New .260AI Shorty Build

[lancetkenyon]

I picked up my new .260AI shorty barreled action yesterday.
Dropped it in a Manners EH1 while I am waiting on the Manners LRH that has been ordered.
Mounted a Premier Heritage Light Tactical on it for now. Might swap to a Tangent Theta TT315M, but not sure yet.

Kelbly Atlas Lite SA
20" 1:7.5" Benchmark Sendero Light CF
TBAC CB (TBAC Ultra 7 on for photo)
BixN' Andy Tac Sport Pro X @ 4oz
Manners EH1 w, ultralight cheek piece
PT&G Oberndorf BDL w, canoe base (5+1)
Wyatt's extended box (2.950")
Seekins 30mm medium .87" rings
Premier Heritage Light Tactical 3-15x50 Gen 2XR
Flatline Ops level

9lbs 6oz scoped and suppressed

I have some initial test loads already made up for fire forming to shoot this weekend.

Alpha LRP .260 brass (I am going to see how the LRP stacks up to the SRP brass I am using in my other 24" .260AI)
CCI BR2
H4350
140 Barnes Match Burners

I plan on shooting the 140 Hybrids after fire forming. The BMBs shot very well in my other .260AI for fire forming, I figured why not shoot a $.21 bullet for fire forming vs a $.65 bullet. I was shooting steel out to 1400+ with my other rifle's fire forming loads.

I have a 24" .260AI, and I like it so much, I wanted to build a lighter, shorter version.
It shoots: 140 Hyb @ 2996fps or 130 OTM @ 3068fps.
If I can get a 140 Hyb @ 2800+ in the new 20", I will be happy.

I will post results on fire forming, and load development as time goes on.

For those who don't know what a .260AI is, here is a photo. .260 Remington, with shoulder blown forward to 40* (vs 20*), and body taper blown out.
.260 Rem vs .260AI (Ackley Imp 40*) after fire forming

 

[Dmagna]

Do you feel that the 260 ai would be better in a medium action? I have been thinking about doing one, just didn't know if it would be good in my Kelby atlas

 

[lancetkenyon]

Do you feel that the 260 ai would be better in a medium action? I have been thinking about doing one, just didn't know if it would be good in my Kelby atlas

If you go with the standard .050" FB, the cartridge easily fits in a short magazine.
My reamer has .140" FB, and still fits in a Wyatt's extended box or Accurate mag at 2.950".
I already have a 24" .260AI, and shoot both the 130 OTM and 140 Hyb in it. That action is a Lone Peak Fuzion which has a longer feed ramp that extends past the front of the magazine, so the 140s are very close. The 130s clear easily.

No need to go to a 3.200" magazine in my opinion.

 

[TopPin]

Ohh boy got to love the 260AI runs 120-135 gr bullets as fast or faster than the Prc with 10 grains less powder. One of my personal favorites! #pewpewpower recoil of a pellet gun and just flat shoots!

 

[Mike D Texas]

Love the 260AI. Following to see how the 20" Benchmark does.

We don't need no stinking Creedmoor.

 

[Dmagna]

If you go with the standard .050" FB, the cartridge easily fits in a short magazine.
My reamer has .140" FB, and still fits in a Wyatt's extended box or Accurate mag at 2.950".
I already have a 24" .260AI, and shoot both the 130 OTM and 140 Hyb in it. That action is a Lone Peak Fuzion which has a longer feed ramp that extends past the front of the magazine, so the 140s are very close. The 130s clear easily.

No need to go to a 3.200" magazine in my opinion.

Thanks for the info. Probably going to be my next project

 

[del2les]

Nice! I went the other way with my 260AI with a 28" tube and a 2 1/2" break.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Forming brass. So far, three different 5 shot groups are all under 1/2" @ 100 yds, with some pretty good wind.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Nice! I went the other way with my 260AI with a 28" tube and a 2 1/2" break.

You are probably getting really good speeds in that!

 

[Phil Rizzo]

"Blow out" loads are surprisingly accurate in my experience. Sometimes every bit as good as the final product.

 

[del2les]

You are probably getting really good speeds in that!

Yes. I run 3k fps with 140's.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Love the 260AI. Following to see how the 20" Benchmark does.

We don't need no stinking Creedmoor.

YES we DO as, the Barrel "Life" with, the Puny 6.5 Creed,.. is DOUBLE++ that of, the .260 Ai's barrel Life, for us Old,.. "tight wads" ( LOL ! )
Sub 1/2 MOA 130 grainers at, 2,800+ FPS is, good enough, for me on, Steel, Deer and, Antelope !
If i were Hunting real, Long Ranges, or, Elk, I'd probably Opt for, the .260 Ai, tho !

 

[lancetkenyon]

Yes. I run 3k fps with 140's.

Probably pretty easily. I get 140s.to 2996 in my 24". Or 130s to 3068.

 

[Mike D Texas]

YES we DO as, the Barrel "Life" with, the Puny 6.5 Creed,.. is DOUBLE++ that of, the .260 Ai's barrel Life, for us Old,.. "tight wads" ( LOL ! )
Sub 1/2 MOA 130 grainers at, 2,800+ FPS is, good enough, for me on, Steel, Deer and, Antelope !
If i were Hunting real, Long Ranges, or, Elk, I'd probably Opt for, the .260 Ai, tho !

Why do you assume the Creed will have "double" the barrel life of the AI? You aren't burning THAT much more powder, case diameter is the same, neck diameter is the same.

I'm not buying that theory.