Thread: 6.5mm questions....

Originally Posted by HuntGatherRepeat

Cheers for the advice fellas. I do reload so no worries about that. Prefer to stay with standard bolt face and avoid the mags. After reading seems that the 260 or 6.5 creedmore are where I'll end up. Anyone shooting the 260ai in a Sako 85 that can comment on COAL and feeing from the mag? Any issues here and I would have to default to the creed.

I have a 85 finnlight, standard 260. I haven't had it very long, only had 1 range session.
I have only measured one projectile where mag length stops me kissing the lands, I think it was the Nosler 142gr LRAB (can confirm later), but can't confirm others that fit the mag actually feed okay. ELD-X 143gr 30 thou off the lands are definitely okay, as are 120 ballistic tip and 129sst at 10 thou jump.

Originally Posted by Cigar

I have a 85 finnlight, standard 260. I haven't had it very long, only had 1 range session.
I have only measured one projectile where mag length stops me kissing the lands, I think it was the Nosler 142gr LRAB (can confirm later), but can't confirm others that fit the mag actually feed okay. ELD-X 143gr 30 thou off the lands are definitely okay, as are 120 ballistic tip and 129sst at 10 thou jump.

Yeah, it's the Nosler 142gr LRAB that's more than mag length to be on the lands, by about 50 thou. The 143 ELD-X fits the mag with about 20 thou to spare as does the 130gr Swift Scirocco. I have some Sciroccos loaded but haven't tried them to see how they feed yet.

Originally Posted by Cigar

to be on the lands, by about 50 thou. .

Please clarify for me... On the lands or a 0.050 jump to the lands?

Originally Posted by LBD

Please clarify for me... On the lands or a 0.050 jump to the lands?

0.050 jump to the lands if loaded to mag length (may be slightly less, but at least 0.035)

@Cigar would you think that most any practical hunting round would fit the 260AI standard mag length in an 85? Mine measured at 2.97". I don't know if it makes much difference but planning to run a 22" barrel.

Reading through is sounds like the Creedmoor is the easy option. What's the spread between the Creed and the 260AI? 100fps or so? Would there even be any perceivable difference sub 500m?

Originally Posted by HuntGatherRepeat

@Cigar would you think that most any practical hunting round would fit the 260AI standard mag length in an 85? Mine measured at 2.97". I don't know if it makes much difference but planning to run a 22" barrel.

Reading through is sounds like the Creedmoor is the easy option. What's the spread between the Creed and the 260AI? 100fps or so? Would there even be any perceivable difference sub 500m?

My .260AI with a 22" barrel used to get 2920fps this is the 40 degree shoulder and my standard .260 gets 2860fps with a 20" the only down side of the Standard. 260 is case trimming which I think is easier than fireforming.
My is on a Tikka with long mag and bolt stop 20 thou off the lands.

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Originally Posted by HuntGatherRepeat

@Cigar would you think that most any practical hunting round would fit the 260AI standard mag length in an 85? Mine measured at 2.97". I don't know if it makes much difference but planning to run a 22" barrel.

Reading through is sounds like the Creedmoor is the easy option. What's the spread between the Creed and the 260AI? 100fps or so? Would there even be any perceivable difference sub 500m?

My mag must be the same, previous owner said 2.966, I roughly measured at 2.95 last night. Other than the LRAB at 3.00 on the lands, everything else is 2.94 COAL or less on the lands. I have some Sierra 142 gamekings I haven’t measured yet that are supposed to shoot really well in my rifle at 0.010 jump.

I don’t know what difference an AI would be from my standard 260, or if my finnlight barrel/throat is different from normal 85.

Originally Posted by Cigar

My mag must be the same, previous owner said 2.966, I roughly measured at 2.95 last night. Other than the LRAB at 3.00 on the lands, everything else is 2.94 COAL or less on the lands. I have some Sierra 142 gamekings I haven’t measured yet that are supposed to shoot really well in my rifle at 0.010 jump.

I don’t know what difference an AI would be from my standard 260, or if my finnlight barrel/throat is different from normal 85.

What sort of speeds are you getting with the finlight.
How well does it shoot as I may be looking at upgrading to one or a carbon light.

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The max useable COAL in my sako 85 7mm08 is limited by the longest live round it can eject. This is about 2.800". Longer rounds can feed and fit into the magazine but in my opinion are not satisfactory for all round hunting.

Note that the 6.5 PRC is a short magnum class cartridge with max COAL 2.955" compared to 7mmWSM at 2.880" and 6.5 Creed at 2.825. So the PRC could substitute in some 7mmWSM actions if you limit its length but not in 308 (Sako S) actions. It's meant for people rebarreling their 6.5-284 or WSM.