260 AI on a Long Action

[stomp442]

The 260 Ackley with standard throats and even seated to standard short action lengths will do anything the 6.5-284 will do with less powder. My 260 Ackley is built on a long action with a Mcgowen barrel. I'm running 140 bergers at just off the lands at a c.b.t.o. of 2.217" even though its on a long action it would still fit and feed fine from a short action. I don't feel like I am giving up any performance by having the bullet seated slightly deeper than I would like but its nice to know I have plenty of room to chase the lands as the barrel wares. Using Lapua brass and 42grains of H4350 I am getting 2950fps out of my 26" barrel. For comparison I am running 57 grains of Retumbo in my 6.5-284 with the same 140 berger to get 2960fps. Barrel life, recoil and efficiency is all better with the 260AI.

I also have a 6.5-06 Ackley improved built on a winchester model 70 with 140 Bergers seated to mag length and I am getting incredible performance out of it. Using 59.5gr of H4831 I am getting 3180fps. This is my long range hunting rifle and it does not leave me wanting for more gun at all.

[Londerko]

Wow!
Thanks Stomp, that's exactly the kind of answer I was looking for. Thank you.
Please forgive my ignorance...
C.B.T.O??? Please explain- Leo

[Londerko]

Cartridge base to ogive
Got it!

[stomp442]

Oops. Double tap.

[Londerko]

What does your CBTO of 2.217 translate into COAL with a Berger 140?

[stomp442]

Its right around 2.8 I believe but I would have to measure it. I will try to do that when I get home from work tonight.

[stomp442]

2.812" C.O.A.L. is what I am running.

[Londerko]

Great! Ya that would work on a short action too. Thanks for the info and the help.

[TC260]

i would never own a 6.5-06 though for safety reasons. when you have freinds that shoot 270's 25-06's and 30-06. if your neckin up 25-06 or necking down 30-06 ect you could very easily interchange them on accident becasue of the case stamps. Unless the 6.5-06 headpaces different like the 280?

If things are that chaotic around your bench at the range where guys don't know whose ammo is going into which gun then I agree, probably shouldn't be playing with wildcats.

[Luke45]

If things are that chaotic around your bench at the range where guys don't know whose ammo is going into which gun then I agree, probably shouldn't be playing with wildcats.

i would rather a 6.5-06 ackley so there is no way to interchange them with a 25-06 or 270.

[mudpig]

I just got done building two 1903 Springfields in 260 Rem (not AI) with a .120 total freebore. These aren't AI so I don't know about feeding issues but my 22-250AI has NO such issues and my long 260 has NO issues. I just got done doing barrel break in with cheap Rem core lok 140gr and am starting ladders with 123 Amax loaded COAL 2.862". Hoping to get close to 3100fps.

[cheezie]

Luke45 is approximately correct. But a 6.5-06 will significantly outperform a 260AI and be the equal of the 6.5-284. And then there's the 6.5WSM, which trumps them all.

[Rooster 50]

Luke45 is approximately correct. But a 6.5-06 will significantly outperform a 260AI and be the equal of the 6.5-284. And then there's the 6.5WSM, which trumps them all.

Thinking real hard about a 6.5 WSM whats your experience with it?

[stomp442]

Luke45 is approximately correct. But a 6.5-06 will significantly outperform a 260AI and be the equal of the 6.5-284. And then there's the 6.5WSM, which trumps them all.

Not on my experience. 6.5-06 will perform exactly the same as a 6.5-284 right around 2950-3000 fps. The 260 Ackley will do the same 2950 quite easily with a lot less powder.

[stomp442]

As as the 6.5wsm I've found it to be less than ideal. Yeah it really screams but it takes a lot of powder to get there. When I had mine I think I was running 65 grains of powder to get just over 3100fps. By comparison my 6.5-06 Ackley with 59gr of powder is giving me 3180fps. Needless to say the 6.5wsm was soon sold off in favor of the more efficient 6.5-06 Ackley.