AI AT Barrel Options

LongJohn

LongJohn

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Folks I need some input...

I p/u an AI AT a couple of years ago chambered in 308 Win (the wait was well worth it ). This last year we were able to stretch our range out to just shy of 900m. A couple of friends have rigs chambered in 6.5CM & of course they are praising them. I was thinking about getting another bbl chambered in something lighter recoiling so I could spot my hits on steel at longer ranges. I have all the reloading gear for 243 Win & wondered about the 107 SMK or should I look at 260 Rem shooting the 139 / 143 SMK ? ( not hard to tell I am old school ). We found another secret spot which will give us access to 1500m of usable range. This is non competitive shooting; just for bragging rights !

Any thoughts ?
 
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LongJohn said:
Folks I need some input...

I p/u an AI AT a couple of years ago chambered in 308 Win (the wait was well worth it ). This last year we were able to stretch our range out to just shy of 900m. A couple of friends have rigs chambered in 6.5CM & of course they are praising them. I was thinking about getting another bbl chambered in something lighter recoiling so I could spot my hits on steel at longer ranges. I have all the reloading gear for 243 Win & wondered about the 107 SMK or should I look at 260 Rem shooting the 139 / 143 SMK ? ( not hard to tell I am old school ). We found another secret spot which will give us access to 1500m of usable range. This is non competitive shooting; just for bragging rights !

Any thoughts ?
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We do pre-fit AIAT / AX barrels regularily and usually have a few on the shelf. Quite a few 6.5CM/6CM/6.5X47/6 Dasher/BR etc... but 243 & 260 are no problem; always with our 3/8" moa guarantee.
 
rugbydave said:
These are the guys to talk to, they'll spin you up a hammer!
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^^^This^^^, I have Insite chambered barrels for my AX in 308 and 6.5 CM and they are absolute hammers. They also both wear Heathen brakes which are also imo the best self timing brake out there.
 
+1 for Insite again- great work, worth every penny. Theoretically a fast-twist .284 Win-based cartridge would give the most performance you'll get off .470" sized case head in an AT, though it might take some mag tweaking to get it to feed correctly.
 
Another big thumbs up for Insite.
I’d also go with a 284 Win for longer ranges. Easily accommodated in the AT and slinging 184 or 190 Berger’s is hard to beat at distance, with low recoil and great bang for the buck. Plus lots of great brass options too.
Had a rightie AI AT, with the 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor factory barrels which were very good, but when I swapped those over to the Insite barrels, there was a noticeable increase in accuracy.
Sold that rifle to get a leftie version, and have ordered a number of Insite pre fits, and the customs, the last few years, and those are the only way to go, IMO.
I have now had a 6XC, 6SLR, 6BR, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x47, and 284 Insite barrels. Mostly Kriegers, but one Bartlien and I think a Hawk Hill in there too? Used the 284 last year in F Class and Harley is spinning me up a 6BRA as we speak, for this season. Every single barrel has been an absolute laser too. So have 1100 rounds on that 284 this last 7 months and it’s easy to load for with great bullets, brass to match it up to. Very little recoil increase over my 6.5s as well. Can’t go wrong.
I would also recommend Insite’s Comp trigger group upgrade for the AIs. Swaps a good factory trigger into a true match trigger, as good as anything out there.
 
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Redrams & STMN, thanks for suggesting the 284 Win. I hadn't given it much thought & have been researching it lately. Any idea if the 284 case will feed from an unmodified AI mag ? I am not opposed to single loading if I have to.
I see Sierra offers the 183gr Mk which I surmise would be about the optimum bullet weight for this case. If you have any first hand experience you care to give about this cartridge I am all ears.

Last weekend we were shooting at 846y . The 6.5CM peeled the paint from the steel discs but the good old 308 with the 155.5 SMK left a few dents.
 
Hey LongJohn!
Selling one of my Insite Prefits on the EE, 7mm SAW. Is an excellent long range caliber, running Berger 180/184s, and the SAW defiant runs a shorter coal for mag feeding then the 284. Right around 3”, for reference.
PM me if interested, and I can go through particulars, cheers!
 
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