• Frank's Lesson's Contest

    We want to see your skills! Post a video between now and November 1st showing what you've learned from Frank's lessons and 3 people will be selected to win a free shirt. Good luck everyone!

    Create a channel Learn more
  • Having trouble using the site?

    Contact support

AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

bm11

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 18, 2010
2,562
13
41
Maine
For those who don't know, I am a huge Accuracy International fan. I started with an AIAW, absolutely loved it, and had to have an AIAX as soon as it came out. I ended up being one of the first people to get one in North America, taking delivery in February of last year. It was everything the AW was, plus a bit more comfortable with a bit easier method of attaching bipods, plus came with the quick adjust cheek, butt, and buttspike. Because it was the release model, it came with all the options.
100_2118.jpg


From there I shot it as much as I could. Later in 2011 I ordered a Bartlein 28" Tubb contour 7.7 twist .243 barrel from GAP. The barrel made the rifle an absolute laser, shooting flat and with very little wind drift, and I shot this 5 shot group at 507 yards with it measuring just over 1/4 moa:
Untitled-1.jpg


It was heaven, but the barrel was just plain too LONG. It made the rifle unweildly for anything but prone, the rifle had to be folded to even fit in the Eagle bag, and the nature of .243 made me conscious about my rate of fire.

Then I found a great deal on a 22 inch Bartlein 1 in 8 twist AINA AI barrel (thanks Desertmonkey!) It got the length of the rifle down from the 28" .243, but with much better ballistics than the 18.5" .308. The recoil is minimal, and this barrel is crazy accurate. Looks nice on the rifle too:
2012-06-01155142.jpg


Today I shot the smallest group I have ever shot with the rifle. I know, I know, group shooting is not the most tactical, but in my defense I only got this barrel a few weeks back and am still developing a load for it. This group was 42.0 grains of H4350 under a Berger 140 grain Hybrid, .010" off the lands (Lapua brass.) It is the only 5 shot group I have ever shot that is sub 1/8 moa.
2012-06-10193131.jpg


The above load shoots 2700 fps with an extreme spread of 24 fps. I have a very promising load with 43.0 grains of RL-17 that shoots 2810 fps with low teen ES, but it shoots about half moa or so. The above load consistently shoots in the .3's or better.

For what it's worth, the action has 3480 rounds through it as of today. I have the original unfired .308 barrel, and the 18.5" UK AW barrel that I had cut down and now has 5128 rounds on it. It still averages around .5 moa. I also still have the GAP .243 barrel with 546 rounds on it now. Overall, while extremely expensive, I feel that the consistent accuracy and reliability combined with a switch barrel system makes this platform worth it for those who can afford it. I couldn't be more pleased and if I could only own one rifle this would be it.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

Very impressive, I love my 260 and it has quickly become my favorite rifle to shoot in both matches and the field. I remember this rifle from when you first posted many months ago, it is surely a looker. Congrats
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

Awesome rifle and thanks for sharing the information. I have all the parts ordered for a .260 build that I'm doing next year. Seeing this gets me excited.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

Nice shooting. No matter how good the rifle is, there needs to be a great driver to get groups that small.

I switched to a .260 this year and wish I would have done it years ago.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

Man that is nice! I bought an AW 260 about two years ago but because of certain overseas issues I have only put about 150 rounds through it. got my Nightforce about two months ago so if I see you around we will have to have a shootout.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

Have one on order as we speak. I ordered a AIAX .308 Win and 20"BBL. I have a Kreiger .260 BBL here at the house ready to go. Been on order for a while and Chomping at the bit to get mine.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

The HELL you say, that only looks like a 4 shot group @ 507 and a 3 shot group @ 100. Im calling bull shit!
grin.gif
Just kidding, I watched the groups being shot very good shooting indeed.

Sounds like you have a legit challenge on your hands with Joe & his AW. I say he should fly out and we can have at it 3 ways (as long as you handy cap me for my 308). The winner buys the beer, that should play in my favor.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

Joe shoots a 308 AW also, so to be fair I'd have to spin my 308 barrel on and go to town.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrgfox</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nice, who did the camp job on the rifle, and what was used? Waiting on my AX to come in from Mile High.
</div></div>I did it using kylon and stencils I cut myself, using some multicam gear I have as a guide. It came out great, it's been on the gun about a year now and is wearing off on the corners and grip but I think that only makes it look better. It's not like you buy an AX for its good looks, that's for damn sure.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

Nice man, I tried to get a .260 barrel for my AE got fed up and sold the whole rifle. Big mistake!!!

That thing looks awesome, and so does the rifle
smile.gif


I couldnt believe it lasted this long without one comment.

Pm'd you too.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ouch!!</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That thing looks awesome, and so does the rifle
smile.gif


I couldnt believe it lasted this long without one comment.

</div></div>LOL! That's not a very flattering picture of her. She just happened to be in the room while I was taking pictures, the night I picked up the AX.

But yeah, I did pretty well for myself. She cooks and cleans too, believe it or not. And has a great job!
100_1695.jpg
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYS338</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tell her to take her thumb off the back of her hand before she loses a knuckle! </div></div>Yes I know, first thing I thought of when I posted the picture. This was her first day ever shooting anything, and the picture was taken early on in the learning process. I corrected not only that but her shoulders.

I am not much of a picture taker so this was the only photo I had of her shooting.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bm11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

But yeah, I did pretty well for myself. She cooks and cleans too, believe it or not. And has a great job!
</div></div>

Not to mention she is a great person as well, she never gives you a hard time about going shooting
grin.gif
.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

OK, we all agree you married up !
smile.gif


I have a 260 Surgeon/Kreiger on an AX chassis literally on the way to me.

I am sure you have a stellar rifle. Hands down the AX is my favorite platform.
 
Re: AIAX in .260, falling in love all over again!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bm11</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYS338</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tell her to take her thumb off the back of her hand before she loses a knuckle! </div></div>Yes I know, first thing I thought of when I posted the picture. This was her first day ever shooting anything, and the picture was taken early on in the learning process. I corrected not only that but her shoulders.

I am not much of a picture taker so this was the only photo I had of her shooting. </div></div>

Just looking out! Hate to see a new shooter get hurt and discouraged.