6.5X47L or 260 Rem AI?

[TheSwede]

I have ha new 6.5mm barrel coming in. Now I've got access to two reamers of the calibers above. Now is the question witch to go with. The shooting will be up to 600y unknown distances and no windflags. So the greater windbucking abilities and flatter trajectory the better. In that aspect the 260RAI have a slight advantage. But right now I really don't feel up to the work with the cartridges. Is it worth it over the Lapua cartridge?
Thank you for your input!

 

[larryt]

Since you will be shooting unknown distances with no wind aids, you will want to shoot the heavier 140 gr bullet with adequate velocity. I have loaded both cartridges. The problem with the 6.5x47 is the case has a significant reduction in powder capacity compared to the 260AI. If you go with the 6.5x47 you may want to consider using either 129 gr Lapua or 130 Berger bullets, using RL15.

Fire forming the 260 brass can be done rather easily. I have been loading lighter powder grain loads with the bullets seated to the lands. These reduced/fire-formed loads still shoot sub-MOA. I have used factory 260, 243 win, and 308 brass with no difference. The best loads,and lowest pressures) have been with either RL19 or Norma MRP. The velocity for either has been just over 2900 fps. At our range, we shoot 560 yd clay bird matches as wall as 1000 yd steel plate matches with the 260AI. The 260AI guns have won 7 matches in a row for f class, 560 clay bird, 1000 yd steel plate, and 1000 yd paper.

The advantages of 260AI
-brass is easier to obtain
-can load a slower powder for higher velocity and lower pressure
-can easily shoot the 140 gr bullet with no performance loss

 

[TheSwede]

Interesting! When you're talking about the 2900fps. Are you referring to the 140gr bullet?

How does the AI cartridge work with magazine and how much more performance can i expect with the AI over a standard 260 Rem? Maybe I should go with the standard cartridge if it should work in a magazine?

And one more: How is the barrel life with the 260 original and AI cartridge?

Thanks!

 

[larryt]

Yes 2900 fps with the 140 gr Berger VLC. The first gun started off as a 260rem. It did not have enough gas with the 140 gr bullet for 1000 yds. So I blew it out to Ackley, gaining approximately 250 fps. That was the ticket for long range. I am using a bolt action Savage action, both magazine and single shot. Never had a problem with feeding. I have no experience with using AR frames so can not give you any advice to if that will feed reliably.