6.5 prc vs 260ai

[nastynatesfish]

Hey group.
I'm looking for a new bolt action. Being I already have a pair of Grendel's I'm looking at a 6.5mm.
I see the Savage 110 tactical for about 700. Has a 24" barrel whick I'm fine with.
Ive had a 260rem before and liked it.
I'm trying to decide between the prc and the ai version.
If I go 260ai I'll buy a used Remington 700 Magnum rifle and do a barrel swap. The Remington I'm watching is about 550 bucks. I'd probably go with a 26" barrel if I'm rebarreling.

I'm trying to weigh options.
260ai with Lapua small primer brass is nice being I have small rifle primers already and the prc brass is expensive and hard to find.
I have a range to 1100m steel and targets to 1400m.
What's the consensolus vs the two?

 

[Bc'z]

Of the 2 options you listed I would definitely go 260ai especially if it elieviats trimming brass, for the reasons you listed.
But I'm the wrong person to ask as I'm 100 rounds deep into a 6.5-284 built on a standard Remington LA.

 

[Bill Norris]

The 260AI is a winner for sure. Don't have any experience with the 6.5 PRC at all but I'd bet you could find a happy place with the 260AI. As mentioned hardly any to no brass trimming, fantastic accuracy, and ease of load development has won me over. I own two custom Remingtons by ODCR one 700 Hunting & one 40X BR and enjoy both. A 1 - 8 Tw will send the 140 class bullets on down the lane fast, accurate, and flat. We all know H-4350 is King with the short action .308 based calibers and small rifle primers work flawlessly in my Peterson brass.

 

[CJ6]

Why the 700 Magnum action? You would need to change bolts and I'm not so sure the feeding would be too well either (feed lips).

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Another vote for the 260AI. I would suggest that a faster twist be selected, maybe 1/7.5, as more heavier for length projectiles will be coming along -theres already 156g.
I'm sure the PRC is an excellent cartridge, as was the .264 magnum.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Why the 700 Magnum action? You would need to change bolts and I'm not so sure the feeding would be too well either (feed lips).

I'd need to change bolt if I went with the 260ai. But not the prc

 

[nastynatesfish]

The last 260 I built was a 28" bartlien full profile barrel. I was shooting the 160gr matrix bullets with h1000 and getting pretty crazy speeds and rediculous accuracy. My want for this rifle will be a range toy and a hunting rifle here in AZ. Common shots for muledwer and even course whitetail can carry from 100m to well over 7-800. I don't mind the 24"barrel. But I'd prefer a 26" I think. I just don't know if the prc would be worth it really. 3000fps with a 140gr out of a 26" is amazing. But 150-200 for a set of dies, 1-1.50 per piece of brass. The price of the rifle is what surprised me being I was originally thinking of a 30 cal. Then seen the 65. I'm leaning more 260ai. I'll just need to find a 3006 or 270 for a cheap price. Then look at Deadshot maybe for a barrel

 

[284winner]

260AI is a cheaper option for loading. You give up maybe 100 fps.

 

[Gary O'Neal]

The PRC is the easiest rifle I’ve ever developed loads for. Very nice round to load and shoot. I’ve always been intrigued by the 260 AI though. I’m at the age I’m starting to downsize, so I’d settle on the PRC. I can load it to full potential or I can down load it for more recreational shooting. Now the 6.5x55 AI would be a different story!

 

[Fast14riot]

260AI for sure. I'd go either 7 or 7.5 twist. Mine is an 8, and my last barrel was 26" shooting 140s at 2975. I plan to run the 153.5 around 2850. Bonus, you can use pretty much any of the 308 based cases to form brass if you need.

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

How about a 6.5x284?
I know it's out of fashion but it'll outrun the 260ai and is a twin to the prc

 

[drop_point]

The PRC doesn't grow much, so brass trimming shouldn't matter between the two anyway. I trim every firing for consistency anyway. PRC is faster, doesn't need formed, and you'll be able to buy factory ammo if you need...for instance lost ammo on a trip. I've also found in my instance, the PRC will run much faster than the load data says.

 

[JB10]

I went prc earlier this year. Did not get drawn for deer so now have more time to set up for the long shots. I too am here in az. Got a buddy with a good open area that were going to do some testing and set it up for up to 800 yards. I am not wanting a shot that far but its a little hard to get close in some units. Im useing 156 eol bergers

 

[JLT]

How about a 6.5x284?
I know it's out of fashion but it'll outrun the 260ai and is a twin to the prc

The .260AI will give you much better barrel life (9-10 grs. less powder) and it will run with the 6.5x.284 with RL-23. 3,000 fps with a 140 is not at all a stretch with RL-23.

 

[Fast14riot]

The PRC doesn't grow much, so brass trimming shouldn't matter between the two anyway. I trim every firing for consistency anyway. PRC is faster, doesn't need formed, and you'll be able to buy factory ammo if you need...for instance lost ammo on a trip. I've also found in my instance, the PRC will run much faster than the load data says.

I trim my brass once, when new to uniform it, and after 8 firings I still don't need to trim it. The beauty of the AI chambering is it still shoots parent case factory ammo extremely well! I've shot matches with my fire forming load. And $20-30 for a box of 260rem ammo vs $50 and up for PRC ammo is a bonus. I could push Sierra 150smk at 2950 in my 26" barrel, if I wanted, but was a little hot. That's about 50-100fps slower than the PRC. All with less than 50gr of powder.

 

[drop_point]

I trim my brass once, when new to uniform it, and after 8 firings I still don't need to trim it. The beauty of the AI chambering is it still shoots parent case factory ammo extremely well! I've shot matches with my fire forming load. And $20-30 for a box of 260rem ammo vs $50 and up for PRC ammo is a bonus. I could push Sierra 150smk at 2950 in my 26" barrel, if I wanted, but was a little hot. That's about 50-100fps slower than the PRC. All with less than 50gr of powder.

I've shot many AIs, but the trimming is done every time for consistency, not chambering problems. Also, a $30 box of .260 Core-lokt, is nothing compared to a $50 box of PRC with a modern ELD-X or similar load. And when you do consider the cost of fireforming .260 AI, most all the PRC brass is going to be cheaper. Lapua and ADG are both great brass companies.

Don't get me wrong! The .260 AI is a great round (.280 AI being my favorite of all the AIs), but anything .260 does, the PRC does better...just the way I see it! Hard to go wrong with either, but having ran both, the PRC will be my go-to for hunting from now on. I may get out of .260 altogether when my standard .260 Rem barrel dies on me, I use 6mm now in PRS anyway. But if I were just target shooting and not looking for edges hunting, I'd probably be shooting 6.5 Creedmoor anyway for economy.

 

[Fast14riot]

I don't trim it because it doesn't grow, not for chambering issues. Either way, rifle cartridges are like ice cream, there's a flavor for everyone!

 

[nastynatesfish]

260AI for sure. I'd go either 7 or 7.5 twist. Mine is an 8, and my last barrel was 26" shooting 140s at 2975. I plan to run the 153.5 around 2850. Bonus, you can use pretty much any of the 308 based cases to form brass if you need.

That's my thoughts as well. I'm leaning more to 260ai being I do want to stay small primer. I'm going to do some looking around. I seen the Savage rifle I was looking at for 700, on sale for 550 last night in prc. I just don't know if I want to fight finding brass with it.

 

[Tucker65]

I don't have any experience with the 260ai but I've put together four 6.5 prc's to specifically shoot the 156gr Berger's for hunting. All of them shot 1/2 moa with factory Hornady 143gr eld-x ammo and with the 156gr Berger's loaded with Reloader 26 going 3000 fps. they were even better. All four of the rifles had 7-1/2" twist 24" barrels and shot pretty much the same load. The node was pretty wide with both powder and seating depth.

As far as brass availability, it's out there if a guy looks. I was able to find both ADG and Lapua brass for these rifles. I'm sure factory Hornady brass will be fine to, just not the same quality as the others though.

John

 

[284winner]

How about a 6.5x284?
I know it's out of fashion but it'll outrun the 260ai and is a twin to the prc

It's an out with the old, in with the new mentality today. 6.5 PRC vs 6.5-284, 6.5 CM vs .260, 300 PRC vs 300WM. More factory ammo is available for the newer replacements compared to the older cartridges. Better bullet options for LR target and hunting. If your not a reloader, it's a no brainer. These cartridges cater more to the shooter not the reloader tech guy. They still shine brighter for the reloader but reloading isn't necessary with what's offered over the counter.