280 AI question

[husky390]

So after reading a couple threads on here about the 280AI, I'm interested in the cartridge and am thinking that might need to be my next toy. Now, buying a custom is completely out of my budget so would buying a Remington or Savage chambered in 7mm-08 and having it re-chambered be the next best option? I was considering a T/C Encore rifle but I held one in .270 and it seemed to be heavier than a standard bolt rifle.

To save money, my thoughts are to purchase a used rifle and re-chamber it. Are there other caliber options I can do this with without having to re-barrel it?

 

[Huntr]

Best bet is to buy a 280 and have it punched to 280AI. A 7-08 won't work as it is most typically built on a short action receiver.

 

[husky390]

Thanks. I have a Savage 10 in 30-06 that I don't use. Could I buy a barrel chambered for 280AI or would I need to do some bolt work as well?

 

[Rucker61]

Husky, I'm looking at the same thing. All you need is a new barrel. There's a Savage specific forum with lots of information that you might want to check out. I've seen ER Shaw 280 AI barrels for under $200.

 

[Stid2677]

You can get a factory Kimber montana 84L 280 AI for around 1K to $1200. Nosler makes one too, for less than 2K a Kimber Mountain Ascent in 280AI.

 

[Beastmode]

Thanks. I have a Savage 10 in 30-06 that I don't use. Could I buy a barrel chambered for 280AI or would I need to do some bolt work as well?

That would definitely work!

 

[husky390]

Thanks guy's. This sounds like it might be a fun winter project.

Stid, I'd love to get another Montana, especially since I love the one I have in 300wsm. I'm just trying to keep the cost down.

 

[husky390]

One other question for those that have them, are your rifles lightweight hunter models or heavy target models? Also, what's the shortest barrel length I can get away with? I've tried googling barrel length but haven't turned up much of anything.

 

[Shrek]

The shorter you make your barrel the less velocity you can generate. The case can only stand so much pressure which is the limiting factor. The highest pressure over the longest time generates the highest velocity. Longer barrel allows more time to burn slower powders which keep pressure at peak longer. There is sweet combination of length , powder , bullet that works best but each is variable to the other. What kind or rifle do you want to make ? What is the intended use ? A short , light , fast handling "mountain rifle" is going to compromise velocity and ultimate accuracy for weight and ease of handling. A traditional sporter is considered the middle of the road compromise , or a long range rig that will be longer and heavier. If you are trying to make a very light mountain rifle you may want to skip the 280ai all together in the 7mm family and look to a 7-08 with a twenty inch barrel because at twenty inches you can't get much more with a 280ai. You can't really use the case capacity in twenty inches that the 280ai provides. To me the optimal compromise for the 280ai comes in around 24 inches and a 154gr to 168gr bullet. That will cover most western game and fully utilize the case. But thats just my opinion and we all know about opinions.
So , when you google best barrel length you get no definitive answer because there isn't one. It all depends...

 

[Stid2677]

Great info Shrek, for what it's worth. My Kimber MA, 280AI with a 24 inch tube and 9.5 twist rate would not stabilize 168 grain Barnes LRXs, they were ragged hole accurate but they were keyholeing.

 

[Shrek]

To follow up , I can only tell you my vision of the ultimate 280ai western hunting rig would be with your savage model 110 action . It would be a 24" #4 contour barrel 9 twist with 6 heavy flutes sitting in a Manners EH1 stock with a Rifle basics trigger set at @ 16oz . For optics a vortex 4-16 pst. I would be sending 168 berger vlds at about 2950fps to 3000fps and have solid killing power to 800+ yards. Thats just my vision.

 

[handwerk]

My 280 AI is built on a pre 64 M70 action, has a pacnor fwt cut @23", mcm edge stock and with a swaro Z3 in talleys lwts weighs in at 7 3/4 lbs. a comfy weight for carry and shooting.

 

[husky390]

Shreck, I like your thinking.

Handwerk, that sounds like a very nice rifle.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

I used a std factory Rem700 .280Rem for many years. I too thought about punching it out to AI.
But honestly it did everything I wanted just fine in std form. What would I gain by punching it out to AI form? A few fps?... who cares, it killed everything I pointed it at anyway. Would I gain increased accuracy?..... debatable, as I already was neck-sizing and seeing sub-moa anyway. Less bolt trust & case stretch?.....not really, I never pushed it in pressure and cases were not see much stress or stretch. In short I never could come up w/ a reason to really justify changing a perfectly good cartridge.

About the only reason I could come up with for "Improving" it, was to gain speed. And that didn't hold water when I already had a perfectly good 7mmMag. I always had a strong opinion that if you want more speed to just move to a larger case.

What I did want, was a lighter, shorter "Mountain Rifle". I think we've all dreamed about our perfect Mt Rifle. For years I dreamed of a custom .284win. But then all that changed when the Short Mags hit the scene. So my Mt. Rifle became a 7mmWSM in Browning A-Bolt form. Turning out to be a great little rifle. It does everything my .280 did and more.

Anyway, just another .280/7mm lovers thoughts on the .280AI.
Hunt'nFish

 

[HellsCanyon]

That savage 30-06 is a great start for the 280AI. Just need to spin up a 7mm caliber blank n chamber it for the 280 AI. I built my ackley off my rem 700 in 30-06!

I wouldn't go much shorter than 23" on barrel. 24" is a good length and not bad to handle in the field.

The 280 is a great caliber but it's one if the ones that really sees a benefit by going to a 40* shoulder. I've got 10+ reloads on factory Remington brass I fire formed. Rarely have to full length resize or trim, and I'm pushing 168 bergers at 2925 with ease. You won't see numbers even close to that out of a standard 280. 280 AI is one of the more inherently accurate and efficient chambers out there in my opinion...

 

[Yellowknife]

....I'm pushing 168 bergers at 2925 with ease. You won't see numbers even close to that out of a standard 280. 280 AI is one of the more inherently accurate and efficient chambers out there in my opinion...

So basically, a 280 AI will push a 7mm 168 Berger at essentially the same speed that a regular 30-06 will shoot a 0.308 168 Berger? The main advantage to the re-barrel process then being about a 0.1 bump in BC?

I'm no long range guy. At what point does that become noticeable/useful?

Yk

 

[HellsCanyon]

So basically, a 280 AI will push a 7mm 168 Berger at essentially the same speed that a regular 30-06 will shoot a 0.308 168 Berger? The main advantage to the re-barrel process then being about a 0.1 bump in BC?

I'm no long range guy. At what point does that become noticeable/useful?

Yk

All environmental factors being equal, here are the differences:
280AI

30-06 with 168 VLD

Mike

 

[Yellowknife]

Translate that for me into real life experience for me? At 400 yds, the difference appears negligible. At 600, I'm starting to see a difference worth noting. BUT that's with the standard 10 mph, 90 d crosswind. In the field with variable winds and direction, at what point are you happy to be shooting the higher BC bullet? 400+? 550+? Rarely? Always?

My apologies to the OP for sidetracking his thread.

Yk

 

[Stid2677]

Come on YK, 280AI sounds way sexier than a plain old 30-06.

 

[Yellowknife]

Come on YK, 280AI sounds way sexier than a plain old 30-06.

A valid point, and one that should never be overlooked when adding new guns to the collection.