunted with the Nosler 120 BTs for years and they work but wanted to try something heavier.
 
Not sure on the twist as I haven’t picked it up yet, but it’s a Remington 700 so likely a 9. I usually shoot the lighter range bullets per cartridge and was planning on using 120s anyway. Thinking NBTs or TTSX. Hoping it’s a good performer on whitetail out to say 300.
 
My favorite caliber, been running several customs chambered in this for years.

Like already said, Remington screwed up everything from marketing to twist rates on the 260, hence why mine are all 8tw and throated properly for heavy bullets.

If your intent is lighter 120-130 stuff you might be fine with 9tw and factory chambered and thats plenty of horsepower for whitetails. For reloading I would try Varget, 4064 or 4198 in those weights.
 
I had a 6.5/08 built on a Ruger 77 action in 1996 year before the .260 Rem came out. All I could find back then was the 1:9 twist barrel. When that barrel gave out at 3000+ rounds I re-barrled with 1:8. Love the cartridge, it is easy to make shoot accurate with hand loads. My go-to powder, bullet combo is Varget or N150 powder and Sierra 120 gr. Pro Hunter bullets. Put a great many deer and varmints down with this combo.
Bang flopped an 8 point last Sunday with it. You and your son will enjoy the >260 Rem.
 
derbyacresbob said:
I have had great results on deer with a 260 Rem loaded with Barnes 120 gr TTSX bullets.
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Another vote for 120 TTSX. Mine is a 6.5CM and last year had two 143 ELDXs that didn’t exit on a whitetail 100 yds away. Switched to 120 TTSX this year, because I wanted two holes. Total pass through.
 
AdamT said:
What’s the scoop on the 260 Remington for anyone that uses or has used one. Have one on the way, planning to use it for my son to start doing some deer hunting with a bolt action instead of gas guns.
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260, 6.5CM, 6CM, 243, 7/08 (and others) ........ Heck, they are ALL good deer rifles for a beginner. FWIW, I think you are on the right track. I have seen a couple of kids that were started on 30.06 and 270 only to develop a flinch that stayed with them for years. Not that either of those are cannons, but neither is "required" to stop a whitetail.

The only hesitation I would have is the possible lack of a variety of ammunition for the 260. It isn't exactly what you would consider a "common" cartridge in today's world.
 
I had a custom build done last year in a 260 and have loved it so far. I have killed 25 coyotes since I picked it up last fall. Kills have been anywhere from 25 yards out to 525. I shoot 140 eld m bullet with 40 gr of h4350 and lapua brass. I have shot ten shot groups the size of a quarter several times with it.
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Initial load development showed it’s not too picky but prefers a little slower speeds.
 
YoteslayerWA said:
I had a custom build done last year in a 260 and have loved it so far. I have killed 25 coyotes since I picked it up last fall. Kills have been anywhere from 25 yards out to 525. I shoot 140 eld m bullet with 40 gr of h4350 and lapua brass. I have shot ten shot groups the size of a quarter several times with it.
View attachment 3533View attachment 3534
Initial load development showed it’s not too picky but prefers a little slower speeds.
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That’s a sweet looking and shooting setup.

I’ve picked mine up. Waiting on a scope to get here for it, then start shooting some different things to see how it shoots and what it likes.
 
Remington went with a 1 in 9 twist cause that was what the bullets of the time needed. They did the job and still do. It was before the long range craze really took off.
 
AdamT said:
What’s the scoop on the 260 Remington for anyone that uses or has used one. Have one on the way, planning to use it for my son to start doing some deer hunting with a bolt action instead of gas guns.
Click to expand...
The 260 is 308 necked down to a 6.5. It's got a long barrel life, and very inherently accurate according to my 3 rifles. I enjoy shooting 139 Scenars at about 2750fps well out to 1300 yards. Easy recoil, great ballistics, decent kids rifle! FWIW all of mine have an 8 twist barrel with the Desert Tech exception of 9.
 
I have an ar10 in .260 rem.
Used it on coyotes, deer and bear so far, really like it, currently use either 130gr gamechangers or 95gr vmax.
 
YoteslayerWA said:
I had a custom build done last year in a 260 and have loved it so far. I have killed 25 coyotes since I picked it up last fall. Kills have been anywhere from 25 yards out to 525. I shoot 140 eld m bullet with 40 gr of h4350 and lapua brass. I have shot ten shot groups the size of a quarter several times with it.
View attachment 3533View attachment 3534
Initial load development showed it’s not too picky but prefers a little slower speeds.
Click to expand...
How big of holes does it leave in a coyote?
 


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