260 ackley real world.

[ollie]

Picked up my new 260ai last friday and got a chance to see just what it would do. After reading everything i could on the internet load data was slim to say the least.

Varget produced decent groups but no velocity 2670fps
H4831 produced great groups lots of speed 2870fps
H4350 produced great groups good speed 2780fps and is the load i will be using.
All these loads i feel i could go hotter but i see no need to.
This is from fireformed brass in a rock creek 25in 8tw barrel using 140gr amax.

The gun is very shooter friendly as there is little recoil and muzzle blast.

Fire forming is a pain but i used the COW method and red dot.

.243 brass can be used but needs to be expanded in two steps using a 25cal die then a 6.5 die.

I hope some of you other ai shooters will chime in with there experiences with this great round.

 

[fivering]

Give Re-17 a try.

 

[ollie]

Could you pm me a starting load with r17?

 

[fivering]

Usually you can use your load with H-4350, will give about the same pressure but with significantly (75-150 fps) better velocity. To be on the safe side, you should probably work up from half a grain less that your H-4350 load for starters.

 

[woodtick]

I've had my 260 AI for 2 years now. It is a hunting rifle Rem 700 blue printed with a 25" shilen select match and a bell and carlson TI2 stock. I shoot 130 gr Accubonds @ 3000fps. With very low SD and ES. I can print 5" groups at 600 yards in ideal conditions almost every time I shoot it the gun weighs 7.5 lbs with scope! My load is H4350 with 47.6 grs. Best deer and antelope cartridge I've had the opportunity to play with yet!!

 

[nhm16]

Usually you can use your load with H-4350, will give about the same pressure but with significantly (75-150 fps) better velocity. To be on the safe side, you should probably work up from half a grain less that your H-4350 load for starters.

Also, my experience with RL-17 in both .260 and 6.5x47L is that it works best with a lot of jump (0.050"-0.070" or more), even with VLDs.

 

[Ing. Michael W. Mayerl]

Picked up my new 260ai last friday and got a chance to see just what it would do. After reading everything i could on the internet load data was slim to say the least.

Varget produced decent groups but no velocity 2670fps
H4831 produced great groups lots of speed 2870fps
H4350 produced great groups good speed 2780fps and is the load i will be using.
All these loads i feel i could go hotter but i see no need to.
This is from fireformed brass in a rock creek 25in 8tw barrel using 140gr amax.

The 260 AI is a very accurate and shoulder friendly long range cartridge.
Fireforming is not funny but you can order a hydroforming die at Hornady - cool tools.
The 260 AI works best with slow burning powder. Vitha N560, Norma MRP, Reloder 19 - 22, Accurate MagPro or 4350, H4831 will bring the best performance and highest speed.

Tip: I think Lapua starts to make 260 Rem brass !!!
7mm-08 brass can be used too - also cheap PRVI PPU 7mm-08 brass is available.

 

[Chuckw]

my 27" 3-groove benchmark absolutely loves the 130 berger and re15 at 3025 fps. shoots 1/2" or so at 210yds. i can push the 140's to 2950 but this 8 twist barrel just seems to prefer the 123 and 130 for some reason. i like it pretty well but this barrel used to be a 6.5slr and it made the same velocity with less powder and did not require fireforming.

chuck

 

[Rock]

Norma MRP is also a very good powder for the 260 ackley

 

[tactrat]

I use H4831SC. Have also tried RL-19 and am currently playing with RL-17.

Pet load so far is 48.1 of the 4831. Getting 3000 fps with 140vld out of a 28" barrel and 10thou of lands. Single digit SD's and very accurrate.

Did not get the velocity and SD numbers I wanted with RL-19.

Been playing with RL-17. Shows promise. Getting almost 100fps more velocity with good SD's and almost 1/2 moa accurracy. Need to play with the seating depth more. Can't remember the charge weight off top of my head but I'll get it if anyone is interested.

 

[ollie]

We ran the ackley out to 1250yds today. used nosler 140gr hpbt. It took 30min elevation.

 

[savageboy]

I have qty 4- 1 lb unopened canisters of RL17 for sale. My 260AI didn't like it as well as H4831SC, kept in airconditioned/ heated bonus room. Charlotte NC area FTF only $80 for all 4 if any of you 260AI shooters are interested. I can throw in the 1/2 lb of the 5th. container that I did load dev. with

 

[Rock Knocker]

Ive only tried R19 with 140gr Nosler CCs, ive got a 30" barrel and get them moving at 3000fps. Im getting almost 1/2 minute accuracy. Im shooting a savage target action with a criterion 1-8" barrel. Im shooting in the 190s at 300 and 600 yards, i have shot one match at 800 900 and 1000 yards in the rain and i was getting right at 142 of 150 all the way through.

I would love to try some Berger VLDs and maybe H4831 but how much better could things be looking?

What are some good loads for 4831 with 130 or 140gr Bergers?

 

[mikegaiz]

Try some IMR 4064 I think you may be impressed at the results.

 

[Rock Knocker]

Its the first time i have heard IMR 4046 come up, i will have to look into it.

I need temp stability, or at least Really REALLY want temp stability. I shoot in Minnesota and I shoot in the winters at as low as -10F or more and shoot in the summers at as much as (like yesturday) 103F. Kinda why i would like to see some Hodgdon's extreme powders work well in my rifle. Im shooting Varget in my 223 AR and should break down and do some load tests with it in my 260AI but i was trying to stick with some slower powders.

 

[2644ever]

IMR 4064? Anything below H4350 is too fast, unless you intend to shoot 85-95 grain varmint pills.

 

[Rock Knocker]

I am going to be out buying new powder and bullets in the next couple days. I plan on picking up 100 140gr Amaxs and a pound of 4831, but now should i try the short cut or the regular? I wont be metering this powder so that isnt an issue, i just wasnt sure if the SC has a slightly quicker burn rate.

 

[Jaxdilation]

The AI throws a 140 amax exactly the same speed as my standard 260 throws 142SMKs (Fed210, 42gr of H4350,lapua brass, 010 off the lands)

 

[Rock Knocker]

I would need to see your math on that one, something isnt adding up.

 

[HillbillySniper]

I would need to see your math on that one, something isnt adding up.

I would have to agree something doesnt seem right....

Hillbilly