Decisions decisions, .260 REM or 7mm 08

[NullMac]

It doesn’t matter. At all. Not even slightly. You could pick one entirely at random each time you go out and you’d never notice any difference. The differences on paper are utterly marginal. In real life, you’d need to shoot thousands and get the services of a very talented statistician to detect any difference.

Neither are particularly easy to find factory ammo for, though 7-08 probably a bit more common. But if you’re reloading, that doesn’t matter.

This !

Less seriously, buy a 308, it's becoming an old classic as the yoofs all head to 65CM You can have a lot more fun reloading for that, heaps of bullets.

 

[6pt-sika]

I like the 260 and the 7-08 having owned more than a few of both . At present I have four 260’s and not a 7-08 but I still like a 7-08 . Others mention the 6.5 PRC and I have one of those as well . Someone mentioned a 6.5 SAUM I’ve got a 6.5 Sherman Short Magnum which is a SAUM case kinda blown out with an Ackley shoulder it’ll beat the 6.5 PRC in same length barrel with same bullet and same powder by a bit over 100 FPS however it takes if memory serves about 8 more grains of powder . Of the others mentioned I DO NOT and DO NOT WANT a 6.5 CM . Nothing against it I just don’t care to be associated in any way or form of some of the tacticool yahoo’s that come in the shop and think the CM is things it isn’t . Buy a 260 and load your own ammo . I’ve been shooting the 260 for 25 years now .

 

[6pt-sika]

A personal 'grail' rifle is a Remington Model 7 7mm RSAUM.

I’ve owned four SAUM’s all in model 7’s two stainless synthetic 300’s a stainless synthetic 7mm and a laminated carbon steel 7mm . The synthetic ones I liked the laminated one for some reason never felt good in my hands . I killed more deer with the 300’s than I did with the 7mm’s but all dropped a deer like a ton of bricks . For some reason I went a little heavier than normal bullet wise with these four . In the 300’s I always used 165 grainers in the 7mm’s I went 150 or 154 .

 

[NigelM]

It all depends on what you're trying to achieve. If it's primarily a deer gun you will be on copper soon enough. For copper you want to be running them fast to get the required expansion. 100gr TTSX in 6.5mm will get you the velocity in a 260 but they have the aerodynamics of a brick and your range will be limited to about 250m. You really want to be shooting 120's but I would want a cartridge that will drive them a bit quicker, like 6.5PRC. In 7mm you would probably settle on 120's but the 7mm08 will not give you great velocities. Step up to 280 or 280ai and you would have a great combination with the 120's.

 

[scotch_egg]

I have had a 7-08 for over 13 years now. I don’t know if it is the calibre or the rifle but I can just get out there and shoot anything with confidence. Be it a decent size red stag or a fox under the lamp on the way back from stalking. It’s not the first rifle I would pick for lamping.

I have only ever used Remington brass and nosler 140gr ballistic tips. My barrel is 19” and my load is only doing 2720fps. As it’s only a 140gr bullet recoil is very mild. It certainly isn’t a rifle I would be shooting at extended ranges but it works brilliantly for the intended purpose. A



I have previously had a variation in for .260 and changed it to 6.5X47 which is a stunningly accurate round. You could say it’s like comparing .204 to 20 Tac. Which is another round I had, now that one isn’t even a commercial offering at all if you want to be different. Similar ballistics in both but less powder. Which I like as powder is expensive and I’m tight


The .260 really isn’t an efficient round hence it falling out of favour and the 6.5 creedmoor being so popular, I prefer the 6.5X47 but it’s not a readily chambered in factory rifles if you are going that route.

The .260 brass being longer than the 6.5 creedmoor causes issues with optimal seating depths when running the higher BC bullets which are longer. The bullet has to be seated deeper which eats in to powder space. But that is a mute point if not ringing the neck out of it seeking any ballistic advantage you can.


The main deciding factor is what rifle you are going to buy and the availability. Both 7-08 and .260 are not popular chamberings in factory rifles so you might struggle to find the rifle you want and could be in for long wait.

Or you could go for a cookie cutter 6.5 creedmoor or .308 that will more than likely be in the shelf of your local shop and be out shooting with it the day your variation lands.

 

[User00040]

I’ve owned four SAUM’s all in model 7’s two stainless synthetic 300’s a stainless synthetic 7mm and a laminated carbon steel 7mm . The synthetic ones I liked the laminated one for some reason never felt good in my hands . I killed more deer with the 300’s than I did with the 7mm’s but all dropped a deer like a ton of bricks . For some reason I went a little heavier than normal bullet wise with these four . In the 300’s I always used 165 grainers in the 7mm’s I went 150 or 154 .

What was the recoil like?

Assume the barrels were around 22"?

Supposedly these rifles had a larger mag box and different feed rails?

Have a stainless 7mm08 M7 in the McMillan KS stock, 16" barrel.

 

[Kalahari]

It all depends on what you're trying to achieve. If it's primarily a deer gun you will be on copper soon enough. For copper you want to be running them fast to get the required expansion. 100gr TTSX in 6.5mm will get you the velocity in a 260 but they have the aerodynamics of a brick and your range will be limited to about 250m. You really want to be shooting 120's but I would want a cartridge that will drive them a bit quicker, like 6.5PRC. In 7mm you would probably settle on 120's but the 7mm08 will not give you great velocities. Step up to 280 or 280ai and you would have a great combination with the 120's.

7 x 64, traditionally throated to take a long round so good for copper. Plenty of energy and easily managed recoil. What's not to like?

David.

 

[Heym SR20]

I am with @Mungo - calibre choice doesn’t really matter as far as deer are concerned. Concentrate on the type of rifle and scope combination and how it works for you. And when you look at a rifle get down on the floor of the gunshop and see how it works for you in a prone position - a lot of rifles are comfortable in a standing / seated position but horrible prone.

 

[User00025]

As Hand B say's, if you are loading your own go for 7x57. My ex wife used one and she was small. Suitable for anything from fox to elephant with the right bullet. I loaded 140 gr and shot foxes to big 30stone Reds. Fantastic round and soft on you.

 

[Roebuck9]

Rem260 very good round shot dozens of deer with my Styer right out to 317 yds. easy to reload.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Hi all, I’m looking at putting in a variation shortly for a deer rifle and have spend weeks researching and speaking to several people, some a lot more helpful than others I may add!

looking at the reloading manuals at both these rounds they stack up fairly close but I’m leading towards the .260, can I ask for your opinions and pro’s and con’s?

it will be used for Fallow and red mainly also some longer range fox work. I will be loading for it myself also.

Thanks in advance

In '99 I went shopping for a 7mm-08 and came home with a 260 Rem. To date I've owned 4 x 260 Rems and one of those has had three barrels. I've recently ordered the barrel for what will be my fifth 260 Rem. As commented above, the ballistics are similar.
Regards
JCS

 

[NullMac]

7 x 64, traditionally throated to take a long round so good for copper. Plenty of energy and easily managed recoil. What's not to like?

David.

Yes please.

Hard to find a nice second hand rifle though. I had one on my ticket for 18 months then ended up with a 270. Guess what, the RFD round the corner now has a peach of an R93 in 7x64

 

[dropmdead]

You could consider a 7wsm...was available in factory chambering. Factory ammo is available too...

 

[Sakoodin1]

I do love the idea of a ackley chamber, .260ai is meant to be good also. Would I be ok to get the chamber re cut or a rebarrel though?

I have one in ackley and it’s great

 

[angusb1]

Yes please.

Hard to find a nice second hand rifle though. I had one on my ticket for 18 months then ended up with a 270. Guess what, the RFD round the corner now has a peach of an R93 in 7x64

I spent a few months looking for one before getting a 270 as well. It's an itch I think I might have to scratch one day.

 

[6pt-sika]

What was the recoil like?

Assume the barrels were around 22"?

Supposedly these rifles had a larger mag box and different feed rails?

Have a stainless 7mm08 M7 in the McMillan KS stock, 16" barrel.

A fair comparison cartridge wise are the 7mm SAUM to a 280 REM and the 300 SAUM to an 06 when they’re loaded with the same weight bullets . Yes the barrels were 22” on all with of course a heavier contour than on the 308 patented cartridges . Yes the feed rails are wider and of course the bolt face is larger . I never thought recoil bad for either cartridge or the 300 WSM or 325 WSM , I will say however I had a 270 WSM in a Winchester 1885 single shot with a 28”octagon barrel that would get up in your face but recoil was never what I’d call bad in any of the short Mags I messed with . My favorite 7-08 was a Sako Hunter I had 25 years ago but I had one in a Model 7 as well . For the 260 I’ve had about a dozen rifles and I gotta say I never had one that shot bad . All were Remington or Savage .

 

[6pt-sika]

I agree with a couple of the statements that the cartridge is kinda inconsequential as long as you place the bullet correctly . I’ve got a pair of Mannlicher Schoenauer carbines in 6.5x54 MS and 7x57 , if I put them on a rack with a pair of stainless synthetic Model 7’s in 260 and 7-08 it’s a toss up as for the way I hunt they’d all do the job easily if I do my part .

 

[6pt-sika]

FWIW , when we do damage control hunting for Whitetail’s I have a Remington 700 HB 5R in 260 REM with an Athlon 6-24x on top a Timeny Calvin trigger set at about a pound shooting handloaded Hornady 129 SST’s with a Yankee Hill suppressor that’s a consistent 1/4 MOA rifle . Granted when I hunt with that rifle I’m sitting in a chair and the rifle is nestled in a Caldwell rest so it’s quite easy to shoot it well . And usually all shots are inside 280 meters . When in this situation head shots are the norm .