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I am in the process of building a .280 AI on a 110 stagger feed action.
How good are the mcgowen barrels? Should I get a brake? I don't like a lot of recoil.
what about a bell and carlson medalist classic stock?
This is is my first build.
I am trying to build on a budget but also build a good rifle.
Great cartridge choice! I've been wanting to build one for quite awhile. McGowen barrels seem to have a good reputation on this site. My first prefit was from them and it performs well. I was planning on a brake during my planning stage . My primary reason was to allows to spot my own shots.
I build a long range hunter type rifle and used a medalist sporter and I have been very happy with it so far. If you plan for this to be a bench gun, I would look at a stock designed more for that purpose. For a field gun though, I found there weren't a ton of options for the long action savage
McGowan is good stuff. Buy with confidence you are getting a good blank. There are several sources to get them, but Dennis at McGowan Outlet is probably who I would talk to.
B&C Medalist is good for field, IMHO the B&C Duramaxx stock was the way to go for an all around good stock that works in the field and on the bench. Unfortunatly B&C discontinued it a couple years back, but if you watch the classifieds here and on other forums, they do pop up and are worth the snag.
This will be a hunting rifle. I have found also that the choices in a long action stock are very limited unless you step up to a manners or McMillan.
In the 8-9lb gun weight range I don't think recoil will be much of a problem.Laminates like the Boyds are always an option too.Not as durable as synthetic but almost as stable and less $$.
I too am building one. I'm just waiting on my barrel now. I did get a brake for mine. Jecustom.com assassin is the brake I got. The chart he sent me with it says it should take the recoil from around 17lbs to 6.5-7lbs. Even unbraked it wouldn't be much more than a 270 is. But hey, every little bit helps. I obviously haven't shot it yet, but should take it to down around a 22-250's recoil, roughly.
As for a stock, I'm probably going with the boyds tacticool. It looks close to the one I like that SSS sells but quite a bit cheaper.
I jus finished a 280ai and ran some test loads yesterday. It's riding in a Boyds Prarie Hunter and recoil isn't any more than my 25-06ai. Tube is a McGowen 26" and so far it likes a max charge of Reloader 22. Gonna try some IMR 4831 yet before I settle on anything.
If you are building a hunting rifle, then this is a great deal on a LW #2 contour 23" barrel in 280AI - http://www.sportsmansguide.com/produ...rrel?a=1692602. Several members have purchased one and I have not seen any negative reviews. The barrel manufacture is unknown. I purchased one several months ago for a LW mountain rifle build using a Savage 111 LWH action and stock. I'm getting 0.5" 3 shot groups with handloads using IMR 7828 powder, CCI LR primers,154 gr Hornady SST bullets and Nosler 280 AI brass before the barrel heats up and groups start to open up . Barrel weight is 2.0 lbs. It does not clean up as quickly as my McGowen or CBI custom barrels. But for a budget build, it is an excellent value.
Below is a picture. The action and barrel were finished with satin black GunKote to match. Total rifle weight with scope is 7 lb, 7 oz. Beats lugging around a hunting rifle with 24-26" light varmint or varmint contour barrel.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps3152a530.jpg
+1, I was going to suggest the Boyd's too.Quote:
Originally Posted by 243LPR