Author Topic: .260 Rem vs. 6.5x55 vs .257 Roberts ???? (Read 2115 times)

DakotaElkSlayer · « **on:** May 10, 2006, 02:10:10 PM »

Guys,
If one is going to handload, does any of the mentioned cartridges(.260Rem, 6.5x55, .257 Roberts) offer any advantage over the others? Thinking of a "mountain rifle" for the next purchase...

Thanks,

Jim

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2006, 03:43:30 PM »

The 257 is an excellent cartridge but a bit light for a general purpose 'all sorts of game' cartridge in my book. There are probably about a zillion guys who would disagree though. The 260 is a great 6.5mm round but even handloaded will not outperform the 6.5 Swede, period. The 6.5 Swede, with just factory ammo, is excellent for most everything you would hunt in North America except for the big bears. Load the 6.5 with a 160 gn Hornaday round nose and it is incredibly successful. JMHO. Mikey.

Slamfire · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2006, 05:00:57 PM »

If you never hunt anything bigger than large mulies, the .257 is a good setup. It'll even kill larger game, with the right bullet placement. However some game is so big it requires more penetration than the .25s can provide. That's where the 6.5s come into their strength. As for which one, of the two listed, there ain't a dime's worth of difference. It takes a 200 fps velocity increase to get 25 yards more range, there just ain't that much difference between them.

257 roberts · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2006, 05:02:03 PM »

I disagree with you Mikey

I've never owened a 260 Rem. but have owned several 6.5x55's and a bunch of 257 Roberts,I hunt whitetail deer and feral pigs and the Roberts works great IF I hunted other large game the 6.5x55 would be the ticket.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2006, 05:17:51 PM »

I go along with Micky too. Might add that the only advantage to the 260 is the case can be made from anything based on the 308. Never have a hard time finding them. I'm on my third 6.5X55 and love it.

james · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2006, 03:17:57 AM »

I think the 6.5 x 55 is the best all around choice and I have 4 rifles in this caliber. However I know people who have the 257 Ackley improved that are getting fantastic accuracy. I am considering a 257ai myself with a 1 in 10 or 12 twist. The 6.5 x 55 with its fast twist doesn't improve with light fast bullets but the ai 257 can be hot rodded with improved results.
james

crash87 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2006, 02:06:14 AM »

In terms of versatility I'd say one of the 6.5's. My son shoots a .260 Rem and I shoot a .257AI. Both are very good at there intended purpose, Deer size game, although larger would be brought down with a little more authority with the 6.5's. oweing to the fact of larger bullet diameter and weight. Handloaded the swede is the one to go with. Stick with a 129gr Hornady and you'll never have to look back.
James, My 2 cents, if your building a .257AI, think about going with a 1:9 twist. It will shoot your 120gr slugs with slightly better accuracy all things concidered and still do very well with 100's. I cant comment on the varmint bullets as I never loaded them in this rifle. My rifle is a Winchester Featherweight bought in the early 80's. Rebarreled by Shilen, with a #3 contour accurate and just plain FUN! CRASH87

Lone Star · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2006, 03:41:23 AM »

While I am a huge .257-caliber fan, the better choice among the listed cartridges are those using .264" bullets. While the diameters are only 0.007" apart, the bullets available for the .264s make the difference. A 140-grain .264" bullet will out-perform a similar 120-grain .257" bullet - no argument, it is just simply physics. If you need to hunt animals larger than the average deer, then the .264" bullets are the better choice.

Since the OP desires a "mountain rifle" then the .257 and the 6.5x55 might be ruled out - they cannot be successfully chambered in a light, short action rifle. That leaves the .260 as the "best" choice for him.

While hardly a "mountain rifle" my current .260 wears a 26" factory barrel and shoots all bullets very very well. :wink: SPeaking of twist and light bullets, the best light bullets in my M700 are the 95 Hornady and the 100 Nosler BTip; both give similar accuracy (aggregates of ca. 0.6 moa) and downrange ballistics, although the Hornady is softer and probably safer for varmint use. Field accuracy among any of the three cartridges has nothing to do with the case - it's all in the gun and the care in loading.

.

DakotaElkSlayer · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2006, 02:18:33 PM »

Here is everything I am now looking at.... All are used, cheap, and gone over and test fired by a gunsmith. .257 Roberts in Ruger #1, Ruger M77 unltra light. 6.5x55 in a CZ 550 FS, CZ 550 American, Winchester M70. And finally, found a cheap Rem 7600 in .35 Whelen; a cartridge I always wanted to have.

Your thoughts?

Jim

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2006, 06:39:26 PM »

Quote from: DakotaElkSlayer

Here is everything I am now looking at.... All are used, cheap, and gone over and test fired by a gunsmith. .257 Roberts in Ruger #1, Ruger M77 unltra light. 6.5x55 in a CZ 550 FS, CZ 550 American, Winchester M70. And finally, found a cheap Rem 7600 in .35 Whelen; a cartridge I always wanted to have.

Your thoughts?

Jim

DakotaElkSlayer

You mention a mountain rifle but dont mention the use for the gun. If elk is on the menu, Id go with the .260 Rem due to its ability to handle heavier bullets.

But Im going to assume an ElkSlayer already has a rifle in .270 or bigger and recommend the .257 Roberts in wither the #1 or Ultra Light. There are a couple of reasons why:

1. The .257 Roberts it the best dual-purpose cartridge of those you list. With 75g V-MAX bullets, WW +P brass and +P handloads, I get 3609fps at the muzzle. With 120g A-Frames I get 2947fps.

2. Im a Ruger fan. My rifle is a Ruger M77 with a 22 barrel and 1-10 twist. And very accurate.

The .257 Roberts is at its best when handloaded, but components are plentiful and inexpensive. At +P pressures it gives up very little to a .25-06, but the .25-06 is a better cartridge for non-handloaders.

Either Ruger would make me happy.

Slamfire · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2006, 07:55:42 PM »

Layne Simpson designed a blown out sharp shouldered 6.5 based on the .308 case. It was in response to a survey conducted by one of the shootin' and blasin' mags. As I recall it didn't do anything the 6.5 Redding couldn't do. I don't think the 40 degree version ala Ackley would be much different either. There is no significant ballistic advantage until you get to the belted Remington/Winchester cartridges or the old .284 Winny case. :?