- Joined
- Jun 25, 2019
- Messages
- 41
Okay so for a little background, I am always thinking of the next gun.. Good or bad habit that is yet to be determined. My wife would probably say BAD.
I am currently running a Weatherby model 307 280 AI that I got before last fall that is my western hunting rig. I am getting set up for this upcoming fall with one hunting season under my belt with this rig, but I am always thinking about how I can improve and improve my setups and get a setup in the future that improves on the pro's and removes some of the cons that I see with this rifle. For the most part it fits what I need for now, but I think there is room to improve.
So I could use some help and maybe some pointers that might get me in the direction I want. I have spent a lot of time on here combing forums about the 280 ai so I have some background. But I could use some rifle specific pointers from others who have experience. Definitely an information overload and I feel like I am having major paralysis by analysis. I am a complete newby to rifle builds. I have only always used factory rifles. But I want to dip my toes in.
So here's the skinny on how I feel on my rifle and the current setup:
I really love the caliber. I have always been a .284 man and I have been dabbling in handloading (still have a lot to learn, but I have learnt a lot so far) for about 6-7 years now. I learned it from my grandad. So I think the 280 AI is a great caliber for myself.
Pro's for this specific rifle setup: My Weatherby shoots pretty good. I killed my personal best bull with it and it has been pretty easy to work up loads for. I really like the trigger on this gun. I think I would probably want to stay with a 1:9 twist barrel that this thing has because I have been running Barnes LRX with really good results on game. 139-145 gr bullets going around 2900-3000 fps seems to be a pretty sweet spot for me for accuracy and shoot ability.
I also love running this thing in a chassis with a folding stock. I am a full time suppressor man anymore, so the folding stock is kind of a must. I have the element xlr mg chassis and I like it a lot. I would really like to keep that and run it for my next rig if I can. I have spent to much time walking through trees with a 26 in barrel and then 9 in suppressor sticking up on the end to see I need to keep the folding stock. So I want to keep this setup for the next gun, but it is rem 700 and I know that might limit my options a bit.
Con's for this rifle: My biggest con with this thing is the action. And it's not even that it is a bad action, it is decent. It has always fed reliably for me and I have not (knock on wood) yet had any issues with that. But it has a little more wiggle when you work it than I would like in an action. There is definite room for improvement here, so I would like a smoother action on my next setup. I also don't like the barrel thickness/fluted barrel on this setup. Had to get a thread adapter for the end of the barrel to get to match my suppressor's 5/8x24 threads and I'm not really a fan of that. I would rather have a thicker barrel that let's me get the correct thread adapters. I also feel like this barrel when I am shooting three shot strings will always throw the third shot a bit in a string. Not bad but it def heats up pretty quickly so I feel that is a con to me. So I think a thicker barrel on my next rig is a must.
So, that leads me into my thoughts on my future rifle and where I sit currently. I am open to whatever suggestions I can get through.
I want a good barrel on this next rifle. I think that it will be pretty big emphasis on that. And I am thinking a steel barrel. Like I said before I'm not really that concerned with making the lightest hunting rifle. I want to be able to shoot it accurately so I am fine with having a little heft. Don't want it to be crazy heavy. I am thinking 21'-22' barrel but I really don't know anything on lengths. I want to run it in a folder so barrel length doesn't need to be crazy short. Like I said before, I think a thicker but not crazy thick middle of the pack steel barrel is what I want in the future for my setup.
The action is where I really get tripped up. From reading this forum and the internet I have been circling a Tikka for a while to add to my arsenal. I have held them in the store and I love the actions and how they feel and I want to get one and get setup. BUT, I feel like most of the threads I have combed/read on here for a Tikka 280 AI build say maybe it is not the best action for that caliber and rifle. But I don't know what I don't know so it is hard to get a read on it for me. But a semi custom tikka 280 AI would be something I'm interested in if it's feasible. Also, like I stated before I have a rem 700 LA XLR chassis that I really like and that I want to keep that would kind of handicap me from getting different action made. It would be nice to not have to get into a lead/wait time of like 10-12 weeks and have to sell my current chassis to get a new/same chassis setup in a different action consideration.. So that is where i am on actions... That leads me to think maybe I should look into a good Rem 700 compatible action. I believe from what research I can find on the internet obviously defiance is at the top. But also at the top of price. I looked at maybe a Kelby action as well... But I feel like I can't get a for certain answer that action would be compatible with my chassis.... So many options it makes my head spin... I am also not a millionaire but I do like to put money into my hunting setups since I want them to work when It matters most. So I was thinking a maybe a middle of the pack action would work for me.. I also looked into those bergara premier actions and getting a custom barrel for those. I think Bergara has a pretty good rep in the industry and consumers from what I can gather. But honestly all the bergaras I have felt in stores have about the same wiggle in the actions that my Weatherby has that I want to get away from.
So that is my rambling/bumbling/stumbling thoughts on where I am at currently with my plans/wishes on a semi custom/custom 280 ai build. I come for any and all suggestions and pointers that could help my out on my journey. I have rifle hunted pretty much all my life but I am still learning more and more everyday. So if I used any wrong terminology in there plz don't roast me haha. Here to learn from everyone else what I can. Help me decide!
I am currently running a Weatherby model 307 280 AI that I got before last fall that is my western hunting rig. I am getting set up for this upcoming fall with one hunting season under my belt with this rig, but I am always thinking about how I can improve and improve my setups and get a setup in the future that improves on the pro's and removes some of the cons that I see with this rifle. For the most part it fits what I need for now, but I think there is room to improve.
So I could use some help and maybe some pointers that might get me in the direction I want. I have spent a lot of time on here combing forums about the 280 ai so I have some background. But I could use some rifle specific pointers from others who have experience. Definitely an information overload and I feel like I am having major paralysis by analysis. I am a complete newby to rifle builds. I have only always used factory rifles. But I want to dip my toes in.
So here's the skinny on how I feel on my rifle and the current setup:
I really love the caliber. I have always been a .284 man and I have been dabbling in handloading (still have a lot to learn, but I have learnt a lot so far) for about 6-7 years now. I learned it from my grandad. So I think the 280 AI is a great caliber for myself.
Pro's for this specific rifle setup: My Weatherby shoots pretty good. I killed my personal best bull with it and it has been pretty easy to work up loads for. I really like the trigger on this gun. I think I would probably want to stay with a 1:9 twist barrel that this thing has because I have been running Barnes LRX with really good results on game. 139-145 gr bullets going around 2900-3000 fps seems to be a pretty sweet spot for me for accuracy and shoot ability.
I also love running this thing in a chassis with a folding stock. I am a full time suppressor man anymore, so the folding stock is kind of a must. I have the element xlr mg chassis and I like it a lot. I would really like to keep that and run it for my next rig if I can. I have spent to much time walking through trees with a 26 in barrel and then 9 in suppressor sticking up on the end to see I need to keep the folding stock. So I want to keep this setup for the next gun, but it is rem 700 and I know that might limit my options a bit.
Con's for this rifle: My biggest con with this thing is the action. And it's not even that it is a bad action, it is decent. It has always fed reliably for me and I have not (knock on wood) yet had any issues with that. But it has a little more wiggle when you work it than I would like in an action. There is definite room for improvement here, so I would like a smoother action on my next setup. I also don't like the barrel thickness/fluted barrel on this setup. Had to get a thread adapter for the end of the barrel to get to match my suppressor's 5/8x24 threads and I'm not really a fan of that. I would rather have a thicker barrel that let's me get the correct thread adapters. I also feel like this barrel when I am shooting three shot strings will always throw the third shot a bit in a string. Not bad but it def heats up pretty quickly so I feel that is a con to me. So I think a thicker barrel on my next rig is a must.
So, that leads me into my thoughts on my future rifle and where I sit currently. I am open to whatever suggestions I can get through.
I want a good barrel on this next rifle. I think that it will be pretty big emphasis on that. And I am thinking a steel barrel. Like I said before I'm not really that concerned with making the lightest hunting rifle. I want to be able to shoot it accurately so I am fine with having a little heft. Don't want it to be crazy heavy. I am thinking 21'-22' barrel but I really don't know anything on lengths. I want to run it in a folder so barrel length doesn't need to be crazy short. Like I said before, I think a thicker but not crazy thick middle of the pack steel barrel is what I want in the future for my setup.
The action is where I really get tripped up. From reading this forum and the internet I have been circling a Tikka for a while to add to my arsenal. I have held them in the store and I love the actions and how they feel and I want to get one and get setup. BUT, I feel like most of the threads I have combed/read on here for a Tikka 280 AI build say maybe it is not the best action for that caliber and rifle. But I don't know what I don't know so it is hard to get a read on it for me. But a semi custom tikka 280 AI would be something I'm interested in if it's feasible. Also, like I stated before I have a rem 700 LA XLR chassis that I really like and that I want to keep that would kind of handicap me from getting different action made. It would be nice to not have to get into a lead/wait time of like 10-12 weeks and have to sell my current chassis to get a new/same chassis setup in a different action consideration.. So that is where i am on actions... That leads me to think maybe I should look into a good Rem 700 compatible action. I believe from what research I can find on the internet obviously defiance is at the top. But also at the top of price. I looked at maybe a Kelby action as well... But I feel like I can't get a for certain answer that action would be compatible with my chassis.... So many options it makes my head spin... I am also not a millionaire but I do like to put money into my hunting setups since I want them to work when It matters most. So I was thinking a maybe a middle of the pack action would work for me.. I also looked into those bergara premier actions and getting a custom barrel for those. I think Bergara has a pretty good rep in the industry and consumers from what I can gather. But honestly all the bergaras I have felt in stores have about the same wiggle in the actions that my Weatherby has that I want to get away from.
So that is my rambling/bumbling/stumbling thoughts on where I am at currently with my plans/wishes on a semi custom/custom 280 ai build. I come for any and all suggestions and pointers that could help my out on my journey. I have rifle hunted pretty much all my life but I am still learning more and more everyday. So if I used any wrong terminology in there plz don't roast me haha. Here to learn from everyone else what I can. Help me decide!
