Improving the 260...

[FEENIX]

View attachment 139849

I would let my son hunt with the .264, but he needs trigger time behind a rifle. Don't want him developing a flinch. The .264 has more bark than bite, but its bark can be severe.

Yep, flinching is a terrible habit to have. Mine is fairly heavy at 11.2 lbs (stock and barreled action only as seen below) and with MB, so it should be fairly tame. I currently have 140 Bergers and will also get the 156s when it is available.

 

[J E Custom]

Your speeds sound like a .264 Win Mag, except using less powder. I loved my .264, but it seems it isn't too popular even these days.

When I did a break in on this rifle, I loaded the 260 cases with a middle of the road load for fire forming and got an average of 2890 with these loads. I did not have any factory loads with high pressure loads and wanted to fire form the new Lapua brass anyway.

With the AI version being good for an average of 150 ft/sec more than the standard version and the other velocity improvements mentioned, 3000 ft/sec was not hard to reach with normal loads. (I don't load anything max anymore). Lots of people that are getting 3000+from 140 grain bullets without excessive pressures.

The 7/08 does the same thing when AI'd and increases buy 100 to 150 ft/sec with this change. there are many reasons that velocities vary with different rifles and loads. but the AI's are very efficient and can be quite an update. I have built many 280 AI's and they can do more than a 7 Rem Mag with less powder.

J E CUSTOM

 

[window licker]

260 AI is one of the better cases for shooting 140's out of a short action near 3000 fps. I ran a 142 smk at 2970 out of a 26" ace barrel at the nightforce ELR match in Wyoming with zero pressure issues, using RE-23. If you are planning on running a short barrel, 20-22" I would probably run a straight 260 or creedmoor, I dont think you will see much improvement with the AI with that short of a barrel.

 

[Gibbshooter43]

I sure am appreciating all of your insights and information r/t the 260AI. As mentioned before, I've AI'ed my 243, 250 Savage (producing the most significant increases), and my 25:06. As you can tell, I'm a fan. Even with less than dramatic velocity increases, the ease of reloading and the extension of case life, to say nothing of the cool factor of the case appearance, makes the improvement well worth the cost. Thanks again for all your input. Gibbs...

 

[J E Custom]

I sure am appreciating all of your insights and information r/t the 260AI. As mentioned before, I've AI'ed my 243, 250 Savage (producing the most significant increases), and my 25:06. As you can tell, I'm a fan. Even with less than dramatic velocity increases, the ease of reloading and the extension of case life, to say nothing of the cool factor of the case appearance, makes the improvement well worth the cost. Thanks again for all your input. Gibbs...

There are other ways to get velocity that are not cartridge related. Combined with the AI process It becomes a real boost to velocity and case life. Improving the case shape and dimensions are good things In many forms of shooting and in certain firearms, But it is "NOT" in many cases so don't think it is the cure all.

One of the best examples of this I saw, was when a Weatherby owner wanted a Gun Smith friend to short throat a 30x378 to improve accuracy. Not only did it not improve accuracy, It could not fire Weatherby Factory ammo because it blew the primers every time.
So he had to load all ammo for this very expensive rifle to less velocities than many other 30 cal cartridges could achieve.

There are many reasons why one should "NOT" AI some cartridges for some uses and firearms. Dangerous game rifles and self defense are two good example.

I realy like the efficiency of The Ackley design for certain uses and characteristics, but don't recommend that every cartridge needs to be Improved. In fact many cartridges are designed for a specific use and changing it could have negative consequences. If velocity is the only goal, there are always bigger cartridges in the same caliber that can push a bullet faster but they are normally less efficient and harder on cases and equipment.

J E CUSTOM

 

[TwoMore]

View attachment 139849

Yep, flinching is a terrible habit to have. Mine is fairly heavy at 11.2 lbs (stock and barreled action only as seen below) and with MB, so it should be fairly tame. I currently have 140 Bergers and will also get the 156s when it is available.

Thats a good lookin rig Feenix, I like the heavier choate stocks myself

View attachment 139850

 

[codyadams]

My .260 AI has a 29" medium palma krieger, with a 3 port mbm brake so it is comfortable for kids to shoot. My 12 year old niece was spotting her own hits at 400 yards with it, and that was shooting a 147 eld-m at 3040 fps. That is with Reloder 26, OAL around 2.900" being ran out of an ARC AICS mag in a rem 700 short action. With H4831sc, it was shooting 140's around 3000 fps, best accuracy at 2930. With Reloder 26, the 140's would hit 3100 and change, best accuracy at 2970. I use Peterson SRP brass. This is a pronghorn one of my nieces took this year with it at 980 yds.

On a different note, I also built my Father a .264 wm on a ruger action with a Krieger #5+ 26", and using Retumbo and HBN coated 147's is going 3240 fps.

 

[zb338]

I don't really get it. I had a Sako Finnbear in .264. I shot some
woodchucks with it that were quite far away. It was a real boomer.
How come no one uses them any more?
Zeke

 

[wbm]

Some data
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...d-load-data-and-velocity-information.3750997/

 

[FEENIX]

Thats a good lookin rig Feenix, I like the heavier choate stocks myself
View attachment 139895
View attachment 139850

Thanks! It's my first Choate stock. Those are nice set-up too. Thanks for sharing.

 

[John Klingenberg]

Are you going to build on a long action to take full advantage of that extra powder space? @ 2.85" oal the 260 case has heavy for cal 140+gr bullets sitting pretty deep in the powder space. I'd run a 24" bbl minimum if you're looking for max fps. 1:8 twist will be plenty, there are a few new bullets out that have great BC that require 1:7.5 but they're heavy and that small case would probably have better ballistics shooting a bit lighter bullets faster. Here is my stance on this......I sold my 6.5 creedmoor, and the 260ai is just a lil step above that case on a short action. To use extra powder space it needs be run on a long action, but then why stop there? If I were building a rifle to run on a long action that would have great brass, good barrel life, good performance, it'd be a 6.5x55 improved. Lapua brass, will run right with a 6.5x284 with less powder.

The Swede gets a little tight in a short action with long bullets.

 

[John Klingenberg]

I'm running a 26" criterion 1 in 7 right at 2940 with 140s in the standard 260. I had the AI but in reality I never saw much over 60fps gain. I didnt think it justified the extra steps at the loading bench. 22" barrels are great for carrying around. 20" will get you about 2600fps

 

[Rustystud]

I am planning to Ackley Improve my Remington 260. I've read and considered all the arguments for and against the AI. My question here is what is the most ideal barrel length and twist to achieve the maximum accuracy and velocity. I realize there will be a process of selecting powders and bullets, and fine tuning them, but I really want to hear your tho'ts about length and twist.

The 260 is a 308 necked down to 6.5. If you want more powder you might look at the 6.5 x 57 or the 6.5 x .284.
Nat Lambeth

 

[codyadams]

The 260 is a 308 necked down to 6.5. If you want more powder you might look at the 6.5 x 57 or the 6.5 x .284.
Nat Lambeth

Essentially requires a long action with any long range type bullets. Depends on the action he chooses if those would be appropriate, but since he is talking about a .260, it is likely he has a short action or plans on going with one.