Best rifle in .260 Remington?

[esldude]

So what rifle are you 260 guys using?

And why it rather than some other?

 

[BlackCat]

I'm not a .260 guy in the sense that I don't own one, but I wanted to, and almost did. I was always going to go with a Remington Model Seven S/S (stainless/synthetic) until I decided I needed more punch and less reach. My second choice would be a Remington Model 700 S/S DM. I really like the short action, my Model 700 .30-06 really has too long of a bolt throw to get follow up shots off quickly where needed. The .260 is awesome, according to one Outdoor Life editor it is quite possibly the best whitetail caliber ever developed.

 

[Slingster]

My default whitetail rifle is a blued/synthetic Remington Model Seven "Junior Scout" in .260 Rem. I have a Burris Scout Scope on a Ching Ring mount, a Galco Safari Ching Sling, and a Galco butt cuff. I use handloads of IMR 4350 pushing a 125-grain Nosler Partition at around 2700 fps. Punches right through the deer and drops them from in their tracks to 20 yards with a heart/lung shot.

If I were to consider buying a new rifle in .260, I'd lean toward the Kimber 84M Montana. If Blaser made a .260 barrel for my R93 Synthetic, I'd buy it.

 

[wanderinwalker]

I am using a Remington M700 Moutain Rifle, the blued/walnut model. I like the lines of the rifle (except that blasted detachable magazine, but the convenience outweighs the aesthetics), it is light and it shoots well. I have no doubts it will perform on deer, if the chance ever arrises. My pet load is Hodgdon H4350 and the Nosler 125 Partition. From a 22" barrel I can get 2900fps. Somedays it will shoot MOA, but most days it is an honest 1.25-1.5MOA for 3-rounds with these bullets. With the 140gr Corelokt factory ammo or 140gr Sierra Gamekings it will punch 3-shot, 1/2" groups at 100 yards.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention it is topped with an older Leupold VX-I 2-7x33mm scope. (I think this model is now packaged as the Rifleman-series.)

 

[ocabj]

So what rifle are you 260 guys using?

And why it rather than some other?

What do you want to use it for? If you plan on some serious target shooting, you'll probably want to get the Kimber 84M "Varmint & Longmaster Classic" or "Longmaster VT". Both of those have heavy barrels and are the only factory commercial rifles with heavy barrels that I have seen in 260. If you're going to hunt with it, then depending on your preferences on actions, you could go with the Remington or Kimber.

The .260 isn't exactly a very popular round so you may want to build one up from an action you like, if the factory guns available in .260 don't suit your needs.

I just built mine (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=112767&highlight=.260) on a Savage action. I bought a heavy barrel from Sharp Shooter Supply in 26". They say it has the same contour as the Savage varmint/match barrels, but it looks a bit thicker. I haven't taken the time to measure it and compare it to my factory .308, though.

 

[Markk9]

ocabj, Remington made the 260 in the 700 VLS for a few years in the late 90's. I know because I have one. Makes for a good longrange chuck and yote gun.

Mark

 

[454c]

I don't have one yet but my sights are set on a Rem. 700 Ti. in .260.