I've been waffling back and forth on what chambering to go with for my heavy target Stevens 200 project rifle plan. I had been all kinds of gung ho for the 260 but after lookin up and comparing it's ballistics to 7mm-08 I'm leaning twards going with the 7mm's better and more plentiful brass, dies, data and bullet choices. IN THEORY the 260 would be a better performer ballistically, but since our longest local range is only 300m I don't think those differences will be worth taking note.

The rifle is gonna be for punching holes in paper as closely together as possible. While 308 is kind of the default choice for this type rifle it's just flat out TOO boring for me. I would build a 30-06 before I built a 308 just for that "gotta be different" factor. I've even contemplated going with 7x57mm mauser or even 300savage. In order to not have something everyone else at the club has.

Does this make any sense? Am I being silly? Or just plain over thinking this. Please chime in and help me decide!

Question:
What chambering to buy a barrel in?

Choices:
260
7mm-08
Other (please specify)
Either, as it really doesn't matter.

 

If only target shooting, 6mm PPC USA or 6mm BR (bench rest). You can make cases from 7,62x39 to 6PPC and from .308 Win to 6mm BR. 6mm BR better for 300 yard.

Chamber it in 260 and don't look back. I have shoot 243-260-7mm08 and the 308 enough through the years to decide the 260 is best of the bunch in my opinion. Not much it can't do.

PaPa 260

I faced the same decision point as you, with the same questions. I finally decided to build both and see which one made me happier. Waiting on barrels right now and will have two new chamberings to play with come spring when all this snow melts. Having a savage I guess I could have just ordered the barrels and swapped them back and forth but had an extra action anyway so why not throw them both together. I may like em' both........ .

Dave

quote:

I'm leaning twards going with the 7mm's better and more plentiful brass, dies, data and bullet choices

IMO these are poor reasons to pick the 7mm over the .260. If you really want something different then maybe the 6.5-06 or the 6.5 X 55 or the 6.5 X 57 is for you.

Remember that a target rifle is usually used single shot and you can use a long case in a short action if loading singleshot.

I would take either 260 or 7mm08 and never think twice.

I voted .260.
While both rounds would do well for you, the .260 has tons of target type bullets available in lots of weights.
Another sugjestion is a 6mm of some sort.
Have a look at the berger bullets available to 6mm shooters. The choices are endless.
Bullets go up in 1 grain incroments. You are bound to find somthing your rifle really likes,,,tj3006

I voted .260 because I think the .260 is too fine a cartridge to let die on the vine, even tho my love affair with the 7-08 goes back to when it was still a wildcat.
A couple of hundred cases will last you a long, long time and cases are readidly made from .243 and 7-08 cases, so that shouldn't be a worry. The selection of 6.5 bullets is diverse and extensive. 6.5 is an European calibre that is highly thought of.
Matched with a 140gr bullet the .260 is a decisive and effective deer cartridge. My .260 began life as a .243 and I've killed two deer with it. Neither deer moved out of its shadow.

I voted 260 however for punching paper to 300 yds,you might want to look at the 6.5 TC.Or if its got to be 7mm,the 7mmTC.These cartridges are scary accurate and formed from 223 brass.They will make little bug size groups with way less powder than the 308 based cartridges.

I believe there are more excellent match bullets available in 6.5mm than in 7mm. Otherwise, the difference between those two rounds is the same as the difference between the 6.5X57mm Mauser and the 7X57mm Mauser......

Hey Krochus, I voted - other. If the only thing you intend to do with it is punch paper, and only out to 300yds, then a small less expensive Bullet and Powder capacity looks like it would be an advantage to me. Less Recoil, less cost(Cases, Powder & Bullets).

I'd be happy with a regular old(standard twist) 223Rem and 50gr, 52gr, 53gr and 55gr Bullets. But since you are using the Savage/Stevens action, you could go with a Fast Twist Barrel and shoot the Heavier 22cal Bullets as well as still using the lighter Bullets.

If somewhere in the deep subconscious of your mind, you can see Deerr Hunting with it, then the 308Win would be my first choice and the excellent 7mm-08 a close second.

Best of luck with what ever you choose.

quote:

But since you are using the Savage/Stevens action, you could go with a Fast Twist Barrel and shoot the Heavier 22cal Bullets as well as still using the lighter Bullets.

I like the way you think! After some research I've came to the same conclusion. A 223 shooting a 75 or 80grn bullet at about 2800 fps gives up nothing to the .308 based rounds inside 300m, while burning half the powder and shooting much less expensive projectiles.

I think my plan has changed to include a 1-8" .223 barrel in my near future.

I also voted "other". If I was only interested in putting holes close together at 100-300 yards, I would shoot a 6mm PPC or 6mm BR.

260 Rem for our family. We use 4 rifles in 260 Rem.

Not silly at all. I voted for the 7mm-08 being that im a 7mm. fan. You know how it is you buy or build one cal. then wish you had the other.

I almost bought a Weatherby svm in 7mm-08 then opted for the 308 Choices choices.

Other! let's see. punching paper, 300yds. max, cost of bullets, std.06 head diameter, reasonably priced dies, abundant load data, documented long term performance, why it's the 22-250. roger

6.5x55 or 308

i have a .260 and 7mm-08 both are great rounds. i use them for deer hunting, have killed big deer at 300+ yards with both. my .260 ruger m-77 likes to shoot paper with 120 sierra b.t.match. both will almost lock holes at 100 meters. .750 my 7mm-08 is a rem. 700 s.s. with 24'' barrel. i load both with RL-15. and both are over 2900 fps shot over chroney. and yes i love them both. if i could only have one for deer size game and paper shooting .260 REM..

708 -- why bother with a 6.5mm, when you caqn have up to 180gr bullets in the 7mm... go with an 8 twist, if you want to go super heavy

jeffe

I like the 260 for the better selection of match bullets. Recoil is also abit lighter. Both are great carts. though.

I have a 260 in a rem bdl with 24 in barrel and a 7/08 in a classic and both are a heck of a shooter.The fartherest I took deer with the 260 was 442 yds and 305 yds with the 7/08.
I really like both.
The bottom left hand corner is a 7 shot 260(all I had loaded up at the time) and the next target was the 7/08 I was checking it out a couple days before deer season because I wanted to use a different bullet,and the load worked great I dropped a doe at 140 yds and a 10 pointer at 100 yds in their tracks.

The 260 is very slightly more offbeat than the 7mm08. For punching paper at 300 yards the plain old 243 would be plenty and cheaper yet to shoot. If you want it exotic get a quick twist barrel so you can spin up the 107 Matchking and Berger VLDs. You could play with the 6xc or 6.5x47 Lapua if you're truly serious about getting off the beaten track. If you want do it old school you build a 6mm International. Let us know what you pick.

Short action - 260. Long action - 6.5x55 or 6.5-06.

I vote for the .260 because I love 6.5mm cartridges and have the utmost respect for their performance, plus I have killed over half of the deer I have done using 6.5mm rifles (.260 Rem, 6.5mm Mannlicher, 6.5x55mm, 6.5x57mm). I use the 7mm-08 too, but the .260 seems to be the optimum for deer where I have hunted them. Minor recoil, excellent accuracy, and the pile driver effect of the 6.5mm bullet. Does not get any better, of course, the .260 Rem is a clone of the original 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer, but we won't go into that.

I have two of each...both are fine rds...each has its place...but for LR shooting I'll take the 260 or the 260 AI...