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.260 or .260AI?

psinclair

psinclair

Gunny Sergeant
Commercial Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 11, 2008
3,394
539
66
Glasgow, Montana
I'm getting ready to start a new build and thought I'd throw out a few questions.

The rifle is going to be a lightweight hunting rig with a finished weight of about 7.5 pounds, with scope. I'm going with Surgeon detacthable bottom metal, Templar action,Rock barrel, Mcmillan Edge stock. GAP is doing the work.

Is anyone running .260AI through AI mags?, and how do they feed with the sharp shoulder? Or should I just stay with standard .260?

What are you guys running for brass? Is anyone necking up .243 Lapua brass?

Thanks for any input, Pat
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

I neck up Win .243 brass, I've heard of others using the Lapua.

If I felt I wanted to up the capacity of the .260, I'd simply go with the longer action and use the 6.5x55. IMHO, there's little value to employ wildcatting as a duplication an existing round's capacity and performance; although the AI would/should increase the capacity in a package which would (nominally) fit in a short action.

I can't vouch for the feeding reliability of the AI chambering, and I can't say the .260, in either form, will provide a chambering that handles OAL and rifling engagement gracefully. If that were my goal, I'd consider the 6.5CM, but ammo/brass availability is currently in question.

For magazine feeding the .260 with the original 120SMK and 140SMK may have some length savings that would work well in a repeater. They will both work fine at 1Kyd with 36.0-38.0gr or Varget.

Really; we're comparing apples and pears, rather than apples and oranges.

Both the .260 (DPMS LR260) and 6.5x55 (Ljungman) will feed nicely in semi's, so I think that would be the wiser approach.

Greg
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

You can use 243 brass or 7-08 brass, many have had great luck with the standard 260 Rem brass, it does the job. I have never personally ran 260AI thru a AI mag but have come near to the same build, I found most claimed the AI case ran without issues out of the AI mags.

Kirk R
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

Thanks Greg, Well stated per usual. I'm thinking AI dimensions only as a mechanical advantage rather than a ballistic gain.

Kirk R, Thanks, good to hear that Remington brass might be the way to go...and save a lot of monkeying around.
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

im getting 1/2 moa out of rem 260 brass...and it aint pretty stuff either, i also use win 7mm08 and lapua 308 resized

260ai is only going to make a hunting gun less tolerant of debris

if you want to shoot 6.5mm and need more speed i would build a 6.5x284...
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

I only use the Win .243 or 7-08 Brass when Rem .260 brass is not available right off the shelf. Right now, it is.

Greg
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

I'm going with the standard .260.....thanks guys!!

Any other "tips" on this fine cartridge, please pass them on!!!
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

Yes, it's got a lot of versatility.

Using a 1:8" or 1:8.5" twist, it can accomodate most bullets made for the 6.5. I like the 142SMK but the 140A-Max seems good too.

The 120 and 140SMK's, though slightly lighter on the BC, are excellent bullets in this chambering. I think they have special advantage when OAL is limited by magazine lengths.

I would have thought that driving the 95 V-Max at max load in a 1:8" twist was a recipe for self destruction, but this appears not to be the case.

Nosler Ballistic Tip and Partition bullets work very well with the .260's energy levels. I woudl consider the 120BT more as an explosive varmint bullet than as a large game bullet, and go with the 140 Partition for deer and bigger. Hornady 129 and 140gr SST's are very good hunting bullets, and pretty good on paper, too.

Hodgdon H4350 and Ramshot Hunter are good all-around propellants. I would also consider IMR-4895, IMR-4064, and Varget for the lighter bullets, but Varget tends to peak out before filling the case. Doesn't seem to impair performance, though. Filling the case with H-4831SC should render good accuracy, but may not deliver the case's full velocity potential in the same way as it seems to do with the .243.

As .308 case capacities and capabilities go, I consider the .260 to be the most efficient, and suspect the 7-08 isn't far behind.

Greg
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

the cor bon 120 gr fusion is very good also, for hunting, also my 130 gr Accubond nosler custom ammo has been great...
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

I'm a new 260 shooter, IMHO if speed is your goal shoot 130VLDs and skip all the extra time fireforming. So far Rem brass has been pretty good, and accuracy in .2s is making me very happy.
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

Knowing Pat, he'll be shooting 139gr Scenars in this. I'm looking forward to seeing how this build turns out. What are you thinking for glass?
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

10X42 S&B PMII....pretty rugged and tough scope. I've got one on a GAP Non Typical .308.

Lots of great bullets to choose from for this round!
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

Hi PGS
Just finished testing out to 1000 ...the 139 Scenars and to my disappointment my rifle liked the 142 SMKs. My buddy rksimple is very knowledgeable and is wining matches so I am following his mentorship...I went with his advice to use 7mm 08 Winchester brass over the Rem 260. To be perfectly honest...I am having some issues getting my primers to seat...maybe because I ultrasonic in 50% vinegar for 6 minutes....don't know if that has any thing to do with it...since I do it on my 338L with no problems.

That's a pretty light goal for that rifle.

Oh yeah...the surgeon website says that DBM is 6 oz without clip and Badger site says DBM us 10 Oz with empty clip...so I would guess a clip is going to weigh more than 4 oz...so the Surgeon DBM may weigh more????
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

i had horible luck with rem brass. on mine the primer pockets got loose on extreamly mild loads. i went with nosler and its great.
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jeffersonv</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There are other pretty knowledgeable folks that might be able to make a pretty good case for the AI.

Terry's Tactical Two-Sixty AI
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek046.html </div></div>

Terry now shoots a straight 260, and gives up nothing.
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

that sounds like one sweet rig ! Gonna be very similar to my light hunter in 7-08. Same stock, #3 barrel at 23", Stiller Pred. action, BDL bottom metal. I love it. barely 7 lbs scoped, and loaded.
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

An older guy like yourself needs a lighter rifle!
grin.gif
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cinch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">An older guy like yourself needs a lighter rifle!
grin.gif
</div></div>

man is that blood on my nose ?
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

Hopfully Terry Cross will see this and Chime in. He has been shooting 260 since it came out and I beleive 6.5x308 before that he played with the 260 AI for a couple years as well and Jim Clark and they both switched back to 260 Rem. from what i remember Terry said little was gained from the Pain in the ass it was to fireform and prep cases.
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

I read a post were Terry switched back fir 100% reliability with DBM. He also stated he may stick with the Ackley for F Class or hunting without the use of DBM.

Never understood people not wanting to fireform. All brass gets fireformed once it has been fired in the rifle. Just gotta tweak the load after the first firing. accuracy will be great with either.

For a light weight hunting rig. I would think hard about going ADL. No frills just performance. Also saves weight and you can pack the rifle without a clip hanging down
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

PGS - I messed around w/ necking up some .243 Lapua brass & even neck turning & I have to say that I personally did not find it worth while. The .260 barrel that I got from GAP that I slapped on my AIAW shoots lights out with good ole Remmy Brass. If you want half a box or more of .243 Lapua brass drop my a PM w/ your address & I will drop it in the mail to you.
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

TBass,

Thanks for the offer!! I've got some .243 Lapua brass already. I like your advice on just shooting Remington or at least give it a whirl.

I'm sending this stock and barrel down to GAP tomorrow. Decided to go with .260 Rem and not the AI version.

Thanks for all of the advice guys....really helped make my decision!! Pat
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

The 139 Scenar is a fine bullet, I just don't have the same comfort level with them as I do with the 142SMK. As it happens, right now my local supplier has a bunch of 140A-Max, and that's what I'm loading just now. I've been finding they and 142SMK's would appear to be generic equivalents, far as my loads go.

Greg
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

Greg,

Thanks! I'll order in a box of each and be sure to give them a go.

Where are you seating them? in the lands or off?
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

Pat
The 142SMK are very forgiving as far bullet seat...jump or not doesn't seem to matter.
Current load with 142 SMK
45.5 H4350
2.835 OAL

I would start lower as it is a hot load 2851 fps
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

I'm using either necked Win brass or Rem brass, match primer, and 43.8/43.9gr H4350. Seating varies, done both in and out of the lands. I can't see a difference, but my partner, who has my barrel's twin, says he sees some advantage to seating them into the lands, and he uses mostly the A-max.

Greg
 
Re: .260 or .260AI?

Pat
Using 7mm 08 winchester brass....supposed to be better than rem 260 brass. just run it in your sizer die.
Doug
 
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