260ai - 24hourcampfire

Anyone running one? I have an 8 twist tube here and I am playing mental coin toss between the ai and standard. What kind of numbers and case life are you seeing? What did you do for dies? Any regrets?

I have two 260AI firearms. One a Rem. 700 in a mountain rifle configuration and the other a rebarreled XP-100R. Both are extremely accurate. I load Win. brass for my XP-100R and Norma brass for my rifle. Chambers are slightly different. I load Sierra 107SMK from the XP. I load 120BT and 130VLD Bergers for the Rem. 700. I have gotten good brass life as I do aneal each case after 3 shots. Coyote, pronghorn, wt deer and mulies live in fear. MTG

6.5/284...?

Thinking SU35's loving that round.

Dober

I have a 700 Ti in 260 Ackley waiting for a handle from Rick Bins Mcmillan Edge connection.

Always Redding dies.

I've fireformed 100 Lapua brass using the COW method.

Had someone PM me these loads.

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I think you will like the 260 A.I. I currently have 3 of them, and have shot the throat out of two others in 1000 yard F Class competition. Below is what I have found with the 260 A.I.

90 gr. Speer TNT
Remington Brass
Federal 210M Primer
46.0 gr. of IMR 4064
Velocity = 3502 fps avg. for 5 shots from a 24" Broughton barrel
Accuracy will avg. in the .5's for 5 shots.
The bullet wrecks yotes not fur friendly. I have also shot a few PDogs with it. It scatters pieces of them all over the place.

123 gr. Sierra MatchKing
Remington Brass
CCI BR-2 Primer
47.2 gr. of H4350
Velocity = 3192 fps avg. for 5 shots from a 28" Krieger barrel.
Velocity = 3135 fps avg. from a 24" Broughton.
Accuracy is excellent in both rifles easily sub .5 MOA in the Krieger barreled match rifle. In the 24" Broughton sporter barrel in will avg. in high .4's to the mid .5's for for five shots.

120 gr. Nosler B.T.
Remington Brass
CCI BR-2 Primer
46.9 gr. of H4350
Velocity = 3120 fps avg. from the 24" Broughton barrel.
Accuracy is good to excellent averaging in the .5's to .6's for 5 shots. This load is hard on yotes and deer.

140 gr. Sierra GameKing
Remington Brass
CCI BR-2 Primer
43.6 gr. of H4350
Velocity = 2865 fps avg. for 5 shots from the 24" Broughton barrel.
Again accuracy is very good it will avg. in the .5's from the 24" Broughton. It is excellent deer/hog load.

142 gr. Sierra MathcKing
Remington Brass
CCI BR-2 Primer
43.6 gr. of H4350
Velocity = 2895 fps avg. for 5 shots from the 28" Krieger barrel. I have not shot it in the 24" Broughton barrel.
Accuracy, well it is good enough that I have won my share of 600/1000 yard F Class matches with it.

142 gr. Sierra MathcKing
Remington Brass
Federal 210M Primer
48.3 gr. of H4831 SC
Velocity = 2967 fps avg. from the 28" Krieger barrel. Again I haven't shot this load in the 24" Broughton sporter barrel.
Accuracy, is excellent. I have shot this load in a few 600 yard benchrest matches in the light gun class. The five shot groups averaged just over 2" at 600 yards. Not good enough to win, but I don't think it is rifle or loads fault.

I haven't tried the 100/107/108 gr. class of bullets in the 260 A.I. I have tried a few different powders RL 19, RL 22, IMR 4350, IMR 4831 but they did not give the accuracy or the velocity that the powders I have listed did. I have found that RL 19 and RL 22 to vary quite a bit from lot to lot. I did try some VV N550 and N560, and they showed some promise with the 120/123 gr. and the 140/142 gr. class of bullets. But at 41 dollars per pound, I didn't go that route.

None of these loads show pressure in my rifles and brass life has been very good. Since you are using Lapua brass I would start about 1.5 gr. lower and work up. Standard disclaimers apply here.

I hope this helps some. I really like the 260 A.I. and hope you get some good service from yours. If there is anything I can do just let me know.

Also, Dennis in AZ has done a lot with the 260 AI and we have had many phone conversations in regards. He thinks very highly of it and Dennis opinion is worth putting in the bank.

I hope you go for it.

SU-I've absolutely gotta find some 90 TNT's to give a go in my Zebra gun!

R you still running the 6.5/284?

Dober

lol...Zebra gun?

I smoked the 6.5-284 barrel and need to order another one. It went just about 2,000 rounds though.

I want to kill a bear so bad I can't stand it. Will have to wait till this fall, (no spring draw for me). I've got a chocolate belly dragger picked out in AZ.

Bob....I pulled the Aladdin tag, again. I am hoping it becomes half popular so I don't camp on a reamer forever. I am waiting on a couple stocks, then its go time.

SU-I'm gonna try to text you a pick of the Zebra, it's a shooting machine!

I have a 2-8 Leo w/m1 on top

Dober

I could see no reason not to go AI on the 260 build. Why not would be the better question.

The Aladdin is interesting country. I saw the one and only griz I've ever seen outside of jellystone in there some years back on a hillside rolling boulders over looking for lunch. They fascinate me.

The 260 AI, The first bullet I'm going to to try out in it are 140 NP's using RL25. That would be my bear load. That would also make great elk load.

What scope are you going with?

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I have a 2-8 Leo w/m1 on top

Kool!

I don't have texting though.

This first one is going to be a test of sorts. I am gonna take a green mountain blank and shoot, contour.....shoot contour....and so on to see how light I can go. I have a few to put together and sell...then for myself I have a 2.5-8 zeiss with turrets.

Originally Posted by high_country_

This first one is going to be a test of sorts. I am gonna take a green mountain blank and shoot, contour.....shoot contour....and so on to see how light I can go. I have a few to put together and sell...then for myself I have a 2.5-8 zeiss with turrets.

I know this is going to be a 260 A.I, but I'd really like to know how a 6.5x284 does with a 22" spout.

Originally Posted by Tanner

Originally Posted by high_country_

This first one is going to be a test of sorts. I am gonna take a green mountain blank and shoot, contour.....shoot contour....and so on to see how light I can go. I have a few to put together and sell...then for myself I have a 2.5-8 zeiss with turrets.

I know this is going to be a 260 A.I, but I'd really like to know how a 6.5x284 does with a 22" spout.

I want dead nuts reliable feeding in a short action....so I will give up the 21fps.

Mark.....thats some big aperture on your peep sight.

Mark, what's the barrel contour and total weight on the zebra?

Thanks,
Carl

Just back from a bear run, low snowpack, but lots of snow tonight and no bears.

Carl it's a 700 factory mountain contour tube. I think it weights about 7 lbs all or a bit less all ready to go with the 2-8 Leo w/m1 on top. 6 lb 11 oz comes to mind but I could be wrong.

It's a neat rig for sure.

When you get a chance lets grab lunch and cuss and discuss life and bruins.

Dober

I can think of 2 reasons why not to cut a 260AI chamber in lieu of a SAAMI specs 260:

1. Ease of resale.

Rifles chambered for wildcat cartridges are almost always harder to sell or trade than those chambered for factory loaded cartridges.

2 Resale value.

Rifles chambered for wildcat cartridges almost always sell or trade for less than those chambered for factory loaded cartridges, even a reasonably obscure cartridge like the 260.

I say this having been on both sides of the equation, when selling my own wildcat chambered rifles and when buying wildcat chambered rifles from others.

Jeff

ZEBRA!! I like that.

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I can think of 2 reasons why not to cut a 260AI chamber in lieu of a SAAMI specs 260:

1. Ease of resale.

2 Resale value

I personally don't build rifles for resale and going Ackley on a factory tube is no big deal. Just buy another cheap factory tube for $100.00 dollars or less.

Thx SU for your help with the project. Ingwe put the Zebra touch to it for me. Thinking it's gonna see some blood in the next month or so...

So far, it seems to like 120 NBT's, 140 NBT's, 120 Bergers and 100 Bergers and of course the 85 Sierra hp. I only shot the 130 Bergers once but it looked like they might perk as well.

Dober

Like you, I don't build rifles with resale value as a key component of my decision making process, but some folks may want to factor it into their purchase decisions. DakotaDeer wrote that he couldn't see any reason not to cut a 260AI chamber in lieu of a SAAMI specs 260 chamber, so I supplied 2 of them.

Performance wise, the 260AI seems like an intermediate stop between the 260 and 6.5-284, with more value derived from the decrease in case trimming than from the small increase in case capacity. That said, I've been shooting the 6.5-284 since well before the 260 was domesticated, but haven't seen any meaningful difference in field performance between the 2 cartridges at the distances that I typically shoot.

1 of these days that 24" 260 stainless take-off that I bought from you last June may becoming another 6.5-284 or maybe a 6.5 SAUM or maybe a ?????

Jeff

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1 of these days that 24" 260 stainless take-off that I bought from you last June may becoming another 6.5-284 or maybe a 6.5 SAUM or maybe a ?????

Jeff, you need to sell that barrel back to me. Sellers remorse here, serious.

Mark, You could use that rifle all 2012 for everything.

SU-you're totally right and in all likelyhood we will. Between my wife, my G-son another young lad that hunts with us and myself I think we could almost fill an ark with it this year...

Dober

Dober, send it out here if you're a critter or two short on the ark

Will dew....maybe a January trip to take my G-son to the Vermejo on a flat top shoot and then to eastern Colo for yotes...grin

Dober

Sounds like a blast! Holler if you guys ever end up near Vail.

If anyone cares, here is a shameless plug as to what is cooking in my life....

http://www.spokaneguntrader.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=25460

When your shop says that it will duplicate any stock, does that mean in wood only, or do you make synthetics?

Originally Posted by DakotaDeer

When your shop says that it will duplicate any stock, does that mean in wood only, or do you make synthetics?

I have the least experience in stocks. I figure it will be a couple years before I dabble in stocks. I am looking for mentors...lol.

If one wants a neat '260 improved' - this might be worth a look.

http://www.6mmar.com/65_SuperLR.php

For me, a std. Saami 260 does all I want...but I realize others 'Needs..Wants' vary.

Good luck w/your project.

My gun room works on a model similar to that expressed in the last verse of the Eagles song "Hotel California":

"Relax, " said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave! "

For the most part "stuff" checks in, but seldom checks out.

Jeff

I hear ya loud and clear. I had to have a talk with myself when I decided that I was going to move forward with the gunsmiting plan.....I had to remind myself that I can't keep em' all.....intact, I had to dump a few to finish tooling up.....now I look at it this way......its a write off, product development ya know.

What are you guys running for powder and bullets?

I've a 22" barrel and to date I'm mainly in the 2700 range with the 140 NBT and 130 Bergers and getting great case life.

I'd think that the 130's could/would should run 2800 in the rig shouldn't they?

My 120's run in the 2900 and then some range.

Many thx

Dober

260 Rem 22" barrel speeds out of a 700

120's 760 45.2 grains...3,000
130's H4350 45.2 grains.2,900
140's RL25 49.0 grains..2,790

COAL 2.820

When I had a 260, I ran H4350 with 125 Partitions. 45 grains for around 2900 in a 22" Mountain rifle barrel.

SU - that RP brass? Thanks.

Was out shooting with R17 this morn and 120's. Both the 120 NBT and 120 Berger were a skosh over 2900. The Berger load shot really well.

At this time I'm for feeling that the 260 with a 22" pretty much runs as such:

*120's=2900

*130=2800

*140's=2700

I feel I can run each one a skosh bit hotter but not much. Nice round, but I really don't see it as a light recoil kind of rig. Maybe it's cause it's a bit lighter than my .270 but I feel no appreciable diff.

Dober

You can bump those #s up a tad I know on the 130s w/choice powder, but those are good #'s to aim for, no reason why any decent 22" bbl won't produce those speeds.

Perhaps 50fps more can be had, but I would expect a good bit of pressure if given 22" one is getting much more than 75-100fps or greater than listed.

All bbls are diff as you know. Those speeds do very well w/streamlined high bc 6.5 bullets.

I'd say you're right, by my way of thinking once you get to the point of I can get another 50 if I lean on it then you're at the end of the rope.

Now I know full well others will push it farther and harder and that's there choice. And you're right if they're going 75-100 fps more than those numbers they're leaning on it harder than I feel is a good way to go.

Lastly, I've come to the age where I want as good as accuracy as I can get and trying to find another 50 or so just isn't worth it to me. Unless I'm totally jonsing for a gack attack....grin

Plus, I run turrets or dotz so that makes the extra even mo meaningless...

Dober

Agreed. There was a day my foot was heavier when driving a car too - and in those days I ran a 7 Mag......not looking back - lol.

These days I get along fine collecting meat while minimizing what my shoulder n ears take. Just how I like to do things.

One of these days I might step back from 6, 6.5, and 7mm on the BR thru 308 case and use something like a Deuce for venison.

I sure liked the way a little O'Brien custom stocked L461 Mannlicher 17 handled...had visions of that rifle in 6/222 or similar...though a deuce would do w/proper bullets. Odds are around here I would use it for shots in the woods...

18" bbl and 6lb 7 oz w/3-10 Leupy, such a handy piece. I believe Fred at Bullberry used a similar rifle in 6TCU as a fav of his.....I can see why after handling one.

Originally Posted by Mark R Dobrenski

Was out shooting with R17 this morn and 120's. Both the 120 NBT and 120 Berger were a skosh over 2900. The Berger load shot really well.

At this time I'm for feeling that the 260 with a 22" pretty much runs as such:

*120's=2900

*130=2800

*140's=2700

I feel I can run each one a skosh bit hotter but not much. Nice round, but I really don't see it as a light recoil kind of rig. Maybe it's cause it's a bit lighter than my .270 but I feel no appreciable diff.

Dober

That mirrors my experience exactly. It isn't really that fast except with 100 grainers, and the recoil with the heavier pills isn't enough lighter to make a difference in shooting ability.

Of course, a couple years ago on here when I said that, it was not a popular opinion.

I still have both of mine, but that's because I love the platform (Model Sevens), not because I think they offer the most for the least. That accolade goes to the 243.

Originally Posted by SU35

260 Rem 22" barrel speeds out of a 700

120's 760 45.2 grains...3,000
130's H4350 45.2 grains.2,900
140's RL25 49.0 grains..2,790

COAL 2.820

Have those speeds come down a bit from what you were running a couple of years back?

Originally Posted by 260Remguy

I can think of 2 reasons why not to cut a 260AI chamber in lieu of a SAAMI specs 260:

1. Ease of resale.

Rifles chambered for wildcat cartridges are almost always harder to sell or trade than those chambered for factory loaded cartridges.

2 Resale value.

Rifles chambered for wildcat cartridges almost always sell or trade for less than those chambered for factory loaded cartridges, even a reasonably obscure cartridge like the 260.

I say this having been on both sides of the equation, when selling my own wildcat chambered rifles and when buying wildcat chambered rifles from others.

Jeff

Best way to get your money out of a custom is, don't build it....

I rechambered my Krieger barrled mountain rifle contour (yes, I really have a SS Krieger in that contour) to 260AI with my reamer last year. I picked up 100 fps and my accuracy improved immensely. The Remmy detachable box mag that the Mt rifles wear feeds the AI rounds just fine. I mostly shoot 140 Sierras for bear and 108 Lapuas for everything else. I have pushed the 108s to 3400 on accident and 3280 is more of a safe load.

I use R17 with the 260 AI and have great luck.

I am using Laupa brass which, incidentally, has quite the thick neck. My reamer is a .297" neck and that is about as tight as I would go. A .298" with the Lapua brass would make me feel better.

Bob- get down here and shoot that bear! There have been some really nice book bears killed the past two weeks.

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SU - that RP brass? Thanks.

243 Lapua brass necked up before Lapua came out with regular 260 Rem brass.

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260 Rem 22" barrel speeds out of a 700

120's 760 45.2 grains...3,000
130's H4350 45.2 grains.2,900
140's RL25 49.0 grains..2,790

COAL 2.820

Have those speeds come down a bit from what you were running a couple of years back?

No, same speeds.

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Bob- get down here and shoot that bear! There have been some really nice book bears killed the past two weeks.

Dennis, why don't you come with me for the fall hunt and lets get him.

I'm getting slightly over 2900 in my 260AI using Ramshot Hunter and RP brass.

140 VLD's at 2850 in 23" outta a regular 260......

Aalf-what are you burning and how much?

Thx
Dober

Originally Posted by Mark R Dobrenski

What are you burning and how much?

44.5 grains H-4350 with moly plated VLD's.

Day in and day out, hard to whoop 4350.....

Thx, how many times can you load the cases and keep the primer pockets tight?

My 260 seems to like H4350 and H4831.

Dober

H-4831-SC is tough to get enough in at 2.800". I run a Wyatts in this one to 2.9XX", figuring that'd be the powder, but 4350 won again.

I'm using 308 Lapua, necked and turned. These are currently on their 3rd, but it's brass I stole from my other 260 that had been shot 4-5 times with 100's at 3275, my coyote-don't-save-the-hide-load. Currently untested in that regard. All are still serviceable, but some are getting there from kissin' and findin' pressure.......

BTW, 44.5 is max on Hodgon's site with bare 142's, iffen you're wondering.

3275 with 120's and what cartridge?

Dober

Oooppps, that'd be 100's outta the other 260.....fixed....

What is the consensus on dies?

Mine are Redding. No complaints, and I think they're part of their standard offerings now, not a special order item.

Redding are my first choice always on any die, but I could live w/RCBS or Hornady and want to try Forster.

Originally Posted by 65BR

Redding are my first choice always on any die, but I could live w/RCBS or Hornady and want to try Forster.

I used to feel that way about Redddings too but I get less runnout using Forster dies than Redding so that's what I use if I can get them.

I just ran my reamer into the 260 Rem sleeve and I have a perfect seating die now for 260AI.

Originally Posted by dennisinaz

Originally Posted by 65BR

Redding are my first choice always on any die, but I could live w/RCBS or Hornady and want to try Forster.

I used to feel that way about Redddings too but I get less runnout using Forster dies than Redding so that's what I use if I can get them.

I just ran my reamer into the 260 Rem sleeve and I have a perfect seating die now for 260AI.

how much fight did the seater put up? I thought they were hardened, or is it just the sizer?

I have a while to find dies, my reamer is still a month out.

Dead soft- don't know what it was but not hard at all. Only the sizers are hardened.

Dennis, good to know.

The last time I shot my new custom 260 at the range, I shot 3 shots into like .16 w/a 6x scope - at 100 yds, these were new reformed unfired 7/08 WW brass - sized to 260 Saami via Redding 2 die standard set.

Heard good things on Forster which is why I have them on my bucket list.

Originally Posted by 65BR

Dennis, good to know.

The last time I shot my new custom 260 at the range, I shot 3 shots into like .16 w/a 6x scope - at 100 yds, these were new reformed unfired 7/08 WW brass - sized to 260 Saami via Redding 2 die standard set.

Heard good things on Forster which is why I have them on my bucket list.

Well hurry up and buy them, then you can dump those junkers to me.

Lol - not soon