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7mm-08 or 260 Rem???

MichibayMichibay Member Posts: 816 ✭✭
edited November 2007 in Ask the Experts
I am thinking of getting a light weight rifle that has low recoil. It would be used for Deer and possible Elk. I am leaning in the direction of the .260...are there any folks out there that have had experience with either...will appreciate all comments. Thanks!
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Comments

  • 1KYDSTR1KYDSTR Member Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    OK...as I see it you get a little better sectional density from the 7mm round, but the 6.5/260 is a real performer in it's own right. In the end, I would have to opt for the 7mm-08 as it is more commercially available and componentry is easier to come by if you reload/better bullet selection than the 6.5's. FWIW.
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  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I vote for the 7mm08
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  • Mk 19Mk 19 Member Posts: 8,170
    edited November -1
    I would also go to the 7mm-08 since elk is in the picture. It is nice to have the heaver bullet choices of the 7mm.
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  • 1KYDSTR1KYDSTR Member Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What about the 160 grain hornady 6.5 (".264) round nose? Good Elk medecine! Just playing devils advocate there, as I still feel the 7mm has more going for it in the real world scenarion, as mentioned.
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  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,163 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you like to play with it and reload lots of different loads the 7mm has a bigger selection of bullets. Additionally, the factory load selection for the 260 is pretty slim. I don't have any experience with 6.5 but they built their reputation of game killers by make a moderate size hole very deep. Maybe ok for elk on private land but my vote is for a bigger hole in the game and a smaller divot in the hill beyond.
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  • eastbankeastbank Member Posts: 4,052 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    i have owned both and they are good for deer size and larger animals with the right bullets, both use the 308 case as their parent case and they are easy to reload.in my hodgdon 2004 annual manual it list 9 bullets for the .260 and 13 bullets for the 708, so if you can find the bullets you want to use in the 260 in the 9 listed it would do. if not then try the 708 as it has 13 to pick from,i don,t think you would go wrong with either calibure. i have been shooting a rem. model seven SS with syn. stock with a 3x9 silver compact leupold scope,and it shoots three shot groups under a inch at 100yds. with remington factory 140 gr bullets. it,s very light and does not recoil very much. i just wish they would make the model seven in a left hand action. eastbank.
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  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Michibay,

    Both will do the job handily. However, as Mk19 pointed out, if your preference leans toward the the 150 gr. or heavier bullets, then 7mm-08 is the way to go. I know a lot of people that have no problem taking elk with 140 gr. bullets. They were probably the most common 7mm and 6.5mm (6.5x55 and .260 Rem)bullets I saw at our clubs deer rifle sight-in this year. A number of those people were going elk hunting out west taking the loads they brought.
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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would vote for the 260, and I have both. With a 140 grain Barnes TSX, it is more than adequate for elk. It hits the shoulder like a 243, has more hitting power than a 308 at 500 yards, and shoots as flat as a 270. It is very similar to the 6.5x55, which is heavily used in the Scandanavian countries for moose.
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  • HandgunHTR52HandgunHTR52 Member Posts: 2,735
    edited November -1
    As has been pointed out, this is like asking if you prefer a Ford truck over a Chevy truck. Both will provided all the performance that you want from them.
    Now, from my experience the .260s that I have known have been more picky when it comes to accurate loads. My 7mm-08 is not picky at all. It will shoot anything. My .260s would throw groups up to 5" with loads it didn't like. But, when I found the sweet spots, they would outshoot any other gun in my safe. But, every gun is different.
    I will agree with what has been said about bullet selection. Also, if you don't reload, the 7mm-08 is much easier to get factory ammo for and there is a much larger selection.
    Also, resale value for the 7mm-08 is a little better than the .260. Unfortuantely, the uneducated masses know little about the .260 and therefore .260s don't sell well (at least around here).
    Bottom line, get whichever you want. With your choice of calibers, you can focus on other things like which gun looks better to you or is a better value.
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  • amblerrlamblerrl Member Posts: 177 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i use a 7-08 loaded with federal premiums loaded with 140 grain nosler partitions. never had a problem with anything. i also have a 260 but prefer the 7-08 on larger game like elk.
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