Author Topic: 260 Rem or .243 Win? (Read 1450 times)

markc · « **on:** January 03, 2010, 10:40:42 AM »

I hope this is the proper forum to pose this question. I am about to spend some X-tra job $ on a semi auto AR type rifle. I already have a .223 caliber rifle, so am looking for something to use for predator to deer hunting. I am looking at a rifle in .243 (the caliber my wife hunts deer with), and trying to compare it to a .260 Remington. Does anyone have experience with the 260 Rem caliber, or opinions on how it compares to a .243? Again this would serve as a predator coyote/bobcat gun + have the ability to drop the occassional feral hog or whitetail that happens by. Thanks..

billy_56081 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2010, 10:55:44 AM »

I have a good friend who has an AR10 in 260. He loves it. Shoots 85 grain to 140s under an inch.

markc · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2010, 06:58:19 AM »

Thanks for the reply Billy...

billy_56081 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2010, 07:39:09 AM »

I guess if I were you I'd go with the 260 on the bottom end it will take care of coyotes and on the top will work on elk. Being you have a 223 I think it would be a better fit in your battery.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2010, 11:07:14 AM »

I like the .260 tho I must admit I prefer the 7-08 to it. I'd definitely go with the .260 over a .243. You can use the 85-100 grain range of bullets on coyotes and 120-140 grain on deer. I really like the Nosler 125 PT and Hornady 129 BTSP and both would do fine for all round use.

markc · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2010, 12:01:03 PM »

I appreciate the replies, and maybe someone can speak to something I read about the 260 Rem. I admit that I know little about the .260, but have read mostly positive reports. Then I read 2 articles that said that the factory chamberings have decreased, with only 4 rounds by 2 manufacturers etc. One author seemed to think that meant the original popularity of the .260 was in decline and factory ammo availability could become an issue at some point. Do any of you see any validity to this concern? I feel pretty sure that the .243 isn't going anywhere, and really like that round. However the .260 seems like it might be a better "all purpose" round although this will be mainly for predators.

I would be unlikely to use the .260 for elk if ever I can afford an elk hunt, as I have other rifles I would prefer to use for that. Knowing that it could do it though is interseting.

JASmith · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2010, 04:32:05 PM »

If one reloads, there will be no shortage of .243, .308, etc. brass to make .260 brass.

Have you looked at the 25 WSSM? Interesting ballistics, kinda beats the .243, and will fit the AR15 because it has same case length as the .223 rem. Availability of brass may be somewhat more challenging, but like not insurmountable.

You could also look at the 6.5 Grendel -- good ballistics, also .223 length, and appears to outperform the .243 per the Hornady HITS methodology for game up to & including deer.

markc · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2010, 02:50:59 AM »

JASmith, I have handloaded in the past for 30 06, .44mag, mostly, but have no intention of handloading for this new rifle. Lack of time is the main reason for not handloading, because when I was loading my own, I enjoyed it, but mostly because I did that with my father, so it was a great time together at the bench and then the range. So, the brings me back to the 260 vs 243. Thanks for the post and those calibers to consider.

Will_C · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2010, 03:15:14 AM »

Although I agree with everything said about the .260 by Graybeard and others, I would probably pick the .243 if you don't plan to handload. I don't see the .260 taking off in terms of popularity.
Will

alleyyooper · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2010, 08:07:30 AM »

While I really like the 260 it would work for me as a hand loader and only useing a bolt rifle.
But with the auto and factory ammo I have to say the 243. Good lord just walk into the local gun shop and look at the price of loaded 260 ammo. Way above my meens I will say to just throw the brass away.

Al

Graybeard · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2010, 10:34:39 AM »

I'm not sure I'd chose an AR in either if I were not going to reload for it Mark but for sure if you are dead set on not reloading then the .243 is a better choice. I don't think the .260 will stop being offered in factory ammo in our life time assuming of course we continue to be allowed to own guns thru out our lives but the selection is likely to always be far more limited and prices higher.

Nosler I think loads a full line of ammo for it with most all their bullets but it is pricey, it's great stuff but pricey for use in a semiauto that tends to make most folks shoot far more than a bolt gun does.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2010, 11:04:55 AM »

Quote from: markc on January 05, 2010, 12:01:03 PM

I appreciate the replies, and maybe someone can speak to something I read about the 260 Rem. I admit that I know little about the .260, but have read mostly positive reports. Then I read 2 articles that said that the factory chamberings have decreased, with only 4 rounds by 2 manufacturers etc. One author seemed to think that meant the original popularity of the .260 was in decline and factory ammo availability could become an issue at some point. Do any of you see any validity to this concern? I feel pretty sure that the .243 isn't going anywhere, and really like that round. However the .260 seems like it might be a better "all purpose" round although this will be mainly for predators.

I would be unlikely to use the .260 for elk if ever I can afford an elk hunt, as I have other rifles I would prefer to use for that. Knowing that it could do it though is interseting.

I like the idea of the 260. it is neat. A 6.5X55 in a short action and can be chambered in the AR-10 semi autos.
I think the problem in decreased loadings is:
1) everyone that wants one also reloads and with a wide variety of .264 / 6.5mm bullets out there reloading may make sense.
2) people that like the 260 also like 6.5X55 and may already have one. (but that does not stop people from having an 06 and a 308win.)
I like the 120 grain Nosler Partition Idea. Small enough bullet for most animals but has the partition to be able to expand in larger game as a one round.
With the semi auto you may want to look into reloading for it or your wifes 243 if you do not already.

markc · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2010, 05:39:10 AM »

One things is for sure, these rifles in any caliber other than .223 ar pretty high priced! The average I am finding for a new rifle (AR style) in .243 or 260 is around $1,500.00.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2010, 10:49:59 AM »

I think you can do a good bolt gun ( Rem, Ruger, Win, Howa....) with the scope (Weaver, Leupold Var X II, bushnell), case, sling, ammo slide, dies, and ammo for about that price.

Doug B. · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2010, 11:05:49 AM »

Quote from: Will_C on January 06, 2010, 03:15:14 AM

Although I agree with everything said about the .260 by Graybeard and others, I would probably pick the .243 if you don't plan to handload. I don't see the .260 taking off in terms of popularity.
Will

Try and buy .260 at a Wally World or some such other place while traveling or away from home.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #15 on:** January 08, 2010, 11:12:53 AM »

If Walley World gets three request for an ammo load they will stock in in that store.
The Wally world in Southern CA was stocking 338 Win Mag and 375H&H per my and a couple friends requests.
They only had a box or two at a time, but they had them.

markc · « **Reply #16 on:** January 10, 2010, 03:07:54 AM »

Traveling far from home on a hunt with a rifle but no ammo has never been an issue for me, so needing to find ammo in a small town someplace isn't the concern I have. Finding ammo, and specifically a particular load for a 260 Rem or any other caliber at the local shops near my home might be an issue. For example, I can only find .35 Rem ammo at one store close to home, occassionally at a second store, but if I specifically want the Hornady Leverrolution 200gr, then there is only one shop that stocks that, and they do not always have it. So a 260 could actually be easier to find, but not likely. Again, I will not be handloading for a new rife or any of the current one's I have. Time is limited right now, and I would rather spend the time in the woods, than at the bench. Now this time next year when I retire from the PD after 28 years, I should have a bit more time on my hands...But who wants to wait a year to buy a new rifle and go to the range, and woods?

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #17 on:** January 10, 2010, 07:45:13 AM »

If this is a factory ammo only proposition I too would opt for the .243. With good bullets in the .243 it is more than capable of taking Deer or Hogs, and is a great choice for Coyotes. Plus there is so many different choices in ammo available that it would be hard not to find a factory load that a .243 won't shoot good. Long ago for the .243 I settled on either the 55gr. or 70gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips for Coyotes and 95gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips for Whitetails and never looked back.

I was at the Dakota Territories Gun Collectors Association Gun Show in Fargo North Dakota last Sunday. I looked at 3 different DPMS LR-243's at the Show and two at Scheels All Sport. The prices ranged from $1100.00 to $1199.00 for all of them.

Not sure how much you have researched the large frame AR's but they are HEAVY. I have a new DPMS Panther Bull 20 AR in .223. Outfitted with a Harris Swivel BR Bipod, 3x9x40mm Bushnell Elite 3200 Riflescope, Weaver 1" High Extension Quad Lock 4x4 Scope Rings set on top of Yankee Hill Machine 1/2" Scope Risers with a 20 round C Products Magazine with 15 rounds of .223 Ammo in it and a sling & swivels it weighs 12 3/8 pounds.

A DPMS LR-243 will weigh almost 1 1/2 pounds more than my DPMS Panther Bull 20 .223 to start with as they come out of the box.

The Remington R-25 (made by DPMS from what I have been able to learn) is a little light due to a slightly different barrel profile and no flash hider. DPMS also has a lighter weight version the LR-243L that is 1 1/4 pounds lighter than my DPMS Panther Bull 20 .223 out of the box but a lot spendier also.

I myself keep trying to talk myself into either a DPMS LR-308B or a LR-243 but am not sure I want to tote around that much weight. When I am going to be walking a ways to set up to set up to call Coyotes I find myself carrying my Bushmaster 16" ORC as totally outfitted ready to hunt it weighs in at slightly under 9 pounds.

Larry

markc · « **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2010, 02:13:16 PM »

Hey Larry, thanks for the info. I noticed that DPMS has a lighter weight .243 with a 2" shorter barrell, 3lbs lighter than the LR 243, but at a price of $1,499.00 or so. I will save more $ and then probably go to the gun show the next time the big one comes to Houston. I did handle the Remington camo rifle in .223 at a local shop. He wouldn't order one for me, said the model in .308 sold right away, and the .223 had not. Academy Sports n outdoors stinks around here. Why they won't order a rifle is beyond me. I felt like the Remington was front end heavy, but sure looked nice in that camo...

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2010, 05:29:11 AM »

I actually handled a Remington R-25 in .308 on Monday. I didn't think it felt bad at all, but then that will all change with a Scope, Mounts, Magazine, Sling etc.

If I remember right the Gun Shop had $1499.00 on the Remington, but then the rest of the AR's they had were high priced also.

Every time I talk myself into getting a DPMS .308 I talk myself out of it again.

Larry

markc · « **Reply #20 on:** January 13, 2010, 09:03:29 AM »

It is hard to spend that much money on a rifle, since I have a few already. However, I do not have a semi-auto these days, having traded away the Mini-14 a while back.

ba_50 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2010, 01:12:30 PM »

I too have given them both a lot of thought and would prefer the .260. It would have to be special made though in LH so that is a problem. The .260 is getting a lot of attention in long range and sniper type shooting.

markc · « **Reply #22 on:** January 21, 2010, 04:33:05 AM »

The gun show in Houston opens Saturday 9am. I will be walking around looking for a good deal on one of these rifles. Hopefully I can find a better price than what is in the local stores.