Hi, I'm almost decided to buy a Tikka T3 Varmint for 200, 300 and (very few) 500 m. informal target shooting, as well as some amateur level competition. I already have a custom Rem. 700 HB in cal 308W, but I suffer the recoil more and more with age. Which of the aforementioned calibers would you choose? I know that the 223 Rem. could be a good choice too, but I'm worried about the wind drift and here it's usually windy. Thanks.

I have the same problem. I think I am getting a T3 in .243Win over the .260Rem. I have owned both before and like each quite a lot. However, I think I am going for the .243 because there are more sources for good brass without having to do any necking up or down. I decided not being able to put down a ram silhouette was not a big deal. I intend to shoot more varmints and deer than steel targets.

I'm sorry but my initial thoughts are choose the 6.5x55 over both the above. With it's 30-06 length action the Tikka T3 is better suited to the medium length cartiges.
Of the two you ask about my choice would be the 260.
I have a T3 in the Swede which surprises me with it's accuracy. The 6.5 Swede has a 1 in 8 twist, I dont know what the 260 twist rate is.

Both of the 6.5's have 1-8" twists. Swede brass is not exactly plentiful here either. But as a European I wouldn't hessitate.

.260 for more reasons than I have time to list. In the case of deer hunting and Silhouette shooting, diverse bullet choice is a leading reason. 160gr 6.5 calibre bullet will take down a 500 meter ram, a 100gr .243 bullet will make a cute little splat on it.

No silhouette shooting here; a good point is the wider choice of good quality 243W brass, that gives a little less recoil than the 260R....

The 260 will be much easior on the barrel than the 243. The 260, without knowing the twist, would be my choice because it is an excellent compatition round, therefor it will be an excellent mid to long range varmint round.

quote:

Originally posted by britz:
The 260 will be much easior on the barrel than the 243. The 260, without knowing the twist, would be my choice because it is an excellent compatition round, therefor it will be an excellent mid to long range varmint round.

Dunno about any barrel life diff?!
A half millimetre bore difference with everything else basically the same must surely be insignificant.

I'd concur on the .260- if you're recoil sensitive, stick with lighter projectiles &/or moderate loads. You can always crank it up as the occasion demands.

It's a difficult choice! It must be said that here, the 260R is a marginal cartridge indeed.

Gidday Wildboar,

If the 260 is marginal the 243 must be way out in the cold. The 260 outperforms it in almost every regard. Energy, BC, SD, down range performance and on game performance to name a few.

Cases are readily available from Remington, Nosler, Lapua and Norma. They are easily formed from 308, 7-08 and 243 cases from any other maker. Those are just the ones I am aware of.

260 the thinking riflemans deer and target cartridge


Happy Hunting

Hamish

quote:

Originally posted by Hamish:
...If the 260 is marginal the 243 must be way out in the cold...

Here, the 260R is a marginal cartridge.

quote:

Originally posted by Hamish:
....Cases are readily available from Remington, Nosler, Lapua and Norma...

Unfortunately there's no trace of Lapua or Norma 260R ammos/cases, on their respective catalog; Nosler brass are HARDLY available here and forming cases can be a source of legal problems. Anyway, I can see that the 260R is quite popular "Down under" .

Hamish - are you sure about that Lapua brass? Where do you get it from? Not that I'm about to change, plain old vanilla Remington brass delivers excellent results in my T3 260, despite its (the brass) poor reputation.

Wildboar, what are the legal issues with reforming cases? That sounds like real over the top nanny state stuff.

Having shot matches for some 45 years or more, can say that the 260 Rem. is well regarded by those shooting 200,300, and 600 yards and is much favored over the 243 for those applications. In fact, the 260 can be used out to the 1000 yard range w/ good results if the shooter does his part. Heavier bullet selection for the 260 permits it to be shot at the longer ranges and edges out the 243 in that regard. Out to the 3-400 yard range, both will work just fine and if you are not a dedicated long range/match style shooter the 243 would work quite nicely I would say. As for barrel life, lots of stories about the short barrel life on 243's, but I have not experienced that, but it is believed to be a problem from those who shoot the round a lot as in matches.
In your situation where brass/components present a problem, go with the one that will serve you the easiest and if that is the 243, great. Double check the twist rate for shooting at extended ranges you would want to shoot the heavier bullets for best results. I recently purchased a Tika T3/Tactical in 308 and the rifle has a lot of plus features for it and delivers excellent accurcy. Good luck w/ whatever you select.

Gidday Meathunta,

On checking they are Lapua 243 cases necked up so they may not be available from Lapua. Check with Tracey Short as I believe he handles Lapua and Norma. Email is skinit@xtra.co.nz.

One of the guys in my club gave me some of the Lapua (20 cases) last year to try out. Like you I have not had any problems with Remington cases and they are readily available from Richard Wilhelm.

I think that any difference in the brass is at best marginal. I have been using Rem brass for 8 years now and have yet to have any issues.

Wildboar, I now understand that availability in Italy is marginal, not the performance of the cartridge. I understand you have different security issues to us lucky buggers on the quiet side of the world.

Yes the 260 is becoming a lot more popular down here but is still way behind the 7-08 which is the most popular round. It is a cartridge used by the more experienced hunters who have gone through the magnum phase and the 222 phase for our game. They have learned that this is the best balance for the game we have here.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

Thanks for the hints guys; on the whole, I'm slightly partial to the 243W.

Meathunta, in Italy we have a quite strict gun control; we must declare every gun we buy immediately to the Police as well as the ammunitions. Furthermore, the range is in France; I have a permit to cross the border with my rifles and ammos and French are strict too; there must be a match between rifles and ammos, so owning/carrying a cal .260R rifle with ammos made with reformed 243 cases (for instance) is asking for trouble.

Based on the restrictions you face crossing the border w/ two differnet ammunitions, would preclude owning a switch barrel gun. One receiver/action and two different caliber barrels or would that be explainable to the authorities?? Just curious. Good luck.

@Dsiteman. Switching barrel systems are barely allowed, for very few brands and combinations of calibers. For instance, you can buy a Blaser R93 cal. 300WBY, and switch it to a 243W, 7RM but NOT to a 338WM! Anyway, in the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. We still may buy on the spot how many rifles we want, with the only limitation of 5-10 rounds magazine (no full auto) and up to 3 handguns + 6 others for target shooting, only by showing the hunting permit or an equivalent. No previous applications, no weeks/months waiting, no justification asked. We sincerely cannot complain.

I have both calibers and if forced to choose one, it would be the 260. It is superior to the 243 and the difference in recoil is so slight I can hardly tell.
If used for hunting, it's a runaway in favor of the 260. I think the 260 is easier to reload as the 243 has a tendency to stretch the brass and can be somewhat difficult in finding the right load. Just my thoughts.

260/243 - about the same thing. they are both just necked down 308's - the choice comes in the bullets. If you want light bullets go 243, if you want 120-160 gr then the 260. having a few of both I prefer the versatility of the 260, but if its use is just varmits then a 243

260 over the 243...Sako/Tikka barrels in 6.5mm are 8 twist

quote:

Originally posted by wildboar:
Hi, I'm almost decided to buy a Tikka T3 Varmint for 200, 300 and (very few) 500 m. informal target shooting, as well as some amateur level competition. I already have a custom Rem. 700 HB in cal 308W, but I suffer the recoil more and more with age. Which of the aforementioned calibers would you choose? I know that the 223 Rem. could be a good choice too, but I'm worried about the wind drift and here it's usually windy. Thanks.

I recently did the 5.56 mm versus 6 mm debate and concluded .243, perhaps for different reasons than you. Where I live now the 5.56 centrefires are very popular for hunting caribou. Govt actually amended legislation downward from 6 mm to 5.56 mm because of the numbers. When I retire in the south the 5.56 will not be permitted for deer. I wanted a rifle for varmints AND deer.