260Rem vs 7mm/08 vs 308?

[hans g./UpS]

In a light or ultralight[6lb complete] rifle are any advantages with the 260Rem vs 7mm/08 vs 308 for whitetails and black bears?
I'm thinking of getting a light stainless synthetic 20"[or 18"]barreled bolt action with a compact variable scope.I had been thinking about 308,but I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks.

[Dave in WV]

The 7-08 & .308 have bullet availability adantages over the 6.5mm.

[drags]

In a rifle that weighs only 6lbs. I think you will find the .308 has too much recoil. The .260 would be my first choice with the 7-08 second. I have a .260 and 7-08 and like them equally for prerormance but the .260 has less recoil, I have had a .308 and it kicked much more than the .260 and 7-08. JMHO

[Lawdog]

I prefer bigger for bears as they are one critter that and can bite back.  So I would go with the .308 and 165 or 180 gr. Nosler Partitions just to be safe.  Lawdog
 

[longwinters]

I would agree with LD.  I have both 7m-08 and .308.  For deer either way is good.  But for bears the .308 would be my choice in 180 gn bullets.

long

[onesonek]

I think any of the three would work fine with proper bullet selection. But when it comes to bears ( even blackies), "I" would feel better with larger diameter bullets. So I agree with lawdog. With that said, out of curiosity, I ran a recoil program. There is about 4-5#, about 22% between the 260-140gr, and 308-180 gr. And the 6# 308 would be like a standard weight 30-06. So, the 308 with 180 Partition's, would be my choice. And I wouldn't hesitate using the same load on deer.

[drags]

If I were going to hunt bears bigger than blackbears my gun of choice wouldn't be a 308, I would want something bigger than that. The question referred to a gun weighing 6lbs complete with scope and a 18 or 20" barrel., the barrel has to be very small in diameter to get this weight and with the short barrel and 6lb. weight the rifle will have a lot of muzzle blast and recoil. If the gun is going to be used mostly for deer and maybe a day or two of blackbear hunting the 260 or 7-08 would be fine. A 6lb. 308 with a 18 or 20" barrel shooting 180 gr bullets  would not be a fun gun to shoot, also you don't need 180 gr partitions to hunt blackbears. I have a freind that bought a short barrel light weght 308 ruger  bolt action rifle and it kicks so hard that nobody wants to shoot it and thats with 150gr bullets not 180grs. If the gun is going to be primlary a bear rifle get something bigger than a 308, if its going to be used mostly for deer get the 260 or 7-08. The 308 is a great target round but for hunting there are much better rounds out there. JMHO

[onesonek]

I wouldn't use 308 on "bigger than black bears" either. I was only stating that the recoil wasn't extreme. It' is also easier to get rifle weight down with the 308, as you are removing more metal, however slight it might be.  And all can be done in fearther weight barrels. And becuase the 308, 7-08 and 260 use the same case and like amounts of powder. Muzzle blast will be worse in the 260 with the slower powders it requires.
Now granted, it don't take 180 gr. . 308 to kill a black bear, but given a choice, I want a bullet to break as much bone as possible, take a path through the vitals and exit, preferablly breaking more bone on the way.
JMHO

[drags]

I've shot thousands of rounds through my 260 and 7-08 using varget powder which isn't considered a slow burning powder, and I shot varget in my 308 before I got rid of it. Although I have 26" and 22" barrels muzzle blast was never a problem with my 260 and 7-08. Varget is a top choice for the 260 and 7-08 and 308, or  other powders in that burning range. The 308 bore diameter is only .064  larger than  the 260 and for me it would not be a factor for buying a 308. Here in Pa. we only have a three day bear season (blackbear) and to buy a 308 for that season to shoot 180 gr. bullets would'nt be worth it for me, when I could shoot 160gr bullets in the 260 and 175grs. in the 7-08.

[onesonek]

Ok, the only thing I know about the 260 is I have a Striker comming( picked one up cheap) And the Hodgdon manual, shows the 260 achieves higher velocity with slower powders in most of the big game bullets.
With that said, I wish I hadn't commented on recoil, as this is getting out of hand. I say that, because, I haven't a clue as to what season length has to do with caliber choice. :?  I respect your opinion, you like the 260 and 7-08, and dislike  the 308. Fine. I just would prefer the 308 on BB's. :wink:

[skoutfitter]

I would have to say the 260 is a fine little round.  I have it in a model seven and 7mm-08 in seven.  Been using IMR 4350 in both and both are nail drivers.  The 260 has proven itself to me on whitetail but not sure if I would go BB hunting with it.  You can get the model seven in .308 but has some kick to it.  You may want to consider something in 270.  Less recoil and all the killing power and velocity as an 308.  Happy Hunting

[drags]

When referring to a three day bear season in my state I meant the gun would be used for deer more than bear as the deer season is longer than bear in most states, hence buying a 308 for bear when the gun will probaly be used more for deer than bear doesn't seem a good choice to me. My thinking is for a 6lb. rifle including scope, something smaller than a 308 would be more fun to shoot.
To the other poster try varget in your 260 and 7-08, It worked better than 4350 for me in those two calibers.

[onesonek]

I understand Drags, and that's cool by me. I just look at it, when options are presented, bigger is better. But that's just me.

[drags]

Hi Onesonek
I agree that a bigger hole is better, and if recoil isn't a factor why not chamber to 358 win. recoil is about the same as the 308 everything else being equall. I have used a 358win for about 20yrs and shot a lot of deer with it and it is a very good round, never lost a deer. The bullet  I used was the 200gr hor. roundnose. I have had a 243,260,7-08,308 and 358 the Two I got rid of were the 243 and 308 the other three rounds I liked with the 358win being my favorite round for hunting. I think you will like your 260 striker, the 260 is a great round for a handgun as well as a rifle.
Good shooting
Drags

[Chuck White]

I feel that all three of the calibers listed are adequate for deer and black bear!
I know a few people who hunt with a 243 Win. and they don't feel undergunned, knowing that there are black bears around!  
If a 243 Win is adequate for black bear, why would there be any doubt that a 260 Rem. "isn't" adequate?
I personally, hunt with a 7mm-08 (most of the time) and my wife uses a .308, both in Remington M-7's!

[Squeeze]

One point that hasn't been raised in these choices in muzzle velocity loss in shorter
barrel lengths, versus bore size.  After exploring this point, when I purchased
a Savage Striker(14" barrel no brake), I went with the .308 Win.  Yes this bad
boy has RECOIL.  But I am getting 2775 FPS MV with 130 gr Barnes XBTs, and
this round is holding MOA accuracy.  The Barnes lets me go with a longer tough
bullet, in a lighter weight.  I expect I could even squeeze out a little more MV by
going to the coated bullets, but after seeing the bullet performance on a management
deer, I see little need for any more MV.  So in a light short barreled rifle, you might
want to consider bore size, for better MV.  Using a lighter well constructed bullet,
and a good recoil pad, should give you something manageable recoil wise, and yet
get good MV and good results on even heavy bone game.

Squeeze

[hans g./UpS]

Thanks for all the feedback.My other "dilemma"=rifle has to be lefthand.
That does cull a few brands.Perhaps just cutting down a Savage 116FLSS
will be the route to go.

[ratherbefishin]

I havew a  6.5X55 Swede and have taken many deer and several bears.When hunting bear, the only shot I will take is a broadside shoulder shot.The little 6.5 dumps them right in their tracks.I have a lot of confidence in this caliber.Justshooting regular 140 gr bullets too.For moose I think I would opt for the 160 gr, if I could find some[ not a reloader, so must buy commercial]