Thread: 6.5mm questions....

Originally Posted by 25 /08 IMP

I have had most 260Ai 260 and 6.5x284 and now I have 3 x .260 which is what I would go for mine are 18 19 and 20" barrels all are doing 2800 to 2860fps with the 143ELDX my .260AI only hit 2954fps with a 22" barrel and a lot more mucking around.

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what powder are you using? Seems to work ok on that ripper stag

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 may be wrong but I'd assume the Ai and the standard 260 have the same COAL. @gimp has a seating depth on hand for the standard 260 in 85, I used his when setting up mine and it was primo. I cant remember as I sold the rifle a while back.

Originally Posted by stevodog

what powder are you using? Seems to work ok on that ripper stag

I'm using Hodgdon superproformance and the 3 Tikka's I load for are all using 47. Something grains which seems to be the node and between 2811fps and 2860fps depending on barrel length.

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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 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.

The Creed has the better shoulder angle of 30deg and this helps in 2 ways, better burning of the slower powders and reduction in case stretch. The AI generally has 40deg shoulder and aids these points as well. You will find most target intended designs have the 30deg shoulder. Before the Creed made an appearance on the scene I organised a reamer from the US for a 260 30Deg Improved, i've been using this a while now and won't be changing. The Creed is essentially a 3mm shorter version of my 260Imp. I run mine in a T3 action with long mag and a long throat for the 143-147 bullets and I built it for long range shooting, both hunting and gongs.
If I wanted a 6.5 in a dedicated medium action with no mucking around I'd go the Creed, for the better case design.

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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Originally Posted by 25 /08 IMP

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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I’m still working up loads but near max book loads I am at about 2800 FPS with the 120BT and 2600 with the 143 ELD-X (can check chrony data tonight). No pressure signs yet and earlier owner has loaded higher with no issues. I’ll have to check group sizes later but sub MOA, ELD-X in front of 42.5 grains of AR2209 looked very promising so have some loads around that charge to recheck next time.

Originally Posted by Cigar

I’m still working up loads but near max book loads I am at about 2800 FPS with the 120BT and 2600 with the 143 ELD-X (can check chrony data tonight). No pressure signs yet and earlier owner has loaded higher with no issues. I’ll have to check group sizes later but sub MOA, ELD-X in front of 42.5 grains of AR2209 looked very promising so have some loads around that charge to recheck next time.

Checked chrony data, 20 inch barrel.
120BT doing 2833 with 45.5gr of 2209, best group 0.7moa at 100m with 44gr.
143 ELD-X doing 2593 with 42.5gr, 2634 fps with 43gr ( Best group 0.38moa at 100m with 42.5gr.
129sst does 2606 and 2637 with same powder charges. Best group 0.7moa but didn't write down what powder charge.

At this stage I'm going with the 120BT and 143 ELD-X, but will check out how the 140 Gamekings go.