280 Ackley Improved anyone?

[jpdown]

I use a 280 Lee collet and seating die set to neck size and seat the bullet. If you go this route, you will also need a Redding Body Die 280 Ackley Improved 40-Degree Shoulder to bump back the case shoulder when necessary. Otherwise, you need a 280 Ackley Improved 40-degree shoulder die set.

[Rucker61]

I use a 280 Lee collet and seating die set to neck size and seat the bullet. If you go this route, you will also need a Redding Body Die 280 Ackley Improved 40-Degree Shoulder to bump back the case shoulder when necessary. Otherwise, you need a 280 Ackley Improved 40-degree shoulder die set.

Are most of the dies I see on Midway USA SAAMI dies?

[scooterf79]

Rucker, most of them are from best I can tell, I just got my set of redding 280AI dies in this week from Midway. I got on reddings site and made sure of the correct part number just to be safe. I checked on the rcbs dies with rcbs website a while back, and the part numbers matched as well for the SAAMI version. I would recommend doing that just to be safe. I dont have the part numbers handy to give you a reference.
Scooter

[jpdown]

Are most of the dies I see on Midway USA SAAMI dies?

There are a few with 30-Degree shoulder. As long as you get 280 Ackley Improved 40-degree shoulder dies they will be to SAAMI specs.

[Rucker61]

Thanks for the info, gents. How would this barrel compare to an ER Shaw for a pure lightweight hunting rig, from antelope to elk? I just picked up a donor .30-06 for $250 and want to get something build before October. The Gunshack varmint barrels seem a bit heavy for this application, and I've got a .308 to play long range shooter with.

[Rooster 50]

Thanks for the info, gents. How would this barrel compare to an ER Shaw for a pure lightweight hunting rig, from antelope to elk? I just picked up a donor .30-06 for $250 and want to get something build before October. The Gunshack varmint barrels seem a bit heavy for this application, and I've got a .308 to play long range shooter with.


That's exactly what I did. Used a Stevens 30-06 for a donor. Had my gunsmith install a used Vais on it. The Vais BTW was not the microbrake that this barrel would call for but a much larger brake that he turned down on the rear to match my barrel. The recoil reduction is amazing and it's not that loud. I will post a picture soon as I get the barrel coated and I finish bedding it.

[jpdown]

As noted above, it is a 23" barrel that weights 2 lbs and has a LW/thin contour. For comparison a 22" Savage factory sporter barrel weights about 2 lbs, 6 oz. The only ER Shaw Savage Pre-fit barrel I've owned was 24" and had a heavy sporter/magnum contour. If I remember correctly it weighed around 2 lbs, 8 oz. If your trying to build a light weight hunting rifle, then this barrel is about as light as it is going to get given its length. It heats up quickly, so three shot strings are about the limit before groups open up. I'm impressed with the barrel and it will shoot sub 1" groups. So far, I've had the best results with IMR 7828 and Hornady 154 gr SST bullets.

[jpdown]

Range Report:

I finally finish working up my hunting load for this 280 AI, 23", #2 contour, 9 twist barrel. Powder availability is a problem right now around here. But of the two I had on the shelf, this barrel prefers IMR 7828 over H4831 with 150 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips, 160 gr Nosler Partitions and 154 gr Hornady SST bullets. I've settled on the following hunting load since it consistently shoots 0.525" - 3 shot groups @ 100 yds. Groups start to open up after 3 shots due to the thin contour. Start lower and work up at your own risk. I was never able to reach Nosler load data max before running into pressure signs and this load is over Hogdon's 280 AI load data max.

60.5 gr IMR 7828, 2880 FPS
S Dev. = 15
Hornady 154 gr SST Bullets,
Nosler 280 AI Brass, CCI 200 LR
Seated 0.010" off Lands
COAL = 3.268"

At 2880 fps, this barrel and load is about 200 fps slower than what I am getting with 64.5 gr of IMR 7828 in a Savage 7mmRM 24", factory sporter with 160 gr Barnes TSX, Fed 215 Mag primers and Winchester brass. Overall, I am very satisfied with this barrel's performance on my Savage 111 LWH 280 AI build pictured above. Its not a match grade barrel, but lot better barrel than I expected for $107 with shipping cost.

[Dewey7271]

I picked up one of these also.
It is exactly the weight jp described. It's light although for a lighter, fast handling rifle it fills the bill.
Accuracy, while not match is fine for a hunting rifle.
All in all it is so far a good deal for the money.
These were 3 the other evening with the barrel mounted up. (hunting rifle, remember?) While I know not to some of your accuracy standards, it's pretty good for the 11th, 12th and 13th shots and should still allow some more workup.
Load is 64 gr MRP, CCI 200, Nosler brass, 150 gr Nosler Partition, 100 yds, coal 3.205
http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y540/dewey7271/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps7bd2bb70.jpg

Dewey

[Rooster 50]

That's weird. Mine shoots the same group with 140gr Ballistic tips. First two touching and the third out a bit.

[Dewey7271]

Rooster,
I confess to having a weakness for Partitions for hunting. Group center to center (I know, I need to measure outside edges, but..) was .732
Two touching and one out I figured was one of a couple things...either the light barrel heated up quickly and threw the third slightly or I still need to adjust the seating depth slightly?
Maybe?

[Rooster 50]

Rooster,
I confess to having a weakness for Partitions for hunting. Group center to center (I know, I need to measure outside edges, but..) was .732
Two touching and one out I figured was one of a couple things...either the light barrel heated up quickly and threw the third slightly or I still need to adjust the seating depth slightly?
Maybe?

Not a Partition fan but a huge fan of Accubonds. I use em in 6mm,25cal,6.5,and 30cal and now in 7mm. I use the ballistic tips to work up loads and then switch to the accubonds for hunting. I have seen this pattern consistently since I started load development with this rifle. It doesn't seem to matter how long I wait to fire that 3rd shot it is always out a little like your group.
FWIW I am very happy with this rifle. Best $100 I ever spent on a barrel.

[Dewey7271]

You fireform or use Nosler brass?
I am also pleased for the price, BTW.

[Rooster 50]

Fireform. I already had over 100 fireformed from another 280 Ackley but I wen ahead and fireformed another 50 during my breakin.

[Hotolds442]

If you're considering the 280AI, Sportsmans Guide has a pretty good deal on a barrel.....
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/savage-110-280-ackley-improved-barrel?a=1692602

[earl39]

that's old news. see this thread. http://www.savageshooters.com/showthread.php?35127-280-Ackley

[FW Conch]

You guys gotta quit bring this up! So far I've been able to resist! But that won't last forever if I keep getting tempted. :-))

[Hotolds442]

What's one more barrel gonna hurt?

[Rooster 50]

You guys gotta quit bring this up! So far I've been able to resist! But that won't last forever if I keep getting tempted. :-))

I built a rifle with one. Good Barrel

[243LPR]

They still have them in stock?