Anyone regret buying a 280AI?/Max bullet weight question

[Elite]

Hey everyone

I am about to pull the trigger on a savage 110 ultralight in a 280 AI. I have been researching for a few months and have landed on this set up. Looking to replace my 30-06 and yes I know it will do everything a 280 AI can but looking for a lighter set up and a new rifle. I do hunt everything from antelope/sheep/deer/elk/bear/moose

Just wondering what is the max bullet weight I could run with a 1:9 twist. Also looking for some velocity numbers out of a 22inch barrel. I do hand load a bit. (Just getting into it last year).


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[jzeblaz]

Do it. I shoot a heavier 280 Rem (1:9) and it's awesome. 168 VLDs are stellar. What bullet are you wanting to shoot? 160 Accubonds are pretty great. I believe with 53 of H4350 I'm getting right about 2800 fps in a 24". I wasn't able to reliably stabilize 168 LRXs at sea level, but they are fine at elevation and kill like lightning.

 

[Elite]

Do it. I shoot a heavier 280 Rem (1:9) and it's awesome. 168 VLDs are stellar. What bullet are you wanting to shoot? 160 Accubonds are pretty great. I believe with 53 of H4350 I'm getting right about 2800 fps in a 24". I wasn't able to reliably stabilize 168 LRXs at sea level, but they are fine at elevation and kill like lightning.

I have had good luck with 165gr accubonds out of my 30-06 with the game listed above. Would like to keep running them


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[Scotto]

Shooting Berger 175 Elite Hunters in my 280 AI, 1:8.4 twist. Berger's tech sheet shows minimum twist rate of 1:10. A 1:9 twist rate should be fine.

 

[Elite]

Shooting Berger 175 Elite Hunters in my 280 AI, 1:8.4 twist. Berger's tech sheet shows minimum twist rate of 1:10. A 1:9 twist rate should be fine.

Do you loose a lot of case capacity with that heavy of bullet?


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[Gargoyle]

Load it with a 131 or 143 Hammer hunter and you can point it at anything!

 

[Scotto]

My gun has a 24" bbl and is a SAAMI spec. I don't think case capacity is an issue for me with that bullet.

 

[Unckebob]

I just bought a 280ai. Looking to hear what others think of their purchases.

 

[Mangata]

Picked up a mountain ascent 280AI last year. Shooting Choice Ammunition 162 gr ELDx. Only hunt, Kodiak billy 425 yds one shot DRT so zero regrets thus far…

 

[SCHUNTER73]

I built a 280ai last year and love it. Been shooting 162 gr ELD-X out of a 25” 1:9 twist. Loaded with Ramshot Hunter. It’s a shooter for sure.

 

[bow puller]

No help on the 280ai but you should love that 110 ultralight. I don't own one but have loaded for a couple and they are hard if not impossible to beat for the price taking accuracy/weight into account.

 

[Bomberodevil]

I’ve got the Savage UL in 280 AI, and I really like it. It’s been easy to do load development, and it’s pretty accurate. Some of my good loads are ELDX at 162 grains, 59.1 grains of H4831, 0.030” off the lands, 2975 FPS, .505 moa. Also have the same bullets, with 58.8 grains of H4831, 2942 FPS, at .415 moa. It shoots the ELDM and the SST 162 grains about the same.

 

[letrbuck]

Depends on the bullet a bit, but this year I shot 175 partitions in my 9 twist 280ai. Killed a bison and 2 elk

 

[UTJL]

I’m currently building a 280ai. I have a Savage 116 I could’ve used but I’ve had some issues with the action. The safety froze on me this year from a getting a bit of snow on it. There’s a recent post here that provides some insight into actions that are more reliable in the snow if that’s an issue for you.

 

[KoolBreeze]

I bought one in an Xbolt HCS last year. Just had to have it, darling caliber and all. I like the rifle a lot and it is accurate but if I were buying another tomorrow, it would be something with less muzzle flip and cheaper ammo. That said, I don't reload. At $5 a round, I can't shoot it as much as I'd like. Prices are trending down though, so hopefully that will continue. I also strictly hunt whitetail, so there is that. I bought it for the soybeans fields but since I've gotten it I've about stopped hunting them. Funny how things work out.

 

[Elite]

No help on the 280ai but you should love that 110 ultralight. I don't own one but have loaded for a couple and they are hard if not impossible to beat for the price taking accuracy/weight into account.

Looks like a good platform. Have you heard any issues with the plastic clip?


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[Elite]

I’ve got the Savage UL in 280 AI, and I really like it. It’s been easy to do load development, and it’s pretty accurate. Some of my good loads are ELDX at 162 grains, 59.1 grains of H4831, 0.030” off the lands, 2975 FPS, .505 moa. Also have the same bullets, with 58.8 grains of H4831, 2942 FPS, at .415 moa. It shoots the ELDM and the SST 162 grains about the same.

Thanks for the reply, Any issues with the plastic clip? Seems like that little plastic piece on it would break? Have you tried heavier bullets?


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[highside74]

Thanks for the reply, Any issues with the plastic clip? Seems like that little plastic piece on it would break? Have you tried heavier bullets?


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I have a 110 ultralight and have had no problem with the durability of the magazine. 2 hunting seasons in.

 

[Bomberodevil]

Thanks for the reply, Any issues with the plastic clip? Seems like that little plastic piece on it would break? Have you tried heavier bullets?


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What plastic clip are you referring to? Also, I think the 160-168 bullet weight range is ideal for the 280 AI, so I haven’t tried any heavier bullets. If I want to go into the 180s and up, I’ll use a .30 caliber cartridge.

 

[Elite]

What plastic clip are you referring to? Also, I think the 160-168 bullet weight range is ideal for the 280 AI, so I haven’t tried any heavier bullets. If I want to go into the 180s and up, I’ll use a .30 caliber cartridge.

I am referring to the plastic tang piece on the clip.

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