Short Barreled 280AI

[Habs22]

I have been looking around for a while and have not found any good information on if anyone has cut their 280 AI barrel short (less than 20") for a suppressor. I have a donor 7MM-08 Tikka that I have transitioned to a long action that already has a 16.5" Barrel. I dropped off my gun to the smith (yesterday, hoping to have it back mid FEB) to rechamber it to 280AI to see what velocities that I am going to get and see how well it works. Just figured that I would present the information to the group if someone else is looking into what velocities can be expected with such a short barrel in 280AI.

I was already planning on getting a Proof carbon barrel to 280AI for a lighted hunting rig and figured for the price it may be worth trying out. So, feel free to call me an idiot or such, but this is an experiment that will not cost too much to have real world information vs. just assumption that I have read online. I have seen in a couple of forum/websites that have shown short barreled 7MM rem mag, and 300 WM shortened that see to still work very well for hunting distances up to 500 yards.

I like to hunt suppressed as well as in tight timber area with my gun in my Eberle stock pack. A long barrel and suppressor sticking up that high gets caught on tree branches all the time.

I have already spoken with the suppressor company and the suppressor is rated to 16" and above with the 280 AI so that will not be an issue.

 

[Timberline001]

My 24 inch shoots the 162 eldm load from unknown at 2960, at 20 inches I’d be around 2850.

 

[Breddoch]

Keep us posted. Are you shooting factory ammo or planning to load for it?

I have a savage 7mm-08 that has been cut to 16” and shoot suppressed. It is shooting factory 150 gr precision hunter between 2650 - 2700 fps.

 

[Unckebob]

My 24 inch shoots the 162 eldm load from unknown at 2960, at 20 inches I’d be around 2850.

I am unique in that my 280AI barrel started as a 24" barrel. Because it was overly heavy, I had it cut to 20". I am waiting for a 22" barrel to replace the 20" barrel.

I did not save that load data, but the 24" shot pretty much book/box velocities. Generally, I lost about 150-200fps when I cut the barrel.

Why am I waiting for a new barrel use with my Origin action? The 20" barrel has a "match" chamber which means it is basically a Saami min chamber. As a result, it occasionally won't chamber factory ammo and is a PITA to get my handloads to work.

Why did I order a 22" barrel? The person I ordered the replacement barrel said I was wasting the potential of the 280AI at 20". I had already concluded the same thing and ordered a 22" barrel to bring velocities back up again.

I would think a barrel shorter than 20" would get you 7-08 performance.

 

[SloppyJ]

I don't think it's stupid at all. I have a 22" and get great velocity out if it. It's a very efficient case. What bullets will you be running? I'd go as low as 18" on that as long as you're okay with the loss in velocity. It's a pretty damn cool cartridge and just looks cool too.

 

[wyosam]

I am unique in that my 280AI barrel started as a 24" barrel. Because it was overly heavy, I had it cut to 20". I am waiting for a 22" barrel to replace the 20" barrel.

I did not save that load data, but the 24" shot pretty much book/box velocities. Generally, I lost about 150-200fps when I cut the barrel.

Why am I waiting for a new barrel use with my Origin action? The 20" barrel has a "match" chamber which means it is basically a Saami min chamber. As a result, it occasionally won't chamber factory ammo and is a PITA to get my handloads to work.

Why did I order a 22" barrel? The person I ordered the replacement barrel said I was wasting the potential of the 280AI at 20". I had already concluded the same thing and ordered a 22" barrel to bring velocities back up again.

I would think a barrel shorter than 20" would get you 7-08 performance.

But he’s already planning on short (16”) for suppressed hunting rifle. A 16” 280 might be pretty comparable to a 22-24” 7-08, but it’s still a big step up in velocity from a 16” 7-08.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Okie_Poke]

A 280ai is on my wish list. I’m thinking 20” but definitely interested in your results. Losing 150-200 fps from 24”-20” barrel, as someone else experienced, doesn't sound great. Interested to see how your shorty does.

 

[NorCal 707]

Once you start getting below 19" with the 280 AI it starts to fall off a cliff velocity wise. The 308 case is much more efficient. Taking an Ackley down to 16" is castration of that cartridge. It burns slow powders so it's just going to perform like crap. You'd be way better off doing a 7 saum, 7mm-08 AI or 7 wsm. But the wsm would take a different bolt face.

 

[Krumfola]

My 22” 280ai is pushing a 162gr ELDX at 2940fps with hand loads which is much faster than I predicted. Makes for a long rifle though.

If I were to do it again, I’d go with an 18” in 7SAUM on a short action with either a 162 or 175 ELDM and hope to get 2750fps.

Suppressed short barrels let really efficient bullets do the work and keep the overall package small and handy. I just don’t see a reason to shoot unsuppressed anymore.

 

[Ktwebb33]

Following this thread/project because I plans of doing something similar with a long action/standard bolt face I am wanting to build something short off of.

 

[Habs22]

Got back the rifle this week from the smith. If the weather permits I will see if I can get some shooting in this weekend.
I have done no load development yet, so will try some factory loads.

 

[Ktwebb33]

Got back the rifle this week from the smith. If the weather permits I will see if I can get some shooting in this weekend.
I have done no load development yet, so will try some factory loads.

Awesome…any pics? Really looking forward to hearing what you come up with.

 

[z987k]

My 22” 280ai is pushing a 162gr ELDX at 2940fps with hand loads which is much faster than I predicted. Makes for a long rifle though.

If I were to do it again, I’d go with an 18” in 7SAUM on a short action with either a 162 or 175 ELDM and hope to get 2750fps.

Suppressed short barrels let really efficient bullets do the work and keep the overall package small and handy. I just don’t see a reason to shoot unsuppressed anymore.

You can get 2750 with a 162 from a 18in 280ai. Not over pressure or anything.

 

[z987k]

Once you start getting below 19" with the 280 AI it starts to fall off a cliff velocity wise. The 308 case is much more efficient. Taking an Ackley down to 16" is castration of that cartridge. It burns slow powders so it's just going to perform like crap. You'd be way better off doing a 7 saum, 7mm-08 AI or 7 wsm. But the wsm would take a different bolt face.

It does a little bit. 30ish fps per inch up in the 20-24 range. Picks up to 45ish fps per inch under 18.
7-08 does the exact same thing though. 30ish fps per in from 18-20 and 45fps per inch under 18.
A 24" 7-08 is about equal to a 18in 280ai.

This really isn't any more than anything else. Par for the course for barrel length.

 

[Krumfola]

Turns out my chronograph was jacked up. I bought a Garmin and I’m actually at 2860fps.

Going shorter on the next one though, would love to go 18” as long as I could hit 2750-2800fps.

 

[z987k]

Turns out my chronograph was jacked up. I bought a Garmin and I’m actually at 2860fps.

Going shorter on the next one though, would love to go 18” as long as I could hit 2750-2800fps.

If you're willing to run a double base like N550, RL17 or a compressed load with ramshot magnum (or maybe grand, haven't used it yet), you'll get there no problem.

 

[Ikmclean]

Turns out my chronograph was jacked up. I bought a Garmin and I’m actually at 2860fps.

Going shorter on the next one though, would love to go 18” as long as I could hit 2750-2800fps.

My 18" 284 win gets 2700 with 162 eldx's, a 280ai at 18 should do a bit more

 

[Ktwebb33]

My 18" 284 win gets 2700 with 162 eldx's, a 280ai at 18 should do a bit more

This is good to hear! I will eventually have an 18” 280ai, but that project got detoured. I’m putting a 6cm barrel on the long action build (that was originally gonna be 280ai) for me and the kids to use over the next several years. Then rebarrel to 280ai.

 

[Krumfola]

My 18" 284 win gets 2700 with 162 eldx's, a 280ai at 18 should do a bit more

Are you using a short or long action? What powder are you using?

The 284 is intriguing if it can be done on a true short action. SAAMI spec is 2.8" OAL but with Hawkins hunter mags you can seat your bullets out a bit longer (2.98"max). It uses less powder (and I would think less recoil as well), standard primers, and more mag capacity than a 7saum.

 

[Arcola]

Getting 3025fps out of my 18” with 143 Hammer Hunters. It doesn’t have much free bore so I’m jamming the lands loading 3 grains below what I run in my 22”. Researching increasing free bore with a throating reamer.