260 Ackley Improved for hunting?

[BlackGreyhounds]

I've been looking to replace/upgrade from my current Tikka T3x in 6.5 CM to be used for deer, antelope, etc. It seems like this would give a nice, moderate increase in velocity in a short action, standard .308 bolt face without the higher recoil +/- mag bolt face +/- med-long action of the 6.5 PRC or 6.5-284. I reload and don't mind fireforming, so don't need factory ammo and appreciate the AI's for extending brass life with limited trimming. I don't mind doing a custom chambering/custom build. I already have a 280 AI for bigger game. What say you all? P.S. I have read all the old threads.

 

[displacedtexan]

100-200 fps increase?

Negligible, I certainly wouldn't change anything for the increase.

 

[BlackGreyhounds]

100-200 fps increase?

Negligible, I certainly wouldn't change anything for the increase.

100-200 fps is certainly not a life-changing amount. But then again, I'm currently running factory Sako 140 gr bonded bullets which are consistently ~1/2 MOA accurate, but only run about 2550 FPS. I can get better velocities hand loading but nothing is ever as accurate as the factory loads in this particular gun. If I could get 2850-2900 fps from a 260 AI, that would be a meaningful improvement for me.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I would just sell it and buy a 6.5 PRC. Or go the other way and get a 6mm CM.

 

[displacedtexan]

100-200 fps is certainly not a life-changing amount. But then again, I'm currently running factory Sako 140 gr bonded bullets which are consistently ~1/2 MOA accurate, but only run about 2550 FPS. I can get better velocities hand loading but nothing is ever as accurate as the factory loads in this particular gun. If I could get 2850-2900 fps from a 260 AI, that would be a meaningful improvement for me.

Okay, that makes sense.

And I like weird stuff, so in your shoes, I'd do it.

 

[RJ Hunt]

I was debating taking my tikka ctr in 260 and making an 260 Ackley…. Been a year long self debate. Curios what route you go.

 

[earrow]

100-200 fps is certainly not a life-changing amount. But then again, I'm currently running factory Sako 140 gr bonded bullets which are consistently ~1/2 MOA accurate, but only run about 2550 FPS. I can get better velocities hand loading but nothing is ever as accurate as the factory loads in this particular gun. If I could get 2850-2900 fps from a 260 AI, that would be a meaningful improvement for me.

Should be able to do that. I am at 2873 with mine with 140s 22 inch barrel. Pleasure to shoot excellent brass life never trim

 

[wyosam]

260ai is a noticeable jump from CM speeds. Tikka has plenty of room to throat it so you can load long. The 6.5-284 works great in a tikka with standard bolt face as well.


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[Slugz]

280 AI is another option in the very congested arena.

-Shoulder creates a ton of less trimming
-Velocities with hand loads can be a little higher than factory but that's true with most
-Efficiency of the powder used for what you get is solid
-With a prime bullet weight of 168g that covers everything in north America except dangerous game
-It handles 140gr to 175 quite well
-Not finicky with the loads

I'm a one gun do everything guy. I have a 280AI by Weaver Customs. My buddy just got a 307 Weatherby and it shoots my handloads just as good as my custom rifle.

Food for thought.

Feel free to PM me for any help.

 

[turbobrick]

I have a 260rem at the gunsmith right now being built into a 260ai. I used to be deep into 260rem as a hunting cartridge, but I moved away from it over the years. This was my last 260 (I do still have another one cut to 16" for my nieces and nephews to hunt with) and I wasn't doing anything with it right now, so I thought trying out AI would be a good use for it. By the numbers, it should be pretty good, but there is no way I'd change to it from 6.5cm. I appreciate 6.5cm for what it does and its strengths, but if I wanted more in a 6.5 I'd 100% be going 6.5prc. I do have a bunch of the hybrid .277 Fury brass that I'm planning to try in the 260ai to see what is possible, my results in 338fed were interesting and promising.

 

[vermeire]

Would love to read more about 277 brass used for other calibers. Is there a thread or other resources?

 

[JDBAK]

I was debating taking my tikka ctr in 260 and making an 260 Ackley…. Been a year long self debate. Curios what route you go.

Same boat here. That Tikka CTR has been wonderfully consistent, so I haven’t messed with it.
But my next main shooter rifle will probably be a 6mm for recoil reasons, so now I’m thinking about 243 AI. Just cause I’ve got brass and multiple cheap Tikka 243s for cheap.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I've been looking to replace/upgrade from my current Tikka T3x in 6.5 CM to be used for deer, antelope, etc. It seems like this would give a nice, moderate increase in velocity in a short action, standard .308 bolt face without the higher recoil +/- mag bolt face +/- med-long action of the 6.5 PRC or 6.5-284. I reload and don't mind fireforming, so don't need factory ammo and appreciate the AI's for extending brass life with limited trimming. I don't mind doing a custom chambering/custom build. I already have a 280 AI for bigger game. What say you all? P.S. I have read all the old threads.

If I’m reading this correctly, you already have a T3x, so there shouldn’t be a concern about an action that’s too short for 6.5PRC or 6.5-284? You’re only a barrel swap (or rechamber), bolt stop (or filing), and $40 plastic magazine from the 6.5-284 (or a 6.5-06). Add a bolt swap with someone and you could be looking at 6.5 PRC, SAUM, or WSM.

I’d go the other way though. You already have a 280AI that fills a niche for heavier bullets, should a need for such a thing really exist. You can step down to a 6CM (or even 22CM) and gain the same velocity/ballistics you would with either larger caliber 6.5 option without the recoil. A 108/109 ELDM in a 6CM will do everything you’re looking for and open up a ton more options for ammo. If you’ve just got an itch for a wildcat, 6-284 would be a real optimization of the standard bolt face T3x you’re working with.

 

[BlackGreyhounds]

280 AI is another option in the very congested arena.

-Shoulder creates a ton of less trimming
-Velocities with hand loads can be a little higher than factory but that's true with most
-Efficiency of the powder used for what you get is solid
-With a prime bullet weight of 168g that covers everything in north America except dangerous game
-It handles 140gr to 175 quite well
-Not finicky with the loads

I'm a one gun do everything guy. I have a 280AI by Weaver Customs. My buddy just got a 307 Weatherby and it shoots my handloads just as good as my custom rifle.

Food for thought.

Feel free to PM me for any help.

Agree. I already have an excellent 280 AI, that's kinda why I was thinking of 260 AI

 

[BlackGreyhounds]

If I’m reading this correctly, you already have a T3x, so there shouldn’t be a concern about an action that’s too short for 6.5PRC or 6.5-284? You’re only a barrel swap (or rechamber), bolt stop (or filing), and $40 plastic magazine from the 6.5-284 (or a 6.5-06). Add a bolt swap with someone and you could be looking at 6.5 PRC, SAUM, or WSM.

I’d go the other way though. You already have a 280AI that fills a niche for heavier bullets, should a need for such a thing really exist. You can step down to a 6CM (or even 22CM) and gain the same velocity/ballistics you would with either larger caliber 6.5 option without the recoil. A 108/109 ELDM in a 6CM will do everything you’re looking for and open up a ton more options for ammo. If you’ve just got an itch for a wildcat, 6-284 would be a real optimization of the standard bolt face T3x you’re working with.

View attachment 866663

Now that is a super cool combo you've got right there. I'm drooling on my keyboard as I'm typing this. That said, I actually have a 6CM and a 280AI. So, do I really "need" something in between? No. Just getting the itch for something new. What's the recoil like on the 6-284 compared to say a 6.5 CM?