Tac A1 barrel change

ems-driver

Private
Minuteman
Mar 15, 2020
18
15
Hello everyone,

currently i own a tikka tac a1 in .308

i'm planning on changing the barrel, and preferably also the caliber.

what are your opiniions on caliber....? mostly i shoot 100 & 300 yards but.... planning on 1000+

thnxs ;-)

chris
 
Yes, I’m a hand loader.

since I’m planning to compete in the lr / elr my gunsmith asked me this question...
I’m hoping you could help me make a decision ?

thnxs
Chris
 
In the words of some on here like @Steel head

260MASTERRACE (aka 260 Remington)


I personally have a TacA1 in 6.5 Creedmoor, but 260 will get a couple hundred FPS more depending on powder and bullets.
A couple hundred FPS? In my experience there’s little or no difference between them. They both do 2750-2800 with 42 gr of h4350.
 
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Jezz
I’m not sure 42 grains of H4350 is enough to push the bullet completely out of the barrel of my 260.
[/QUOTE

My first .260 maxed at 40.7 gr., and I never had one go over 42.5. Every creedmoor I’ve bought or built ends up between 40.5 and 42, and goes exactly the same speed as the .260’s before it. No way in hell is a .260 a couple hundred FPS faster than a creed.
 
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so many people so many opinions ....love it ;-)

when i'm going for the 260 (ai) or 280 (ai) option what barrel lenght would be wise ...?

thnxs

chris

Like I said earlier, .280 options are off the table. I realized after my first post, C.O.A.L. will not work with the TacA1/CTR magazines. Too long of a cartridge
 
Like I said earlier, .280 options are off the table. I realized after my first post, C.O.A.L. will not work with the TacA1/CTR magazines. Too long of a cartridge

Yup, this!!!

Op, the 280 AI is a hell of a round and would be fun using it for 1000+ but is pointless in short action. In this case, the Tikka is a long action but the mags are for short action since it started life as a 308. Go 260 AI or neck up 6.5PRC to 28cal and deal with mag length restrictions.
 
I wouldn’t even mess with the 260AI.
R16 or R26 and a 147 in a 26” is 2750-2800 and that’s some solid performance in a 308 sized case that won’t abuse barrels.

Easy mode at 1000+?
open up the boltface to .530 and look at 7 saum.
 
I wouldn’t even mess with the 260AI.
R16 or R26 and a 147 in a 26” is 2750-2800 and that’s some solid performance in a 308 sized case that won’t abuse barrels.

Easy mode at 1000+?
open up the boltface to .530 and look at 7 saum.

I've seen 3000+ FPS with a 153 A-TIP out of 6.5CM with 26" barrel. I believe a 28" barrel with a 260 AI chamber could be fun to play with at 1000+ but you are correct it is not exactly the proper tool. I will also admit that it is probably not at all normal or common for others to achieve 3000+ FPS out of a creed with a 153 and that is a very rare anomaly.

It's probably a good idea to open up the bolt face for magnum cartridges!
 
I've seen 3000+ FPS with a 153 A-TIP out of 6.5CM with 26" barrel. I believe a 28" barrel with a 260 AI chamber could be fun to play with at 1000+ but you are correct it is not exactly the proper tool. I will also admit that it is probably not at all normal or common for others to achieve 3000+ FPS out of a creed with a 153 and that is a very rare anomaly.

It's probably a good idea to open up the bolt face for magnum cartridges!
153’s at 3000 is insane for a 6.5CM.
I’d rather not be near that.

It appears 168’s at 3000 is pretty easy in my 7 saum with R26 from what I saw yesterday.
 
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153’s at 3000 is insane for a 6.5CM.
I’d rather not be near that.

Haha I do not disagree one bit but if you are not concerned about barrel life and are not getting pressure issues, it might be fun to see how much you can push a creed. He did back off from RL26 and stuck to RL16 at a slower MV tho as it proved to have better SDs and spreads.
 
Haha I do not disagree one bit but if you are not concerned about barrel life and are not getting pressure issues, it might be fun to see how much you can push a creed. He did back off from RL26 and stuck to RL16 at a slower MV tho as it proved to have better SDs and spreads.
I’d possibly be able to reach that in my 260 as I run quite roomy brass and a long throated chamber but R16 is really awesome in it right now.
 
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Yup, this!!!

Op, the 280 AI is a hell of a round and would be fun using it for 1000+ but is pointless in short action. In this case, the Tikka is a long action but the mags are for short action since it started life as a 308. Go 260 AI or neck up 6.5PRC to 28cal and deal with mag length restrictions.

PRC would require bolt face to be opened up. And at that point I would have to agree with Steel Head, 7SAUM would be the route to go if you do that, assuming 7SAUM plays well with TACA1/CTR magazines.
 
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