sorry for the double post-posted same on the small bore board, but I wanted ya'lls idaes also...
I am currently in the "middle stages" or organizing my hunting and shooting arsenal and I am trying to decide what to do. I currently have a .270 I use for most of my hunting and would like a short action "little" gun as a back up to hunt with. I have my eyes on a Ruger 77 compact stainless/laminate but I can't decide between the .308 or the .260. I have shot a .308 out of a win 88 and enjoy shooting it, but I have never shot a 260. I imagine the .308 has a little more kick out of the compact 77, but I don't know how much more. I hear the .260's are GREAT-light recoil yet hit hard enough with the 140 grn to take elk and moose and hogs with some shooters reporting the .260's recoil is so light that they see the bullet strike it's target. There seems to be a wide range of loads for the .260-anywhere from 85 grm varmit loads to the aforementioned 140 grners. Now, as a non-reloader I worry some about availability of .260 ammo where as .308's are everywhere. Also, the .308 has proven it has staying power but the .260 is realtively young and I wonder if factory ammo will be available in 50 years?? I also have seem only 150 grn .308 ammo or higher, but is there any .308's with the lighter loads? Having said all of this I only recently narrowed down the choices to the .260 from the swede 6.5X55, the 25 06, and the 264 win mag, mostly because I wanted the shorter barrel and the smaller/light gun, but I do NOThave my heart set on either.
The recoil of a light 308 can be noticiable if the recoil pad is not soft or the stock does not fit you. On the other hand the 260 Rem is just not popular as much as I enjoy mine.
Guns come and go and don't talk back. Just get what you want and do your best with it. For sure a light 260 is going to be easy to shoot.
I've got a Ruger RSI in 308 and it's one of my favorite rifles. I almost exclusively shoot 150 gr. loads in mine as it seems to like them best. Using the standard Federal loads it shoots right at 1". Even though I'm reloading for it now I'm still using the 150 gr. Hornady bullet. With not being a reloader though you can find just about any bullet you want in a 308 factory load.
Posts: 1242 | Location: Houston, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2002
Quote: When people ask me what a 260 is, my answer is:
if a 270 and a 243 had a kid, the offspring would be the 260.
Recoil of the 243, and the punch of the 270.
Cheers and goodshooting seafire
In my opinion the offspring of a .308 win and and .243 would be fraternal twins of .260 rem and 7-08 remington. (Odd when you think that two winchester cartridges produce remington offspring!) Closer to the .270 /.243 or 6mm pairing would produce a 6.5x55 Swede, although with a somewhat bastardized case, and the rare genetic event of the kid being older than either parent!!?! Since I just adopted one of rifles for the 6.5x55, I have been learning more about it. Hopefully one of my sons and I will get to shoot it tomorrow. A box of Federal factory 140 gr loads and 19 rounds of new Winchester brass with 44 gr of accurate 4350 and the Nosler 100 gr Ballistic Tip. Hopefully it will be a soft kicker for the recoil sensitive 15 year old. It was what I chose after careful consideration of the .243, 260 rem, 7mm-08, 25-06 and .308. Hope I picked the right one..
Posts: 515 | Location: kennewick, wa | Registered: 18 May 2004
If you are stuck on the very short barreled Compact model , I would get the .308 . It is a very efficient cartridge in short barrels , and while I think the .260 is a great round , I think more barrel length is preferable in that case .
Posts: 1660 | Location: Gary , SD | Registered: 05 March 2001
Quote: If you are stuck on the very short barreled Compact model , I would get the .308 . It is a very efficient cartridge in short barrels , and while I think the .260 is a great round , I think more barrel length is preferable in that case .
SD makes a good point. The smaller the bore diameter in relation to the capacity of the case, the more velocity you will lose with each inch shorter barrel you go with. For a short barrel compact rifle, the .308 would probably be the better option, although the recoil would be greater. IMO the 260 rem, the 7-08, and the 270 all work best with barrels of 22" or more.
Posts: 515 | Location: kennewick, wa | Registered: 18 May 2004
Steve 4102 beat me to the punch. A 7-08 would give you the best of both worlds. FWIW, I've hunted out west using a model 7 in 7-08 with the 18.5" barrel (they've since gone to 20") and didn't feel handicapped. I do agree that the .260 should be a dandy weapon. I just had a rifle rebarrelled to that calibre but haven't had time to work with it. As far as availability of ready-rolled ammo is concerned, I can't help you as I never buy the stuff. While my rifle was at the smith's, I ordered my dies, bullets, cases, etc. and so, was ready to go when it got here.
Posts: 2037 | Location: frametown west virginia usa | Registered: 14 October 2001
I would take a look at the ruger RL model. That little 16 inch barrel compact Would be handy as a saddle gun, or for shooting out a car window, But the RL has 20 inch barrel and while it still leavs you a little short on velocity with most loads it will do, I have an RL in .257 roberts and I really like it. I don't think you can get it in .260 but .308 is available, and if i were gonna shoot an ELk I'l take the 308 over the .260...tj3006
The point has been made and you'll find that most all concur on the barrel issue. Go with the .308 with the shorter barrel due to less velocity loss. FWIW, I shoot a .308 with an 18" barrel, and have taken deer out to 225. It is an absolute joy to shoot.
One thing also: I never notice as much recoil in the field compared to on the bench. With adrenaline pumping, the heat of the hunt, etc., Recoil just seems to decrease in the hunt situation to some degree.
.308 would be my 1st choice , but the Ruger compact wouldn't be. It's a neat little gun, but it's heavy for a compact. I'm not sure of the exact weight but that was my impression of it when I looked at them. I'd look at the Winchester compact or better yet, the featherweight. Maybe even a Remington model 7 .
Terry
Posts: 6315 | Location: Mississippi | Registered: 18 May 2002
.
