.260 vs .308?

[dar1246]

Re: .260 vs .308?

The 260 with 139 lapua's at 800 yards 2800 fps muzzle has 1527 energy at 800. The 308 shooting 168 Amaxs at 800 yards 2700 fps at the muzzle has 721 energy at 800. Shooting the 208 Amaxs at 800 yards at 2550 at the muzzle has 1160 energy at 800.
The 260 has more kinetic energy when you hit those distances than a 308. The 6.5 bullet will out perform the 308. Now all you need is a qualified shooter behind the wheel.

 

[Short-bus]

Re: .260 vs .308?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 260 with 139 lapua's at 800 yards 2800 fps muzzle has 1527 energy at 800. The 308 shooting 168 Amaxs at 800 yards 2700 fps at the muzzle has 721 energy at 800. Shooting the 208 Amaxs at 800 yards at 2550 at the muzzle has 1160 energy at 800.
The 260 has more kinetic energy when you hit those distances than a 308. The 6.5 bullet will out perform the 308. Now all you need is a qualified shooter behind the wheel. </div></div>

I think you read the wrong number on the energy chart at 800 for the 139 Scenar, I just ran through JBM with my local conditions at 800' altitude and 50 degrees, and I show 840lbs/ft of energy at 800 yards.

The .260 doesn't have more kinetic energy than the 208 amax's at range because it doesn't have the mass, nor the velocity to achieve that, however with the lighter bullets from the .308, that's possible, but only because of it's greater velocity. KE increases with the square of it's velocity, so to get the 139 Scenar (using G7 BC's on all projectiles) to equal the energy of the 208 amax (@2550fps) at 800y the 139gr Scenar has to be shot at about 3170fps. The super heavies in the .308 are the exception rather than the rule mainly because there are so few of us that will shoot them because of the increased recoil.

Branden

 

[Tom Sarver]

Re: .260 vs .308?

The .260 out performs the .308 in a longrange shooting situation as well as short range. And if anyone knows me personally they know my love for the .308 shooting it for 20 plus years at long range. The only way I would pick a .308 over a .260 is IF I didn't reload...or it was soon going to be the end of the world and barrel life was more important. But in that case I would shoot all the wanna-be snipers with .308's at over 1500 yards plus with my .260 and stash them when my barrel runs out of life, always having a back-up. So since this probably wont happen go with the .260... but train hard incase it does.
The .260 and .308 debate surface is just being scratched...
In the hands of a truly skilled shooter...the .308 is all you need out to 1200 yards. Wind is wind...drop is drop...as long as you know how much to put in...your good. Like the best quarter backs....it becomes natural....how much to put into it....just about everytime. But...a .260 will take a shooter who is so so and he can compete with a "good" .308 shooter because of the better wind/drop advantages of the .260

I think if you total all the pros and cons of both...and i mean ALL..and be honest with yourself....the .260 wins hands down.

Hope this helps.

Tom
TVP

 

[dar1246]

Re: .260 vs .308?

I made a mistake and look at the wrong data on the 6.5. Sierra program shows 853lbs . You are correct with this. I was wrong.

 

[flyingbailey2001]

Re: .260 vs .308?

Or just get a takedown rifle where you can switch barrels from the .308 to the .260 and back again! Plus they can take the same mag. I don't know how many guns like that are available but Nemesis Arms makes one. I just bought one but haven't received it yet. I have to wait until March

 

[Zak Smith]

Re: .260 vs .308?

<span style="font-style: italic">article</span> | <span style="font-weight: bold">The Case for .260 Remington: A Better Cartridge For Practical Long-Range Shooting </span>

<span style="font-style: italic">article</span> | <span style="font-weight: bold">6.5mm Shootout: .260 Remington vs. 6.5x47 Lapua vs. 6.5 Creedmoor </span>

The .308 is a legacy cartridge for long-range shooting. If you must use it, shoot the 155 Lapuas as fast as you can. That load blows the "legacy" loads out of the water just like 260 blows the best 308 loads out of the water.

For the last two years at the Steel Safari, the best talented shooters have been able to place using .308 is 7th.

-z

 

[Jerry m]

Re: .260 vs .308?

Zak
What caliber did you windup running and why? If you don't mind sharing.

Thanks

Jerry

 

[Zak Smith]

Re: .260 vs .308?

260

Read the last page of the Shootout article-- I updated it in November 2009.

 

[Jerry m]

Re: .260 vs .308?

Will do. Read it when it can out, will reread tonight.

Thanks

Jerry