First brass fireformed from X-Caliber 260AI

Got to the range this morning to fire my first batch of brass for my new X-caliber brand 260AI barrel. Usually I go with CBI and have had nothing but excellent barrels but decided to give X-cal a try. I was a little nervous on how it would shoot, it arrived dirty, with greasy finger prints all over it and the rifling near the muzzle looked scuffed. Not a good initial impression. I used a Uni-throater to lengthen the throat a little, I don't know why they use so little freebore in 260AI reamers. I throated it just long enough to get the shank of a 142 SMK out of the donut area. My first 5 shots were cleaning, break-in, and sighting in then I shot a string of 20 rounds and was very impressed with the results. Neck turned 308 Palma brass, 140 Nosler CC jammed .010, ~42.0 A4350. Should be a real shooter once it's fully broke in and a good load worked up. I'll be curious if it out shoots my CBI 260AI that I won my local club 600 yard league with.

http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/x...pslxhchfvc.jpg

Nice shooting...have you shot an AI barrel out yet?

My Criterion has around 960 rounds through and is shooting the best it's ever done. My last 3 shoots for my 600 yard league were a 200,200,199. We use a target with 5.89" 10 ring so it's shooting very well. I've been pretty gentle on it, mostly 142SMK and 140 Berger LRBT at 2850ish. I've put some 140's over 3100 with RL17 but I'm sure it was over pressure and the accuracy wasn't there at 600. I've had over half a dozen 260 and 260AI and haven't shot one out yet. I put some rounds down them, sell them, and buy something else 6.5mm. I think I'm a barrel whore and need to seek professional help.

Lol...me to but I shoot em out first...and nice scores.

On the fence about a 260 ai. It would be my first ai. Some say barrel life is short like less than 1000 rounds.

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Originally Posted by 67tundra

On the fence about a 260 ai. It would be my first ai. Some say barrel life is short like less than 1000 rounds.

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I think barrel life is highly dependant on how hard you push it and how you clean it. I'm running ~2850 with 140's in a 28" barrel and around 46 grains H4831SC. 6.5-284 barrel life runs around 900-1000 if you compete with it. I think 260AI should run 1500-1800 under similar conditions. I see people running 140's at 2950 and I doubt they're getting 1800 rounds. I'd seriously give the 6.5x47L a look too, it's almost converted me away from the 260AI. My Remage with a CBI 6.5x47 has been incredibly accurate, low recoil, no fire forming, should get me ~2500 round barrel life. I can't run the 140's as fast but with 123's it is right on the heals of my 6BR buddies rifles for accuracy. It's what I'll be shooting this summer in my league. 3rd time out at 600 and I shot a solid 200-9x with 123 SMK.

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I think barrel life is highly dependant on how hard you push it and how you clean it

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I agree with the above.

The 260AI round is a great one, but I have 2 - 6.5x47 and they are hard to beat. I also shoot 123's in both of them.

Dennis

Tell me more about about the "uni-throater, I'm very interested. I'd like to lengthen the throat on my 260 Rem and eventually my 22-250 I just built.

I like the shorter throats on the .260AI's. I know thats contrary to what most like but I have never had any problem getting the velocity or the accuracy I need and I really like having the room to chase the lands as the barrel wares.

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Originally Posted by GaCop

Tell me more about about the "uni-throater, I'm very interested. I'd like to lengthen the throat on my 260 Rem and eventually my 22-250 I just built.

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+1 more

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Originally Posted by Dennis

+1 more

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http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/throa...oater-kit.html

i believe brownells has them too.

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Originally Posted by GaCop

Tell me more about about the "uni-throater, I'm very interested. I'd like to lengthen the throat on my 260 Rem and eventually my 22-250 I just built.

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I use dies with honed necks and no expander ball so I get minor donuts in the neck shoulder junction area. So I use the Unithroater to get the bullet just above the neck shoulder junction.

It looks like the tool is dedicated to one cartridge, therefore, it looks like you have to order one for each caliber.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Dennis

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Originally Posted by Dennis

It looks like the tool is dedicated to one cartridge, therefore, it looks like you have to order one for each caliber.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Dennis

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They are caliber specific not cartridge specific. 90% of what I shoot is 6.5mm so I thought it would be a reasonable investment.

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Originally Posted by alphapygmy

They are caliber specific not cartridge specific. 90% of what I shoot is 6.5mm so I thought it would be a reasonable investment.

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Thanks for the info.

I would probably have to buy about 5 of them, so I will have to weigh out my options.

Dennis

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Originally Posted by Dennis

Thanks for the info.

I would probably have to buy about 5 of them, so I will have to weigh out my options.

Dennis

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Are you sure you need them? I just have mine to get the bullet out of the donut area that my dies make.