.260 REM vs. .243

[radshooter]

Okay, we moved to WI from IN and I can now hunt deer and not have to use a slug gun
I would like to get a rifle for whitetail deer hunting that will also be something I can take out the the range in the off season and use to target shoot, mainly at 100-200 yds. I am not a fan of recoil. I will reload my own ammo so the ammo issue with the .260 is not that big a deal to me. Thoughts on which might be a better rifle with these intended purposes? No matter the caliber, I will likely get a Cooper Jackson Hunter or similar model, as I have several other Coopers and they are all tack drivers.
Thanks for the input!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I'm a big fan of the .260. I know a .243 has killed countless deer, and it's all about shot placement...but I still feel like it's marginal for deer...in the real world, where every shot isn't perfect. Sectional density is oft overlooked but very important aspect of what makes for a good hunting bullet and it's very hard to beat the 6.5 cal bullets in this regard. I feel like a .260 is the ideal whitetail caliber.


Aside from that, it's very versatile when loaded up or down and with heavy or light bullets. I don't think you'll notice much difference in recoil between the two if loading comparable bullet weights and velocities.


It makes a very good long range caliber for hunting or target shooting. This is one area it will excel over the .243, in downrange terminal ballistics. Sectional density and better bc's are the reasons, IMHO, as the two are pretty close to one another, as I'm sure you're aware.


As for target shooting...both are fairly hard on barrels, but again, the edge goes to the .260. Both are very capable of shooting very well, but neither are ideally suited for that type of shooting, as compared to true BR cartridges.


Hope this helps! The .243 is more popular and has a good following, as I'm sure you'll see in the coming posts. This is just my two cents worth. I will add that the best shooting hunting rifle I have ever owned was a .260. I built it on a beautiful AAA walnut stock with a #4 Krieger barrel on a Montana Rifle Co. action. It was amazingly accurate. My longest deer kil was with that rifle...562 yards. The shot was perfect and the doe took about two steps and fell over. Like a dummy, I let someone talk me into trading it for several $100 bills. I've tried a couple of times to get it back...no dice! He says the same thing I do about it. :'( ---Mike Ezell

 

[radshooter]

thanks Mike!
Alex

 

[K22]

I've shot, loaded and hunted with the 243 since the late 60's. Taken groundhogs, predators and deer with it. With the proper bullet and shot placement it's a capable white tail cartridge and excellent varmint / predator cartridge. With the availability of premium bullets them you can get the most of this cartridge.

However the 260 is a superior deer cartridge. I'm not sure if the deer will know the difference but the extra margin provided by the heavier bullets with the 260 is worth considering.

The 243 had the advantage of a wider selection of rifles, everyone major rifle makers offers one. However since you're going custom, this doesn't apply to you.

I don't think you can go wrong with either but I'd opt for the 260 if I wanted a rifle solely for deer hunting.

 

[HTSmith]

I agree with Mr. Ezell. The 243 will take deer just fine and if you weren't a handloader I would recommend it. For the handloader, the 260 is much more versatile and the 130 Gr class of bullets give you a little more punch for that big buck.

 

[DuaneinND]

I prefer 25calibers, but to answer the question, a 260 for the same reason I designed the 257DGR, has an energy gain for the deer side, works well on coyotes and delivers plenty of red mist on prairie dogs.

 

[Jaybo]

I have had 243 and 260 and 25/06 but in my book they are all great deer and target calibers. But the 260 would be my caliber of choice.

 

[kyreloader]

Check IN hunting regulations, but I believe neither of the listed calibers are legal in Indiana for whitetail deer hunting. Look into the .358 Hoosier.

 

[snert]

he is in WI now...and you are right, the Hoosier is a fine cartridge

 

[Dusty Stevens]

6.5x47lapua.

 

[savagedasher]

8 Twist 260 it will shoot lite bullets and 140 s. I never ben a fan of 243 for deer.
Shot placement with a 243 is a must. Larry

 

[Hydenseek]

243=buzzards best friend

 

[CJ6]

Of the 2.... The 260 (better energy), That being said, finding 260 ammo (factory loaded if that's what you want) is getting harder to do in quite a few local stores (and not just in the recent past either).

 

[CaptainMal]

They are both 308 cases. If you can't decide and reload, build a 25-08. Maybe the best is in the middle?

 

[drags]

I don't agree with going to a 25-08 because of the cost of dies not as good a bullet selection as the .243 or .260 and you would have to go with a custom rifle and a .260 would probably out preform it. If it were me I would chose the .260 it has .243 recoil and .270 ballistics in a short action.
Joe

 

[olympian]

For deer at 100-200 yds, you will never know the difference and neither will the target. With that in mind, I would get the 243 Winchester and enjoy the light recoil. I really like the 260 Remington in rifles and pistols, but if 200 yds is the max, then it is all splitting hairs.

 

[JarheadAZ]

I like the 260 Rem mainly because of its energy, range of bullet choices (95gr to 142gr), and the degree of efficiency the chambering demonstrates for the size of the parent's case capacity.

I have shot the 260 in F Open at 1000yd for several years. There are more effective chamberings for that game, but none are so easy in both the shoulder and the pocketbook.

For varmints, the HDY 95gr V-Max with 42gr of Varget is pretty zippy.

For LR Target the HDY 140 A-Max/SRA 142 SMK with 43.5-44gr H-4350 have their affinity for the 1000yd F Open target's X-Ring.

For deer the Nosler 140gr Accubond and 43.5-44gr of H-4350 are pretty competent. I don't favor long distances for large game hunting, but I do favor getting a superior terminal energy into the vital zone, and the .260 has no problem doing that.

All of these loads border on max, IMHO.

In comparison, I consider the .243 to be marginally overbore.

I have a Savage Predator Hunter Max and a Savage 10FP Custom with a 28" 1:8" L-W Match barrel chambered for the .260 Rem cartridge. I handload and this brings out the potential in nearly any cartridge, and especially for the .260 Rem.

Greg

 

[Changeling]

After what gunsandgunsmithing and JarheadNY said, there's not much any logical person can say, both these guys are right.

 

[justinp61]

I went through this last year and went with the 260. After having shoulder surgery I can't take the recoil from my old 30-06 so I started reading and researching. Honestly I've never been a fan of the 243 for deer. I like shoulder shots and I've seen deer still be alive after taking a 243, down yes but still alive. The 260 with a decent 120gr bullet will do what I want. My rifle is a Savage mdl 16, plenty accurate for deer and very little recoil.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Cold Bore]

I would like to get a rifle for whitetail deer hunting...

I will reload my own ammo so the ammo issue with the .260 is not that big a deal to me.

I started using a 243 Win a few decades ago, and was perfectly content with it.

Then about 20 years ago, I had a 7mm-08 built, and found the perfect deer rifle for my purposes.

After that, the 260 started to catch on, sorta. I seriously considered having one built, but couldn't justify it, in between my 243 and 7mm-08, so ultimately didn't do it.

However..... back to the original question..... if I didn't have either/both of my present rifles, and wanted only one, and the choice was only between the 243 or the 260, I'd likely go 260.

Slightly better, and heavier, bullets. Since you are a handloader, the only semi-downside of the 260 (factory ammo availability, especially compared to the 243), is a non-issue.