Best Barrel Twist For 280 AI (SAAMI) Up To 160 Accubonds (Hunting)

[Orezona]

I'm leaning to 1:9. Going to order soon from NSS.



Thank you in advance.

[alphapygmy]

1-9 will be fine for 160 Accubonds. I have a 1-9 284W that does excellent with the 160’s and am building a 280AI with 9 twist for 160 AB’s and 120TTSX.

[Fuj']

A 9 twister will do but, if an 8.5 is available I'd snag it.

[Orezona]

Would the 8.5 be too much for 150 BT''s and Partitions?

[Fuj']

Would the 8.5 be too much for 150 BT''s and Partitions?

You'll be fine. The other thing to consider is them longer bullets
like Berger is making. Keep all your bases covered.

[SageRat Shooter]

I've been researching the .280 AI for a month or so now, as it is what I want to build next. I plan to shoot the 162 ELDX and a 8.5-9 twist is recommended from everything that I've read.

I'm going to go with a 9 twist CBI in 280AI.

[Orezona]

I've been researching the .280 AI for a month or so now, as it is what I want to build next. I plan to shoot the 162 ELDX and a 8.5-9 twist is recommended from everything that I've read.

I'm going to go with a 9 twist CBI in 280AI.

10-4, thank you. I grew up in Eastern Oregon so I know what a "sagerat" is. Are you near Burns, Vale, etc...

What length on the CBI? It seems I always read 24" is best but I think I'm going 22" in heavy sporter. I want to carry it for whitetail and Elk. Hopefully I would not have to clear out the barrel channel on my B&C Medalist much since it is currently holding a Savage 30-06 sporter.

[SageRat Shooter]

10-4, thank you. I grew up in Eastern Oregon so I know what a "sagerat" is. Are you near Burns, Vale, etc...

What length on the CBI? It seems I always read 24" is best but I think I'm going 22" in heavy sporter. I want to carry it for whitetail and Elk. Hopefully I would not have to clear out the barrel channel on my B&C Medalist much since it is currently holding a Savage 30-06 sporter.

You must be my brother from another mother.... I'm changing over from my trusty old 30-06 (111 action) and I'm going with a 24" Heavy Sporter as I will be putting a muzzle brake on mine (I don't like the recoil of my 30-06 as is). It may be a little longer than I'd like for carrying in the thick stuff, but the country we've been hunting for awhile now has a bit more "wide open" with shots ranging from 300-700 yards. I want enough GAS to get there with 1500 ft/lbs of energy still remaining. Heavy sporter will fit in my OEM plastic stock without too much sanding to open the barrel channel, so your's should be about the same process. My goal is to keep the rifle weight to about 9 lbs (Hopefully).

I don't live close to Burns/Seneca/Lakeview (I have to drive 4+ hours) but that is where I do all my hunting for Elk, Deer, and Sagerats.

[Orezona]

PM sent.

[Orezona]

You'll be fine. The other thing to consider is them longer bullets
like Berger is making. Keep all your bases covered.

Thank you sir!

[Orezona]

1-9 will be fine for 160 Accubonds. I have a 1-9 284W that does excellent with the 160’s and am building a 280AI with 9 twist for 160 AB’s and 120TTSX.

Thank you sir!

[Orezona]

Does anyone happen to know the approximate weight of the 116 WW 22" 30-06 Barrel? I won't have the tools to remove the barrel until I have the new barrel.

[jpdown]

Most of the 22” Savage factory sporter barrels I’ve put on scale were around 2 lbs, 6 oz.

[nksmfamjp]

I've been researching the .280 AI for a month or so now, as it is what I want to build next. I plan to shoot the 162 ELDX and a 8.5-9 twist is recommended from everything that I've read.

I'm going to go with a 9 twist CBI in 280AI.

Let me plant a seed of doubt...have you looked at 280 Sherman? They are some nice looking cartridges and give you a bit more.

[Orezona]

Most of the 22” Savage factory sporter barrels I’ve put on scale were around 2 lbs, 6 oz.

Thank you Sir. Sorry for the delayed appreciation.

[Orezona]

Well, I finally put in my order with Northland Shooters Supply. The factory 22" sporter on my rifle is .585 at the muzzle. The Criterion sporter at 22" is .612 and and the heavy sporter is .711. My use for this rifle is Indiana Whitetail and hopefully a NM Elk hunt this fall. I ordered the Criterion 22" Sporter, 8.5 Twist, Recessed Crown, Stainless Match, hand lapped. From what I can tell, the Criterion sporter 22" should be close to the same weight as the factory barrel and about .41 of a pound less than the Criterion heavy sporter.

Also ordered the NSS lug, nut, nut wrench, action wrench and go/no-go gauges. Smooth order over the phone and received confirmation/invoice emails as soon as I hung up the phone.

[yobuck]

Would a 22” barrel be long enough to gain the benefit from the AI chamber?
I always felt a 26” might be best for that cartridge.
I mean were getting very close to 7 Rem Mag performance with that cartridge, and for sure they perform better with a longer barrel.

[Orezona]

Would a 22” barrel be long enough to gain the benefit from the AI chamber?
I always felt a 26” might be best for that cartridge.
I mean were getting very close to 7 Rem Mag performance with that cartridge, and for sure they perform better with a longer barrel.

From what I've read here and on the Nosler forum, you are correct on at least 24" inch barrel. I'm going 22" because I'm trying to stay under 10 lbs and I think I will be able to shoot 160 Accubonds plenty fast for white tail and elk. I'm messing with the 280 AI just because I can. I have a perfectly good 6.5 Creedmoor and 30-06. I've never owned a .284/7mm rifle and I don't care to own a 7mm Rem Mag so I picked the 280 AI to put a nice barrel on my 116 Weather Warrior.

[yobuck]

Not questioning the cartridge decision, just the barrel length, i have a 280 and ive also had 7 Rem mags.
Mine is an old 60s version Rem 700 Bdl with the original barrel that i never had rechambered because of length.
By the way, i paid $100 for it with a set of dies in the mid 70s. Could have bought a new one for $200 then.
I bought quite a few 700s and 721s for $100 back in the 70s just for the actions, which is why i bought the 280.
But my brother in law had a 700 in 300 Win Mag he hated because of the recoil, so we swapped guns.
That saved me having the bolt face opened up on the 280 anyway. But about 10 years later there was another swap and the 280 came back.

[Fuj']

Not questioning the cartridge decision, just the barrel length

I have second printing Hornady Vol.2 on my bench that I pulled
to go over some ancient notes of mine. Of course the AI is not
in there but looking at the original 280, Hornady did all the book
work with a 22" 1:10 barrel, from a 120 bullet thru 175.....Times
change and were a bit wiser now. I think with that 8.5 twister
he'll do fine as long as the muzzle flash does'nt give him too bad
of a sun burn.....:cool: