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Author Topic: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08  (Read 407 times)

Offline Nealio

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.260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« on: January 16, 2012, 01:03:55 PM »
So I'm looking to build my first bolt gun this year and I was set on that .260 Rem cartridge, but lately I've been reading a ton of stuff saying how the 7mm-08 is as good also.  So 50% of the internet says go .260 and 50% says go 7mm-08... :)
Honestly, it probably doesn't matter enough to make any difference, but I'm an Engineer and I gotta think stuff out WAY too much! ;)

So this is where I'm sitting on pros for each:

.260 Rem
----------
Pros:
Shoots flatter
Less recoil
J Mack can guide me in the ways of the .260

7mm-08
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Pros:
More common brass and bullets
Longer barrel life
Shoots heavier bullets

I mean honestly the only thing keeping me from the .260 is the whole barrel life thing, but I don't know if I should even care that much.

What kind of life are you estimating out of your rigs, J Mack?

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Offline ID Tactical

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2012, 01:41:01 PM »
What do you think the barrel life is for the .260?  The .260 is not the barrel burner you think it is. As long as you're not trying to push a 140 grain bullet over 3000fps or the other bullet weights to their max velocities, but that goes for any caliber.  Now the 6.5 CM or 6.5 & 47 are barrel burners...
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Offline donm

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2012, 02:24:02 PM »
If you decide on the 7mm-08 I have the RCBS precision micro adjust dies for it. Brand new. I was going to get a 08 at one time but never did. What are you going to use this gun for? I really like my 25-06 for varmits, antelpoe and deer. Shoots really flat and has a lot of knock down power. 100 gr is smoking fast.
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Offline J Mack

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2012, 02:31:12 PM »
Barrel life is a non-issue with the .260 I'm guessing about 3500 rounds the way we're shooting them. We're 2 grains under max shooting the 139's around 2880 FPS.

6.5mm Bullet selection is as good as or better than the 7mm for the 08 parent case.
Brass for the .260 is not an issue now that Lapua is making .260 brass. My guess is that if you’re going to shoot a lot you will resize .308 brass and make your own to save a few $$$ again not a big deal.

What’s the benefit to shooting heavier bullets slower? We’re limited to the .08 case on both your selections and we can only get so much powder in there plus your limited to mag length unless your single loading the rounds. The 260 seems like the perfect balance between case capacity and bullet diameter.    
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Offline fj40mojo

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2012, 02:32:23 PM »
Both good cartridges. I own a 7mm-08 and Ive found that the 140 is probably the best bullet weight for the 308 case. Good velocity without being a barrel burner.  Hard the .260 been available at the time I purchased the rifle I would have gone with it. Yes you can shoot heavier bullets from the 7-08 and IMHO both are superior to the 308, but for me the advantage goes to the 260.
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Offline RGinIdaho

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2012, 02:40:02 PM »
I just spent some time trying to decide between 7-08 and 308 for my grandaughter. When I dug deeper into the data I found that the heavier high BC bullets in 7mm couldn't be pushed fast enough in the 7-08 to be of any advantage.

You didn't mention what you wanted to do with the gun...
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Offline ida83704

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2012, 02:45:46 PM »
High BC 7mm options


.284 Caliber    G1  BC   


Hornady   
162gr AMAX              0.625
162gr BTHP Match       0.610

   
Sierra   
175gr SMK         0.598
180gr SMK         0. 650
   
   
Speer   
145gr BTSP    0.502
160gr BTSP    0.556
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Offline ida83704

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2012, 02:47:31 PM »
High BC 6.5mm bullet options



.264 Caliber    G1  BC   

Hornady   
123gr AMAX         0.510
123gr BTHP Match    0.
140gr AMAX              0.585
140gr BTHP Match    0.580
   
   
Sierra   
123gr SMK        0.507
140gr SMK          0.526
142gr SMK         0.572
   
   
Lapua   
123gr Scenar         0.527
139gr Scenar          0.578
144gr Scenar         0.636
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Offline ida83704

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2012, 02:54:15 PM »
Quote from: donm on January 16, 2012, 02:24:02 PM
I really like my 25-06 for varmits, antelpoe and deer. Shoots really flat and has a lot of knock down power. 100 gr is smoking fast.

The challenge with the .257 caliber is the lack of high BC bullets commonly available.
Same thing with the .277 caliber, limited bullet choices.
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Offline Nealio

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #9 on: January 16, 2012, 03:08:47 PM »
This would be just for ringing steel and punching paper.

Thanks for all the awesome input.  So it sounds like the .260 is still my best choice and my concerns are all non-issues.

Now I just need to find a nice used Savage short action I can strip down and build this thing out of.  Anyone know of one in great condition that could be had for a good price? :)

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Offline J Mack

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2012, 03:13:00 PM »
Quote from: Nealio on January 16, 2012, 03:08:47 PM
Now I just need to find a nice used Savage short action I can strip down and build this thing out of.  Anyone know of one in great condition that could be had for a good price? :)

I have a good Badger Ordnance that could be had for a good price ;D
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Offline Nealio

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2012, 03:14:42 PM »
Quote from: J Mack on January 16, 2012, 03:13:00 PM
I have a good Badger Ordnance that could be had for a good price ;D

Man I'm no high roller, I can't afford them Badgers... ;)
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Offline luvmy45

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2012, 03:16:57 PM »
Nealio... i wouldn't worry about recoil, you of all people can take the heat of those wussy cartridge's  :evilgrin:

We just went thru 60-70 rounds last Saturday and that was shooting the 308, didn't bother me at all.

That 260 that JMack was shooting was impressive, after I get a 300 Win Mag I might have to look at a 260.

The bigger question over the rifle however, is the scope.. that's what breaks the bank.
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Offline Nealio

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2012, 03:17:52 PM »
Quote from: luvmy45 on January 16, 2012, 03:16:57 PM
The bigger question over the rifle however, is the scope.. that's what breaks the bank.

Yeah, that's a whole 'nother discussion... :)
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Offline J Mack

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2012, 03:29:59 PM »
Quote from: luvmy45 on January 16, 2012, 03:16:57 PM
After I get a 300 Win Mag I might have to look at a 260.

You should take a look at my .300WSM/.260/.308Win switch barrel rifle project.
1 quality stock - 1 quality action - 1 quality bottom metal - 1 quality trigger - 1 quality scope + three barrels and two bolts = three quality rifles for about the same price as three separate mediocre rifles. 
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Offline Nomad

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #15 on: January 18, 2012, 06:00:04 AM »
  Have enjoyed long range shooting, there are many here that look to the 308 as a standard.
  Looked at the 7mm08 as well and the 162 Amax as one of the bullet to try....Later looked at the
 the 6.5 in 284 as well as the 260.
  Settled on a 308 buy shooting with Jmack and learning from him on the 260 well I am sold.... 
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Offline charlz

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #16 on: January 21, 2012, 08:00:14 AM »
I settled on 7mm-08 for my son's hunting rifle. It kicks but not really that bad, if a 12-year old doesn't think it kicks hard.... ;)  The ammo is a little spendy, just might make me get into reloading ;)
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Offline JWaddell

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Re: .260 Rem vs 7mm-08
« Reply #17 on: January 24, 2012, 10:33:24 PM »
That Badger 260 J Mack has is straight ridiculous! Suppressed, recoil is next to nothing. My dad has a nice 7-08, But IMHO there is no comparison for LR shooting. If you're starting from scratch I'd say do a 260. And there are are plenty of good reloading components out there, don't let anyone tell you any different.
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