Sanity check before ordering AIAE tomorrow

K

Kiba

Old Salt
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 13, 2011
2,683
2,424
Central CA
#1
Over the last month I've been kicking around building a Surgeon or Bighorn based custom or buying an AIAE Mk 2.

After a bunch of searching and reading and having had a pair of Remington 700's in AICS stocks for many years now and being very comfortable with them the AIAE was the final choice... now I'm looking for some opinions and a sanity check before I order tomorrow.

Right now I'm planning on ordering the rifle as follows:

Dovetail rail if available as the scope height is lower than the Picatinny rail. If only the picatinny is available that's fine. Either way I'll probably be getting the appropriate AI mount but I'm still considering a Spuhr.

.260 barrel, probably in 24" but possibly 26". Still considering 6.5CM (which I like for a greater range of OAL options while still being under mag length) but not liking one source for brass. Also read Zak Smith's article about .260 vs 6.5x47 in his AIAW and having some primer issues with the 6.5x47 vs the .260. I've done *tons* of searching & reading on here about the relative merits of .260 vs 6.5CM-- but I'm always open to fresh thoughts.

Threading & brake: I can't decide if I should have the barrel threaded and if I want a brake or not. Living in CA I can only dream about shooting suppressed at this time so that's out as a reason for threading. My experience is a brake really isn't necessary with .260 but if I decide to thread it later than means downtime-- so maybe I should have it threaded up front and get a thread protector and a removable brake. Thoughts?

I already have a bunch of AICS mags and an Atlas with a AI spigot so I'm set in that department.

If any of you have thoughts, recommendations, or suggestions I'm listening...
 
#2
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

The AE doesn't come with a dovetail, and the Spuhr only really works in one position because it is a non-standard rail. So if you want a full picatinney rail you have to get an aftermarket one. Depending on the scope, the Spuhr will work but not always. I have used a Spuhr on my AE but always with good scopes, and I have had to adjust my LOP to fix some fine tuned sight picture issues with the Spuhr and AE rail.

Either the 260 or the 6.5CM is a great choice, so I would definitely recommend that, in fact I ordered a 6.5CM barrel for my AX and my 1.5 AW has a 260 barrel on it now. So either will work fine. I never saw an issue with primers.

Brakes are nice I recommend them but that can be a personal choice as they all look different enough to consider one less Gucci than the other. I have mine threaded -- I use cans.
 
#3
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

Here are a few thoughts/recommendations:
1. the AE only comes with the Picatinny rail installed, no dovetail option
2. the AI mount either 30mm or 34mm are both available so you should be covered on the mounting solution.
3. .260 vs 6.5CM, I would consider the one factor, will you be reloading or are you going to simply purchase factory ammo. If factory ammo is your choice, I would personally go with the 6.5CM. Reloading, the .260 has all kinds of options, shorter barrel life as well to consider.
4. brake or not to brake, that is all personal to me, if comps are you desire, then no recommended.
 
#4
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

Of all the people to post the first replies... thanks Frank and Stacey!

Picatinny it is then. I'll go with the AI 30mm mount as I'm going to be putting an SWFA 5-20HD up top. 18MOA in the mount and ~32 mils elevation in the scope is more than enough adjustment. I bought a "spare" 5-20 during the group buy knowing I'd eventually pick up another rifle to put under it.

I'm thinking I'll have the barrel threaded and get a brake (and a thread protector if available) just to have everything done up front. I don't want to spin the barrel off later if I decide I want to thread it.

A couple weeks ago Stacey advised the current wait for an AE with a custom Bartlein barrel is 4-6 months. I'm sure it will be worth the wait.
 
#6
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

I am using the tall Spuhr mount on my AE. It works great and you are not locked in one position. It is higher, but it works fine, does not affect function, and I prefer optics set higher anyway.

I would run a removable brake, it protects both the threading and the crown. I like the FTE for easy removal and installation.

Welcome to the addiction.
 
#7
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

Kiba:

I bought an AE MKII in 308 and then got a 260 barrel from Stacey. Had the rifle in a couple of days and the barrel about a week later. Changed it out myself very quickly. If you want the rifle sooner, that is an option. I would check with Stacey to see if he has any 260s in stock.
 
#8
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

Ashland, that's a good plan and one I considered yesterday when I was "between squirrels" and my mind was wandering while glassing for fresh targets.

Anyways, I changed up my plan a bit. I'm now going for a 26" barrel in 6.5CM threaded with removable AI brake. While I'm normally a die-hard reloader and either .260 or 6.5CM isn't really much difference to me it's nice to have the option of good factory 6.5CM ammo in a pinch.

About contacting Stacey regarding what's available-- I just got a PM from AI saying they do have some bartlein barrels ready to go.
 
#9
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

You should go ahead and place an order. You will not regret it. Get a 26" barrel if they have it.
 
#10
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

When in doubt, get it threaded. Worst case scenario you leave the thread protector on and shoot it like normal.
 
#12
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

Order has been placed.

I'm waiting to hear back if AINA has any 6.5CM barrels on the shelf ready to go or if I'm going to have to wait several months. Tom Irwin believed they had some .260 barrels ready to go but was unsure if they had any 6.5CM barrels finished and ready.

Either way I'm excited... now I need to pick up some brass, bullets, powder, and dies. Based off searches here I'm thinking of trying a 139 Scenar, 140 Amax, or 142 SMK over H4350 for the first test loads.

 
#14
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

Yay... some good news, AINA has 6.5 barrel blanks on hand and they should have the rifle ready to ship in about 4-6 weeks.

Guess I need to buy components sooner than expected. Hopefully SWFA comes through with the second shipment of 5-20's by the time I have the rifle in hand!
 
#16
Re: Sanity check before ordering .260 AIAE tomorrow

I'd go .260 just for the sake of simplicity and ubiquity of components.

To clarify on the primer thing, in my experience, the AW design causes pressure to manifest in pierced primers in certain cartridges/loads, in contrast to some other action designs that do not manifest pressure in this manner. It's not a big deal and not a deal breaker.
 
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