260AI roll call

[nakneker]

What unit did you get in AZ? Congrats on the new rig, can't wait to see pics! You'll love the round.

27, we hunt it every year between us, my kids and friends. We know that unit well, been hunting it since I was a kid. My niece had the December tag last year, I went and helped that last two days, the deer didn’t really show any signs of the rut until the last couple days. She made a great shot on a good buck, there was a bigger buck but it was too far, the one she shot was 757, she center punched him with one shot. She practiced all summer and fall with us though.

I appreciate you starting the thread, super helpful!

 

[Fast14riot]

I've hunted 34a for Coues, generally head south from Senoita past the OHV camp and some good bucks down there. My brother lives in Surprise and hunts down there often.

This thread is doing what I hoped, getting all the info together in one place. Feel free to post your results and testing once you get set up!

 

[Bill Norris]

I've hunted 34a for Coues, generally head south from Senoita past the OHV camp and some good bucks down there. My brother lives in Surprise and hunts down there often.

This thread is doing what I hoped, getting all the info together in one place. Feel free to post your results and testing once you get set up!

Nice to have the 260AI info all in one location.

 

[Fast14riot]

@nakneker or anyone else, if there are specific questions regarding this chambering not addressed, feel free to ask away. Several of us have years of constant use and experimentation with this and can likely find an suitable answer. The only dumb question is "does it beat a 6.5 creedmoor?" LOL!

Also, some of us like to tinker and having experience with the cartridge we may be inclined to try something out with information not readily available.

 

[nakneker]

I've hunted 34a for Coues, generally head south from Senoita past the OHV camp and some good bucks down there. My brother lives in Surprise and hunts down there often.

This thread is doing what I hoped, getting all the info together in one place. Feel free to post your results and testing once you get set up!

I use to hunt unit 29, east of 34A, for Couses, it was fantastic hunting until the lions got out of control, last time I hunted that unit I glassed a single file line of guys coming out of Mexico with big packs on their backs. The lead guy had an AK, the guy taking up the rear had a bolt of some kind with a big optic. Haven’t been back. I’ve heard good things about 34A, the grey ghost is always a challenge, makes for a fun hunt.

I‘ve watched you and many of the other guys on this thread for years now. The info and data is a big help, much better than starting of blind. Zack certainly likes the cartridge, I’m sure I will too. You guys certainly like it! I will be asking questions if need be. My barrel is a 22” proof Sendero CF so I may be a step behind as far as velocity goes, it shouldn’t be far though.

 

[Fast14riot]

I use to hunt unit 29, east of 34A, for Couses, it was fantastic hunting until the lions got out of control, last time I hunted that unit I glassed a single file line of guys coming out of Mexico with big packs on their backs. The lead guy had an AK, the guy taking up the rear had a bolt of some kind with a big optic. Haven’t been back. I’ve heard good things about 34A, the grey ghost is always a challenge, makes for a fun hunt.

I‘ve watched you and many of the other guys on this thread for years now. The info and data is a big help, much better than starting of blind. Zack certainly likes the cartridge, I’m sure I will too. You guys certainly like it! I will be asking questions if need be. My barrel is a 22” proof Sendero CF so I may be a step behind as far as velocity goes, it shouldn’t be far though.

A 22" barrel with 140s should be running right about 2850-2900fps. Hardly a slouch for a short action 6.5 cartridge! Gotta hammer the piss outta the creedmoor to get there in a 26" barrel.

Fire forming, I like a modest charge to 99% form the shoulder and go right to load development from there, because once you get that done you'll have 2x fired brass with a good load.

On the left is fire formed with 44gr H4831 and a 130smk. Right is fired 4x with a 140vldt. Not a big enough difference to make load development an issue.

 

[Fast14riot]

I use to hunt unit 29, east of 34A, for Couses, it was fantastic hunting until the lions got out of control, last time I hunted that unit I glassed a single file line of guys coming out of Mexico with big packs on their backs. The lead guy had an AK, the guy taking up the rear had a bolt of some kind with a big optic. Haven’t been back. I’ve heard good things about 34A, the grey ghost is always a challenge, makes for a fun hunt.

I‘ve watched you and many of the other guys on this thread for years now. The info and data is a big help, much better than starting of blind. Zack certainly likes the cartridge, I’m sure I will too. You guys certainly like it! I will be asking questions if need be. My barrel is a 22” proof Sendero CF so I may be a step behind as far as velocity goes, it shouldn’t be far though.

Regarding 34a, I dont know how long since you've been down there, but the guys in the green uniforms are all over those hills now, especially close to Nogales. Full-on IR detection rigs everywhere, random road stops (not an issue, takes less than a minute), been wheeling all day, come around a ridge and there is a Ford explorer with IR trailer on top of a ridge even steeper than what we did. Might be headed down there this year, my nephew got drawn for cow elk up north of there and would be fun to go tag along, but its right in the middle of the season I hunt in Oregon.

Coastal PNW blacktail I feel are the northern version of the Grey Ghost down there. Love hunting up there, but taking a 6br this year. Also, if I don't go to Oregon, @Bc'z will be very upset because he relies on me to bring him his favorite fried chicken! He's a chicken eatin' MF'r! Lol!

 

[nakneker]

Regarding 34a, I dont know how long since you've been down there, but the guys in the green uniforms are all over those hills now, especially close to Nogales. Full-on IR detection rigs everywhere, random road stops (not an issue, takes less than a minute), been wheeling all day, come around a ridge and there is a Ford explorer with IR trailer on top of a ridge even steeper than what we did. Might be headed down there this year, my nephew got drawn for cow elk up north of there and would be fun to go tag along, but its right in the middle of the season I hunt in Oregon.

Coastal PNW blacktail I feel are the northern version of the Grey Ghost down there. Love hunting up there, but taking a 6br this year. Also, if I don't go to Oregon, @Bc'z will be very upset because he relies on me to bring him his favorite fried chicken! He's a chicken eatin' MF'r! Lol!

I haven’t been in 29 or 34A for a few years now but I did have a friend tell me the bucks were back in 29. I’ve kind of fallin in love with 27 though, it’s one of the few units you can get back off the roads. The last four years we haven’t seen another hunter in the area we focus on which is refreshing. Some times we use horses but generally we throw the packs on get back in there.

Coastal blacktail is some I’ve never experienced, maybe some day. I’ve heard good things.

LOL @ favorite fried chicken, sounds like he’s addicted.

 

[Bill K]

The 260AI and 6.5CM both have been around along time and work well, despite what the social media slammers say. Many fine loads can be worked up in either for reaching out there on paper or game.

 

[nakneker]

The 260AI and 6.5CM both have been around along time and work well, despite what the social media slammers say. Many fine loads can be worked up in either for reaching out there on paper or game.

I agree. I have a couple 6.5x47s, a Creed and a 6.5PRC, they’ve all been good rounds. Funny how hype works, we showed up with the PRC and Creed a few months ago on an Aoudad hunt and the guide, who’s a good friend, wasn’t too excited about seeing my wife with a 6.5 creedmoor. We only carry one rifle when we hunt together and since the Creed is the one she likes the most it’s what we had when shooting a pair of Aoudads the next day at just over 600 yards at a 29 degree angle. Both were one shot kills using 142 LRABs. He has had a couple bad experiences with Creeds, he’s a great guide but doesn’t get into rifles like some of us - we changed his mind a little that day. Shot placement. I never did get a chance to use the PRC, not yet anyways.

I get where the hate comes from on the Creedmoor though, I think it gets old hearing about it and some of the comments that come with it. No matter what your feelings are, Hornady did a masterful job marketing that one. I have a soft spot for the 6.5x47 personally, I really like that case.

I’m hoping this 260AI becomes my new go to in the 6.5s! With the 22” proof barrel it should work well with a can and the back country.

 

[Tangent]

Just curious, could you take a factory .260 and get it converted to a .260AI?

 

[Bill Norris]

Just curious, could you take a factory .260 and get it converted to a .260AI?

Not real sure but it seems it should be able to be done since the case body will move forward.

 

[Fast14riot]

Just curious, could you take a factory .260 and get it converted to a .260AI?

Yes, but best practice is to set the barrel back 1 turn.

 

[JLT]

Yes, but best practice is to set the barrel back 1 turn.

^^^^ This ^^^^
An AI will headspace .004" or so short of the parent case to ensure proper fire forming of the parent case. If an AI reamer is run in without setting the barrel back a turn, the chamber will be too long, possibly causing brass issues down the road.

 

[Tangent]

Yes, but best practice is to set the barrel back 1 turn.

By a turn do you mean one revolution of the thread? Would you lose much barrel length?

 

[JLT]

By a turn do you mean one revolution of the thread? Would you lose much barrel length?

That's correct, and the most you'll lose is about 1/16", or .0625". Hardly worth talking about.

 

[Tangent]

That's correct, and the most you'll lose is about 1/16", or .0625". Hardly worth talking about.

That's good to know thanks, trying to educate myself on the possibilities for the next project

 

[Bill Norris]

^^^^ This ^^^^
An AI will headspace .004" or so short of the parent case to ensure proper fire forming of the parent case. If an AI reamer is run in without setting the barrel back a turn, the chamber will be too long, possibly causing brass issues down the road.

This ^^^^^^^ is good and solid info.

 

[Fast14riot]

Maybe we can convince Hornady to adopt the 260AI as a SAAMI cartridge. I mean it's been around a long time!

In P.O. Ackley's book, Vol.1, he mentions the 263 express with load data from Ken Waters, a 6.5x308 (260Rem) and I'm sure either one of them gave it a 40° shoulder long before we ever read about it.

 

[CJ6]

Maybe we can convince Hornady to adopt the 260AI as a SAAMI cartridge. I mean it's been around a long time!

In P.O. Ackley's book, Vol.1, he mentions the 263 express with load data from Ken Waters, a 6.5x308 (260Rem) and I'm sure either one of them gave it a 40° shoulder long before we ever read about it.
View attachment 1577770View attachment 1577771

That would take ALL the glamor from the 6.5 man bun.