Nothing yet, hopefully this fall yet but he’s a busy kid working and family affairs. With hunting seasons coming in, he’ll be busy with that too. I have high hopes for those 144gr Lapua bullets though, and well at least load up a ladder and check velocities and pressure in preparation for accuracy testing. I finished the rifle in time for his last evening match with friends and he dominated them quite handily…I believe it’ll be on the back burner until this spring
260AI roll call
- Thread starter Fast14riot
- Start date
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
Solidified my load in the new rifle at the last 1000y club match last weekend. Going to take this load to the Western States Championship in a couple weeks. Shot a 150-8, 149-11 and a 141-2. Last relay I took my two sighters in what was to be the last of the calm winds as it picked up from the 3-5 knots to well over 10 with gusts and fish tailing in my face after my first round for record. Put up an 8 when trying to figure it out during record string, lol!
Target is from my second string. The right 9 was all me. Saw the flags switch right as I pulled the trigger and knew it was going to be close. Load shoots good, just need to confirm some tuner settings if needed for weather changes.
260AI
Berger 153.5
Peterson SRP 10x fired
Rem 7-1/2
N555 44.8gr
2804fps avg
SD 3-5 over 22 rounds.
Target is from my second string. The right 9 was all me. Saw the flags switch right as I pulled the trigger and knew it was going to be close. Load shoots good, just need to confirm some tuner settings if needed for weather changes.
260AI
Berger 153.5
Peterson SRP 10x fired
Rem 7-1/2
N555 44.8gr
2804fps avg
SD 3-5 over 22 rounds.
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
Well the 260AI did me proud at the Western States Long Range Championship this past weekend. It held its own against a lot of big 7mms and magnums. Conditions were calm but far from benign. You had to really watch the mirage to stay centered up. It wasn't just an X ring contest, that's for sure. Get lazy and you could easily shoot a 9. I took honors in F/Open Master and shot a very competitive score against the HM group, too.
Load
Berger 153.5 -0.010
Peterson 260 SRP (mixed from 2x to 18x firings)
Rem 7-1/2 seated -.003 with slight crush
44.8gr N555 weighed to +0.04/-0.00gr
Atmospherics
Starting the day in 65°F, 29.20-29.33in/Hg, 55%rH
Ending the day at 80°F, 29.24-29.40in/Hg, 40%rH
Elevation 876' ASL
Winds light and highly variable
Load
Berger 153.5 -0.010
Peterson 260 SRP (mixed from 2x to 18x firings)
Rem 7-1/2 seated -.003 with slight crush
44.8gr N555 weighed to +0.04/-0.00gr
Atmospherics
Starting the day in 65°F, 29.20-29.33in/Hg, 55%rH
Ending the day at 80°F, 29.24-29.40in/Hg, 40%rH
Elevation 876' ASL
Winds light and highly variable
swd
Silver $$ Contributor
Don't forget paint by BC'z!
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
swd
Silver $$ Contributor
We all know pretty guns shoot better, LOL, and Brett is the king of making them pretty! I'd fire that crappy gunsmith..
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
Did some bullet lot # testing Berger 153.5 over the last weekend. Was hoping to shoot a 1000y match but after 3 hour delay for fog the match got canceled. The next day was a Palma but after 2 hour fog delay we had just enough visibility to shoot a 600y match.
Winds were light and very switchy. Left, right, in your face and 2-3 minutes gusts and let offs that if you didn't pay attention would bite you.
Shot my first string with my known lot number then the next two strings with the new lot. Didn't see an appreciable difference between them, which is good enough right now. Getting things sorted for final selection for SWN.
Target was first string. Scores were really close at the top, one point could send you down a few spots.
Winds were light and very switchy. Left, right, in your face and 2-3 minutes gusts and let offs that if you didn't pay attention would bite you.
Shot my first string with my known lot number then the next two strings with the new lot. Didn't see an appreciable difference between them, which is good enough right now. Getting things sorted for final selection for SWN.
Target was first string. Scores were really close at the top, one point could send you down a few spots.
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
I contacted Redding a year ago inquiring about a small base 260AI die and turns out they do have a small base body die (#74623) but it is special order only through a dealer. I had a couple base sizing dies already so didn't follow through with that back then. After ripping the lip off my shell holder when base sizing right before the WSLRC in October, I decided to see if Bruno's could order it for me. After a bit of back and forth with Amy at Bruno's and Redding she was finally able to get the correct die on order and they had it in stock.
Hopefully I'll have it in hand by the end of this week and can try it out. I already body size and neck size in separate steps, so this won't cause any extra work for me. I'll take and record measurements over a larger sample and post my findings here. I'll also shoot before SWN to make sure everything is good.
Hopefully I'll have it in hand by the end of this week and can try it out. I already body size and neck size in separate steps, so this won't cause any extra work for me. I'll take and record measurements over a larger sample and post my findings here. I'll also shoot before SWN to make sure everything is good.
Infrequent Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
details on the build? looks great
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
Hand polished Panda, Kreiger 1.25" 1:8, Sidhe trigger, Southwest Action Works stock, Bc'z paint, Sightron 10-50 scope.
Infrequent Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
Nice!
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
Starting playing with the SB Body die tonight. It's just a tiny bit longer than my Type S FL die, so needed to use a lapped shell holder to get shoulder bump where I liked it.
It sizes well below the .200" line, and average base size for my many times fired Peterson SRP brass was 0.4686" as compared to the Type S FL die which would typically size to 0.4705".
Thats in line with my small ring die and my mid ring die would typically size to 0.4695".
I'm going to mix and match a couple shell holders to see if I can get that magic combo, but so far I'm liking this by the numbers. Going to shoot a 1000y match tomorrow and will report how it feels on extraction and how it shoots.
Redding PN# 74623 Small Base Body Die, 260 rem Imp 40°. Special order from a dealer through Redding, only.
It sizes well below the .200" line, and average base size for my many times fired Peterson SRP brass was 0.4686" as compared to the Type S FL die which would typically size to 0.4705".
Thats in line with my small ring die and my mid ring die would typically size to 0.4695".
I'm going to mix and match a couple shell holders to see if I can get that magic combo, but so far I'm liking this by the numbers. Going to shoot a 1000y match tomorrow and will report how it feels on extraction and how it shoots.
Redding PN# 74623 Small Base Body Die, 260 rem Imp 40°. Special order from a dealer through Redding, only.
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
A 6.5 shooting 150gr or less bullets will have much less recoil than a 7mm shooting 180gr bullets. 140s in a 260AI run about 2950-3000 in 24-26" barrels.
I’d be shooting 130’s in 6.5 or tops of 155 in 7. 155 gr Terminal Ascent in 7mm or 6.5 130 Sciroccos. Pretty sure with the rifle at 10-12 lb w/ a suppressor recoil will not be an issue with either caliber…that’s my thought anyway. The box blind would have 2-400+ yards views hence the thought of something more than a standard SA offering.
Oh, and it’ll be clamped in a sturdy tripod.
Well after building several shorter barrel 6.5 cal magnums for myself I decided that a 260AI would probably do the same thing or close to since its not overbore. The prc's and saum's lose quite a bit in the shorter barrels. I had JGS make me a custom spec reamer. I decided to put a 20" barrel on it since Im running a can. Unknown Reaper only added 5 3/4" past the crown. The hydro formed brass hammered while breaking the barrel in. Consistently half moa or better at 625 yds. Since I had over 10k of the 140 elite hunters on the shelf I decided I might as use em up lol. I have a pile of N555 so I tested it first after the barrel was broke in and brass was shot once. 46.2-47.0 was under 2" tall on the ladder test at 625 yds. 140 Elite Hunter at 2790 fps. There was another node up at 2865 fps but it wasn't as wide and had some powder crunch while using a drop tube. It also didn't shoot as tight as the lower node. No pressure signs at 2865 fps. Decided to just load up in the middle of the mild and wide node. Shot 4 groups in a row with 46.6 gr at 625 yds and all had under 2" of vertical. Since then Ive shot a bunch more groups at 625 yds and all have been under .5 moa vertical. Same w 900 yds. Ive shot some 1-2" groups at 900 for 3 shots and several 3" groups. And a 5 shot at 900 that was 2.75" tall and 3 1/2" wide. This thing is stupid accurate and consistent as well as hardly any recoil. I don't see the Alpha small primer brass wearing out in less than 25-30 firings due to this mild load. Case head isn't moving after several firings. Ill be using this rifle for everything that doesn't require my 300 norma improved. Cow elk out to 600 and deer/antelope to 1000.
As a side note I did try H4350 and it had some nodes at 2830 and 2850 but they werent near as accurate as this n555 load. And the 4350 loads showed a little more pressure on the case head.
Rifle has the following:https://www.facebook.com/DefianceMa...Z93QWUkAktmCfIguV7sMVA50bs6PdtAw&__tn__=-]K-R
Defiance ANTIX Short action cut for unknown 3.150 mags and ignition gone through
Manners Pro Hunter Adjustable
Benchmark 6.5 cal 7.5 tw 20" sendero light
Unknown Bottom metal and 3.150 mags
Triggertech Rough Diamond set at 1.5 lbs
Unknown Reaper with the SRS mini CB
Nightforce NX8 4-32 MIL C bedded into some NF 4 screw rings
Rifle with optics and suppressor weighs 9 lbs 4 oz.
As soon as the NX6 5-30 MIL comes in Ill throw it on and try it out.
Ill be building some of these to have in stock shortly.
Dies are readily available from Redding or Short Action Customs
Alpha Brass and 140 Bergers are on hand.
Rifle with optics and suppressor weighs 9 lbs 4 oz.
As soon as the NX6 5-30 MIL comes in Ill throw it on and try it out.
Ill be building some of these to have in stock shortly.
Dies are readily available from Redding or Short Action Customs
Attachments
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Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
Awesome build! One great aspect of the 260AI is it normally has same or better accuracy while fire forming, too. I will fire form at club F/class matches its that accurate. Smart thinking about the shorter barrel and cartridge selection. Welcome to the addiction!
Thank you. The forming loads were stupid accurate as well. .5 moa or better at my 625 yd steel plate to break the barrel in with a cupcake load. Had several groups in the .1s at 100 with it as well while getting brass shot/barrel broke in. For what Im using the rifle for I don't need to burn any more powder/bigger cartridges. N555 definitely shot better than the h4350. N560 crossed my mind for the speed advantage. But n555 is so temp stable, clean while running suppressed, accurate and wide nodes that its not worth trying anything else in this rifle.
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