Teach me/Help me settle in on a future rifle direction.... 280 Ackley Improved Setup

[280 A.llen I.verson]

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!

 

[bayou0509]

I was in a similar situation a few years ago, I was familiar with the typical wiggle/slop of average middle of the pack actions. I can not speak good or bad of Tikka (i do not own one), but I know most on this forum love them. I also do not have much experience with chassis rifles either (although I plan to change that soon).

I decided to go with a BAT igniter action in 280 AI with a Mcmillan stock. It is incredibly smooth and has zero wiggle/slop in it. This is the first custom/high end action that I have owned. I would say i am similar to yourself in terms of learning more about precision rifles and long range shooting every day. My main comparisons are to a Howa 1500 and an X-bolt. The BAT action is far superior to those two.

 

[schmidty3]

Throw a handful of dirt into a tight action and you may wish it had some slop.

The only thing I dont like in your book is...

Throws a shot.

Maybe try a berger 180 hybrid. If it cant shoot that then maybe its the barrel. A *good* thin barrel won't throw shots.

At the end of the day the action just puts bullets into the barrel. Tikkas are popular here because they handle harsh conditions well (triggers seem more reliable compared to 700s)

Ive got a defiance on the way, but only because i got a half off cert. They were honestly kind of annoying to work with. Ordered in March and still waiting. If you go defiance id just get one off their in stock page. They used to be the "best". I think theyve rested on their laurels for too long....The current "best" is arguably impact and lone peak. All those will give you a fancier shooting experience over a 307. But will they help you shoot better? Not really. They are popular in prs due to the reduced bolt lift, so you can stay on target thru running the bolt.

Preferredbarrelblanks.com has barreled actions on kelblys. Pretty tempting offerings. Kelby's are 700s.

You do you, but to me it sounds like you've got the long tom 280 ai. Id keep it, load it with those berger 180s and when I thought I was needing to shoot past 500 and the mountain isnt steep id grab it.

Then id make a little light shorty for when the mountain is steep and the shots are closer. If you had to stay 7mm...7mm-08 or 7 saw in a SA and the right bullets is still a 700 yard gun.

Thats what im doing, but Im a little weakling that doesnt shoot anything larger the .25 cal

26" 25 prc for long stuff.

18" 6 creed is almost done. And I fully intend to smash an elk with it this fall.

 

[mtnbound]

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!

A Tikka action is fine for the 280, especially if you are using a chassis, so you can run longer COAL with AICS mags. The factory mags can be a limiting factor.
I have had good luck with several Preferred Barrel Blanks. Getting the factory barrel off a Tikka is the hardest part if you are going to build the rifle yourself.