243 vs 260 in short barrels

[GlennGTR1]

I have already made up my mind to purchase a Ruger Compact Stainless Hawkeye for a scout/walking varminter and predator rifle. I was looking at the 243 but kind of eyeing the 260. This rifle may also be used for my sons first deer hunt. What I was wondering is with the slightly larger bore .264 will I get a more complete or efficient burn in the 16.5 inch barrel of the Ruger Compact vs the 243 in the same barrel length?

 

[Klong]

I think it depends upon the powder you choose more than the bore on your two choices. Either would make a good first gun for your son. You can use light bullets for the 260 to equal the 243, but you have more flexability to use heavier bullet in the 260. There are more commercial loads available for the 243. Good luck!

 

[Laurie]

Out of interest, I ran a few combinations through QuickLOAD to see what might happen. Using H4350 in both, a little faster burning than the powders I'd usually choose for this pair, saw 98% burn in the .243 and 96.7% in the .260. Bullets chosen were the Sierra 100gn SPT and Nosler 125gn Partition respectively. Although the amount of powder burned in the barrel was more than I expected, you'd still have a lot of muzzle blast with residue burning outside the barrel.

Moving to faster burning powders in the .260 improves things with Viht N140 seeing 100% combustion and Hodgdon H4895 just short of that.

Looking at it purely on efficiency, I think I'd go for the .260 with lighter bullets and H4895 or similar. This would also produce a nice light recoiling combination for your son.

As always, you can't take QuickLOAD results as gospel, but they should be close enough to real life to give a good indication of likely outcomes.

Laurie,
York, England

 

[jb77]

Glenn go with the 260 and your son will be able to grow right into it.

My sons first centerfire was a Rem. Mod 7 in 260 and he is still hunting with it 9 years later. He received it at age 12.

We were fortunate enough to get some 100 gr Nosler Partitions and for our Texas sized deer they are excellent. Several hogs have also fallen to this load.

We use Varget and do not notice a significant muzzle flash.

 

[Rustystud]

Short barrels:

I have and hunt with a .243 and 308 both Remington model 7s with 20" Broughton barrels.
I have found using faster powders such as W-748, WPC-TAC, give me both better velocity and accuracy. I love Varget, H4350, H4895, and H-4831SC in my long barreled rifles.
Nat Lambeth

 

[Toms]

Hi A friend had one in a 260 and he was shocked at the velocitys. He was getting only 2250 with the 120 Sierria's. It went down the road in a hurry.