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260 Build need help!!!!

Sniper260

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 22, 2013
483
2
Heres what I have:

Defiance machine Deviant action WITH seekins cut bottom for longer bullets..
Defiance machine bottom metal for detachable accuracy international mag
Manners T2A stock
Jewell trigger
Brux 28 inch heavy varmint 1:8 twist
American Rifle Company one piece scope ring mount
Muscle break muzzle break
Lapua brass
Redding competion dies

Plan is to run 140 gr berger vld target bullets...
Question/s are:* Im thinking about ordering a reamer to have it on hand for rebarreling... so if I end up needing to order a reamer thats no biggy...*

260 Rem or 260 AI???* I dont need the extra velocity, 75-100 fps extra velocity means nothing to me...* so I lean towards the regular 260.... *I am looking for precision/accuracy...* *what about a slightly longer throat to seat the bullet a little longer?*Would a slightly longer throat help these berger 140 vlds perform a tad more? Or shouldbi leave it all standard and keep chasing the lands till it gets longer?

Accuracy international mags - which one do I get? I know 308 cal... I want a 5 rounder... but not sure of the difference between them all.. I want to have room in it to seat long if and when necessary....


Gimme your suggestions here please.* All input and or experiances is appreciated!
 
Go regular 260, skip the VLD's as you are going to be chasing lands all the time and may have OAL issues, 139 Scenars work great, regular AI 308 mags work fine.

Don't over complicate things. Buy some Redding type S dies, put a .292 bushing in it, put 42.0 - 42.5 of H4350 (your gonna have to test them to see what works best) under a 139 Scenar (0.010" off the lands) in a Lapua case with a CCI BR2 to light it and have fun.

It really is that simple.
 
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forget the 140 VLD's they suck at setting up and you'll probably burn half your barrels life tuning them. there are plenty of much better bullets for the 260 and other than the VLD's, every bullet/weight combo I tried shot 1/2 MOA or better. get a reamer set up for the 142 SMK and you are good to go.
 
I just got a 260AI this summer. I was amazed that the brass has not needed trimming after two reloadings from fire forming. If you want to run VLD's, you will need a longer throat. I have to seat VLD's way to deep into the case in mine. Would I do the Ackley again...Absolutely. I reload everything anyways and the improved case is more efficient and just plain cool if you like to be different. My fireforming load was 45.5 grains of Hunter with a 123gr SMK in Lapua Brass if you're interested.
 
I have a 260 and I run 140gr berger vlds and I have the same barrel length and twist, they should work fine but they are kinda a pain to get to shoot good. I also modified my AI mag to run bergers and I milled my action to run long bullets, it runs fine and never had a miss feed.
 
What did you do to the mag? What is your OAL? My action is cut already to allow longer rounds...
 
AI mag.jpg That bar I found this pic on google its small I know you cant see it lol Idk how to make it bigger
 
I got educated about the alpha type 2 mags instead of using the accuracy international mags.... looks to be a good choice to do...
 
no problem, it kinda sucks having a 260 single shot so I modified my 700 (with advice form gary eliseo) and now I have a fully functional rifle with the longest of bullets
 
I don't mean to jump this thread, but for those of you using SMKs, are you removing the plate in the mag and milling your feed ramp on your action? I'm building the same and don't feel like dealing with the VLDs and all that crap. I just want to shoot accurate and far!
 
I talked to my gunsmith today and he said he has a reamer for a 260 tactical chambering and it sounds like thats what im looking for to run 139-142 grain bullets out and have the bullets seated right at the lands....
 
I talked to my gunsmith today and he said he has a reamer for a 260 tactical chambering and it sounds like thats what im looking for to run 139-142 grain bullets out and have the bullets seated right at the lands....

Dont quote me on this but I believe the tactical chamber has a neck of .295 so you running Lapua will require neck turning. This is the reamer that was used on my 2 260s, I just run Nosler brass and it works for me. I have a little bit of room left in the Alpha mags to chase the lands.
 
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Most "standard" (pre Lapua brass) necks were 0.295". If you want to shoot Lapua brass get a .298" neck reamer. For the 140 class bullets, 139 Secnar or 142 MatchKing a 0.090" FB works well.
 
Most "standard" (pre Lapua brass) necks were 0.295". If you want to shoot Lapua brass get a .298" neck reamer. For the 140 class bullets, 139 Secnar or 142 MatchKing a 0.090" FB works well.

At least I know I wasn't making shit up. Haha. Just verify the neck diameter with the smith. Either one is good if you don't mind neck turning.
 
I shoot 45 grains h4350 (this is hot not for every gun) using 140 smk and I have had excellent luck with amax. Amax is cheaper to shoot and does just as good job. The other day at Rayners I was getting about 26.5 moa at a 1000. Not bad. I love my 260