I Needed Help But My Buds Were Gone

I've got a 7x57, similar to the 7-08 that you have Tika.  It is really all the rifle anyone would need.

But last year I bought a 260 Remington, a  lot of over lap with the 7mm and my 308.  Not really far up from my 257 Roberts.  So why did I get it an what do I think of it.

I love it, light with lots of power, mild recoil (never a consideration with me, but).  The 6.5 is a great bullet size for NA big game.  The 260 Rem was designed for accuracy, not hype velocity, so reloading it "hotter" isn't really a doable thing.

If I were picking one deer gun cartridge for the rest of my life.....the 260 would be it.

BEAR

The .260 compares to the 6.5x55 Swede about like the 7/08 compares to the 7x57. Almost the same, slightly shorter cartridge that operates a bit higher pressure. The .260 is every bit as good as the 6.5x55, and the 6.5x55 is one of the best hunting cartridges there is, IMO.

I've got a leupold on mine, 4-10x.  My eyes are getting bad so!

The light barrel IS a problem in heating.  but I'm not sure that it is a hunting problem.  My 260 is a super light weight Kimber with a 22 inch tube.

I have a barrel cooler for the range.  without it I need to wait aboout 10+ minutes between rounds.  I also put the muzzle up with the gun on the rack to get some convection cooling.  All guns heat up at the range.  Heat barrels get just as hot, but take longer to get hot 4 shots instead of 2 shots!  but heavy barrels also take longer to cool, so it actually works out the same.  I have a water cooler and an air cooler.  the air compressor is easier and neater.

Both my brothers and one neuphew-in-law hunt with  model 7 Remingtons.  one in 308 and two in 7-08.  they are not progressive enough to use a 260 remington.  But they love the M7.  None have had any problem, except dragging out deer.

BEAR

Tikka;

Triggerguard nailed the .260 in his comparison.  Did you do any relative value checking on GunsAmerica or such?  My feeling is that the Ruger with scope & mags, he shoulda kicked in about $75.00, given guns of equal condition. 

On the other hand, what's the accuracy worth to you? 

900F 

Bear,  I've never seen a Leupold 4-10.  Got a picture of that one?

Tikka,  it's a Remington.  It is "really sweet".   All you need to do is load some rounds and shoot it.  Try it out and give it a chance.  It sounds like a really nice little rifle.  It's gotta be more accurate than the Mini-30.  Put a Leupold VXII 2-7 on it and go hunting.  You'll get so many critters you'll be amazed at the little round.  So easy to shoot.  So much power.  So little recoil.  I might just have to buy that gun off ya.  

Tikka,

Since Mini's don't shoot for beans, and since 6.5 bullets are real popular with the 1000 yard kooks, and since the 260 is, I think, a Jim Carmichael wildkatt...even if it is a Sucks, it probably won't suck. I would have gouged the guy for a fifty at least, but wtf.