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Common uses: Hunting, Long Range
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 140gr Remington Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Point |
| Muzzle velocity | 2750 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 2352 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.435 |
| Case length | 51.7 mm |
| Overall length | 71.1 mm |
| SAAMI max pressure | 60000 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:8" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2750 | 2350 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2540 | 2005 | 0 |
| 200 | 2341 | 1703 | -3.9 |
| 300 | 2150 | 1437 | -14.2 |
| 400 | 1969 | 1205 | -32 |
| 500 | 1797 | 1004 | -58.8 |
At 1,000 yards, .260 Rem. (140gr at 2750 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 38.8 MOA / 11.3 MIL, retaining 1145 fps (transonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2150 | Supersonic | -14.2 | 4.5 | 1.31 |
| 400 | 1969 | Supersonic | -32.0 | 7.6 | 2.22 |
| 500 | 1797 | Supersonic | -58.8 | 11.2 | 3.27 |
| 600 | 1636 | Supersonic | -96.4 | 15.3 | 4.46 |
| 700 | 1488 | Supersonic | -146.9 | 20.1 | 5.83 |
| 800 | 1355 | Supersonic | -213.3 | 25.5 | 7.41 |
| 900 | 1240 | Transonic | -298.6 | 31.7 | 9.22 |
| 1000 | 1145 | Transonic | -406.6 | 38.8 | 11.30 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .260 Remington is prized for launching high-BC 6.5mm bullets at useful velocities with modest recoil, making it a capable dual-purpose cartridge for deer- and antelope-sized game as well as long-range target and silhouette competition. Its short-action length allows lighter, faster-cycling rifles, and its ballistics closely mirror the more popular 6.5 Creedmoor. In the field it hits well above its recoil class, giving flat trajectories and good downrange retention that reward careful marksmanship. Its main limitations are practical rather than ballistic: factory ammunition and rifle selection have always been thin compared to rival chamberings, and standard-length magazine throating can crowd the longest, highest-BC bullets. It remains a favorite of handloaders and shooters who appreciate a lean, accurate, low-recoil 6.5mm.
Introduced by Remington in 1997, the .260 Remington is the .308 Winchester case necked down to accept 6.5mm (.264-inch) bullets, standardizing a wildcat that handloaders had built for years as the 6.5-08. Remington positioned it as a short-action 6.5mm that could deliver the flat trajectory and high sectional density of the metric bores in a compact, widely available platform. Though it never achieved mainstream commercial success and was later overshadowed by the 6.5 Creedmoor, it earned a devoted following among target shooters and hunters who valued its efficiency.
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