Author Topic: Another Tree Stand Rifle (Read 698 times)

squirrel_hunter6 · « **on:** February 02, 2006, 07:22:37 AM »

I am looking for "another" tree stand rifle. I have a Browning Micro-Hunter in 7mm-08 with a Nikon 2-7x32 scope that is my go to tree stand rifle. The short barrel and good balance make it just right for me.

For my next rifle I want to get a 260 rem. This caliber will fit in between the others I have which are 243, 25-06, 7mm-08, and 308.

I have looked on the internet and my options are limited to two rifle makers who produce a 260 caliber; Remington and Ruger. I want a rifle similar to my Micro-Hunter. I don't want a barrel longer than 20 inches. The Ruger comes with a 22 inch barrel which is just a little longer than I wanted. Remington has a Model Seven SS with a 20 inch barrel and a Mnt. Rifle with a 22 inch barrel so, the Model Seven SS is the only one that meets my criteria.

I think that rifles with a stainless steel barrel look

COOL

when paired with a camouflage stock. I did some looking online and found a Bell & Carlson stock in Realtree or Mossy Oak patterns. What a tough decision!

I will put a Nikon 2-7x32 scope on this rifle because I have been happy with the one on my Micro-Hunter.

I would like to hear your opinions/comments on the 260. I don't reload so I was planning on buying my ammo from MidwayUSA. I am a somewhat of a ballistic tip fan and I was wondering if anyone had tried Federal 120 gr ballistic tip round or Remington's 120 gr Accu-tip round?

What do you think of Remington's Model Seven? What to you think about adding the Bell & Carlson stock? Is there another brand that would be better?

It will be a while before I have the funds to buy the rifle and the accessories I mentioned above so I will probably buy each item one at a time.

Thanks for any input.

Zachary · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2006, 11:59:45 AM »

I have a .260 Remington in a BDL SS DM with a 24" barrel (they don't make them anymore) and it shoots great. I shot only less than 1 box of ammo and it shot 3/4" or less groups at 100 yards (I forgot what ammo I used, but I do remember that it was 140 grains.)

It's a great cartridge, and one of the smaller calibers in the .308 case.

Zachary

bladerunner · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2006, 12:08:29 PM »

have you seen THIS ruger?

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=7966&return=Y

hunt127588 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2006, 03:48:08 PM »

Are you dead-set on a .260? If not, check out Remington's LTR. It's from their law enforcement division and it's basically a 20" heavy barreled .308 that weighs 7.5lbs. I bought one last year and it will shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards. Check it out:

http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/700pltr.htm

PEPAW · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2006, 12:59:25 AM »

The model 7 SS/synthetic 20" .260 I have is a great deer rifle. I camo'ed my own stock and it has never failed for deer or hogs with the 140 Corelokts. I am going to try some 129 Hornady to compare, but it can't be much of an improvement over present accuracy. The Ballistic tips were more accurate in my gun, but I don't care for them on game at close range. Not rumors, but my personal results.
The .260 and 7-08 are very, very close in ballistics. But far be it from me to try to talk you out of a new gun.

I had a .243 and 7 mag for deer hunting, so the 6.5 fit perfectly for me.

pepaw

lilabner · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2006, 06:20:19 AM »

Have you considered the 6.5x55? It is one of the great world cartridges. Nothing wrong with the .260 but it hasn't been terribly popular of late. The 7-08 sort of overwhelmed it. Another thought is one of those short, light Remingtons they built in 6.5 Remington Magnum. (Model 600 or something like that) That would have to be a used rifle. I know a couple of guys that own these and they swear by them. Would be perfect in a tree stand.

squirrel_hunter6 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2006, 08:31:42 AM »

Thanks for the responses.

Bladerunner,

That Ruger looks interesting but I think that a 16.5 inch barrel may be to short and the LOP is shorter than normal.

Quote from: hunt127588

Are you dead-set on a .260? If not, check out Remington's LTR. It's from their law enforcement division and it's basically a 20" heavy barreled .308 that weighs 7.5lbs.

I'm not deat set on it but I already have a 308 and I was wanting to get something that I didn't already have.

Quote from: lilabner

Have you considered the 6.5x55?

I thought about it but I don't reload and my options for ammo are less than the 260.

Quote from: PEPAW

The model 7 SS/synthetic 20" .260 I have is a great deer rifle. I camo'ed my own stock and it has never failed for deer or hogs with the 140 Corelokts. I am going to try some 129 Hornady to compare, but it can't be much of an improvement over present accuracy. The Ballistic tips were more accurate in my gun, but I don't care for them on game at close range. Not rumors, but my personal results.

I did a google search on hunting with the 260 and I saw that some people have had the 140 grain Core-Lokts pass through without much expansion. What has your experience been with the Core-Lokts and the Ballisitic Tips in the 260? Can you post a picture of your rifle to show off your camo job?

Nobody has mentioned anything about Bell & Carlson stocks. Has anybody tried them and what do you think?

Lone Star · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2006, 09:01:21 AM »

I killed caribou and Kodiak blacktails with my M7 in .260 with no problems. I used 100-grain Ballistic Tips and 125 Partitions. Bang, flop. I find it hard to believe that the 140 CL bullets would work well in the 6.5x55 yet fail in the .260. Perhaps for a time they loaded the 140s from the .264 Magnum pile....? :roll: If it worries you, just use the Remington 120-grain AccuTips - they will kill deer just fine.

Hey, it is a pretty cheap modification to have a gunsmith chop 2" off the end of a 22" barrel. Considering that you'll be making a lot of other mods to the rifle, why not add the one which will "make" the rifle for you?

.

Idaho_Hick · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2006, 09:31:13 AM »

Bell and Carlson stock - I bought one for my Remington 700 in .222 and the rifle dropped in as advertised, I bought the black web version and am very pleased. It is plain jane, no bedding blocks, but my groups shrank as hoped for (the original stock had warped in the forend, pushing the barrel to the right). the stock came with a decent recoil pad that was well fitted, and the barrel is well free floated on my rifle. If you are one who prefers upward pressure on the forend tip you will want to look at another stock, but if the gap between barrel and forend does not concern you, I would think it would serve you well.

PEPAW · « **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2006, 02:52:06 AM »

Squirrel Hunter,
"What has your experience been with the Core-Lokts and the Ballisitic Tips in the 260? Can you post a picture of your rifle to show off your camo job? "

My real life experiences with the BT's stopped after the fourth failure on deer and hogs at close range and three actually did not penetrate into the cavity. Three of the four were lost. That was years ago and I understand the newer BT's made have been redesigned. I don't care, because everything I shoot with the 140 corelokt gets a pass-through and leaves a blood trail or dies on the spot. The BT's were more accurate -on paper. I may try a new bullet someday, but only to see if it will shrink my already good groups.
No photos of my camo. :oops: I don't brag about my artwork, but I assure you in "blends in" with the brush more than a solid black gun. The "new" Krylon adheres to plastic and comes in flat colors.

pepaw