12-27-2011, 09:45 PM
While a 30-06 is never a wrong choice, I prefer a .260 in a light rifle. I've taken many many head of game in the mountains with a 30-06 and have never been disappointed by it, the recoil in a very light rifle is unpleasant. The accuracy difference between calibers is insignificant in a light hunting rifle and is more influenced by barrel quality anyway. The 308 is more accurate than any of the calibers you are considering and the .260 can be the most difficult to get to shoot well. But with a good barrel it can and will shoot very well indeed with hand loads. Factory .260 loads are generally poor. Lapua just started making brass for the .260 when the AMU picked it for their across the course caliber for their McMillan Tubb 2000 rifles this year. I scored for Sherry Galligher at the Eastern Creedmoor when she shot 19 consecutive X's at 600 yards with one, so it can be more than accurate enough.
I have owned a Remington model 7KS and a 700 mountain rifle in 260. Neither of them shot well enough for me and were finicky so down the road they went to someone who wasn't so picky. I still have a Kimber 84 Super America and it will shoot sub MOA with selected hand loads but no factory load will do better than 1.5 MOA. I shot a Savage .260 the other day that would shoot .5MOA with Hornady factory loads using the 140 grain A-Max. I have never cared for Savage rifles but I must admit they have steadily improved them until now I think they are the best production rifle available at a modest price. Plus you can rebarrel them yourself easily with drop in barrels.
So I guess my choice for a production mountain rifle would be the Savage 11 trophy hunter XP with the factory Nikon BDC scope which is the one I shot at the Port Malibar 600 yard range Savage/Hornady factory sponsored demonstration match. This rifle is also available in 6.5x284 which would be my choice over the .260 if you are planning on greater than 500 yard shots since you can get 200 fps more velocity. I've seen several elk taken with the 6.5x284 using the 140 grain Berger VLD hunting bullet at extended range with DRT results.
I'm sitting in my brother-n-laws cabin in northern Arizona watching a herd or elk feeding as I write this. Makes me want to try one out.
Bob
I have owned a Remington model 7KS and a 700 mountain rifle in 260. Neither of them shot well enough for me and were finicky so down the road they went to someone who wasn't so picky. I still have a Kimber 84 Super America and it will shoot sub MOA with selected hand loads but no factory load will do better than 1.5 MOA. I shot a Savage .260 the other day that would shoot .5MOA with Hornady factory loads using the 140 grain A-Max. I have never cared for Savage rifles but I must admit they have steadily improved them until now I think they are the best production rifle available at a modest price. Plus you can rebarrel them yourself easily with drop in barrels.
So I guess my choice for a production mountain rifle would be the Savage 11 trophy hunter XP with the factory Nikon BDC scope which is the one I shot at the Port Malibar 600 yard range Savage/Hornady factory sponsored demonstration match. This rifle is also available in 6.5x284 which would be my choice over the .260 if you are planning on greater than 500 yard shots since you can get 200 fps more velocity. I've seen several elk taken with the 6.5x284 using the 140 grain Berger VLD hunting bullet at extended range with DRT results.
I'm sitting in my brother-n-laws cabin in northern Arizona watching a herd or elk feeding as I write this. Makes me want to try one out.
Bob