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Is it possible to have my 280 Remington barrel reamed to a 280 AI? What is the general consensus on Ackley Improved over standard rifles? I am interested because of the nearly 200 fps gain that my reloading books show. They show the 280 AI just 100 fps behind the 7mm Remington mag.
I can't personally speak for the 280 or 280AI, but what your book is telling you seems to be similar to what I have heard about the 280AI.
As far as reaming your chamber out to 280AI, should be an easy task for a competent gunsmith.
I would always say in a bolt gun or single shot there is hardly any downside to going with an AI chamber over a standard one. Some calibers aren't worth it though. 308 being a great example. The biggest benefit in my mind is the increased brass life. Cuts your trimming down to almost nothing, and with some calibers the velocity gains are nice. 243, 250 Savage, 22-250, 257 Bob, and 25-06 coming to mind. I have the 243AI myself and I love it. 4000+FPS out of a 58gr V-Max and brass that seems to last forever, gotta love it.
As you already found out, you can approximate 7mm Rem Mag performance with the 280AI AND use less powder doing it.
I shoot a 280 AI would highly recomend it. I love mine it shoots like a dream. When it comes to brass life it is amazing, I bought Nosler brass and Im on my 3rd reload and I havent trimmed the brass yet. I only bump the the shoulder back a little.
A bit ot but how's barrel life?
Im not sure on barrel life, but Im shooting the 168 bergers at 2700 fps so it should last a long time at that speed. Ive chronied that bullet at 2850 fps but it shoots a ragged hole at 2700 so thats what I settled on.