What ever happened to the 260 improved 30?

[Andy4600]

Does anyone know if any information still exists on the 260 improved 30 that used to be developed by Robert Whitley? I remember reading about it years ago and liking the concept...but it seems all those articles are gone now. Is this an option for a build anymore?

 

[Prose]

260AI is what you are looking for. Great cartridge.

 

[Andy4600]

The 260AI is on my list as well...just looking at a different option.

 

[Bill Norris]

The regular 260AI has a 40 Degree shoulder angle.

 

[Twdmar]

Whitleys website crashed and is being redone if I'm not mistaken but you can go to 6mmar.com to find their phone number.

 

[SweaterDood]

You can talk to JGS, Clymer, or Manson about a reamer. 4D Reamer Rentals may also have a 30* version that your chosen gunsmith can use

 

[DaveTooley]

Sort out the dies then get the reamer. 30 or 40 degree shoulder makes no difference in velocity. Sizing works better with the 30. But get a line on the dies first.

 

[Andy4600]

Is there any advantage of a 260 improved 30 over a 260AI?

 

[Bill Norris]

Is there any advantage of a 260 improved 30 over a 260AI?

Don't really see how it could be any better. The 260AI is fast, accurate, and requires little to no trimming and if the F/L brass re-sizing is kept in check @ .002 or less shoulder bump it will last a very long time.

 

[SweaterDood]

Is there any advantage of a 260 improved 30 over a 260AI?

Disadvantage of being more difficult to procure dies. (Bump for Dave Tooley’s post above)

Very slight advantage in feeding due to shallower shoulder angle. Less applicable to bolt actions

 

[Andy4600]

Less applicable to bolt actions

Please explain more, as this will be a bolt gun for hunting primarily. Is 30 vs 40 degree angle something I should not think about as far as feeding?

 

[rebel]

I have one on a Tikka master hunter. Shilen pre fit barrel. I traded an A1 AR 15 I had duracoated for it. The guy had only fired 50 shots through it fire forming. I obtained some Lapua brass, played with max charge levels ( learned a lot ) and it shoots in the 3's out to 300. Kills like lightning strikes.

 

[No manches"]

Does anyone know if any information still exists on the 260 improved 30 that used to be developed by Robert Whitley? I remember reading about it years ago and liking the concept...but it seems all those articles are gone now. Is this an option for a build anymore?

Are you asking about the 6.5 SLR?...

I have the reamer print if you need it*

 

[CaptainMal]

My Savage 260AI feeds perfectly from the blind magazine in a cheap model I re-built. Been using it for years. Awesome cartridge and my old "junker" rifle is my favorite long-range deer rifle that I use each year.

 

[SweaterDood]

Please explain more, as this will be a bolt gun for hunting primarily. Is 30 vs 40 degree angle something I should not think about as far as feeding?

If both versions have an improved cases body with the same amount of body taper reduction, the 10* difference in shoulder won’t matter in a bolt action. The cycling rate of a human behind the bolt won’t induce failures, so much as the shooter failing to perform a complete rearward travel of the bolt. 260AI, 257 RobAI, 280 RemAI, etc. all traditionally use a 40* shoulder with much success.

Since semi-autos cycle at a very high rate the reduced taper and shoulder angle can contribute to feeding failures more readily. You don’t see 40* shoulders, or improved case bodies in semi-autos for this reason. Specifically case bodies with less taper than a 6.5CM, which is about optimal for a gas gun, dimensionally.

 

[Andy4600]

Are you asking about the 6.5 SLR?...

Nope, the 260 improved 30. It was another design by the same person that made the 6.5 SLR.

 

[STOMP442]

.260 AI is the easy button. Redding makes nice dies for it and it feeds and functions fine in every action I have ever built one in. Velocities will be within 100fps of the new darling 6.5PRC with about 10 grains less powder. 2950ish fps seems to be the sweet spot with a 140 class bullet. H4350, R16, R23 and H4831sc powders all work well. I built one for my wife as her main long range deer rifle and she has done very well with it. She killed a very nice Mule Deer two years ago at nearly 900 yards one and done with a 140 Berger VLD.

 

[AckleymanII]

I have reamer, barrels, and brass, no dies....

 

[Fast14riot]

The 260AI also has enough horse power to push the heavies. I'm shooting the 153.5 in mine for f/open, low node at 2780 in a 29" Kreiger helps with barrel life. I ran 140s at 2975 with success.

 

[Bill Norris]

The 260AI also has enough horse power to push the heavies. I'm shooting the 153.5 in mine for f/open, low node at 2780 in a 29" Kreiger helps with barrel life. I ran 140s at 2975 with success.

There is a good node @ 2900 fps with the 140 class bullets that works really good in my 260AI s