260 rem

[high country]

I really do think that the .260 is the PERFECT deer cartridge. I've been using it for years and have shot Deer, Bear, and Antelope. I hunted Elk with it but unfortunately didn't tag out and I had no reservations about it whatsoever. I'll be pulling it out of the safe again in a couple of weeks and can't wait. I bought one for my daughter when she was 10 and was so impressed when I saw how efficient of a killer it was that I went out and bought two!!! I love the .260!! I have used partitions but I now use 130grn Accubonds in both.

How is it as a kicker?  I'm thinking about buying a Savage 11 youth lefty in either .243 or .260 for my son who is now 11.  He is on the small side but will grow at some point.  Can you download this round to a 110 grain or so bullet at 2700 for a recoil about like a .243?

As always, depends on rifle weight and load choice, but overall, it's a hot 243 type of recoil.....but way more SD on the bullet for deep penetration.

[Gutpile]

I really do think that the .260 is the PERFECT deer cartridge. I've been using it for years and have shot Deer, Bear, and Antelope. I hunted Elk with it but unfortunately didn't tag out and I had no reservations about it whatsoever. I'll be pulling it out of the safe again in a couple of weeks and can't wait. I bought one for my daughter when she was 10 and was so impressed when I saw how efficient of a killer it was that I went out and bought two!!! I love the .260!! I have used partitions but I now use 130grn Accubonds in both.

How is it as a kicker?  I'm thinking about buying a Savage 11 youth lefty in either .243 or .260 for my son who is now 11.  He is on the small side but will grow at some point.  Can you download this round to a 110 grain or so bullet at 2700 for a recoil about like a .243?

Both of my daughters shot it at 10 years old. They never complained about recoil. We originally bought a youth model with a short barrel and it was a little loud. I sold it and bought a model 7 and my youngest used that on 2 or three deer. It's really very tame as far as recoil goes. Not quite as light as a .243 but far more effective. You wont have any problem with 130 grain bullets. I believe the first load I used was 120 or 125 grn partitions and they performed beautifully. Here's some pics of my girls so you can see they aren't exactly giants and handled it very well. Okay, maybe I just wanna brag a little but he'll be fine with a .260. I promise. 

[headshot5]

I run a .260 rem for most of my hunting.   I can consistenly watch hits through the scope with it.  Recoil is definitely light enough for a smaller kid.   Get a good recoil pad for it and they should be fine.   I run 139 Hornady's (interloc's) at just under 2700fps.  It's a deer and elk stopper.   

[lokidog]

Thanks for the input.  Nice batch of photos there Gutpile, good looking kids.   

[gadwall]

Very good to see that the 260 is not underrated on here as it is in the market.  I bought one in '04 as my 2 youngest would start hunting the next year.  I started with the 100 gr hornady wihich shot real well and light recoil. For the last few years I have been loading the 140 Accubond with 43 grs of 7828.  shoots 3 shots in one hole at 100  and does a great job on deer.  Would not be a bit afraid to shoot an elk with the same load.

[Don Fischer]

I think about one now and then but i have a very nice 6.5x55, mod 70 FW. 260 doesn't seem to get near the coverage it should. I think the problem might be it ran head on into the 7mm-08, that also a really good cartridge. Doesn't seem like the 260 has much of a selection of factory ammo. Heaviest load I've heard about is the 120gr. I like the 129gr and 140gr in my 66.5x55. 6.5 is the most under rated caliber in the country I think.

[Mxracer532]

Dont over look the 6.5 Creedmoor either. Id be happy with either and including the 6.5x284.

[high country]

and the most under rated being the x47.....a gift to short actions.

[MHWASH]

Here's my once 9yo with the same rifle  Gutpile's daughters used, and that quadrafire now owns. He used a 100gr Hornady down loaded to about 2800.

 
I'm a fan of the .260 also.

[Heredoggydoggy]

A friend of mine's son got his first bear with a .260 Remington Model 7 when he was 9 years old.  and he's not a big kid...  I would trust the 260 to kill anything.  Shot placement is more important than the caliber! 

[quadrafire]

Hey MHWASH. still haven't put any blood on it. It's first outing was last weekend.

[MHWASH]

Late season is coming up. I hope to make it out, but my son has a Idaho cow tag, deer tag, and WA late buck permit.

[fly-by]

Here's my once 9yo with the same rifle  Gutpile's daughters used, and that quadrafire now owns. He used a 100gr Hornady down loaded to about 2800.

 
Great to see the same rifle getting 2 kids into hunting.   Did he use the 100gr amax?  I've been wondering how those do on game as I use them for high power comptition and have a bunch of them. 

[ribka]

Here's my once 9yo with the same rifle  Gutpile's daughters used, and that quadrafire now owns. He used a 100gr Hornady down loaded to about 2800.

 
Great to see the same rifle getting 2 kids into hunting.   Did he use the 100gr amax?  I've been wondering how those do on game as I use them for high power comptition and have a bunch of them.