Shot a 6pt (4x2) whitetail and a doe morning of Nebraska's opener with a Kimber 84M in .260 Rem. Load consisted of: Rem brass, Hornady 129gr SP, 48.0gr H4831SC, and Fed 210 primer. Both deer were shot at approximately 50 yards. The buck received a shoulder shot and "bulldozed" light snow and dirt for about 8 yards before expiring. While field dressing the young buck, I noticed a doe over my right shoulder. I picked up rifle and she flagged. I grunted and she stopped and faced me. Brisket shot was placed and she dropped to the shot. Eight minutes between shots and my rifle season was over. Bullet exited on the buck just forward of opposite shoulder with a 2" diameter hole. Bullet did not exit doe, probably to be found in a hindquarter when butchered. Both deer had massive chest cavity hematoma, i.e, "jello". The on-side shoulder of the buck is probably toast. The entrance on the doe received a fair amount of damage, but I doubt much meat will be lost.

Congrats, great hunt, good eating. Sorry your season had to end so soon!

roger

Sounds like you had an excellent hunt !!! Didn't get my two so closely as you, but I still have meat in the freezer, or will be anyway.

A suggestion, if you want less meat damage, slide up to 140 grain CoreLokts, provided your rifle will shoot them well, then the .260 behaves like a 6.5x54mm, dead deer and no meat loss. My Remington M7 (MS) thrives on 140 grain factory loads, although my previous M7 did not, liking the 120-129 grain bullets much better, and doing exactly the same damage you describe.

LLS

Sierra, I ASSUME your M7 is a 9 twist? If like all other factory M7's, or do they use an aftermarket bbl on the custom shop guns? Perhaps it is 8.

My 260's in 9 never would shoot the 140's. Perhaps if you load them hotter than factory it would, but I do believe I tried a few 140 Partitions and they also 'scattered'

Perhaps factory loads have been 'bumped up' as I heard the initial batch of factory 140's were 'below par' vs published data, so maybe that explains my lack of accuracy with my gun, as that 23" 6.5/308 (let's just say if you compared the reamer vs the saami 260, it is 99.99% exact, not 100%, but VERY close).

I seem to recall the first run which is surely when I used mine, was only chrono about 2500 range or so, when the spec was 2750 IIRC. Do you have any info as to factory load speed, current production thru chrono? If so I would like to know, realizing you use a 20" gun.

Thanks.

My Kimber is a 1:9 twist. It does not like factory Remington 140gr loads. As 6BR stated, if you increased velocity, 140gr handloads may work. My Kimber however does handle 129gr Hornady SPs exceptionally well, so that is the bullet I'll stick with in that rifle.

My CZ550 FS in 6.5x55 on the other hand thrives on 140gr Hornady SPs. I used it last year for similar results, 2 deer in 4 seconds!

Moderate 6.5mm rounds i.e 6.5x54 MS, 6.5x55 SE, .260 Rem etc., using 125-140gr loads, are superlative cartridges IMHO when it comes to dispatching deer effeciently. Not a lot of recoil & blast, ample long range capability, and excellent penetration. I have no regrets whatsoever giving up a .243 and a .270 for a pair of outstanding 6.5s.