Is it worth it to AI my 260rem?

[Brodygil]

Hey guys,

im new to the forum but I've been a long time savage fan.

Im wondering if it's worth it for me to Ackley Improve my sav m10 260rem? Let me know your thoughts? Im looking for a little but more speed out of my factory barrel. So far the barrel shoots great .5 to .75 moa on average. Speeds are 2929fps with the 130gr Berger ar hybrids.

[SageRat Shooter]

Why would you want to go AI when you're getting over 2900 FPS with it and with accuracy? my 260 shoots the 143 ELD-X @ 2750 FPS... (your barrel seems fast already) getting more speed, you might want to just go to a 6.5x284...?

[darkker]

Yeah, "worth it" is an individual preference.

Despite what gets bantered, most barrels will be slower than book data 99% of the time. Factories mass produce things and have tollerances of wear on reamers. SAAMI standards for pressure tested data run minimum spec everything; So you will have more gas bleed-off and slower velocities. How much more speed are you looking for?

Very few people actually test pressures, they like to use "signs", meaning posted AI loads are most likely high pressure. If that doesn't bother you, that's fine; but be aware of it.

[Haiku_Rodney]

I have a 30-06 AI. I get a lot of negative feedback as it being a waste of money. When you look at the statistics, it may not be worth it. AI's are kind of cool. People look at your brass and scratch their heads. My AI is very accurate and I am getting a lot more confident in taking longer shots. My preference for hunting loads is to get the heaviest bullet that the caliber will push at my preferred velocity so the extra 100-150 fps makes a difference. Go for it, as I said earlier, AI's are "Cool"!

[culpeper]

Hey guys,

im new to the forum but I've been a long time savage fan.

Im wondering if it's worth it for me to Ackley Improve my sav m10 260rem? Let me know your thoughts? Im looking for a little but more speed out of my factory barrel. So far the barrel shoots great .5 to .75 moa on average. Speeds are 2929fps with the 130gr Berger ar hybrids.Look into the .260 KMW/Surgeon specs. Some people call it .260 Ft. Bragg or T Cross. Anyway, Pacific tool supplies the reamer. CGS Group in Artesia may have one. Talk to Bobby West.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[VAFISH]

Worth it?

I guess that depends upon what you want it for.

When you rechamber to the AI you kind of lose the ability to just grab a box of ammo of the shelf of your local sporting good store and heading out to the fields hunting. But if you are already handloading and working up specific ammo for the best accuracy then you aren't going to be grabbing a box off the shelf of your local sporting goods store anyway.

So the question you need to answer is that extra 100-150 fps something you really need/want and can you live with only shooting your handloads? If the answer to both those questions is Yes, then I think it's worth it for you.

So now your question is do you just rechamber the barrel you have or do you just buy a new barrel in .260 AI?

If you buy a new barrel it's pretty easy to put it back the way it was if you don't like it. If you rechamber and don't like it, it's easy enough to buy a new barrel in another caliber.

[Sterling]

On the commercial ammo front, it's pretty much a toss up with both 260AI and 260 Remington. There was only one - ONE - box of commercial ammunition for 260 Remington on the shelf at the Cabela's I visited yesterday. I figure both would require hand-loading.

[Brodygil]

What I really want is to be able to run a 140 class bullet at 2900fps or the 130's at 3000fps so I'm looking it for another 100fps. Do I need it? no but do I want it? yes lol.

And yes I reload already so I will never be looking for factory ammunition for this rifle.

[noname]

you already have your mind made..I wouldn't bother myself..another set of dies,time fire forming,etc.
But you will do what you want anyway..Plus the extra heat is going to rob your barrel life as well...

[Brodygil]

I'm going to have to say the cool factor is play a pretty big part lol.

[Brodygil]

Why would you want to go AI when you're getting over 2900 FPS with it and with accuracy? my 260 shoots the 143 ELD-X @ 2750 FPS... (your barrel seems fast already) getting more speed, you might want to just go to a 6.5x284...?

2900 with 130's is fairly normal for a 260r with handloads is it not? It 50fps faster then my 6.5cm with the same bullet.

And i I thought about going back to a 6.5-284 but I don't like having to use a LA and I already have a decent platform to build off of.

Sav M10 predator 260R 24" fluted in a B&C M40 glass bedded

[Haiku_Rodney]

FYI, you can shoot the factory 260 to fire form the brass for the AI. I necksize my brass so I only have one set of dies. I carry 2 loads for for 30-06 in the field. 150 gr Speer BTSP for goats, pigs and axis deer, 200 gr Accubond for feral cattle. The 150 gr. shoots about 1-1/2 high at 100 yds., the 200 gr is dead-on. You can do what I did and shoot factory until you accumulate enough brass to load the AI load you want.

[mattri]

Anyone having any feeding issues?

[Evlshnngns]

I want a wildcat 6.5 swede, then I remind myself of all the records set with the little 6.5 Lapua.... From my reading, some of the bigger cartridges end up at the same speed for accuracy, while burning more powder. That would suck. What are you doing with the gun, target or hunting? And to the guy who said you can't use off the shelf ammo, if done correctly that's not true.

[Haiku_Rodney]

I have no feed problems with my 30-06 AI. It is such a great rifle. I did the rebarreling myself. Back a ways, Midway sold an Adams & Bennett 30-06AI for a little over a $100 so I did it just to do it. I have never regretted it. No problems at all with the rifle. It seems to like everything I feed it.