260 ai or 6.5prc

[BCinKS]

One thing I forgot to include is I want to keep the barrel length around 24".

 

[Deleted member 25294]

I run a .260 AI with a 29" barrel and get pretty good performance using Peterson SRP brass and Reloder 26

147 ELD-M @ 3040
140 Berger VLD @ 3070

Have ran these nodes with these bullets naked and HBN coated, and consistency is noticeably better HBN coated. This is with a throat set to .260 SAAMI length, and they are both right around 2.900" OAL seated .005" off the lands. I'm running them in an AICS DBM using ARC mags. I personally love a 40° shoulder, partially because I'm lazy and don't like to trim brass. My Lapua brass went 12 fireings before I lost primer pockets and I trimmed it twice.

If you are considering the .260 AI then you obviously reload and aren't repulsed by the idea of forming brass. Your also considering going with a magnum bolt face and want to run in a short action. If you want the best/most efficient performance, to me, this only leaves a couple options.

Either the 6.5 SST or the 6.5 SS.

I am getting 6.5x284, 6.5 PRC and 6.5 GAP performance out of a .260 AI (granted, this is with a 3" longer barrel than standard), and I'm only burning 50ish grains of powder. Why would I want to step up to a magnum bolt face, burn more powder, get shorter barrel life, and get the same performance?

The 6.5 Sherman Shortmag has ADG brass available, and you will be around 3200-3300 fps with the 140's, and 3100-3200 with the 150 class bullets, and will be about 2.950" OAL. Go with the 6.5SST and you will loose about 75 fps, but will be more like 2.800" OAL, easily fitting in any short action, and still outperforming the 6.5 prc and the 6.5 GAP. Also, barrel life of the Sherman cartridges is reported to be as good or better than the others.

To me the ONLY reason to go with a 6.5 PRC is if you want more performance than a creed offers and need to be able to buy factory ammo. In that case, it is a great option. The 6.5x284 also has good factory ammo available, but that essentially steps you up to a long action. If that is what you have, I am a big fan of the 6.5x284 as well (also the 6.5x55 sweed, but I won't throw that into the pot...). Otherwise there are much better options out there for someone that doesn't need factory ammunition available.

That 3" of barrel is giving you incredible performance from a 260AI, if I remember right you're using RL26.

A friend of mine shoots PRS with a 26" 260AI loaded to saami length, and he's maxed out 200 fps less than your'e getting with the same powder.

I shoot 147's in my 6.5 SAUM with 60.5 grains of H1000 for 3050 in a 25" barrel 2.97"OAL, it's a mild load for sure and I'm expecting long barrel life.

Now if you want to compare one cartridge to another with RL26 take away 100 fps + with standard powders.

 

[George Dean]

One thing though....some of it is marketing. Some of it is note worthy products. But once a fad hits often availability increases. I really wanted a 260 but ended up with a creedmoor based on local supply. I think the prc is here to stay whether we needed it or not.

Barrett was awarded a contract for an undisclosed number of 300 PRC rifles this past December, perhaps to replace the 300 Win and or the .338. That's a huge boost for the longevity of the PRC cartridge.

Excerpts from an article about the contract:

"The 300 PRC, along with Hornady's 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge, earlier this year earned the approval of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute. Described as the "6.5 Creedmoor's big brother," the 6.5 PRC gives precision rifle shooters a flat-shooting, heavy bullet that still brings 2,000 foot-pounds of energy at 500-yards, while still having a manageable recoil."

"In addition to the MRAD contract, Barrett last month also picked up an $8 million award from the U.S. Army to supply the service branch with more M107 rifles in .50-caliber BMG. A further $3.3 million maintenance contract, expected to run for five years, was announced shortly afterward. The military has utilized the M107 rifle system for more than 15 years.

Meanwhile, the MRAD has been spotted in the hands of several international sniper units to include the Israeli Defense Forces and Norwegian Army."

 

[alf]

For reference.......

My latest PRC runs 140 VLD's at 3120 with H-1000 in a 24" Bartlein.....

 

[cb4128]

To the OP, The Defiance Tenacity is being offered in a short action magnum bolt face and long action magnum bolt face - available now. They released them at shot show

 

[BCinKS]

Cb4128, thanks for the Defiance heads up. I'm going to give them a call this week!

 

[codyadams]

One thing I forgot to include is I want to keep the barrel length around 24".

A 6.5 SS will still get that performance out of a 24" barrel. A .260 AI however would not. A friend of mine shoots a .260 AI with a 24" and using Reloder 26 his load is in the neighborhood of the low 2900's with the 143 eld-x, maxed out just under 3000. With H4831sc he was getting high 2800's for max, his best accuracy was 2780 however.

That 3" of barrel is giving you incredible performance from a 260AI, if I remember right you're using RL26.

A friend of mine shoots PRS with a 26" 260AI loaded to saami length, and he's maxed out 200 fps less than your'e getting with the same powder.

2850 is not all that fast to max out with on a .260 AI and a 26" barrel, but if he is loading to 2.800" OAL then that would certainly hinder performance, though I'm not sure why you would load that short with these high bc bullets? If he is in PRS he likely has an AICS type dbm, so he can easily load out to 2.970" with a couple different mags available, why is he loading so short? Mainly just curious.

 

[Deleted member 25294]

A 6.5 SS will still get that performance out of a 24" barrel. A .260 AI however would not. A friend of mine shoots a .260 AI with a 24" and using Reloder 26 his load is in the neighborhood of the low 2900's with the 143 eld-x, maxed out just under 3000. With H4831sc he was getting high 2800's for max, his best accuracy was 2780 however.



2850 is not all that fast to max out with on a .260 AI and a 26" barrel, but if he is loading to 2.800" OAL then that would certainly hinder performance, though I'm not sure why you would load that short with these high bc bullets? If he is in PRS he likely has an AICS type dbm, so he can easily load out to 2.970" with a couple different mags available, why is he loading so short? Mainly just curious.

I'll ask him what his OAL is at our match this weekend, it's not a custom throated barrel that much I know for sure.

 

[codyadams]

I'll ask him what his OAL is at our match this weekend, it's not a custom throated barrel that much I know for sure.

Ya. I could certainly see the benefit of loading somewhat reduced loads for PRC, would make your barrel and brass last a lot longer. Some barrels are just slower/faster than others too. Also, when I first started loading for my .260 AI, I was using Remington .243 once fired brass that I sized then formed. I would get pressure signs way lower than with Lapua and Peterson. I have also noticed that my Peterson brass shows pressure signs about 20-50 fps lower than the Lapua brass did, but the accuracy nodes are still in the same general velocity range.

 

[Methow Packer]

One thing I forgot to include is I want to keep the barrel length around 24".

6.5 Sherman Short. You can't go wrong especially in a short action. Amazingly accurate. Has just the right velocity. Too fast burns barrels. 40 deg shoulder is ideal to minimize case stretch. Pretty slick cartridge. Needs a magnum bolt face though. Unless you don't reload then the PRC. I've always they should have had a commercially made 6.5WSM. I've never bought loaded ammo before except 30/30. Hmmm

 

[stxhunter260ai]

I've been shooting a 260ai from a 24" barrel for the past few years. My current load is running a 143 ELDX right around 2900fps using RL26. Originally wanted a 6.5x284, but really wanted to stay with a short action cartridge. Shoots great, fire forming isn't horrible and I'm still on my original 100 lapua brass.

With that being said, I'm in the process of having a 6.5 SS built to get a bit more velocity. Had already purchased 200 pcs of 6.5 SAUM brass, but decided to jump on the 6.5 SS bandwagon after ADG released their brass. I'm going with a light weight setup 22" proof barrel and hoping to see around 3100fps with the 143 eldx.

Since you reload, I'd seriously consider the 6.5 SS for the additional performance it offers over the 260ai and lack of fire forming. The 6.5 SS seems more efficient than several of the other similar offerings and appears to be "the better mousetrap". If you wanted to download the velocity you could easily match 260ai performance without stressing brass at all.

 

[Deleted member 25294]

I love how every time a thread gets started comparing a few standard chamberings everyone starts recommending SS wildcats.. Just sayin

 

[codyadams]

I love how every time a thread gets started comparing a few standard chamberings everyone starts recommending SS wildcats.. Just sayin

Because they are better unless you don't reload ha ha

 

[Oi.223]

I like 6.5 Grendel for the smaller stuff and targets inside 300. It'll go further, of course. A heavy barrel Howa Mini would be nice, but the bolt handle is on the wrong side. I dig the ARs we have in Grendel. Handy, cheap to feed carbines do most of what I want in a fun gun.
The reasons why on the Creedmoor don't really make sense for bolt action hunters, at least not to me. I would not go a Savage action for a gun I intended to run a lot. If you want cheap look at the Ruger Predator. If I used backwards bolt action, I would consider adding the AI chambering money to the Tikka T3 Lite money and a little more to see about a Tikka CTR in .260. Might as well spend it. It ain't my money!