AI AT .308 info needed

[Gamikatsu]

Hello!

Thanks to a few members here, namely "The Durk" I am shopping for an AI AT. I was dead set on getting a 6.5 CM, but I have recently decided on maybe getting the .308 due to available components and barrel life. However I am aware the .308 comes factory with 12" twist. I'm aware, contrary to popular belief a 12" twist WILL stabilize a 175/178 grain bullet.

would you guys post some targets and groups of your AI's with the 12 twist barrels?, please note what bullets your shooting and speeds or estimated speeds. Thank you all so much. Help me spend my $$$!

Gami

 

[Supersubes]

Come on man, do think there’s a conspiracy afoot to falsely validate a 12 twist in .308? Would AI actually screw that up for all these years?


P.S. Get a creedmoor.

P.P.S There’s a reloading section with a zillion pages of people’s results. Get a Creedmoor.

 

[Gamikatsu]

Come on man, do think there’s a conspiracy afoot to falsely validate a 12 twist in .308? Would AI actually screw that up for all these years?


P.S. Get a creedmoor.

oh I am WELL aware how well the AI's shoot, i've shot a few now. BUT> the experience I have is with either a 10" twist bartlein .308 barrel or the 6.5 bartlein barrels. i've yet to shoot the 12 twist Lothar Walther barrel, and am WELL aware how great they do and can shoot. just looking for some groups and what bullets folks have been using.

P.S. I have 2x Creedmoors, a Tikka T3x lite and a Bergara HMR.
the plan WAS to get another 6.5, to share components, but... now i'm curious on the .308 as well.

 

[hafejd30]

AIAT
20” 308 1/12” LW Barrel
178 ELDX
3 rounds 300 yards
5 rounds 438 yards (2-4 mph crosswind)
2600 FPS Suppressed (42.5 IMR 4064)

I use mine for open field whitetail hunting

 

[Gamikatsu]

AIAT
20” 308 1/12” LW Barrel
178 ELDX
3 rounds 300 yards
5 rounds 438 yards
2600 FPS Suppressed (42.5 IMR 4064)

I use mine for open field whitetail hunting
View attachment 7493585View attachment 7493586View attachment 7493587

hey Thank you so much! looks like the wind was beating you up a little. those groups are flat as can be however! looks great! thanks!

 

[hafejd30]

hey Thank you so much! looks like the wind was beating you up a little. those groups are flat as can be however! looks great! thanks!

That was just 5 rounds fired at end of night drop testing several rifles. Never adjusted for wind. Was looking at the vertical in the group. Think is was about an inch.
The first 2 shots to establish the initial drop are circled in red below/left

Absolutely love this gun. Probably get a 260 barrel somewhere down the line as well. That be for long range target. I currently run a 260 in a savage

 

[bfk4lyfe]

Factory AT 1:12 barrel, some fake/bulk/cheap m118lr type 175 gr ammo.

ps, get a creedmoor.

 

[Gamikatsu]

I will get one in Feb. I'm set on what I want. I am getting a Green 2.0. just gotta decidee caliber.

 

[BikePilot]

Imo the 6.5 or 260 rem does everything better, but everyone should have a 308. Get an AT, and both barrels. It takes less than a minute to swap them. Don't get hung up on tbe bari, the AT is an awesome gun and gives you a chance to try a variety of barrels.

 

[hafejd30]

Since you have 6.5 components already I don’t see any reason to not get the 6.5 over the 308 either. For LR targets I’d go 6.5/260

My preference goes 308 for a midrange hunting setup.

The 6.5 will do better at longer ranges. Personally mine would be 308 (20”) and 260 (24-26”)

 

[Hondo1]

Don’t throw yourself in a box. It’s an AI, you don’t have to choose just one chambering.

 

[ShtrRdy]

AI-AT with AI 24" barrel.
175 gr SMK and Varget

 

[Lowlight]

You can order it with a different barrel

if you think the 1-12 is bad, (silly is a word) order one with a different barrel, you can get the 1-10 if that makes your head feel better.

That is the beauty of it, you can swap it out for something else.

 

[7WSMShooter]

My AI AT came with a 1-10 308..
And I have another 308 barrel, and two 260 barrels,
And thinking bout spinning up a .25 Creed barrel...
If only for a magnum bolt face for the AI AT short action.....

 

[Timo Turl]

I’ve had two 1:12 Lothar .308 barrels on two different AIs and also a .260 REM from them. Gotta say I thought all 3 were mediocre at best. I’m not a fan.

Got a Bartlein 1:10 for the .308 and another in .260 done by a reputable smith and the difference is obvious.

 

[Doctorwho1138]

I have two AI and they are chambered in 308 and 6.5. Last thanksgiving, we were at my fathers ranch where there is a bit of land. I just wanted them to hit 12” steel at 350 yards. They have never shot a gun before and they were all doing it shot after shot once the proper dope was established with either rifle. So my point is that if you are shooting less than 400 yards, I just don’t see don’t see that much a difference. Sure the dope is a little different but they both shot equally well. My AX is 20” 308 1-12 twist. Love both rifles and both calibers. Like others have said you can easily change them and Mile High has a great selection of barrels and will do whatever you want to them. They are my go to in my humble opinion.

 

[Bertoli888]

It's an AI! They all shoot, enough said...

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I'd like to find whoever started this stupid idea that 10 twist is needed for 175's and donkey kick them in the nuts. 12 twist is fine for 308 unless you're talking subsonics and even then going to 10 twist isn't going to get you anything more really and you need to go down to 7 twist for that. Plenty of people have shot much longer bullets than 175's in them. For a while 208 Amax's with RL17 in 308 was really a thing and there were a bunch of people shooting them in 12 twist Remington 700's. I shot a ton of 175gr FGMM through my AI AE's and AW's that were 12 twist and loaded 185 Juggernauts for my AT that was also 12 twist.

With that said, buy a Creedmoor.

 

[Hatch 47]

I don't have targets to share, but i shoot a Sako AII in .308AI, and have for over 25 years. I use mine strictly for deer and it has never failed me. I shoot 150 Gr Silvertips that i brought back from Germany in 1991, and I get 2965 fps (verified by my Pact ! chronograph). I'm loading 44.6 gr of 3031. I also have a .257 AI that i love.

 

[Frank Green]

I've shot plenty of 12 twist, 11 twist, 11.25 twist, 10 twist and even 8 twist barrels in 308win.

With 155-175gr bullets being what I shoot and in both handloads and box ammo. In the grand scheme of things....I can't tell a difference accuracy wise.

A 12 twist will handle up to conventional 190gr match type bullets.

I made a new barrel for my AIAT earlier this year. First barrel on the gun is in 6.5CM. Anyways the 308w barrel I did is a 1-10 twist and finished it at 20". That's what I did.

Again I have other 30cal barrels on other guns in 11 twist and 11.25 twist and my old palma rifle was a 12 twist. Pick your poison....I can't tell a difference accuracy wise.

A good barrel on a good rifle with good ammo and a good scope.....load it and shoot it.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

 

[RRW]

I don't have targets to share, but i shoot a Sako AII in .308AI, and have for over 25 years. I use mine strictly for deer and it has never failed me. I shoot 150 Gr Silvertips that i brought back from Germany in 1991, and I get 2965 fps (verified by my Pact ! chronograph). I'm loading 44.6 gr of 3031. I also have a .257 AI that i love.

I think you are confusing AI(Ackley Improved) with Accuracy International (AI).