260AI. worth it or do something different?

[lancetkenyon]

Just sayin'....

My JGS reamer took 9 weeks, and it is a custom cut with .140" FB instead of the standard .050" FB.

There is always https://4drentals.com/product/260-remington-ackley/ you could rent from.

 

[Elkeater]

I'll vote for 7-08. I had a 7-08ai built this year and I'm driving 140gr Absolute hammers at 3005fps out of a 24" proof barrel. It also likes 168gr Berger VLDs at a touch over 2800fps. And it really likes 113gr sledge hammers at 2835. The 140s are my hunting load, the 168s are my cheaper target load and the 113s are my kids mild recoil load. Lots of versatility.

 

[Ckgworks]

Can always rent........4d has been great when I've used them. Edit: Lance beat me to it......

260 Remington Ackley - 4D Reamer Rentals

260 Remington Ackley Improved, chamber reamer.

4drentals.com

 

[26Reload]

I had a ruger compact 16" 260...with rl17 it could make a 130gr ab sizzle...very accurate little rifle...accounted for a few deer and an elk......now sits in the ex's gun closet.....will probably never be shot again....
But.....it doesn't come close to overall power 'I could push' the 65284s at the top....i can easily push my 65284s with 142lrab over 3000fps....if they were just occassional shooters I probably would.....but they share lots of bullets at the rock pit on paper....
So easy does it......
I've even used mag primers in one to achieve very low es/sd......but that barrel went bye bye at around 2000 rds.......
If a 65284 with 52-53grs of rl23 at 2950fps is considered overbore....just how much difference is a 260ai really going to be if it is pushing 2900fps.....

 

[Santiam338]

I am well over 2000 rounds and no noticable loss in accuracy yet and I been watching.

 

[Patton243]

I vote for a 6.5 Creedmoor. I'm sure a lot of people will say it's overrated, but why waste your time and more money making a special AI cartridge when the 6.5 Creed is everywhere these days? 6.5 Creed is a more efficient and modernized cartridge than a standard 260. I wouldn't try to reinvent the wheel. And ammo and dies are a lot more plentiful too. Sweet spot IMO is 123-130 range. I wouldn't waste my time with the 140s. You want to shoot heavier bullets go with a .284 cartridge.

 

[codyadams]

I run a .260 AI, it is the most 6.5 performance you can get out of a standard bolt face short action. I have a 29" barrel, however I run a 156 EOL at 2940 fps with RL26. Pressure doesn't show up until a after 3000 fps. Another member on here I spoke with, using the same load I shoot, is getting 2750 fps with a 20" barrel. That puts you around 2875 fps from a 26" tube, and 2835 fps with a 24", with a 156. And this is my accuracy load, nearly 2 grains from max. With a 24" and a 140, you would likely find an accurate load around 2900 fps using common powders.

My gunsmith had the reamer, didn't need to order one. Most good smith's will have one.

As far as fireforming, my Lapua brass lasted 13+ fireings before I lost a single one, and barrel life will be plenty. 100 rounds is just enough for the shooter to get really comfortable with the rifle and the barrel to be good and settled in, then work up a good hunting load and your gtg.

I will fully admit I am biased, but I like the .260 AI. If you run a BDL, get an extended mag box. I run mine in an AICS DBM, and use American rifle company mags. I have to seat the 156 @ .060" off (2.950 OAL) but it shoots really well there.

 

[Another Casual]

7mm-08 with a 26 inch will get you there easily but at a lower BC for the same weight bullets. 260 AI sounds like a lot more fun though. When my 6.5 PRC is shot out I will seriously consider the 260AI. Most running copper solids anyway.

 

[Doc88]

Hello all, I'm in the thought process of building my wife a rifle, I've all ready bought a defiance tenacity and a proof sendero light barrel. looking for something that is relatively (easily) loaded for that will run a 140grain bullet around 2900. I had thoughts about ackley improving the 260 Remington but it just doesn't seem worth it. Open to all short action standard bolt face calibers 6.5-30cal that will do that velocity

I went through a similar process last year. Had the action and barrel in hand. Sent them to Shawn Carlock at Defensive Edge for a 260 Terminator (basically a 260AI with a +P throat). 140's at 3050 and 130 OTM's at 3145 (these are my actual velocities w/ RL 26). He'll fireform the brass and has dies ready to go. I sent him the parts in January 2021 and had the rifle by end of February 2021.

260 Terminator

You have entered the home of data for the Terminator family of cartridges. Like all loading data this is just a guideline to help you and not absolute information. This is simply what worked for us in just one or two rifles with our lot of powder, bullets primers etc. It is still your…

defensiveedge.net

Anyway...just a thought and an option. Good luck

 

[captrjc]

7 saw maybe something to look at….
This is from the west Texas ordinance website.
"162gr Hornady ELD-M, 46.2gr Alliant Reloder 16, CCI BR-4 primer, 2.245″ base to ogive length, 2878FPS average, 9.0FPS SD over 6 shot test"

 

[Varmint Hunter]

The original poster stated that he already has the barrel and is looking at 6.5mm cartridges. With that in mind, I'd assume that none of the 7mm cartridge suggestions would work.

 

[Patton243]

The original poster stated that he already has the barrel and is looking at 6.5mm cartridges. With that in mind, I'd assume that none of the 7mm cartridge suggestions would work.

You're right. However, he said he wants to shoot heavy bullets out of his 6.5 so the suggestion was to move up to a 7mm instead which is still viable. TBH, and I said it above, the sweet spot for a 260 or 6.5 Creed IMO is bullets between 120-130 grain. If he would look at something in that area he might as well shoot a 6.5 Creed at that point over the 260 or AI version. Finally, most of the people that start these types of threads already have their mind set on what they're going to do anyway. No point really to even try and convince them otherwise.

 

[LTH181818]

Why go with the 6.5x284 when the 260AI gets real close to its performance anyway, Plus a bit better barrel life and the ability to still shoot 260 If you want and still have fire-formed cases? I looked into doing a 6.5x284 and now I have 2 260AI that are right there with the 6.5x284 for performance. To each his own but I really believe the 260AI has all the benefits and none of the negatives. Also the OP has a short action that Would work much better for the 260 length cartridge.

Especially with the short action.

 

[Far North Hunter]

There are some places that will rent reamers. I don't know which ones and or who offhand but I am sure someone on here knows or has one.

4D rents. Not sure on 260 AI. I had Southern Precision (Bugnuts) ream my AI,,great service.