Ok guys, i have been stuck on getting a heavier barreled rifle, and was considering .308s and asked about them the other day. Have been seeing some mention of .260s on here. Starting to consider a .260 instead. Will be mainly used for whitetail hunting but want something that could knock larger animals like a mulie down as well. Many have given high marks for tikkas. What do you guys think about a .260 in a tikka T3 CTR with a 20" barrel and also thoughts on a savage predator in a .260 with a 24" barrel. What i like about the tikka is the adjustable trigger down to 2lbs or so and a larger capacity clip, 10 rounds i believe. What i like about the savage is the trigger is supposedly adjustable from 1.5-6 lbs. any input is appreciated

I used a Montana Rifle Company 260 this season and really like it. The MRC essentially is an improved copy of the pre-64 Model 70.



260 customer with 120 gr Barnes TTSX

Tikka in 260 Rem would be a fine choice. I predict it would become the rifle you ALWAYS grab

I would highly recommend the Tikka as a very well designed/built rifle that will serve you well right out of the box. It will have the smoothest action compared to anything in its price class and the trigger is awesome. Many don't like the composite stock on Tikkas but I think they are as good as any other OEM stock in this price range and adding a B&C stock for $225 is a nice upgrade. I have 2 Tikkas (7mm Rem Mag and 22-250) and currently building a custom in 6.5 Creedmoor. I have no experience with the Savage but have had Winchester, Ruger, Browning and Remingtons (my 2nd favorite) and I choose Tikka over these in this price range. 260 is a great choice as I have learned from many on THF.

Thanks everyone for more good info

The Tikka in 260 is just what I have, and with the 20 inch barrel. And it is the gun I grab when I go to the woods. Mine has an aftermarket barrel, but that's only because I couldn't find the SS rifle in 260. I guess they had quit importing them for a time, and I'm assuming that you can get the rifle in that caliber now.

Shoots great, and I actually like the synthetic stock. I highly recommend that rifle and caliber and barrel length.

I hunt coyote, pigs and deer, and I have gone to the 100 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. I might switch back to the 120's some day, but there's no pressing reason. I did worry for a time that the 100 grain bullet might be a bit too small, but when I shot the spike a couple of days ago, I carefully put the bullet just behind the shoulder. Good blood trail and the deer was about 60 yards from the start of the blood trail. Bullet exit was about the size of a quarter or a bit smaller. Others may suggest heavier bullets, but I don't think it's really necessary - unless you just want to.

You'll be happy with a 260, and even happier if you reload. As to shooting Mule Deer, I'm sure it would be fine. I'd probably go to the heavier bullet, but if you are a lung shooter, that 120 grain Ballistic Tip should do fine.

603,
What is your load for the 100 gr NBT?

Thanks.

Jeffbird, all that info is in the barn workshop, which is now locked up for the day. What I can tell you without looking is that the load is IMR 4064 at about a grain under max (Lyman 49th). Primer is CCI BR2 and cases are prepped Remington. OAL for the round is, I believe, exactly what the Lyman book shows, but probably wouldn't be the same for other rifles. That's for the 100 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. For the 120 grainer, I use a near max load of R17.

I'd just have to replace the stock..lol

I have a new Tikka CTR in 260 and am now just working up loads for it. Can't say enough good things about this rifle. Went to the desert yesterday to stretch its legs a little. My 17 year old daughter managed a 4 inch (3 shot) group on a 10 inch steel plate at 640 yards. Only her second time behind a centerfire rifle. She now says its her rifle. Only negative is the price on extra TRG magazines. I lightened the trigger some, don't see a need to change anything else.

Sorry you lost your rifle, but no one better to loose one to than your Daughter. Good shooting

Nothing wrong with a 260, I have a Sako 85 that I really like. I'd like it if it was a 308 or most any other caliber. It's a high quality rifle that fits me really well. In a heavy barreled rifle, either should be fairly mild on recoil. How far are you wanting to shoot? 300-400 yards... I'd go 308. The 6.5's do have higher BC options, but only with Berger/Amax bullets will you see any significant jump and on paper.....that BC doesn't mean much until you get out past 400.

LET THE FLAMES BEGIN!!!!

No flames from here.

Have both and like both. Would keep the 308 if I could have only one.

I typically wont ever shoot past 200 yards, but have always wanted to have the ability to shoot 300-400, which i could do with my current rifles with some practice. I have not decided for sure what I will buy, I cant make up my mind at this point. So far it is either a 308win or .260 rem

For your criteria, I do not see how you could go wrong either way. I would pick the .308 just for the slightly larger bullet it throws.

Tikka T3 260's also come in their blue/wood stocked Hunter grade, 22" 8 twist sporter weight barrel that weighs umm 5lb's 10 oz's as I remember and MSRP at $678.

Mine came from Bud's earlier this Fall & Grateful Doug in New York just sent me a 2-10x50 30mm ZA5 HD Minox at a very rightous price that'll get the wrinkles worked out of it later this Spring. I expect this 'un will shoot like the T3 Hunter Swede I had couple years ago did...scary accurate.
Ron

I was/am you basically a year ago. I decided on getting a heavy barrelled, "tactical" bolt gun. I too was debating 260. It came down to someone convincing me of the following:

Based on your shooting criteria (which for me meat 600yards and less), there is nothing that you can do with a 260 that you can not do with a 308. Especially considering that you (me) are a semi-beginning shooter, it will be a long time before you (me) gets to a point where you (me) can "out shoot" a good 308 set up described above. In the meantime you will spend more on 260 ammo, whether new or reloading. And by the time you're good enough to shoot past the capabilities of your 308 rifle, then same amount of shots fired on the 260 would be enough cost difference to simply by a new barrel. And that's assuming the round count isn't so high it's burned out the 260 (which apparently barrel burnout is a real cost consideration when it comes to a 260.

I must add that I have a Savage so the idea of switching barrels is much more palatable.

The 6.5 does have a significantly higher BC and (big AND) more muzzle velocity. So it has two things going for it over any 308 Win. 300 yards and out But as Korean Redneck was saying you won't have the barrel life in a 6.5 mm as you will a 308 Win.

That is one of two things the 308 has over a long list of other cartridges. The other being that because of its' moderate BC and moderate velocity it is unforgiving in the wind. You will learn to judge wind signs shooting a 308, or you simply won't hit anything. I learned on a 308, but have been using a 6.5 mm for three years now. I've shot one barrel out, and am on to another. Barrel life beig shorter the 6.5 mm is worth it for me because of how it performs. But we're talking a barrel life of 2500 rounds. Not everybody will erode the throat on one every other year.

"erode the throat at 2500 rounds..." sounds like a donor barrel for a 6.5 x '06 to me since a T3 is a Long action to begin with unlike most 308 Family Calibers...Waste Not Want Not ...Just Sayin
Ron

I'm still knew to customization, so please forgive the ignorance. I do ask the following in all seriousness... Can you do that? I knlow the bolt faces are teh same for the 308 and 30-06 catridges and I know you can make a 308 rifle out of a long action BUT i never even thought about re-reaming an already chambered short action barrel to a long action equivalent.

Probably, but you really need to talk to a 'smith about the particular barrel in question...but my tease to FJG concerned a short action caliber ie 260 or any of the 308 Family Calibers, wearing out the throat while being shot from a long action receiver, like Jason's Tikka T3's. The .473 Non Magnum bolt face is GTG in the 2 calibers mentioned in the tease, and the ??'s I'd have would be is there enough "meat" in the barrel just ahead of the SA Caliber's chamber to allow the longer LA caliber's brass/bullet & throat sufficiently...and prolly should be in a #2 Shilen measurement barrel profile or thicker & certainly in a VT barrel.
Ron

I image it would be safer and easier to turn it down a bit and rechamber it a quarter - half inch shorter.

I am still trying to decide. I was actually going to pull the trigger on the 260 rem in a tikka ctr today, but the place i went was kinda busy so i decided to come back another day. I initially decided on a .308 because i wanted a heavy barrel gun(just for looks)that i could use for whitetail and a dream elk hunt i hope to go on, which would probably only be once in my life. I do have other larger guns like .270, 7 mag and .300 win mag which i could use for elk. But Once I started looking around and talking to people, i had so many ideas and thoughts i didnt know which way to go. I am a recoil wuss so then the .260 started looking better to me. Even my .270 has a brake and is still a little more than i honestly like, which is another reason i have been considering a heavy rifle. The more opinions i get the more wishy washy i get as well, lol. I really do appreciate all the input though

I also have been narrowing my selection down by looking at guns that have adjustable triggers down to 2lbs or so and heavy barrels, which are two things i really want. I would rather not buy a rifle then have to have work done to it to get it how i want

I've been carrying a Ruger compact model 77 Mk II in .260 for the past 10 seasons. I've taken five white tails and several large hogs. None had to be tracked. I use the 140 gr Rem. PSP Core Loct bullet. I've used that bullet in various rounds for many years with never a failure. I'm always tempted to switch to one of the new ballistic tip bullets, but see no reason to quit what's working.
I like the relative mild recoil of this round, but yet it hangs in there real close to the .270 ballisticly, and is sure better than the .243. I'm a fan.